 So as the world celebrated Christmas on December 25, 1776, George Washington was preparing to attack the enemy and rescue the patriot cause. Their target was a detachment of Hessian mercenaries hired by the British and stationed at Trenton, New Jersey. Dr. Benjamin Rush was among the few who met with Washington on that day of the actual attack. And during their meeting, Dr. Rush got a glimpse of a sheet of paper with the words written, victory or death.