the cause has reached a moment where it's on the verge of failure, because the american people are losing hope. washington is devastated by witnessing what's happening. >> that the enemy will leave nothing untried in the course of this campaign to reduce these states to the rule of a most lawless and insufferable tyranny must be obvious to everyone. >> with the hessians ravaging new jersey, it's only a matter of time before they and their british masters invade pennsylvania. >> at this stage, washington's top priority is preventing the british from crossing the delaware river and marching on philadelphia. this is classic european warfare -- defeat the opponent in key battles and take the capital city as a trophy. but washington has two things in his favor -- the british grossly underestimate both his intelligence operation and his army's commitment to fight for