On what night did George Washington begin his famous Delaware River crossing in 1776?

George Washington began his famous Delaware River crossing on the night of December 25–26, 1776.

Washington organized the crossing as the first stage of a surprise operation against Hessian troops stationed at Trenton, New Jersey. Continental Army forces crossed from Pennsylvania during the night and attacked on the morning of December 26, winning the Battle of Trenton.

The operation came during a difficult period for the American cause. The Continental Army had suffered defeats around New York and was retreating through New Jersey, while enlistments were expiring and morale was low. The victory at Trenton helped restore confidence and encouraged additional troops to remain in service.

The event is often remembered through Emanuel Leutze’s dramatic 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. The painting is an artistic interpretation rather than a literal record: the boat, weather, and arrangement of people do not precisely reproduce the historical crossing. The date, however, is firmly tied to the night spanning Christmas Day and December 26.