Page "Battle of Trenton" Paragraph 4

In early December 1776, American morale was very low.

The Americans had been ousted from New York by the British and their Hessian auxiliaries, and the Continental Army was forced to retreat across New Jersey.

Ninety percent of the Continental Army soldiers who had served at Long Island were gone.

Men had deserted, feeling that the cause for independence was lost.

Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, expressed some doubts, writing to his cousin in Virginia, " I think the game is pretty near up.