In times past, though not long ago, young boys ventured into the woods with sticks and played war. Today, it is not so common. But decades ago it was customary for boys to relive the battles of American history. They would play war heroes. They would pretend that they were Washington at Trenton, Davy Crockett at the Alamo, Lee at Chancellorsville or Roosevelt at San Juan Hill. There was a time in America when boys knew the names and the stories of the great American military commanders. It is time that the youth of America get reacquainted with the epic battles and valorous heroes of American history.
One of the most epic battles in American history was the Battle of Trenton, fought in 1776 during the American Revolution. At this time in the conflict, George Washington’s Continental Army was suffering defeat after defeat. The morale among the Colonists was low and many planned to leave the fight for freedom when their enlistment period expired in early 1777. If Washington was going to have an army come spring he needed a winter victory. He decided to move towards Trenton, New Jersey on Christmas Eve night, 1776. That night, he crossed the freezing Delaware River and marched towards Trenton. Meanwhile in Trenton, the Hessian troops under Johann Rall were settling down for bed. (Hessians were Germans who fought for the British during the war.) A loyalist had seen Washington’s forces on the march and had come to warn Rall. Rall was busy playing cards with his officers and didn’t want to be disturbed. Instead he was given a note warning him of the attack but he thrust this note into his pocket without paying any attention to it.
In the early morning of Christmas Day, the American Colonists charged into Trenton and routed the Hessians. Rall and several other officers were killed and hundreds of Hessians were captured. Washington had the victory he had hoped for and the cause of liberty was preserved. Later, Washington would trounce the British in nearby Princeton. Together, the battles of Trenton and Princeton altered the course of the War for American Independence.
God’s providence safely preserved Washington and his troops as they crossed the Delaware. God’s providence also ensured a complete surprise attack through Rall’s foolish incompetence. God’s providence is the reason we stand here today as Americans.