Dear Sister,

            I realize it has been a great many days since I have written to you last, and I apologize for that. For supplies as simple as boots, ammo, and even food have been lacking, not to mention paper and means of which to transport letter by. I was very depressed for a little, and thought we had no hope of winning this war. I tried not to get down on myself, because I know that I am fighting to get fathers tariffs removed, but it’s difficult not too. First of all, I ask of you to tell the rest of the family that I am well, just cold and hungry, but, all in all, still intact. I hope this rested any nervous feelings or doubts you had about me in my absence. Second, I want to relay the uplifting events that have just transpired around me, and that I had the honor to have been a part of. I suppose it makes the most sense to start at the beginning. We were stationed on the west side of the Delaware River. The British arm was just across the way, waiting for the river to freeze over so that they could cross and wipe all of us out. There is a city on the east side, called Trenton, which is about 10 miles south and filled to the brim with 1,200 Hessians. General Washington, a brilliant man when I see his thinking now, decided to take Glovers ships and send us over on Christmas Eve to attack these brutal warriors. He must have been very desperate too, because most of the men’s enlistments are up in less than a week. I’ll admit I had my doubts about the plan at first, seeing that we had just lost four battles and the Hessians are brutal and horrifying humans, but then the day came. There was a harsh sleet which caused my weapon to constantly malfunction. Many of the soldiers I was fighting beside had the same problem, so we attacked with the butts of the guns and the fixed bayonets. I must admit, it was a brilliant sight; Americans were kicking down the mercenaries left and right. I took down four Germans myself, one of which hadn’t even had time to put on clothes! The Hessians formed in a nearby clearing, and soon we had them surrounded. Rohl, their commander who was mortally wounded by a shot in the chest, sounded the surrender. This event uplifted my spirits, and there is talk among the other men of re-enlisting. I believe that I will join these men and continue to fight for our freedom.