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∙ 12y agoclarify this question? Is it overall commander of the Hessian troops in America or the commander of the Hessian detatchment in Trenton when Washington cross the Delaware on Christmas Eve? Trenton commander wasn't a general.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoGeneral George Washington is well remembered for crossing the Delaware to defeat the Hessians at Trenton. He caught the Hessians by surprise, as they didn't believe anyone foolish enough to cross a river into an occupied city.
George Washington knew that the Hessians were not ready for an attack. He also knew a victory was needed to give the patriots hope. On December 25, 1776, he and his patriots crossed the Delaware River and marched to Trenton, New Jersey. There, the Hessians were surprised Washington was there to attack. General Washington and his men captured more than 900 Hessians as a Christmas gift. Surprise, surprise!
The Delaware.
General Washington's troops crossed the Delaware River in boats and barges.
The Hessians
Colonel Rahl commanded the Hessians defeated by General Washington at Trenton, following the night crossing of the Delaware River in December, 1776. The Hessians were excellent German soldiers allied to the British army. They did not expect to be attacked at Christmastime, and they were caught by surprise. The war had been going somewhat badly for the Continental Army until this victory. Colonel Rahl was mortally wounded and died after surrendering to General Washington.
General Washington scored his first victory at Trenton. He, along with the Continental army, beat the Hessians during the Revolutionary War.
The patriots achieved their victories at Trenton and Princeton with surprise. George Washington crossed the Delaware River to attack the Hessian garrison at Trenton. The Hessians were unprepared for the attack and were routed. When British General Cornwallis attacked with his army, in order to trap the Continental Army, Washington lit fake campfires in order to trick the British into thinking that his men were still in Trenton. Then, Washington secretly led his army north to attack Princeton, which Cornwallis had weakened in order to attack Washington's army at Trenton.
He wasn't an American at the time, but George Washington crossed the Delaware River and attacked a large force consisting of German mercenaries.
The Delaware.
Yes the Hessians were mercenaries for the British military during the American Revolution. The Hessians where captured when General George Washington crossed the Delaware River. They surprise attacked the soldiers on December 26th 1776. The soldiers who were still sleeping off the Christmas celebrations were captured and taken prisoner. While this was not a major victory, it helped the Continental army because the end of the year was when the enlistments for the army were up. The victory showed the soldiers that they could actually win battles.
George Washington crossed the Delaware river and attacked the British at Trenton NJ, in order to have a victory and to show that he was still a fighting general, who could win a battle, and eventually win a revolution.