Through all the colonies ran
inspiring tidings. There had been doubts whether, after all,
Washington was the heaven-sent leader. Now both America and
Europe learned to recognize his skill. He had won a reputation,
though not yet had he saved a cause.
CHAPTER V. THE LOSS OF PHILADELPHIA
Though the outlook for Washington was brightened by his success
in New Jersey, it was still depressing enough. The British had
taken New York, they could probably take Philadelphia when they
liked, and no place near the seacoast was safe. According to the
votes in Parliament, by the spring of 1777 Britain was to have an
army of eighty-nine thousand men, of whom fifty-seven thousand
were intended for colonial garrisons and for the prosecution of
the war in America. These numbers were in fact never reached, but
the army of forty thousand in America was formidable compared
with Washington's forces. The British were not hampered by the
practice of enlisting men for only a few months, which marred so
much of Washington's effort. Above all they had money and
adequate resources. In a word they had the things which
Washington lacked during almost the whole of the war.
Washington called his success in the attack at Trenton a lucky
stroke.
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