Founding1776
Washington Crosses the Delaware
General George Washington led 2,400 Continental Army soldiers across the ice-choked Delaware River on Christmas night for a surprise attack on Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey. The daring crossing and subsequent victory revived the faltering revolutionary cause.
Why It Matters
Washington's crossing demonstrated the bold leadership and determination that sustained the Revolution at its lowest point, becoming one of the most iconic moments in American history.