George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River
1776 CE
George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, which occurs on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, is the first move in a surprise attack organized by George Washington against the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, on the morning of December 26.
Planned in partial secrecy, Washington leads a column of Continental Army troops across the icy Delaware River in a logistically challenging and dangerous operation.
Other planned crossings in support of the operation are either called off or ineffective, but this does not prevent Washington from surprising and defeating the troops of Johann Rall quartered in Trenton.
The army crosses the river back to Pennsylvania, this time laden with prisoners and military stores taken as a result of the battle.
Washington's army now crosses the river a third time at the end of the year, under conditions made more difficult by the uncertain thickness of the ice on the river.
They defeat British reinforcements under Lord Cornwallis at Trenton on January 2, 1777, and defeat his rear guard at Princeton on January 3, before retreating to winter quarters in Morristown, New Jersey.
The unincorporated communities of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and Washington Crossing, New Jersey, are named in honor of this event.
