[Immediately following the Declaration of Independence, Paine enlisted in the Continental Army, serving until April of 1777. While Washington's army was in retreat through New York and New Jersey, Paine wrote the first sixteen Crisis Papers by campfire, each one written at a critical juncture in the struggle for independence. The publication date of this piece was January 29, 1777 when it first appeared in the Pennsylvania Journal.]

Fort Washington being obliged to surrender by a violent attack made by
the whole British army, on Saturday the 16th of November, the Generals
determined to evacuate Fort Lee, which being principally intended to
preserve the communication with Fort Washington, was become in a manner
useless. The stores were ordered to be removed and great part of the was
immediately sent off. The enemy knowing the divided state of our army, and
that the terms of the solders inlistmen ts would soon expire, conceived
the design of penetrating into the Jersies, and hoped, by pushing their
successes, to be completely victorious. Accordingly, on Wednesday morning,
the 20th November, it was discovered that a large body of British and
Hessian troops had crossed the North river, and landed about six miles above
the fort. As our force was inferior to that the enemy, the fort unfinished,
and on a narrow neck of land, the garrison was ordered to march for
Hackensack bridge, which tho' much nearer the enemy than the fort, they
quietly suffered our troops to take possession of. the principal loss
suffered at Fort Lee was that of the heavy cannon, the greatest part of
which was left behind. Our troops continued at Hackensack bridge and town
that day and half of the next, when the inclemency of the weather, the want
of quarters, and approach of the enemy, obliged them to proceed to
Aquaconack, and from thence to Newark; a party being left at Aquaconack to
observe the motions of the enemy. At Newark our little army was reinforced
by Lord Sterling's and Col., Hand's brigades, which had been stationed at
Brunswick Three days after our troops left Hackensack, a body of the enemy
crossed the Passaic above Aquaconack, made their approaches slowly towards
Newark, and seemed extremely desirous that we should leave the town without
their being put t the trouble of fighting for it. the distance from Newark
to Aquaconack is nine miles, and they were three days in marching that
distance. From Newark our retreat was to Brunswick, and it was hoped the
assistance of the Jersey Militia would enable General Washington to make the
Banks of the Raritan the bounds of the enemy's progress; but on the 1st of
December the army was greatly weakened, by the expiration of the terms of
the enlistments of the Maryland and Jersey Flying camp; and the militia not
coming in so soon as was expected, another retreat was the necessary
consequence. Our army reached Trenton on the 4th of December, continued
there till the 7th, and then,, on t he approach of the enemy, it was
thought proper to pass the Delaware.
      This retreat was censured by some as pusillanimous and disgraceful;
but, did they know that our army was at time less than a thousand effective
men, and never more than 4000, -that the number of the enemy was at least
8000, exclusive of their artillery and light hors, - that this handful of
Americans retreated slowly above 80 miles with losing a dozen men -and that
suffering themselves to be forced to an action, would have been their entire
destruction -did they know this, they would never have censured it at all -
they would have called it prudent -posterity call it glorious -and the names
of Washington and Fabius will run parallel to eternity.
      The enemy, intoxicated with success resolved to enjoy the fruits of
the conquest. Fearless of an attack from this side this river, they cantoned
in parties at a distance from each other, and spread misery and desolation
wherever they went. Their rage and lust, their avarice and cruelty, knew no
bo unds; and murder, ravishment, plunder, and the most brutal treatment of
every sex and age, were the first acts that signalized their conquest,. And
if such were their outrages on the partial subjection of a few villages
-good God! what consummate wretchedness is in store for that state over
which their power shall be fully established.
      While the enemy were in this situation, their security was increased
by the captivity of General Lee, who was unfortunately taken in the rear of
his army, December 13th, at Baskinridge by a party of light-horse, commanded
by Col. Harcourt. The fortune of our arms was now at its lowest ebb -but the
tide was beginning to turn - the militia of this city [Philadelphia] had
joined General Washington -the junction of the two armies was soon after
effected -and the back countries of this state, aroused by the distresses of
America, poured out their yeomanry to the assistance of the continental
army. General Washington began now to have a respectable force, and resolved
not to be idle. On the 26th of December he crossed the Delaware, surprised
three regiments of Hessians, and with little or no loss, took near a
thousand prisoners.
      Soon after this manoevre, and while the enemy were collecting their
scattered troops at Princeton and Brunswick, Gen. Washington crossed the
Delaware with all his army. On the 2cd of January the enemy began to advance
towards Trenton, which they entered in the afternoon and there being nothing
but a small creek between the two armies, a general engagement was expected
next day. This is was manifestly our advantage to avoid; and a master stroke
of generalship, Gen,. Washington frees himself from his disagreeable
situation, and surprises a party of the enemy in Princeton which obliges
their main body to return to Brunswick.