Battle of Trenton 1776 - American Independence War DOCUMENTARY 

🎥 Join our RU-vid members and patrons to unlock exclusive content! Our community is currently enjoying deep dives into the First Punic War, Pacific War, history of Prussia, Italian Unification Wars, Russo-Japanese War, Albigensian Crusade, and Xenophon’s Anabasis. Become a part of this exclusive circle: ru-vid.com/show-UCMmaBzfCCwZ2KqaBJjkj0fwjoin or patron: www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals and Paypal www.paypal.com/paypalme/kingsandgenerals as well!

The Writer Here: For those looking for recommended reading, David McCullough's _1776_ is the most convenient source for all the events in this video. It's reasonably comprehensive while being approachable and entertaining. To preempt expected questions, here are some stories that didn't make it into the final video for reasons of time and/or narrative flow: 1. Henry Knox had no military experience prior to being sent to retrieve the cannons and didn't receive his commission as a colonel until he returned. Using 42 sleds and 80 yoke of oxen, he hauled 60 tons of cannon through over two feet of snow, insufficiently frozen rivers (requiring them to fish a number of cannons out of the water), and several mountain chains. He also had to change hauling teams as the original group didn't want to leave New York. He did it all in 10-weeks and spent just over half his allotted funds. 2. Using foreign troops was something you did to a conquered people, not to your own. Thus, hiring the Hessians was the final breaking point for many Americans. 3. Jefferson *hated* the final version of the Declaration, considering it horrifically mangled and ruined by the editors, though he kept his resentment private. He made copies of his original work and showed them to everyone he could for the rest of his life. 4. In addition to making Jefferson's overly purple prose more approachable to the masses, Congress took out any reference to slavery. This was partially to avoid offending the Carolina's and Georgia, and partially because Jefferson accused King George of forcing slavery on the colonies, which wasn't true. 5. The reason that Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th rather than the 2nd is because while Congress voted for independence on the 2nd, they didn't tell anyone or send it to the printers until the 4th due to concerns about spelling mistakes and a desire to tighten some of the wording. The wider public didn't know about the original vote and so celebrated The Glorious 4th instead. John Adams deeply and publicly resented this for the rest of his life and unsuccessfully tried to get Independence Day changed to the 2nd. 6. Washington was authorized by Congress to recruit 28,501 soldiers, but only had about 19,000 at the start of the New York Campaign. 7. The 1776 attempt on Charlestown was very poorly planned and executed operation and defeated as much by tides and terrain as the militia that opposed them at the Battle of Sullivan's Island. 8. Richard Howe and Benjamin Franklin had known each other and been corresponding since the French and Indian War. Richard hoped that after Washington turned them down Franklin would be more receptive. He gave them the same answer as Washington. 9. The stand by the 1st Maryland and similar actions by other Maryland infantry regiments led Washington to call them his Old Line. It's where the state nickname comes from. 10. Glover's regiment was chosen to row the Continental Army from Brooklyn to Manhattan and again across the Delaware because it was made entirely of sailors and fishermen from the Cape Cod region. 11. Yes, the John Sullivan who commanded at Trenton was the same one captured in Brooklyn. There was an active prisoner exchange of officers throughout the war and Sullivan was exchanged for a colonel captured during the Canadian campaign. Alexander was in the same boat. 12. On that note, Charles Lee was captured in New Jersey riding ahead of his men and wouldn't be exchanged until the next year. He probably gave information to the British to receive better treatment while in captivity. 13. There's no evidence of any drinking in Trenton prior to the attack. It was reasonable for Washington to think that there would be, as English, German, and American Christmas celebrations were paper-thin excuses to get absolutely smashed. By 18th century drunkenness standards, which are much higher than today's. 14. Legend says that Col. Rall had a letter from a loyalist detailing Washington's exact battle plan, down to the precise time of the attack, unopened and in his pocket when he died. There's reason to think it's a myth from the 19th century, though Rall was being careless enough for it plausible.

I honestly just want you guys to focus on this series…my favorite.

As a Jersey local, it's rather cool knowing those roads that cross Morristown are still basically there

As a rebellious British colonist myself, this video really inspires me

For those who have never seen it, I recommend the movie "The Crossing" with Jeff Daniels, great movie. People dont realize just how on the ropes Washington and the CA was before this battle.

Really great episode. The revolution has never really been that interesting to me on account of how overtaught it is in schools. But this really helps put a lot of that old school work into a better context to appreciate the ebb and flow of the war. In particular, Washington's taking of Boston and his ability to keep the army together are impressive accomplishments. A lot of other leaders probably would've gotten the continental army crushed at New York.

My 6th great-grandfather George Pepperrell Frost fought in this battle, and then at Princeton a week later. Discovering his service while doing my family research has been a big thrill!

Yes! more American Independence War videos! I'm loving this series.

“Those who have committed no fault want no pardon.” LMAOOOO hard asf

"History began on July 4th, 1776, everything before was a mistake." -Ron Swanson (Parks and Rec show)

Can you imagine what would have happened if the British had not crushed this rebellion and re-integrated the colonies into the Empire? Imagine how crazy it would have been crazy if these 'Americans' had actually won...

11:15 Go to Bowling Green Park in downtown New York. It's surrounded by a 300+ year old iron fence. At the top of each main post you can see the jagged iron where the bronze crowns were ripped off following the reading the the declaration. It's right there, in public for all to see. It's amazing. Scars from the revolution still there after almost 250 years.

I'm so excited that you've done a video on the Battle of Trenton and the Washington crossing and Delaware. As someone who grew up in Trenton and Morrisville on the opposite side of the river, I'm super big history buff on this topic and I studied it all my childhood and young adulthood and I'm still interested in it today, 30 years later. Can't wait to watch this video tuning in right now!

This series has been incredible so far. As an American and long-time fan of this channel, it’s very exciting to see this series unfold. Thank you for like the millionth time K&G!

Excellent video! I love that you included the bits about the Turtle, the British ships captured during and after the siege of Boston, the failed attack of Charleston, and others. Most documentaries don't mention any of this stuff at all, and when they do bother, it's usually out of context. Kudos!

I have ancestors on both sides of this war. My family has been in America since the 1600s, but I also have an ancestor who was one of the Hessian mercenaries. Like thousands of his comrades, he was captured by the Americans, then deserted and refused to go back to Europe after the war. What an absolutely brutal nightmare of a conflict this was for everyone involved. I recommend the book “Liberty’s Exiles” for an in-depth look at the savagery of what was, essentially, America’s first Civil War.

My favorite painting is Leutze’s Crossing of the Delaware. It’s a household and popular name but it’s very patriotic and shows dedication and sacrifice.

My favorite series rn amazing work

Thank you so much for this. It's so weird looking at this forested map of Brooklyn, with a little town roughly where each neighborhood is today. I mean, I know it was like this at the time, but it's such a contrast to growing up here today that it's really hard to imagine. I grew up about three blocks up the hill from the Old Stone House where the 1st Maryland made that stand to cover Washington's retreat, and I love finding plaques scattered around Brooklyn marking where various events in this part of the war took place.

I'm a Member for just two day!! And I'm loving the videos!!

I just love the way you guys present stuff. Clear, concise and entertaining. 😎

@kingsandgenerals great video per usual. couple things ambiguous here that I believe are well documented enough now: 1- the reason why the Hessians had trouble firing was wet conditions resulting in issues with the pans/gun powder in general 2-expanding on #1, the artillery of the Americans were less susceptible to the elements are were likely the single most important part of this battle. The Americans had trouble with their muskets firing as well, until they were able to take some of the buildings and dry out their powder and pans indoors before continuing. 3-Rall and his troops were not hungover, and Washington did not expect them to be. Rather, he had hoped to catch them early with overwhelming force from multiple directions. As was aptly covered in this video, most of these goals were not met. This is information I have collected over several years during "Patriots Week" lectures, events, etc in Trenton and the surrounding area. Each year from ~Dec 23rd to Jan 3rd Washington Crossing, PA down to Trenton, NJ and east to Princeton, NJ hosts "Patriot Week" where e historians, authors & reenactors host a variety of gatherings that are really educational and fun! Would recommend to anyone that finds an opportunity to attend

EXCELLENT AS ALWAYS

Thanks for the good video & information

I remember hearing and reading about all these events in school as a part of the mandated history curriculum. I always thought it was boring. Thank you for bringing this back to life in a way that both makes it exciting, but also in a way that stokes my anticipation for the next episode.

Thank you so much for making this video. I cant wait to become a member. Im glad youre covering the american revolution

Can't wait for this series I live in Nj we are very proud of our revolution battles and everything

The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, the last remaining mounted American Army unit still in continual service since these battles, was Washington's forward scouts during Trenton and Princeton. The unit still exists within the 1-104th CAV regiment, A Troop in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. They still elect their own members, forfeit their own pay, and ride horses.

I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

thank you!!! cryin😢🎉🎉

There were some really good documentaries growing up on the American revolution I enjoyed. But these go into a lot more detail on individual battles rather than just the overall info which I really love.

Thoroughly enjoyed the production and graphics. Got a chuckle in seeing Round Valley, Spruce Run and Merrill Creek reservoirs on the colonial map.

Hope the Alghorithm treats you as well as you treat us with these great videos!

I’m From North Jersey and I’m not too far from Washington headquarters and where the winter mutiny happened. Sometimes I have to pass Federal Hill and I cannot imagine how much history there is all around this place I think it’s great.

Super lecture👍👍👍

Very well done.

Love this series! It's always great to see more revolutionary war content, especially when it's done by you guys!

I feel like we all knew a team of eeveloutions was questionable but that back and forth was amazing and very fun to watch , your awsome Liam

Great video!

My ancestor is one of these hessian soliders. I live in America thanks to him as he said F the crown and switched sides.

Time stamp 7:06 to 7:22, thanks for covering this early form of Continental Privateering. Privateering was a key logistics component of the War of Independence, sadly little documented. But a great read covering it's aspects is Eric Jay Dolin's REBELS AT SEA. A great adjunct to it, is the trade paper booklet PIRATES & PATRIOTS OF THE REVOLUTION by Doctor C. Wilbur.. I highly recommend them both!

Thanks!

Just the other day I scrolled waaay down to see if you guys already did this but you didn't this is a happy surprise .

As A Boston Native. I can't wait for this series to complete. Good job

Incredible history!

As a NJ native, it's great to see that the most important and pivotal battles in the American Revolution took place in Jersey.

Never have i felt more patriotic and proud to be an American watching a K&G video than right now and my family didn't even move here until 1959 and 1962! DOWN WITH THE BRITISH!!!!

I love to see a In depth look at the campaigns In georgia during the later years of the war. Some good history there

Battle of Trenton. Underrated!

My very great grandfather took part in the Battle of Trenton though it was on the side of the Hessian's. He had been impressed into the Hessian army and sent to the colonies so he was part of the Hessian force at Trenton and was captured as the result of the battle. Now later given the chance to return back home or stay he choose to stay and settle near what is now Saratoga Springs. There he met a Dutch lady and they got married and started a family. Oh his wife was once a captive of the French & Indian Wars when she and her older sister were taken captive in a raid and the rest of her family were killed by the Indians.

True story.While the Hessians were in Trenton,and before the River froze over, our Schlagel Father (at that time), rowed across to the Hessian camp,and spoke to them in German.He asked them,"why are you fighting us,?,...we are mostly Germans like yourselves." He then said,"if any man here wants to lay down his arms,I'll give you one of my daughters to marry,and some land to live on". 2 men, one named Johann Schwalm, got into the boat with him and rowed back to Bucks County, Pa. Johann is buried on the Schlagel farm,and I was told this story by my late Aunt Marie. That's one you won't see in them history books!

I am from a small town in Maryland where some of the members of 1st Maryland were from. The namesake of our county was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but as I understand there was a substantial loyalist contingent in the area as well.

Though nevertheless this will be another great video from my favourite channel on RU-vid

Excelente

Awesome! I had no idea how complex the Battle of Trenton was. Damn, Washington was a clever fellow! :-) 💥🦅🥁

How did I miss this yesterday smh..

Love this series. Also would like to see more progress on the War of The Spanish Succession. There is only one other youtube channel (I won't mention their name) that goes into detail on the Spanish Succession and the narration is horrible. Kings & Generals knows how to get it done. Please do it. Thanks. Edit: Just realized the Spanish Succession is members-only. My bad. Whatever. Just do it lol.

Native Trentonian, born and bred. The city has gone through some VERY hard times, but we are proud of our contribution to the nation. We have a long history of being an underrated piece of American history, intellectualism, and industry, but we know the truth: TRENTON MAKES, THE WORLD TAKES

Nice summary of events that are often overly mythologized.

Respect

Nice

I know a lot can be said about the old fighting style of marching in columns. But I can only imagine the terror of having a somewhat fortified position and seeing red uniforms marching towards your position from three different angles.

Probably because of the need to summarize to shorten the lenght of the series, but this video feels like is rushing a little bit through the events. Not at all an expert on these events but the siege of Boston and the defence of New York could very well be enough for one video, with the continental army crisys and Trenton counterattack being a separate one. There are a few off map events mentioned without brief explanation, for example an attempt on Charleston I had to google. Finally casualty estimates for all the battles except Trenton are missing. Love the topic (lack knowledge about it) and like the overall impostation of the series however, keep it coming!

This should have been a Christmas episode

Read the books by Nathaniel Philbrick for the full thrilling story of the American war of Independence. Great Video Series as always!

I really liked how you showed the turtle underwater and hopefully if you do the American civil war hopefully you do the same for the confederate submarine H L Hunley.

March 17th is celebrated as Evacuation Day only in Boston, coincidentally the same day as St Patrick's Day.

I like the miniature war game based on Trenton that little wars Tv did. Basically everything went wrong for the rebels.

Thank you for the American Revolutionary War videos; really enjoying seeing the event playing out from the bird's eye view... (Now, if there's ANY CHANCE the "Battle" of Penobscot Bay can happen - most likely as part of a larger video - that would be amazing.

I had high hopes for this series, but I’m starting to have my doubts. The events between the Battle of Bunker Hill and Trenton all deserve their own videos so they can be covered in greater detail: the failed invasion of Canada, the culmination of the Siege of Boston, the political maneuvering that led to the Declaration, and the disastrous Long Island campaign. This approach, just like your approach to the War of the Ring in the first three videos on the subject over at Wizards and Warriors, is too broad.

Please make a series on mughal empire and Silesian wars

Trenton was once the capital of the United States and the battle was the true turning point of the revolutionary war. Born and raised in Trenton, I've noticed the historical significance in this capital city. ✅

Washington crossing the Deleware river is a goated image.

Turn it up loud, the background music is grand. Lemme grab the Bass. Combining Kings, Generals, and Fender.

If your living on the Mid-Atlantic and your a man of good education and sound posture you can join a regiment like ours by googling muskets of the crown (moc) and take part in annual reenactments several times a year with civilian (non military) activities for kids and family aswell

Cool

Europeans:"Noooooo your can't attack us during christmas in the winter! That's ungentlemenly!" Americans:"Weeeeee bayonet go stabby stabby!"

Awesome movie

The city of Boston before being back filled to create more land area was on the Shawmut Peninsula. In a way it still exists as a point or peninsula.

How long has these revolutionary war videos been going on? I mad I missed them

Can you do a series on the French and Indian wars, please?

It's interesting to look at this from the lense of militia groups in the current day. Battle of Trenton was so huge for the little rebellion, yet from the perspective of the 20-30k British soldiers it was peanuts. Only a handful of casualties and less than 1000 combined soldiers involved- it seems almost trivial

The battles of Long island and Fort Washington could have an entire episode on their own

"Greed is but a word jealous men use to inflict upon the ambitious" - MC

Fun Fact: One of the men wounded at the Battle of Trenton was James Monroe. He had been hit by a musket ball and was in grave danger of dying. But thankfully a Patriot Doctor was able to save the poor man's life and of course he would go on to be the 5th President of the United States.

Watch the movie "The Crossing" it is an excellent portrayal of this battle. One of my favorites besides The Patriot.

when are your pacific war videos coming back

17:57 This looks like something Dr. Eggman's great great great great great grandfather would make.

It was acts like what the few hundred Marylanders did in New York to give room for the others to retreat to the city that gave Maryland the nickname "The Old Line State"

Letsss goooo!!!!

I love your videos, have been watching you for a long time. I also make history videos.

What video game do u use in this video?

George Washington saved the Continental Army by winning the battles of Trenton and Princeton. He was an incredible person.

What was the game footage of?

It's crazy to see what are just neighborhoods in NYC now, being their own little towns back then.

You need to put all of your series in separate play lists so that it is easier to find, please.

pls do about georgia

Can I get the source of the entire Hessian formations muskets failing to fire? 23:00 That has to be sabotage of some kind.

Kind of funny how we tend to think of all americans as being extremely patriotic when their own local governments were reluctant to actually pay for the rebellion. And many soldiers lacked the required discipline to actually fight the war