Order of battle of the Battle of Trenton explained

The Battle of Trenton was fought on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War campaign for New Jersey. In a surprise attack, the Continental Army led by George Washington attacked the winter quarters of a brigade composed primarily of German troops from Hesse-Kassel in Trenton, New Jersey.[1] The Hessian brigade was under the command of Colonel Johann Rall; he died of wounds sustained in the battle, and about two thirds of his men were taken prisoner.[2] It was the first major victory after a long string of defeats that had resulted in the loss of New York City, and was a significant boost to American morale.[3] [4] It was followed by two more American victories, first in a second battle at Trenton on January 2, 1777, and then on January 3 at Princeton.[5]

Most of the German brigade comprised three Hessian regiments: those of Rall, von Lossberg, and von Knyphausen. The remainder of the brigade consisted of artillery corps attached to each regiment, a detachment of Jäger, and a small company of British dragoons. The attacking American army consisted of units from the Continental Army, including companies of its artillery, and a few companies of militia. Additional units were intended to also participate either in the attack, or in diversions to draw attention from the main thrust; these units failed to cross the icy Delaware River and did not participate in the action.

Hesse-Kassel and British Army

After the war broke out in 1775, the British government realized that it would need more troops than it could raise on its own to fight the war, so it sought to hire troops from willing third parties in Europe.[6] All of these hired troops came from German principalities of the Holy Roman Empire. The single largest contingent, with more than 12,000 arriving in North America in 1776, came from the Landgraviate of Hessen-Kassel.[7] The garrison that was quartered at Trenton was a brigade of about 1,400 men, almost all from Hesse-Kassel, under the command of Colonel Johann Rall. The brigade was composed of three regiments, each of which had an artillery company attached. Also included in the brigade were a company of Hessian Jäger (basically light infantry) and a small company from the British 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons.[8]

The Hessian regiments were named for their formal commanding officers. Since many general officers were also commissioned as colonels of regiments, they were often not present with the regiment, or were busy with their other duties even if the regiment fell under their higher-level command. Since Rall commanded the entire brigade, his regiment's operations were directed by its lieutenant colonel, as were the regiments of Lieutenant Generals Wilhelm von Knyphausen and Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg, the second and third ranking general officers in the North American forces of Hesse-Kassel after Lieutenant General Leopold Philip von Heister.[9]

The information in this table is based primarily on the reports of surviving Hessian officers submitted during inquiries into the disaster demanded by Frederick II, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel,[10] with some estimates provided by David Hackett Fischer and other historians. The reported strengths do not include the 28 regimental officers.[8] The casualty figures are from an official Hessian return (a formal report on the unit's strength) that also does not include officers. Officers killed or who died of their wounds included Col. Johann Rall and Maj. Friedrich von Dechow, the acting commander of the Knyphausen regiment.

Hessian and British units
UnitCommanderUnit sizeCasualtiesNotes
Rall's BrigadeCol. Johann Rall1,35417 killed
78 wounded
868 captured
Grenadier Regiment RallLt. Col. Balthasar Brethauer (acting)51212 killed
10 wounded
290 captured
This regiment was the "regiment of the day" and had consequently been on alert.[11] It was part of a counterattack to recover some Hessian guns that had been abandoned, during which Rall went down with a mortal wound.[12]
Fusilier Regiment von LossbergLt. Col. Franz Scheffer (acting)3454 killed
55 wounded
260 captured
Lossberg's regiment managed to regroup with Rall in an orchard east of town, and participated in the counterattack to retrieve the Hessian guns. It suffered the highest number of killed and wounded; "lost in this affair 70 killed and wounded".[13]
Fusilier Regiment von KnyphausenMaj. Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow (acting)4291 killed
13 wounded
310 captured[14]
This regiment attempted to escape to the south across the Assunpink Creek, but was blocked first at the bridge and then in attempts to ford the creek.[15] Fifty of its men swam across the icy creek and reached Princeton ten hours later.
ArtilleryLt. Friedrich Fischer6 guns total; personnel are counted with their assigned regimentsCasualties are counted with their assigned regimentsMany of the artillerymen escaped across the Assunpink Creek bridge after abandoning their guns early in the battle.
Lt. Johann Engelhardt
JägersLt. Friedrich von Gröthausen50 estimatedStryker does not report any casualties for this unit.This company retreated across the Assunpink Creek bridge after skirmishing with the van of Sullivan's division.[16]
British 16th (Queen's) Light DragoonsNone listed18 estimatedStryker does not report any casualties for this unit.This company was stationed near the Assunpink Creek bridge and escaped across it early in the action.[17]
Totals1,38222 killed
83 wounded
891 captured
Unit size includes 28 officers not counted in rank and file. Casualties include the following officer casualties: 5 killed, 5 wounded, 23 captured. Captured includes the wounded; the entire Hessian officer corps was captured or killed.[18]
Unless otherwise cited, the information in this table is provided by Fischer, p. 396.

Continental Army

Washington organized his army into two columns for the attack on Trenton. After crossing the Delaware River, Brigadier General Adam Stephen's troops guarded the bridgehead while the remaining troops crossed. The divisions marched together for several miles before taking different roads into Trenton.[19] Stephen's men led Major General Nathanael Greene's division southward along an inland road (which was accompanied by Washington and his entourage), while Major General John Sullivan's division followed a road along the river, intending to prevent the Hessians from retreating across the Assunpink Creek.[20]

Most of the figures in this listing are derived from a return prepared by George Washington on December 22, 1776, four days before the battle. Historian David Hackett Fischer includes estimates made by either himself or other historians for strength counts that were not provided in Washington's return. The counts include all officers and musicians, in addition to the rank and file marked as present and fit for duty.[21] Washington required everyone to carry muskets, including officers and musicians who did not normally carry them.[22] Also, a few Marines under Major Samuel Nicholas were in the battle.[23]

American casualties in the battle were very light, and are therefore not listed in the table below. Two Virginia officers, Capt. William Washington and Lt. James Monroe of the 3rd Virginia Regiment, were injured, as was James Buxton, an ensign in the 4th Virginia Regiment.[24] (Monroe, the future United States president, suffered a wound to the neck that very nearly killed him. His life was saved by a doctor who volunteered his services to the army as it marched through New Jersey that morning.)[25] Two privates are known to have died in the battle, and one account includes mention of two men dying from exposure on the march. The most pessimistic estimate of American casualties lists four killed and eight wounded,[26] although Fischer points out that many more American troops probably died of non-combat causes (including illness, hypothermia, malnutrition, and exhaustion) in the days and weeks following the campaign of late December and early January.[27]

Continental Army
UnitCommanderUnit sizeNotes
Commander-in-ChiefGen. George WashingtonWashington rode with Greene's division, and observed the battle from high ground above the town near the artillery companies.
Commander-in-Chief's GuardCapt. Caleb Gibbsabout 75This unit's assigned task was the protection of Washington and his papers.
SecretaryLt. Col. Robert Hanson Harrison
Washington's aides-de-campLt. Tench Tilghman
Lt. Col. Richard Cary
Lt. Col. Samuel Blachley Webb
Adjutant GeneralCol. Joseph ReedReed accompanied militia Brig. Gen. John Cadwalader's brigade in its failed crossing of the Delaware.[28]
Quartermaster GeneralCol. Stephen Moylan
Commissary GeneralLt. Col. Joseph Trumbull
Paymaster GeneralCol. William Palfrey
Muster Master GeneralCol. Gunning Bedford
Director of the General HospitalDr. John Morgan
Chief EngineerCol. Rufus Putnam
Greene's DivisionMaj. Gen. Nathanael Greene2,690Washington rode with this division.
Stephen's BrigadeBrig. Gen. Adam Stephen541This brigade served as bridgehead and advance guard,[29] and formed part of the center of Greene's line for the attack, along with Stirling's brigade.[30]
4th Virginia RegimentLt. Col. Robert Lawson229Col. Thomas Elliott was absent.[31]
5th Virginia RegimentCol. Charles Scott129
6th Virginia RegimentCol. Mordecai Buckner191
Stirling's BrigadeBrig. Gen. William Alexander (Lord Stirling)673This brigade formed part of the center of Greene's line for the attack, along with Stephen's brigade.
1st Virginia RegimentCapt. John Fleming185No field officers were present.[32]
1st Delaware RegimentCol. John Haslet108Col. Haslet was one of several men that fell into the Delaware during the crossing.[33]
3rd Virginia RegimentCol. George Weedon181
1st Pennsylvania Rifle RegimentMaj. Ennion Williams199Col. Samuel Miles and Lt. Col. James Piper were captured in Battle of Long Island. According to Stryker, this unit included the remnants of Atlee's Pennsylvania State Musketry Battalion (decimated at Long Island),[34] while Fischer places those remnants with the 6th Virginia Regiment.
Mercer's BrigadeBrig. Gen. Hugh Mercer838This brigade lined up on Greene's right for the attack.
20th Connecticut RegimentCol. John Durkee313
1st Maryland RegimentLt. Col. Francis Ware163Col. John Stone was recruiting in Maryland.[35]
5th Massachusetts RegimentMaj. Ezra Putnam115Fischer lists Col. Israel Hutchinson in command; Stryker says Hutchinson and Lt. Col. Benjamin Holden were absent.
Bradley's Battalion, Connecticut State TroopsCapt. Benjamin Mills142Fischer lists Col. Philip Burr Bradley in command; Stryker indicates all field officers were absent.
Maryland and Virginia Rifle RegimentCapt. Alexander Lawson Smith (Maryland element)Capt. Gabriel Long (Virginia element)[36] 105Lt. Col. Moses Rawlings and Maj. Otho Holland Williams were wounded and captured at the Battle of Fort Washington.[37]
Fermoy's BrigadeBrig. Gen. Matthias Alexis Roche de Fermoy638This brigade lined up on Greene's left for the attack. At a key point in the battle, Washington ordered the brigade to extend Greene's line further to its left to avoid a potential flanking maneuver.[38]
1st Pennsylvania RegimentCol. Edward Hand254Hand's men were first assigned to cover the Princeton road.[39]
German ContinentalsCol. Nicholas Haussegger374Near the end of the battle, these German immigrants called out to the Hessians in German to lay down their weapons.[40]
Sullivan's DivisionMaj. Gen. John Sullivan2,624 estimatedGeneral Sullivan accepted the surrender of Maj. von Dechow, who was mortally wounded and seeking safety.[41]
Glover's BrigadeCol. John Glover1,259 estimatedThis brigade crossed the Assunpink Creek and took up positions on the far side of the bridge to prevent the enemy's escape across the bridge.[42]
14th (Marblehead) RegimentMaj. William R. LeeFischer lists Col. John Glover in command; Stryker says Major Lee commanded while Glover led the brigade.[43]
3rd Massachusetts RegimentCol. William Shepard
19th Connecticut RegimentCol. Charles Webb
23rd Continental RegimentCol. John Bailey
26th Continental RegimentCol. Loammi Baldwin
Sargent's BrigadeCol. Paul Dudley Sargent865 estimatedThis brigade also crossed the Assunpink Creek bridge and took up positions above the bridge to catch men trying to ford the creek.
16th Continental RegimentCapt. James PerryFischer lists Sargent in command; Stryker indicates Perry, the next senior officer, commanded while Sargent led the brigade.
Ward's Regiment Connecticut ContinentalsCol. Andrew Ward
6th Battalion Connecticut State TroopsCol. John ChesterStryker claims this unit did not cross the river.[44]
13th Continental RegimentLt. Col. Ebenezer ClapCol. Joseph Read was absent.
1st Regiment MacDougall's New York ContinentalsCapt. John JohnsonThe colonelcy was vacant with the promotion of Alexander MacDougall to brigadier general, and the other command positions were also vacant.
3rd New York RegimentLt. Col. Baron Friedrich von WeissenfelsCol. Peter Gansevoort was absent.
St. Clair's BrigadeBrig. Gen. Arthur St. Clair500 estimatedThis brigade entered the lower end of town, near the bridge, and engaged the Hessians on King Street.
5th Continental RegimentCol. John StarkStark's men led the initial attack against the jäger outpost on the river road.[45]
8th Continental RegimentCol. Enoch Poor
2nd Continental RegimentCol. Israel GilmanStryker lists Gilman as Lt. Col., with a vacant colonelcy. The previous colonel, James Reed had been promoted to brigadier general, and was sick at Peekskill, New York.[46]
15th Continental RegimentCol. John Paterson[47] --at battle-->,463
ArtilleryCol. Henry Knox418 estimated; 16 gunsKnox oversaw and coordinated the crossing of the Delaware River.[48]
New York Company of Continental ArtilleryCapt. Sebastian Baumann3 guns, 80–85 menMarching with Greene's division, this company and others occupied high ground that commanded Trenton's main roads.[49]
Massachusetts Company of Continental ArtilleryCapt. Lt. Winthrop Sargent2 guns, 55 men estimatedCapt. Thomas Pierce was absent, wounded.[50] This unit marched with Sullivan's division, and was eventually stationed on south shore of the Assunpink Creek. Its gunfire obstructed attempts by the Knyphausen regiment to ford the creek.[51]
New York State Company of ArtilleryCapt. Alexander Hamilton2 guns, 36 menMarching with Greene's division, this company occupied high ground that commanded Queen Street, one of Trenton's main roads.
Eastern Company, New Jersey State ArtilleryCapt. Daniel Neil2 guns, 63 menThis unit marched with Sullivan's division.[52]
Western Company, New Jersey State ArtilleryCapt. Samuel Hugg2 guns, 55 men estimatedThis unit marched with Sullivan's division.
2nd Company, Pennsylvania State ArtilleryCapt. Thomas Forrest2 guns, 52 menMarching with Greene's division, this company occupied high ground that commanded King Street, one of Trenton's main roads.[53]
2nd Company, Philadelphia AssociatorsCapt. Joseph Moulder3 guns, 85 menThis unit marched with Sullivan's division.
Philadelphia Troop of Light HorseCapt. Samuel Morris25 cavalry[54] According to Stryker, this unit rode with Greene's division; it is not clear from sources if it was brigaded in any way. Fischer lists the unit as "not with the Continental Army".[55] Its assignments included patrolling the area around Trenton in the aftermath of the battle and the retreat across the river.[56]
Total Size5,422 estimated
Unless otherwise cited, the information in this table is provided by Fischer, pp. 390–393.

Other American units in the campaign

Although the main Continental Army force was the only American formation involved in the attack on Trenton, Washington had planned two additional crossings of the Delaware to assist in the attack. Pennsylvania militia Brigadier General John Cadwalader's brigade, composed of militia companies called associators and a number of smaller Continental Army regiments, did get some units across the river at Dunk's Ferry, but ice jams on the far side made it impossible to cross everyone, including Cadwalader and the artillery, and the effort was abandoned.[57] Pennsylvania brigadier James Ewing was unable to cross any of his troops (militia companies that had been assigned to the reserve force known as the Flying Camp earlier in the year) due to difficult icy conditions at the Trenton Ferry.[58] Ewing's artillery did fire across the river during the battle.

Other American units
UnitCommanderUnit sizeNotes
Cadwalader's BrigadeBrig. Gen. John Cadwalader2,322 estimatedSome crossed at Dunk's Ferry but then withdrew.
Philadelphia AssociatorsCapt. George Henry[59] 1,500 estimatedThe Associators (or at least some of them) and the Delaware militia were the only troops that successfully crossed the Delaware. They returned after it was clear the artillery could not be crossed, upon which Cadwalader and Hitchcock abandoned the effort.[60]
Morgan's Regiment, Philadelphia MilitiaCol. Jacob Morgan
Bayard's Regiment, Philadelphia MilitiaCol. John Bayard
Cadwalader's Regiment, Philadelphia MilitiaLt. Col. John Nixon
Matlack's Rifle Battalion, Philadelphia MilitiaCol. Timothy Matlack
Kent County, Delaware Militia CompanyCapt. Thomas Rodney
Two artillery companies
Hitchcock's BrigadeCol. Daniel Hitchcock822 estimated
Nixon's Regiment, Massachusetts ContinentalsCol. John Nixon156[61] The numbers from Hitchcock's brigade were published in Wright from the General Return of 22 December 1776 and are hard to read.
Varnum's Regiment, Rhode Island Continentals (a.k.a. 9th Continentals)Col. James Varnum138
Hitchcock's Regiment, Rhode Island Continentals (a.k.a. 11th Continentals)Maj. Israel Angell114Angell commanded because Hitchcock led the brigade.
Little's Regiment, Massachusetts ContinentalsLt. Col. William Henshaw[62] 168Col. Moses Little was sick at Peekskill, New York.[63]
Lippitt's Regiment, Rhode Island Line[64] Col. Christopher Lippitt171Wright called this unit a Continental Army regiment, whereas Fischer listed it as militia. It was, in fact, a militia regiment, originally raised for service in Rhode Island, which had been called into Continental service.
Ewing's Brigade, Pennsylvania Militia of the Flying CampBrig. Gen. James Ewing1,000–1,200This brigade was to cross at the Trenton Ferry, directly across from the town. Fischer lists fewer units than Stryker does, estimating the brigade to have 826 men.
Cumberland County RegimentCol. Frederick Watts
Cumberland County RegimentCol. William Montgomery
Lancaster County RegimentCol. Jacob Klotz
York County RegimentCol. Richard McCallister
Chester County RegimentCol. James Moore
Detachment, Bucks County RegimentCol. Joseph HartThis unit is not listed by Fischer, but is listed by Stryker as part of Ewing's brigade. Stryker estimates that this unit and Dickinson's New Jersey militia combined numbered between 300 and 500 men.[65]
New Jersey militiaBrig. Gen. Philemon DickinsonThese units are not listed by Fischer, but are listed by Stryker as part of Ewing's brigade.
Detachment, 1st Regiment Hunterdon County, New Jersey militiaCol. Isaac Smith
Detachment, 2nd Regiment Middlesex County, New Jersey militiaCol. John Neilson
Unless otherwise cited, the information in this table is provided by Fischer, p. 392.

References

. David Hackett Fischer. Washington's Crossing. New York. Oxford University Press. 0-19-518159-X. Fischer. 2004. Washington's Crossing (book).

Notes and References

  1. Ketchum, pp. 239–255
  2. Ketchum, pp. 255–268
  3. Fischer, p. 257
  4. Ketchum, pp. 273–275
  5. Fischer, pp. 287–343
  6. Fischer, p. 52
  7. Eelking, p. 23
  8. Fischer, p. 396
  9. Eelking, pp. 283–284
  10. Ketchum, pp. 325–326
  11. Fischer, p. 240
  12. Fischer, p. 248
  13. Fischer, p. 249
  14. Stryker, p. 408
  15. Fischer, pp. 251–252
  16. Fischer, p. 254
  17. Fischer, p. 253
  18. Fischer, p. 405
  19. Fischer, p. 222
  20. Fischer, p. 230
  21. Fischer, pp. 390–393
  22. Fischer, p. 207
  23. Fischer, p. 330
  24. Fischer, p. 221
  25. Fischer, p. 247
  26. Fischer, p. 406
  27. Fischer, p. 255
  28. Fischer, p. 215
  29. Fischer, pp. 220, 222
  30. Fischer, p. 235
  31. Stryker, p. 353
  32. Stryker, p. 351
  33. Fischer, p. 219
  34. Stryker, p. 350
  35. Stryker, p. 352
  36. Hentz, p. 135
  37. Hentz, p. 136
  38. Fischer, p. 246
  39. Fischer, p. 237
  40. Fischer, p. 251
  41. Stryker, p. 179
  42. Fischer, p. 252
  43. Stryker, p. 356
  44. Stryker, p. 355
  45. Fischer, p. 239
  46. Stryker, p. 354
  47. Egleston, pp. 98<
  48. Fischer, p. 218
  49. Fischer, p. 244
  50. Stryker, p. 357
  51. Stryker, p. 178
  52. Stryker, p. 142
  53. Stryker, p. 158
  54. Stryker, p. 358
  55. Fischer, p. 392
  56. Stryker, p. 208
  57. Fischer, pp. 214–215
  58. Ketchum, p. 268
  59. Dwyer, p. 243
  60. Dwyer, p. 244
  61. Wright, p. 96
  62. Proc. Mass. Hist. Society, Vol 15, p. 72
  63. Johnston, p. 189
  64. Wright, p. 230
  65. Stryker, p. 347