The crossing had taken longer than planned, and, as a result, the attack would not occur under the cover of night. Nonetheless, it would soon be revealed that the Americans had achieved total surprise. Just two hours after it began, the Battle of Trenton was complete - the Americans won a smashing victory, capturing more than 900 Hessian prisoners of war.
A Hessian officer stationed in New York at the time, wrote, "Thus the times had changed! The Americans had constantly run before us. Four weeks ago we expected to end the war with the capture of Philadelphia, and now we have to render Washington the honor of thinking about our defense. Due to this affair at Trenton, such a fright came over the army that if Washington had used the opportunity we would have flown to our ships and let him have all of America. Since we had thus far underestimated our enemy, from this unhappy day onward we saw everything through a magnifying glass." The men who fought and won the Battle of Trenton changed the course of history.
Lynn Cheney ends the book with the following words, "Gen. Washington and his men had stood with their country in a time of crisis. When they were cold and hungry, they did not quit. When the conflict was hard, they fought on.
And when they won, the victory was sweet. News of Trenton and Princeton spread across the land, lifting the spirits of patriots everywhere. Many a battle lay ahead, but now Americans could think of winning the War of Independence. Now they could imagine that their great struggle would have a glorious end."
Washington and his army restored hope that America would be free - this was America's first Christmas and it is, as Lynn Cheney shows, a timeless lesson in hope, sacrifice and the spirit of Christmas.