Editing George Washington (section)

====Crossing the Delaware, Trenton, and Princeton====
{{Main|George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River|Battle of Trenton|Battle of Princeton}}

[[File:Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|alt=painting of Washington standing on a boat being rowed across icy water|[[Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851 paintings)|''Washington Crossing the Delaware'' by Emanuel Leutze]] (1851)]]

Washington crossed the [[Delaware River]] into [[Pennsylvania]], where General [[John Sullivan (general)|John Sullivan]] joined him with 2,000 more troops.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=166–167, 169}} The future of the Continental Army was in doubt due to a lack of supplies, a harsh winter, expiring enlistments, and [[desertion]]s.{{sfnm|Ketchum|1999|1p=235|Chernow|2010|2p=264}} Howe posted a Hessian garrison at [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]] to hold western New Jersey and the east shore of the Delaware.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|p=169}} At sunrise on December 26, 1776, Washington, aided by Colonel Knox and artillery, led his men in [[Battle of Trenton|a successful surprise attack on the Hessians]].{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=270, 275–276|Ferling|2002|2pp=146–147|Fischer|2004|3pp=170, 232–234, 254, 405}}

Washington returned to New Jersey on January 3, 1777, launching [[Battle of Princeton|an attack]] on the British regulars at [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], with 40 Americans killed or wounded and 273 British killed or captured.{{sfnm|Fischer|2004|1p=254|Ketchum|1999|2pp=306–307|Alden|1996|3p=146}} Howe retreated to New York City for the winter.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|p=172}} Washington took up winter headquarters in [[Morristown, New Jersey]].{{sfn|Patterson|2004|p=101}} Strategically, Washington's victories at Trenton and Princeton were pivotal: they revived Patriot morale and quashed the British strategy of showing overwhelming force followed by offering generous terms, changing the course of the war.{{sfnm|1a1=Taylor|1y=2016|1p=172|2a1=Fischer|2y=2004|2p=367|3a1=Willcox|3a2=Arnstein|3y=1988|3p=164}}