Positively Speaking: Quiet quitting

By Toby Moore

For Capital Region Independent Media

After their stunning victory on Christmas morning in 1776, General George Washington and his army held Trenton, aware that the British would not let the humiliation go unanswered.

Just days earlier, they had achieved the impossible. After a daring midnight crossing of the icy Delaware River, Washington’s army launched a surprise attack on the Hessians, overwhelming the enemy in a fierce battle. The victory saw over 900 enemy soldiers captured and reignited hope for the revolutionary cause.

But Washington knew the war wasn’t over. The British, eager for revenge, sent reinforcements to crush the rebellion. Washington, outnumbered, outgunned, and with no easy escape, prepared his men for the inevitable showdown. Suspense hung in the frigid air as the sound of marching British troops grew closer each day, setting the stage for a desperate fight to survive.

On Jan. 2, the British arrived in Trenton with 8,000 men under General Cornwallis.

“We’ve got the old fox now!” Cornwallis reportedly exclaimed, convinced there was no escape for the Continental Army.

Throughout the day, Washington’s men battled fiercely, holding the British at bay in skirmishes that pushed them to the brink. As night fell, the British, certain of their impending victory, settled in to rest, confident they would crush the rebels at dawn.

But Washington wasn’t about to wait for defeat. Knowing that holding Trenton was impossible, he devised a bold plan. On New Year’s night, under the cover of darkness, he ordered his men to quietly abandon their campfires, leaving them burning brightly to deceive the British into thinking the army was still there. Then, in a daring maneuver, Washington led his troops on a silent march toward Princeton.

Princeton, about 12 miles away, was strategically vital. It housed a smaller British force and was a key supply and communication hub. Striking Princeton would weaken the British and allow Washington to escape the trap at Trenton and keep the momentum of his campaign alive.

In the early hours of Jan. 3, Washington’s army arrived at Princeton under the cover of darkness. The Redcoats, caught off guard, scrambled to defend themselves as the Continental troops launched a swift and ferocious attack.

Initially, the element of surprise worked in Washington’s favor, but the British quickly regrouped. Their disciplined volleys tore through the smoke-filled air, threatening to break the Continental line.

Amid the chaos, General Hugh Mercer, one of Washington’s most trusted officers and a key leader, was surrounded by British soldiers and mortally wounded while leading a daring charge. His fall sent a ripple of panic through the American ranks, and the line began to falter. Soldiers hesitated, their resolve wavering as confusion spread across the battlefield.

At that critical moment, Washington rode to the front, a commanding figure on horseback. With bullets whizzing past him, he placed himself squarely in the line of fire, rallying his men with an unshakable display of courage.

“Stand firm, men!” he shouted, his voice steady and resolute, cutting through the din of battle.

Inspired by their commander’s fearless leadership, the troops surged forward with renewed determination.

The tide of the battle turned. The Continental soldiers pressed their advantage, outflanking and overwhelming the British forces. By mid-morning on Jan. 3, 1777, the town of Princeton was firmly in American hands. The victory was hard-fought and costly, but it proved once again that Washington’s leadership and the army’s tenacity could triumph against all odds.

The back-to-back wins at Trenton and Princeton reinvigorated the revolutionary cause at its darkest hour. Washington’s daring maneuvers and ability to outthink and outfight the British proved that the Continental Army was a force to be reckoned with.

Cornwallis, upon discovering Washington’s brilliant escape, was stunned. Across the colonies, news of the victory spread like wildfire across the colonies, inspiring hope and a new wave of recruits joining the fight for independence.

General Washington and his band of underdogs had prevailed. His New Year’s resolutions were clear: defy the odds, outwit his enemies, and keep the dream of independence alive, no matter the cost.

Let this be the year you face your battles, big or small, with the same fearless resolve—proving that, like Washington and his army, you, too, can achieve greatness against the odds. What will your resolutions be this year?

Toby Moore is a columnist, the star of Emmy-nominated “A Separate Peace,” and the CEO of Cubestream Inc.