Editing Washington Crossing (section)

== Victory at Trenton ==

The attack on Trenton succeeded beyond expectations. American forces entered the town from two directions, quickly overwhelming the surprised Hessians. Colonel Johann Rall, the Hessian commander, was mortally wounded trying to organize resistance, and organized defense collapsed within an hour. Approximately 900 Hessians were captured along with their arms, ammunition, and supplies; 22 were killed, including Rall. American casualties were minimal: no deaths in combat (though two soldiers froze to death during the march) and only a handful of wounded. The victory provided the Continental Army with desperately needed weapons and equipment and, more importantly, demonstrated that American forces could defeat professional European soldiers.<ref name="lengel"/>

The impact on morale was immediate and profound. News of the victory spread throughout the colonies, reviving spirits that had sunk to their lowest point. Enlistments, which had been running out, were extended as soldiers gained confidence in their commander and their cause. The victory encouraged Congress, which had fled Philadelphia, and impressed European observers who had begun writing off the American rebellion. Washington followed the success at Trenton with a second crossing of the Delaware and another victory at Princeton on January 3, 1777, driving British forces out of most of New Jersey and establishing a defensive line that held through the winter. The "Ten Crucial Days" from Christmas to early January transformed the war.<ref name="fischer"/>