In the night, a winter storm hit Trenton. The garrison breathed a sigh of relief. After three days of constant alarms and little sleep, the Hessian duty officers all eased off a little. Major Dechow “issued orders canceling the next morning’s predawn patrol because of the heavy storm.” On the north side of town, Lieutenant Wiederholdt allowed his men to take shelter in the picket house. At last, in the midst of a howling northeaster, the Hessian garrison relaxed for the first time in eight days. Nobody thought that the enemy could attack in such weather.59
