General Ewing, was to cross over at Trenton ferry, and by stopping the bridge over the Assumpink, cut off the enemy's retreat; while the third, under General Cadwallader, was to cross lower down, from Bristol over to Burlington. Had the plan been executed at all points it must have resulted in the capture of the whole line of British cantonments, but owing to a variety of obstacles it was but partially successful.
The evening of Christmas Day was selected, because it was very probable that the troops of the enemy would be more than ordinarily given up to festivity and indulgence, and hence would be, to a considerable extent, off their guard. The night proved to be most intensely cold ; the Delaware was choked with masses of floating ice; the current was strong; and the wind blew keenly and sharply. The soldiers, exhorted to be firm, remembered, with unconquerable indignation, the outrage and injury inflicted upon the people of New Jersey by the insolent enemy, and the no less insolent and vindictive tories. They were now ready to do or die for their houses and their country.
Washington had expected that the passage of his division might have been effected by midnight, but the dreadful weather, the encumbered state of the river, and the difficulty of getting across the artillery, occasioned so much delay, that it was four o'clock before the whole body were in marching order on the opposite shore. The darkness of a winter morning was still further deepened by a heavy fog, and the road was rendered slippery, by a frosty mist. The snow and hail beat upon them during the whole march. As it would be daylight before they could reach Trenton, a surprise of that post was now out of the question; there was, however, no alternative left but to proceed. Washington took the upper road, while Sullivan commanded the lower; and about eight in the morning, both parties encountered the pickets of the enemy, who, keeping up a fire from behind the houses, fell back upon the town, and aroused their comrades. The Americans followed them up so closely, that they were able to open a battery at the end of the mainstreet, before the astounded Hessians could offer any effectual resistance.
Washington's situation had, in reality, been a very critical one. Rahl had received warning from Grant, at Princeton, of the intended attack, and of the time when it was to be made. That officer was accordingly on the alert. About dusk, on the 25th, a party had fired upon the picket, and immediately retired.[1] Nothing further resulting at the time, Rahl supposed that the attack had been given up, and as the night was very cold and stormy, he allowed the soldiers to retire to quarters, and lay aside their arms. This was the very time that Washington was crossing the Delaware.
It is said, that on the morning of the surprise, Rahl, who had been carousing all night after an entertainment, was still engaged at cards, until aroused, at
- ↑ Gordon, (vol. ii., p. 153) states, that Captain Washington was in command of a scouting party, of about fifty soldiers, and performed this exploit without being aware of the advancing force under the commander-in-chief.
