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The time is December 1776. The place is the Delaware River that is about to freeze over. After the debacle in New York, General George Washington has realized that the Revolutionary War will not be won on major battlefields. Instead, he will be adopting the tactics of guerilla warfare to defeat the British.

In the process of evacuating New York, Washington was asked by a stranger, "Are you General Washington?" His terse reply: "I am, unfortunately." Such was the state of his dwindling and poorly equipped army. Additionally, Washington has been butting heads with the disgruntled General Horatio Gates, who wants Washington removed and replaced by Gates himself.

Living under an "insufferable tyranny," of the British, Washington must face the cold-blooded Hessian mercenaries. His goal is to buy time and prevent the British from marching on the American capital at Philadelphia. To this effect, Washington makes use of his fledgling spy network, including Captain John Merseneau, who serves as Washington's eyes and ears in the British camp.

Washington orders Colonel Samuel Griffin to create a distraction and divide the Hessian troops, drawing some of them away from Trenton in preparation for the attack. On December 23 at Petticoat Bridge, New Jersey, the Hessian leader Carl Ulrich Von Donop is foolishly leaving Trenton open to attack when he takes up with a young widow at Mt. Holly. The woman is one of Washington's spies, possibly Betsy Ross. The widow performs a great service for her country by keeping Von Donop "occupied."

Another member of Washington's spy network was Anna Strong, who gave signals through hanging out her laundry. The spy Merseneau advises Washington that the Hessian troops have dwindled to 1400 in Trenton.

Now, Washington faces the daunting task of crossing the icy Delaware River and somehow marching ten long miles to Trenton for the surprise attack before dawn. But after his weary troops trudge through a blizzard, the surprise attack and brief skirmish are over within an hour. Washington gives his solemn promise to the dying Hessian commander Johann Rall that the captured prisoners will be treated humanely.

Trenton was a great propaganda victory for the Americans. After the battle, enlistments surged by 12,000 in the Continental Army. This momentous turning point in the war was the Christmas surprise of 1776!

You'll remember Washington crossing the Delaware from your high school history books, but what you might have missed is that it took place on Christmas Day, 1776! At the time, General George Washington was leading the Continental Army in retreat following losses against the British in New York and New Jersey. The Army was ragged and weary and desertions were common; Washington needed a victory badly to boost morale, not only for his troops but for a new nation struggling to maintain faith with the Revolution.

Washington's hopes for a victory centered on retaking the city of Trenton, New Jersey, massively guarded by German Hessian troops fighting on the side of England. With an intense undercover spy network operating on both sides, Washington hoped to take advantage of a ruse that would split the Hessian army. By sending some of his Army further South as if in deep retreat, part of the Hessian force was dispatched to defeat the soldiers and take them captive. The plan worked, Washington led the main part of his army across the Delaware River in the freezing rain and snow, complete with artillery, cannon and horses. Risking everything on one major attack, the General used the element of surprise and precise timing to defeat the Hessians at Trenton. The battle actually lasted only about an hour, as a thousand Germans were captured following a battle that left a hundred enemy dead.

One thing that stands out in particular with this episode of 'Legends and Lies' is the extraordinary cinematography. The scene of crossing the Delaware and the march toward Trenton is showcased with a persistent light snowfall that contrasts wonderfully with soldier uniforms and the surrounding countryside. I'm sure this wasn't on the mind of George Washington in real life, whose win at Trenton is considered one of the most consequential victories of the Revolutionary War. Not only was it a symbolic one, but a real one in terms of boosting morale and proving America's willingness to fight for freedom. This was George Washinton's Christmas gift to America.