Continental Soldier versus Hessian Soldier; American Revolution 1775–83

The capture of the Hessian battalion guns at Trenton, December 26, 1776

Hessian view: This split-screen scene depicts the height of the fighting at Trenton from both the Hessian and Continental perspectives. The combat is raging along King Street, where Continental artillery supported by infantry has already broken one attempted Hessian assault. In response the Hessian commander, Colonel Rall, has ordered two of his own battalion guns brought forward, but it has not taken long for Patriots firing from the windows of buildings along King Street to kill, wound, or drive off the gunners, causing the survivors to flee south and out of the tow

Continental view: In response to the efforts of the Hessian troops retaking their battalion guns, a mixed force of Continental infantry and artillerymen, mostly from the 1st Delaware Regiment and 3d Virginia Regiment, are charging down King Street. To the right, Captain William Washington is being hit by musket fire in his right hand – he soon after receives a wound in his left hand as well. On his left, Lieutenant James Monroe is encouraging his men forward, small sword drawn. Monroe too would be wounded, shot in the upper chest, but both men would survive, and the attack on the guns was successful, capturing them for a second time. Rall himself was mortally wounded soon after, marking the collapse of organized Hessian resistance.

The Hessian assault on Fort Washington, November 16, 1776

Here we see the height of the Hessian attack on one of the two redoubts located at the edge of the ridgeline running north from Fort Washington. For two hours, two columns of Hessians have been attempting to reach and storm the redoubts, to no avail.