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In December of 1776, the American army was battling for its life.  A devastating defeat at Brandywine in September had threatened to destroy the army’s resolve.  In that one battle, nearly one-fourth of our army was killed.  The rest of the fall, General George Washington had worked hard to inflict damage on the vastly superior British force, yet stay out of a full frontal battle, which he was sure to lose.  As winter drew near, fewer and fewer of the men had re-enlisted to fight for the liberty of the young American nation.  In a few days it would be Christmas.  If Washington could not work a major victory before the first of the New Year, his army would almost surely disintegrate.  But the truth was, he had little with which to fight.  Not only was he short on soldiers, he was even shorter on supplies and ammunition for his rag-tag army.

It was then he decided on one of the boldest moves of the War.  He would attack the British force at Trenton, hoping to free New Jersey from British control; and in so doing, greatly boost the morale of his men and the American people.  But it was a bold gamble.  The weather, the lack of supplies and munitions, plus the very well supplied and entrenched British force, all meant that it would take the help and protection of God Almighty if this effort was to be successful.  Abbott, in his biography of Washington says, “One can imagine the fervor with which he pleaded with God to come to the aid of his little army.” (George Washington, J. C. Abott, Dobbs and Mead, 1875, p. 303)  If he lost, Americans would live as slaves to a tyrannical King George.  Washington himself would most surely be hung—if he could even survive the battle!

Knowing all this all too well, Washington made Continue reading →