1776 - Surgeon General’s War Report ~ A Stirring Victory ~ God Bless Our Brave Men!

The situation of our main army has been gloomy and discouraging through most of December.  A large proportion of our troops retired from service as their term of enlistment expired.  Earlier in December our small army was retreating before the enemy, abandoned the Jerseys, and passed the Delaware for safety.  As just now announced in our general orders, the situation has changed and our fortune of war is reversed!  Huzzah! Huzzah! Providence has been pleased to crown the efforts of our commander-in-chief with a splendid victory.  Approximately 1,500 Hessians and British light-horse were stationed at the village of Trenton.  To take them by surprise General Washington chose Christmas night assuming they might be less vigilant as a consequence of their festivities.  At the head of about 2,400 men under Generals Greene and Sullivan, His Excellency led them across the partially frozen Delaware River amid treacherous ice floes during a severe storm of snow and rain.  The passage was extremely difficult and hazardous and part of the troops and cannon failed in the attempt.  After landing on the Jersey shore, the army had nine miles left to march to reach Trenton which they did by 7:00 a.m. in promptitude and secrecy.  An attack surprised the enemy and a smart firing ensued which last only a few minutes when the enemy, after finding they were surrounded, threw down their arms and surrendered as prisoners.  

Of the British and Hessian troops, about 35 were killed, 60 wounded, and 948 with 30 officers were taken prisoner, amounting to 1,048 in all.  Of the Continentals, not more than ten, it is supposed, were killed and wounded.  Our army brought off six brass cannon,

1,200 small arms, 3 standards and a quantity of baggage, &c.  We hope that this auspicious event will be productive of the happiest effects, by inspiriting our dejected army and dispelling that panic of despair into which the people have been plunged.

Your Obedient Servant, Dr. Charles Driscoll 

Surgeon for the Armies of the Commonwealth of Virginia

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Thacher, J.  An Army Doctor’s American Revolution Journal 1775-1783, Dover Publications, Mineola, NY, 2019.  Originally published in 1823.