All is calm.

All is not calm.

Okay, nothing's call.

It's Christmas.

George Washington and the Continental Army are on their way.

I'm talking about the battles of Trenton and Princeton, Christmas time conflicts that may have saved the American Revolution.

In the late fall of 17 76 things were not going George Washington's way.

His Continental Army had suffered setback after setback.

The British had driven the Americans out of Manhattan, taking 2000 Patriots prisoner.

Washington himself had narrowly avoided capture.

Morale was low, and the American colonists doubted the ability of the Continental Army to fend off the bridge.

Perhaps this revolution thing wasn't such a good idea.

After all, some American troops deserted, and as their year long enlistments expired, war and more of them were leaving the Army.

Let's face it, who wants to play for the losing team?

Washington knew he had to do something.

Revolution would be over, so he decided to attack Trenton, New Jersey After their defeat in New York, the Americans had fled across the Hudson River, New Jersey, then further south across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.

Trenton was held by 1400 Hessians German soldiers for higher on England's payroll.

Washington played a three pronged assault on the Hessians.

General James UN's men would prevent the Hessians from escaping.

Colonel John Cod Walters militia would prevent reinforcements from arriving, and Washington's 2400 troops would attack and a head on assault.

On Christmas night of 17 76 Washington's troops crossed the Delaware.

You know, the famous painting of G.

W.

Standing in the middle of a boat in the middle of a snowstorm.

It didn't happen exactly like that because he would have fallen over the side.

But Washington's crossing was a pivotal moment in a pivotal fight, thanks to bad winter weather on Lee.

Washington's forces made it through, but the Americans pressed forward as he approached the town.

Washington split his troops into they flank the enemy positions while American cannonballs rained down.

The Hessians were totally surprised they were expecting an attack on Christmas of all days.

I mean, come on, guys, it's Christmas.

The Americans routed the Hessians, killing their commander, Colonel Johann Raul, and capturing over 900 of his troops.

Only two Americans died in the attack from exposure.

Despite the victory in Trenton, Washington knew he didn't have enough troops to hold the town, so he withdrew back across the Delaware.

Then word came that a large British force under General Cornwallis and Grant was marching south towards Trenton from Princeton, New Jersey.

Oh, think faster with Washington.

George convinced his soldiers to stay on for six more weeks.

Don't quit yet, guys.

The general took his troops back across the Delaware and into Trenton on December 29th.

On January 2nd, Cornwallis is Army arrived.

The Americans were on the other side of a little creek called the ass in pink.

Do not laugh at that name.

That is a real name.

Its ass in pink.

Okay.

Cornwallis tried three times to cross the bridge over ass in pink, but was repelled each time.

But he figured he had Washington's army trapped.

He could even see the campfires of the American army.

But I sneaky George.

The campfires were a trick.

A decoy.

Washington had left a few 100 men to tend the fires and make noise with picks and shovels.

The rest of his force hiked the 12 miles up the Princeton in the middle of the night when Cornwallis is forces awoke on January 3rd surprise.

No Continental Army Washington troops were almost a Princeton, but they weren't there yet.

The Americans encountered British units south of Princeton, and fierce fighting begins.

American General Hugh Mercer was killed and the American forces, starting to give way went back that I n rides Tricky George Washington right now think of it.

Pulls fine ever kidney With British fled and Washington took prisoners from the small British force still in town.

The Americans had won the battle.

The victories in Trenton and Princeton robbed the British troops and supplies and slowed their plans to quash the revolution.

But most importantly, they provided a huge morale boost for the young would be nation.

The Americans prove to themselves that they could mix it up with the British and that George Washington was the one to leave.