Spies and deserters had informed the British and Hessians that Trenton was likely to be attacked. And Washington’s main force managed a crossing, but was more than three hours delayed.ģ. Both Cadwalader and Ewing’s forces were unable to cross the ice-choked river. This was an ambitious plan, one that even well rested and experienced troops would have had difficulty in executing. And Washington and his 2,400 soldiers would cross at McConkey’s and Johnson’s ferries, roughly 10 miles north of Trenton and would then march down to Trenton to surprise the garrison at dawn. Ewing’s soldiers would work to prevent the Hessians from retreating from Trenton. James Ewing’s force of 800 Pennsylvania militia was to cross the river at Trenton and take up defensive positions along the Assunpink River and bridge. His role was to harass and prevent the British and Hessian units near the town from racing north to support the Hessians at Trenton. Cadwalader was to lead his force of 1,200 Philadelphia militia and 600 Continentals across the river near Burlington, New Jersey. George Washington’s plan of attack included three different crossings of the Delaware River on Christmas night. Washington’s attack plan included three separate river crossings, but only one made it across. After several councils of war, General George Washington set the date for the river crossing for Christmas night 1776. Washington hoped that a quick victory at Trenton would bolster sagging morale in his army and encourage more men to join the ranks of the Continentals come the new year. Washington’s aim was to conduct a surprise attack upon a Hessian garrison of roughly 1,400 soldiers located in and around Trenton, New Jersey. So why were Washington and his bedraggled Continental Army trying to cross an ice-choked Delaware River on a cold winter’s night? It wasn’t just to get to the other side. Washington crossed the Delaware River so that his army could attack an isolated garrison of Hessian troops located at Trenton, New Jersey.
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