Four days before the battle, the Continental Army almost ceased to exist

With 24,000 men, Washington started the summer of 1776 getting ready to meet the British in New York. By Christmas, the General had a skeleton of his previous force with only 6,500 of them being effective. Instead of creating a standing army, which they believed went against their republican beliefs, Congress chose to tie men to a year of service.

On the morning of December 26, 1776, Washington withdrew back to Pennsylvania after defeating the Hessians at Trenton. He therefore made the decision to launch an assault on the British army before preparing for winter quarters. These contracts were scheduled to end for many of the soldiers still serving under Washington's command on December 31, 1776. "If you will consent to stay one month longer, you will perform that service to the cause of liberty and to your nation which you probably can never do under any other conditions," General Washington pleaded with his soldiers to reenlist. His argument was successful, and 3,300 guys decided to stay for an extra $10. Also that day, Washington learned that Congress had voted to give him wide-ranging powers for six months that are often described as dictatorial.