Henry Knox's Orders for the March to Trenton

Historical Background

On Christmas Eve in 1776 the American Revolution was on the verge of collapsing. Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence the American forces had been driven from New York to Pennsylvania and reduced to a mere three thousand men. Washington knew that a victory was needed to raise Americans' decimated morale and turn the tide of war. With winter on its way and thousands of enlistments soon expiring, his time was running out. Washington, seeing an opportunity, decided to attack Trenton, New Jersey, a nearby town guarded by only fifteen hundred Hessians, German mercenaries fighting for the British.

The Battle of Trenton

Washington's officers received a copy of orders detailing the plan to cross the Delaware River late on Christmas Day and "arrive at Trenton at five oClock" to surprise the enemy forces. This copy (GLC 02437.00495), with a map of Trenton drawn on the back, belonged to Henry Knox, Chief Artillery Officer, and was written in his own hand. Knox played an important role in the monumental river crossing and historic battle. Ice floes and a brutal winter storm made the Delaware River almost impassable on December 25th. The dangerous and difficult task of crossing the river in treacherous winter conditions was placed "under the direction of Colonel Knox." Knox never left Washington's side, shouting out the General's orders until every last man was safely across. Although foul weather kept the Americans from reaching Trenton until eight in the morning, it also concealed their approach and afforded them the essential element of surprise. The battle proceeded almost exactly as drawn up in these orders. Washington's army, split in two, surprised the Hessians, trapped them in the town, and overpowered the enemy force. Knox's artillery played a decisive role, inflicting heavy damage inside the close quarters of the town. The Continentals killed or captured nearly one thousand Hessian troops during their victory at Trenton. Two days later Knox was promoted to Brigadier General of Artillery.

Historical Significance

Despite their victory at Trenton, the Americans began 1777 at a great disadvantage and Continental defeats would continue to outnumber victories for years to come. Tactically, the battle cost the British a small but noticeable part of their fighting force and deprived them of control of southern New Jersey. More importantly, the victory restored hope in the Revolution just when it was dangerously low; soldiers began reenlisting, recruitment grew, and support on the homefront increased significantly. The American forces began building the momentum that eventually enabled them to win the Revolution. When Knox wrote these orders, shortly before the dramatic river crossing, the American Revolution appeared to be on its dying breath. But by the time the orders had been successfully carried out, the patriots' cause was given new life.

GLC 02437.00495 Order of March to Trenton, December 25, 1776

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Each Brigade to be furnish’d with two good Guides.

General Stevens Brigade to form the advanced party & to have with them a detachment of the Artillery without Cannon provided with Spikes and Hammers to Spike up the enemies Cannon in case of necessity or to bring them off if it can be effected. the party to be provided with drag ropes for the purpose of dragging off the Cannon. General Stevens is to attack and force the enemies guards and seize such posts as may pressure them from forming in the streets and in case they are annoy’d from the houses to set them on fire. The Brigades of Mercer & Lord Stirling under the Command of Major General Greene to support General Stevens, this is the second division or left wing of the Army and to march by the way of the Pennington Road.

St Clairs Glovers & Sargents Brigades [struck: to embark in order] under Major General Sullivan to march by the river road, this is the first division of the Army and to form the right wing. Lord Stirlings Brigade to form the reserve of the left wing and General St Clairs Brigade the reserve [2] of the right wing. These reserves to form a second line in Conjunction or a second hand to each division as circumstances may require — Each Brigadier to make the Colonels acquainted with the parts of their respective Regiments in the Brigade and the Major Generals will inform them of the parts of their Brigades in the Line.

Four peices [sic] of artillery to march at the head of each Column, three peices [sic] at the head of the second Brigade of each Division and two peices [sic] with each of the Reserves. The troops to be assembled one Miles back of McKonkeys Ferry and as soon as it begins to grow dark the troops to be March’d to McKonkeys Ferry and embark onboard the boats in following order under the direction of Colonel Knox

General Stevens Brigade with the detachment of Artillery men to embark first General Mercers next; Lord Stirlings next, Genl Fermoys next who will march in the rear of the Second Division and file off from the [inserted: Pennington to the] Princeton Road in such direction that he can with the greatest ease & safety secure the passes between Princeton & Trenton the Guides will be the best judge of this. he is to take two peices [sic] of artillery with him

St Clair Glover & Sargents Brigades to embark in order. Immediately upon their debarkation the whole to form & march in Subdivisions from the Right
The [3] Commanding officers of Regiments to observe that the Divisions be equal & that proper officers be appointed to each — a profound silence to be enjoynd [sic] & no man to quit his Ranks on the pain of Death – each Brigadier to appoint flanking parties – the reserve Brigades to appoint the rear Guards of the Columns – The heads of the Columns to be appointed to arrive at Trenton at five oClock

Capt Washington & Capt Flahavan with a party of 40 men each to march before the Divisions & post themselves on the road about three miles from Trenton & make prisoner of all going in or coming out of Town

General Stevens will appoint a Guard to form a chain of centries [sic] round the landing place at a sufficient distance from the river to permit the troops to form This Guard not to suffer any person to gone in or [struck: come] [inserted: go] out but to detain all persons who attempts either this Guard to join their Brigade when the troops are all over

Callahan, North. Henry Knox: George Washington’s General. New York: A. S. Barnes and Co., 1958.

Fischer, David Hackett. Washington’s Crossing. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

McCullough, David G. 1776. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.

Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause. New York: Oxford, 1982.

Wood, Gordon S. The American Revolution: A History. New York: Modern Library, 2001.