Devil Doc
When Death smiles, Corpsmen smile back
It was on this day in 1776 that George Washington led a surprise attack on a group of Hessian soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey. The plan was to cross the Delaware River under the cover of darkness on Christmas night. It took about 14 hours for all of Washington's 2,400 soldiers to cross the river, and they finally reached the east bank of the Delaware at around 3:00 a.m. on this day. It was snowing that morning and bitterly cold, and they still had a 10-mile march to Trenton. Two men who stopped to rest along the way froze to death. Washington had wanted to arrive while it was still dark, but they reached the camp just after sunrise. It didn't matter, though. Most of the Hessians were still asleep, and they were taken completely by surprise. Within an hour, all the Hessian regiments had surrendered.
It was the first major victory Washington's army had managed, and it helped inspire more men to enlist in the Continental Army. Only two American soldiers were wounded in the fighting, one of which was a young lieutenant named James Monroe, who would go on to become the fifth president of the United States.
Doc.
It was the first major victory Washington's army had managed, and it helped inspire more men to enlist in the Continental Army. Only two American soldiers were wounded in the fighting, one of which was a young lieutenant named James Monroe, who would go on to become the fifth president of the United States.
Doc.
