1776

August
British ships seen arriving in New York Bay during the week of July 4th. By mid-August 32,000 British troops had landed on Staten Island.

August 22
General William Howe lands 15,000 British troops near the narrows on Long Island.

August 27
Battle of Long Island. The American army’s left flank is turned and routed by the British attack.

August 29-30
At night General George Washington withdraws his army of 9,500 men off Long Island to New York.

September 15
The British land at Kip’s Bay and routs the small force of American militia. The American army flees to Harlem. The British occupy New York City.

September 16
Battle of Harlem Heights. A skirmish turns into a battle with the British forced to withdraw.

October 12
British land 4,000 men on Throg’s Neck but are stopped by American riflemen.

October 18
Washington withdraws his main army to White Plains. Howe removes his force from Throg’s Neck and lands at Pell’s Point.

October 28
Battle of White Plains. Washington’s right flank is attacked and driven off Chatterton’s Hill by the British.

October 31
During the night Washington withdraws his army from White Plains to North Castle.

November 5
The British fall back and occupy Dobb’s Ferry.

November 12
The American army crosses the Hudson River at King’s Ferry arriving at Haverstraw, New York.

November 14
The American army arrives at Fort Lee, New Jersey.

November 16
Fort Washington falls to the British with almost 3,000 Americans surrendering.

November 20
Americans evacuate Fort Lee, abandoning supplies and much needed tents to the enemy.

November 23
Retreating through New Jersey, the American army arrives at Newark, New Jersey, remaining there until the 28th.

November 29
The American army arrives at New Brunswick, New Jersey.

December 1
From New Brunswick Washington orders the gathering of Delaware River boats.

December 7-8
At Trenton, Washington’s army escapes across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.

December 13
Major-General Charles Lee is captured at Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

December 25
Throughout Christmas Night and the following morning Washington’s army crosses the Delaware River landing at Johnson’s Ferry, New Jersey.

December 26
Battle of Trenton. After a nine-mile march to Trenton the American army surprises and defeats the Hessian garrison taking over 900 prisoners.

December 26-27
The victorious American army marches back to Johnson’s Ferry and returns to Pennsylvania.

December 30
Washington’s army recrosses the Delaware River and reoccupies Trenton. The crossing is not completed until the following day due to ice in the river.

December 31
American enlistments will expire for over half of Washington’s army. A $10 bounty is offered to men who will stay on an additional six weeks.

1777

January 1
General Lord Cornwallis arrives in Princeton to take command of the British army. Colonel Cadwalader arrives at Trenton with militia from Pennsylvania.

January 2
The 2nd Battle of Trenton. Cornwallis’ march to Trenton is delayed by American skirmishers. The American army stops the British attack at the bridge over the Assunpink as night falls before the forces become fully engaged. Washington deceives the British by leaving campfires burning while the army marches off around the enemy flank toward Princeton.

January 3
Battle of Princeton. Washington arrives at Princeton in the morning, encounters and defeats the British rearguard.

January 6
Washington’s army arrives at Morristown, New Jersey. The army stays through the winter at Morristown until May 28, 1777.

The Christmas Night Crossing
December 25-26, 1776

It was after a series of military defeats during the summer and fall of 1776 that General Washington’s Continental Army retreated across the Jerseys. During this retreat, Washington ordered the gathering of all available boats, and on December 8th crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania successfully putting that barrier between his army and the pursuing British. The British unable to find any boats, went into Winter Quarters in New York City leaving a chain of outposts throughout New Jersey. One of these outposts was Trenton garrisoned by a small force of German mercenaries, known as Hessians. Washington, in desperate need of a victory, made the decision to attack Trenton and on Christmas night Washington’s Army of 2,400 men crossed the ice-filled Delaware River.

“…the army…passed the river on Christmas Night, with almost infinite difficulty…The floating ice in the river made the labor almost incredible. However, perseverance accomplished what at first seemed impossible…. The night was cold and stormy; it hailed with great violence…”
Colonel Henry Knox

The Battle of Trenton
December 26, 1776

It was nearly four in the morning before Washington’s army was ready for the nine-mile march to Trenton. The ordeal of the crossing had taken longer than expected and Washington feared the element of surprise had been lost. However after daylight on the morning of December 26th the Hessian garrison was surprised and encircled. Over 900 Hessians surrendered.

“About half a mile from the town was an advanced guard…. These we forced, and entered the town with them pell-mell…. The hurry, fright, and confusion of the enemy was (not) unlike that which will be when the last trump shall sound. They endeavoured to form in the streets, the heads of which we had previously the possession of with cannon… these, in the twinkling of an eye, cleared the streets. The backs of the houses were resorted to for shelter. These proved ineffectual: the musketry soon dislodged them. Finally they were driven through the town into an open plain beyond…. The poor fellows… saw themselves completely surrounded… and were obliged to surrender upon the spot….”
Colonel Henry Knox

The 2nd Battle of Trenton
January 2, 1777

Following his victory against the Hessians at Trenton on December 26, George Washington returned to Pennsylvania. There after resting and recovering from the ordeal of the crossings, Washington decided to cross back into New Jersey and reoccupy Trenton.

Lord Cornwallis arrived at Princeton on January 1st, assumed command of the British army and finding Washington back in New Jersey, ordered an attack for the next morning. Early on January 2nd, Cornwallis began the 11-mile march to Trenton, leaving behind three British regiments in Princeton. The British soldiers marching along and on either side of the road made slow progress due to an early thaw and the rain the night before which caused the road to quickly turn to mud.

Washington’s advance troops repeatedly engaged and delayed the British march so that it was late in the day by the time the British encountered Washington’s main force at the bridge over the Assunpink Creek in Trenton.

"When within about sixty yards of the bridge they raised a shout and rushed to the charge. It was then that our men poured upon them from musketry and artillery a shower of bullets under which, however, they continued to advance…. And as the column reached the bridge it moved slower and slower until the head of it was gradually pressed nearly over, when our fire became so destructive that they broke their ranks and fled. It was then that our army raised a shout, and such a shout I never since heard…. The British column halted instantly. The officers restored the ranks and again they rushed the bridge…. This time the column broke before it reached the centre of the bridge, and their retreat was again followed by the same hearty shout…. They returned a third time to the charge but it was in vain. We shouted after them again, but they had had enough of it."
An American militiaman

The Battle of Princeton
January 3, 1777

That night Washington called a council of war. Instead of engaging a superior force at Trenton the next morning, he planned on making a flanking night march to Princeton. Leaving a small force of New Jersey militia behind to keep the campfires burning, Washington hoped to deceive the British into thinking he was preparing for an attack the next morning. Meanwhile his army stole off to Princeton.

Shortly after dawn on January 3rd Washington’s advance troops under General Mercer encountered the British 17th regiment just west of Princeton. A British bayonet charge would quickly rout General Mercer’s men as well as advancing reinforcements under Colonel Cadwalader.

“At this moment Washington appeared in front of the American army, riding towards those of us who were retreating, and exclaimed ‘Parade with us, my brave fellows! There are but a handful of the enemy, and we will have them directly.’ I immediately joined the main body, and marched over the ground again….”
An American Sergeant

In all, three British regiments were defeated by Washington’s Continental Army at Princeton. However, Washington had no time for delay. With General Cornwallis marching in pursuit from Trenton, Washington ordered his army north to Morristown where he would arrive on January 6th and take up quarters for the winter.

These battles, which comprised an incredible ten-day campaign, lifted enormously the morale of the army and the nation. Washington, who had lost all the major engagements with the British, had finally been able to pull off not one, but three small victories that would have a dramatic effect on recruitment and to continuing the war. The war was far from over, but Washington and his ragged army had won and survived to fight another day.