America is celebrating its 250th anniversary as a nation, and so this month we are looking at the hand of God in the founding of our country.  Today we look at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. The Continental Army was chased out of New York, across New Jersey, and into Pennsylvania on Dec. 7, 1776. In six months, the American ranks dwindled from 20,000 to 2000 exhausted soldiers who were planning to leave at year’s end, as they had only enlisted for six months. However, this move was a critical turning point, as it allowed Washington to regroup, recruit reinforcements, and later launch the famous Crossing of the Delaware.

George Washington’s troops had to cross the ice-filled Delaware River on Christmas Day evening in a blizzard. Miraculously, the ice cleared just enough for the Continental Army to cross at just the right time. Trudging forth after the crossing through blinding snow, with two soldiers freezing to death on the march, they attacked Trenton, New Jersey, at daybreak, December 26, 1776.

Awaiting them when they arrived were the feared German Hessian mercenary troops hired by King George the Third. But by God’s grace, a storm with hail and snow blinded and discouraged the Hessians. This allowed the Americans to capture nearly 1000 troops in just over an hour, with only a few American troops wounded.

After winning the Battle of Trenton, British General Cornwallis sent his 8000-man British Army to attack Washington near Princeton, New Jersey. The night before the battle, Washington left his campfires brightly burning and silently marched his army around the back of the British camp at Princeton. At daybreak, January 3, 1777, Washington attacked. At one point, American troops under John Cadwalader retreated. General Washington quickly rode over, stopped the retreat, then rode ahead of his troops to within 30 yards of the British. Turning and facing his men, Washington ordered his troops to fire. The British returned fire, filling the field with smoke. Many thought Washington was surely shot, being exposed to fire from both sides, but when the air cleared, Washington appeared, waving his men forward. Three British regiments were captured.

Yale President Ezra Stiles stated in an address before the Connecticut General Assembly:

“In our lowliest and most dangerous estate we sustained ourselves against the British Army of 60,000 troops commanded by the most ablest generals Britain could procure throughout Europe, with the naval force of 22,000 seamen in and above 80 men-of-war, Independence was sealed and confirmed by God Almighty in the victory of General Washington at Trenton and in the surprising movement and battle of Princeton.”

The hand of God led to the victories at Trenton and Princeton and revived the revolutionary cause, which had been on the brink of collapse. George Washington may have been a good military tactician—but more than that, he was a man of profound faith. He saw the hand of God in the Revolution and understood that liberty required more than blood and toil; it requires divine guidance and protection.