Battle+of+Trenton



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**__Battle of Trenton__**
== Right after [|Lord Cornwallis] captures [|Fort Lee] from [|Nathanael Gree] [|n], the Battle of Trenton happens. The [|Battle of Trenton] took place on the day after Christmas, 1776. General George Washington led the main Continental Army [|across the Delaware river] to surprise and Demolish the Hessian troop that they were up against. They hoped that the element of surprise would catch them off guard so that they were unprepared for battle.Trenton was occupied by Hessian soldiers commanded by Colonel Johann Rahl for a total of about 1,400 men. Washington's force attacked from all directions surrounding the town. It is said that the Hessians were recovering from celebrating the night before on Christmas, so they were not prepared for battle. ==



== Despite the Snowstorm that delayed their trip across the Delaware, Washington was able to get everyone across the river. They began fighting at 8 o'clock. Colonel Rahl led his men out of the town and attempted to reorganize and retake the town. By this time the Americans occupied the majority of the buildings and fired into the ranks of the Rahl [|regiment]. At the Assunpink Creek, which would soon be the site of the '[|Second Battle of Trenton]' one of the regiments, became cut off from the bridge and was surrounded. The regiment under [|Lieutenant] Colonel von Dechow, surrendered just minutes before the rest of the [|brigade] did as well. ==



== The American forces had suffered only a handful of wounded. The Hessians suffered 114 wounded with at least 23 dead, as well as 913 captured. Rahl was mortally wounded and died the same day. All four Hessian colonels in Trenton were killed in the battle. Although this battle was only one hour long, it helped demolish the idea that the Colonial Continental Army was easy to defeat. It also gave the Continental Congress a new confidence for the [|outcome of this war__]. This overwhelming victory helped keep the Continental Army alive and get everyone ready for the [|Battle of Princeton] the following week. ==



==Along with being the very first president of America, [|George Washington] was also a very important character of [|The Revolutionary War]. George Washington was appointed a [|__General__] of the [|__Colonial Continental Army__] after the [|__Second Continental Congress__]. Washington was in charge of preparing 14,000 men for war. In 1775 war broke out between the Washington's troops and Great Britain. Washington was well respected and fully trusted by all of his men. He lead his troops across the Delaware River and into a success at the Battle of Trenton. He was over all a great General judging b the opinions of all of his men and most of all his contribution to the victory of The Revolutionary War. == || || ==[|Colonel] [|Johann Rahl] was the commander of the [|Hessian] troops at the Battle of Trenton. He was mortally wounded at this battle and died after surrendering to General Washington. History states that Rahl was the reason for the Hessian defeat because when the American troops attacked, he and many in his command were drunk from celebration the night before. He was also guilty of underestimating the power of George Washington's [|military]. He had previously fought in the [|Seven Years War] and was highly respected, and in fact, liked by the men he commanded. Before this battle, he had had thirty-six years of active military service so he was in every way a professional soldier. == ||
 * ==__**George Washington**__ ==
 * [[image:rall.jpg width="263" height="373" caption="Colonel Rahl"]] || ==**__Colonel Rahl__** ==