George Washington Triumphant

George Washington Triumphant

Synopsis

The last week of 1776 was a crucial moment in the American independence. For that year the army of the new self-governing United States of America had been bested at every conflict. On Christmas Eve the British generals Cornwallis and Howe felt quite confident that their tactical and numerical superiorities had extinguished the American cause. By the end of the day on January 3, 1777, the situation had dramatically changed. General George Washington had won a stunning series of victories in New Jersey; culminating in a brief but decisive fight in the town of Princeton on the third day of the new year.

The Battle of Princeton did not drastically alter the course of history. As the final stroke in a series of blows against England, however, it helped hold off the progress of the British strategy and allowed the United States to finish its first year of fighting with a triumphant. It was one of General Washington’s finest hours.

The string of Continental victories began on Christmas, when Washington and his troops, having been driven out of New Jersey, left their squalid camps on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, came back across it in a violent storm, and, after a wretched forced march, surprised the Hessian garrison in Trenton, capturing more than 900 men. This stunning reversal temporarily saved the Continental cause, but the rebels could not hope to hold the ground they had taken. Though they had overwhelmed the Hessians, General Charles Cornwallis was stationed nearby with a huge army at his back.

Thesis

General Washington Help to turn the war in American favor. His victories and a few strategically mistakes by British generals allowed him to prevent defeat and go on the offensive.

Historical Significance

Battle of Princeton helped hold off the progress of the British strategy and allowed the United States to finish off 1776, fighting. Cornwallis heard of the debacle at Trenton so he led his men on a 50-mile