Battle of Iron Works Hill

Battle of Iron Works Hill
Date December 23–26, 1776 Location Mount Holly, New Jersey Result Hessian tactical victory American strategic victory
Belligerents
United States	Hessians
Commanders
Colonel Samuel Griffin	Carl von Donop
Strength
600	2,000

The Battle of Iron Works Hill took place from December 23 to 26, 1776 during the American War of Independence, which took place just beyond the Delaware River at Mount Holly between a decoy American force under Colonel Samuel Griffin and a force of Hessian mercenaries under Carl von Donop, who were fighting for the British.^[1] While the American force of 600 was eventually forced from their positions by a force of 2,000 Hessians, the absence of the latter and their commander from the Battle of Trenton was a contributary factor in the victory there for George Washington.^[1][2]

Background

On December 25, 1776, Washington and a small army of 2,400 men crossed the Delaware River at McKonkey's Ferry, Pennsylvania on their way to attack the Hessian garrison of about 900 in Trenton, New Jersey. Washington's final plan was for a three pronged attack on Trenton with his troops at the center. A second column under Lieutenant Colonel John Cadwalader was to cross at Dunk's Ferry, near Bristol, Pennsylvania and engage the Hessian outpost at Mount Holly, New Jersey. A third column under Brigadier General James Ewing was to cross at Trenton Ferry and hold a position just south of Trenton in order to prevent the escape of the Hessian force in Trenton. Once Trenton was secure, the combined army would move against the British posts in Princeton and New Brunswick. In order to draw part of the Hessian force away, Washington dispatched Colonel Samuel Griffin and 600 men to pose as a far larger force at Mount Holly.^[2]

Battle

Donop had received reports that a force of 3,000 had been amassing at Mount Holly for an attack on his positions, and he led his force of 2,000 down from Trenton on December 22.^[2] Upon arrival, still believing his force faced one of superior numbers, Donop engaged in an artillery duel with the American forces on Iron Works Hill for the next three days,^[3] whereupon the Americans vacated their positions.

Aftermath

The Battle of Trenton gave the Continental Congress a new confidence because it proved American forces could defeat regulars. It also increased the re-enlistments in the Continental Army forces. The Americans had now proved themselves against a disciplined European army and the fear the Hessians inspired earlier that year in New York was broken. As Captain Johann Ewald [of the Jägers], who was with von Donop in Mt Holly at the time of the attack, said of the Americans later, "We must now give them the honor of fortifications". Mount Holly also became an integral town in New Jersey following the battle, becoming the state capital in 1779.^[1]

Notes

References

• Di Ionno, Mark A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail: For Families and History Buffs, 2000 ISBN 0813527708
• US History Publishers New Jersey: A Guide to Its Present and Past, ISBN 1603540296

Further reading

• Rosenfeld, Lucy D. History Walks in New Jersey: Exploring the Heritage of the Garden State, 2006 ISBN 0813539692