George Washington’s army completed its Delaware River crossing before the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776.
Washington planned the crossing as a surprise operation against Hessian troops stationed at Trenton, New Jersey. The Continental Army began crossing during the night of December 25–26 in severe winter conditions, using boats to move soldiers, horses, artillery, and equipment across the icy river.
The crossing took longer than planned because of ice and strong currents. Two American detachments were unable to cross, but Washington’s main force reached New Jersey and marched toward Trenton. The attack began on the morning of December 26 and produced an important American victory.
The event is frequently represented by Emanuel Leutze’s 1851 painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware. The painting is dramatically larger and more idealized than the historical scene, but it helped make the crossing an enduring symbol of Revolutionary perseverance.