Captain Andreas Wiederhold, Hessian forces:

On December 14, 1776, we marched to famous Trenton, which I shall remember as long as I live, and to which place our all too merry Brigadier [Colonel Johann Rail] is said to have brought us by his solicitation. How well he would have done not to have solicited for it! He might perhaps have kept and preserved the undeserved praise which was ignorantly bestowed upon him. But here it all fell into the mud!

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Major von Dechow very wisely suggested to throw up some earth-works and to put the cannons into them, so that all might be in readiness for as good a defense as possible in the case of an emergency. “Let them come,” was the Colonel’s answer. “What, earth-works! With the bayonet we will go for them.”… He believed the very name Rail more effectual and stronger than all the fortifications of Vauban and Coehorn together, and no rebel would have the courage to attack him.

An unknown officer on Washington’s staff:

Dec. 23—… Washington has just given the counter sign, “Victory or Death.”… He intends to cross the river, make a ten-mile march to Trenton, and attack Rail just before daybreak.…

Dec. 25—Christmas morning. They make a great deal of Christmas in Germany, and no doubt the Hessians will drink a great deal of beer and have a dance to-night. They will be sleepy to-morrow morning. Washington will set the tune for them about daybreak.…

Christmas, 6 P.M. —The regiments have had their evening parade, but instead of returning to their quarters are marching toward the ferry. It is fearfully cold and raw and a snow-storm setting in. The wind is northeast and beats in the faces of the men. It will be a terrible night for the soldiers who have no shoes. Some of them have tied old rags around their feet; others are barefoot, but I have not heard a man complain.…

Dec. 26, 3 A.M. —I am writing in the ferry house. The troops are all over, and the boats have gone back for the artillery. We are three hours behind the set time. [Colonel John] Glover’s men have had a hard time to force the boats through the floating ice with the snow drifting in their faces. I never have seen Washington so determined as he is now. He stands on the bank of the river, wrapped in his cloak, superintending the landing of his troops. He is calm and collected, but very determined. The storm is changing to sleet, and cuts like a kr.ife. The last cannon is being landed, and we are ready to mount our horses.

Private Elisha Bostwick, Continental Army:

… Finally our march began with the torches of our field pieces stuck in the exhalters. [They] sparkled and blazed in the storm all night and about day