<P> Washington, still on high ground, saw the Hessians approaching the American flank . He moved his troops to assume battle formation against the enemy . The two Hessian Regiments began marching toward King Street, but were caught in American fire that came at them from three directions . Some Americans had taken up defensive positions inside houses, reducing their exposure . Some civilians joined the fight against the Hessians . Despite this, they continued to push, recapturing their cannon . At the head of King Street, Knox saw the Hessians had retaken the cannon and ordered his troops to take them . Six men ran and, after a brief struggle, seized the cannon, turning them on the Hessians . With most of the Hessians unable to fire their guns, the attack stalled . The Hessians' formations broke, and they began to scatter . Rall was mortally wounded . Washington led his troops down from high ground while yelling, "March on, my brave fellows, after me!" Most of the Hessians retreated into an orchard, with the Americans in close pursuit . Quickly surrounded, the Hessians were offered terms of surrender, to which they agreed . </P> <P> Although ordered to join Rall, the remains of the Knyphausen Regiment mistakenly marched in the opposite direction . They tried to escape across the bridge, but found it had been taken . The Americans quickly swept in, defeating a Hessian attempt to break through their lines . Surrounded by Sullivan's men, the regiment surrendered, just minutes after the rest of the brigade . </P> <P> The Hessian forces lost 22 killed in action, 83 wounded, and 896 captured--including the wounded . The Americans suffered only two deaths from bare feet causing frostbite and five wounded from battle, including a near - fatal wound to future president James Monroe . Other losses incurred by the Patriots due to exhaustion, exposure, and illness in the following days may have raised their losses above those of the Hessians . </P> <P> The captured Hessians were sent to Philadelphia and later Lancaster . In 1777 they were moved to Virginia . Rall was mortally wounded and died later that night at his headquarters . All four Hessian colonels in Trenton were killed in the battle . The Lossberg regiment was effectively removed from the British forces . Parts of the Knyphausen regiment escaped to the south, but Sullivan captured some 200 additional men, along with the regiment's cannon and supplies . They also captured approximately 1,000 arms and much - needed ammunition . Last, but not least, was the capture from the Hessians their entire store of provisions--tons of flour, dried and salted meats, ale and other liquors, but also shoes, boots, clothing and bedding--things that were as much needed by the ragtag Continental forces as weapons and horses . </P>

The american victories at the battles of trenton and princeton were important because they