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Ten Crucial Days 250

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The ten days designated as "The Ten Crucial Days of the American Revolution" began December 25, 1776, and concluded January 3, 1777. These days saved the Revolution from looming defeat and set in motion six years of events that resulted in independence for the thirteen united states. Three pivotal battles — the Crossing and Trenton, the Second Battle of Trenton, and Princeton — changed the course of history. Read on to learn more.

Chapter I  ·  December 25, 1776

The Crossing — Washington Plans His Counterstroke

The condition of the Revolution at the close of 1776 had been described as the "times that tried men's souls" by pamphleteer Thomas Paine, who had marched with Washington's army through November and early December. Washington understood that if he could not reverse the successes of Generals Howe and Cornwallis — who had seized control of New Jersey and were threatening Philadelphia — the disintegrating Continental Army could never be rebuilt to continue the fight for the independence declared just five months prior.

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country."

— Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, December 19, 1776

Washington had avoided any major battlefield encounter with the significantly larger British army through November and December while desperately seeking reinforcements. The combination of British forces splitting into dispersed winter cantonments on December 14, and the arrival of substantial reinforcements for Washington by December 21, enabled him to plan a bold strike against the Hessian garrison at Trenton — and, if fortune held, continue driving the British from all of New Jersey.


On the night of December 25, Washington began crossing his troops to New Jersey at McConkey's and Johnson's Ferries, marching them toward Trenton under the cover of a brutal nor'easter. Two additional crossings south of Trenton failed due to severe ice conditions. Because smaller Continental parties had crossed daily in previous weeks to harass the Hessian garrison, the true shock of the December 26 dawn assault was not the attack itself — but the overwhelming size of the force, and its clear intent to defeat rather than merely harass. For several reasons, however, the victory at Trenton could not be immediately exploited to drive the British from all of New Jersey.

Chapter II  ·  January 2, 1777

The Second Battle of Trenton — Washington Holds the Creek

Washington returned to Pennsylvania with 900 Hessian prisoners to regroup, and within days recrossed to Trenton as British forces massed at Princeton, seeking revenge. He prepared a defensive line on Mill Hill, on the south bank of the Assunpink Creek — a tributary of the Delaware that bisected Trenton. The British would have to storm across the Assunpink's single bridge under withering artillery fire: a reversal, Washington calculated, of the costly British victory at Bunker Hill.

On the morning of January 2, General Cornwallis advanced his column toward Trenton along roads turned to deep mud by an unseasonable thaw. Washington had deployed troops up the road toward Princeton to harass the British at every creek crossing, slowing their march to a crawl. The British did not reach Trenton until near sundown. An intense cannonade and three determined assaults against the Assunpink bridge all failed to dislodge the Americans. When the fighting ceased for the night, Washington and his officers conceived a daring plan: slip away from Trenton under darkness and march on the lesser-known roads to Princeton.

Chapter III  ·  January 3, 1777

The Battle of Princeton — Victory and Winter Quarters

About midnight on January 2–3, the Continental Army silently departed Trenton and reached the outskirts of Princeton just before dawn. The battle erupted unexpectedly on the adjoining farms of Quaker brothers William and Thomas Clarke, when American and British columns — each unaware of the other — crossed paths in the morning light. Washington had divided his force to strike Princeton from multiple directions; the British garrison had itself split, with most troops already marching out toward Trenton to reinforce Cornwallis.

In the chaotic fighting that followed, Brigadier General Hugh Mercer of the Continental Army was mortally wounded and his brigade initially thrown back in disorder. Washington rode personally in front of his retreating men, rallying them under heavy fire and leading them back onto the field. His forces vastly outnumbered the British detachment and drove them from the Clarke farms, then swept into the town of Princeton itself, where more British soldiers surrendered or fled. Washington's original intention was to press on and strike the British supply depot at Brunswick — but his men, starved of rest and food for days and nights on end, could go no further. In consultation with his officers, he turned north toward winter quarters at Morristown.

"It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world."

— Sir George Trevelyan, on the Ten Crucial Days

The British, now aware of the Princeton defeat, abandoned their pursuit and withdrew to Brunswick. For the remainder of the winter, British forces were contained to the northeastern corner of New Jersey, fighting a grinding forage war against Washington's troops and New Jersey militia. They evacuated New Jersey entirely in June. The Revolution had been saved.

New York & The Long Retreat

Nov 16

Fort Washington falls. 3,000 Continental soldiers are captured — one of the worst disasters of the war.

Nov 20

Fort Lee is abandoned by Continental forces. Washington's army begins the Long Retreat through the Jerseys.

Dec 1

A rear-guard action at New Brunswick is commanded by a young New York artillery captain named Alexander Hamilton. His battery temporarily holds the British at the Raritan River while Washington escapes further south.

Dec 8

Washington's forces successfully escape across the Delaware River, leaving New Jersey to the British.

Dec 12

Washington is granted near-dictatorial powers by Congress. Congress evacuates Philadelphia.

Dec 13

Continental General Charles Lee is captured at White's Tavern, Basking Ridge, by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton's 16th Light Dragoons. Command of Lee's forces passes to General John Sullivan, who rushes his men across New Jersey to join Washington in Pennsylvania.

Dec 13

General Howe orders the British army into temporary winter quarters, with garrisons stretching across New Jersey. He plans to advance on Philadelphia when the Delaware River freezes.

Dec 14

A Hessian brigade under Colonel Johann Rall arrives at Trenton, New Jersey, to establish winter quarters.

Dec 18

Writing privately to his brother, Washington confides: "I think the game is pretty near up."

Dec 19

Thomas Paine publishes "The American Crisis", opening with the now-iconic line: "These are the times that try men's souls..."

Dec 20

General Sullivan arrives at McKonkey's Ferry with 2,000 men, joining Washington. Washington writes to President Hancock: "Ten days more will put an end to the existence of our Army." Many veterans face expiring enlistments on December 31.

Dec 21–23

Militia under Samuel Griffin engages Hessians under Colonel Carl von Donop at Petticoat Bridge and Iron Works Hill near Mount Holly. Acting independently, Griffin lures von Donop 20 miles from his position — away from Trenton.

Dec 24

Washington gathers his officers and presents his audacious plan to cross the Delaware and strike the now-exposed Hessian garrison at Trenton. It is unanimously accepted.

Dec 24

A skirmish near Johnson's Ferry between local militia and Hessian Jagers on patrol from Trenton causes alarm among Rall's officers. Rall dismisses the incident and rejects calls for additional guards at the ferry crossing.

Ten Crucial Days  ·  Dec 25, 1776 – Jan 3, 1777

Dec 25

The Crossing

Washington's Continental forces cross the Delaware at McKonkey's Ferry as a nor'easter blows in. Ferried by the Pennsylvania navy and soldiers within the army, they transport 2,400 men, 100 horses, and 18 cannon across the icy river. Additional crossings farther south fail due to river conditions.

Dec 26

The Battle of Trenton

At dawn, Continental forces strike the Hessian garrison at Trenton in a complete surprise. Colonel Rall is mortally wounded. In under two hours the battle is over — 900 Hessians captured, the Revolution's fortunes transformed. Washington recrosses to Pennsylvania with his prisoners.

Dec 27

Colonel John Cadwalader's Philadelphia Associator Brigade crosses the Delaware and finds that the British have abandoned all outposts south of Princeton.

Dec 28–31

Washington regroups and recrosses to Trenton. He deploys troops and artillery on Mill Hill, south of the Assunpink Creek, to prepare for the British counter-attack gathering at Princeton. Many enlistments expire December 31.

Jan 1

An unseasonable warm spell turns the roads to deep mud, keeping both armies from action.

Jan 2

The Second Battle of Trenton — Battle of the Assunpink

Cornwallis advances on Trenton along muddy roads, harassed at every creek crossing by Washington's delaying forces. The British reach Trenton near sundown. Three assaults on the Assunpink bridge are repulsed with heavy loss. That night, Washington secretly marches his army away on back roads — toward Princeton.

Jan 3

The Battle of Princeton

The Continental Army arrives southwest of Princeton at dawn and collides unexpectedly with British forces under Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood. Brigadier General Hugh Mercer is mortally wounded and the line briefly breaks. Washington personally rides to the front, rallying his men under fire and leading them back to secure a decisive victory. The army then marches north to winter quarters at Morristown. The Ten Crucial Days are over.