 Remember, this was a ragtag army. Some of those soldiers had no boots and were forced to march with rags tied around their feet, some even much barefoot. Can you imagine anything more miserable? As the army advanced, it actually left streaks of blood in the snow. Conditions were so bad that two men collapsed and froze to death before the battle even started. Now, all this caused delays in the march, and that threatened to ruin Washington's plans. You see, he had hoped to remain concealed under the cover of darkness and to arrive at Trenton prior to sunrise.