The March Summary and Analysis

After the troops made it across the river, they continued their march onward to Trenton. Since they had been so delayed, Washington put their attack time at about 7:00 a.m. The Americans learned from battles in Boston and New York that artillery was highly effective. They intended to use their guns as shock weapons against the enemy and as supporting arms for their own infantry. It could break a formation of highly trained British and German Regulars, and it could also steady an amateur army of citizen soldiers and give them a fighting chance against disciplined troops. In the field the guns were a great strength, but on the march they were a major impediment for a mobile army.

The stormy weather continued and got worse. As the troops assembled for their march on Trenton, the artillery took a...