On what night did George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River begin during the American Revolution?

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

Washington led Continental Army troops across the icy river from Pennsylvania into New Jersey as the first move in a surprise attack on Hessian forces stationed at Trenton. The army began preparing on Christmas Day and reached the crossing point after dark.

Bad weather, drifting ice, and difficult river conditions delayed the operation. The artillery did not finish crossing until about 3 a.m. on December 26, and the troops were ready to march around 4 a.m. They attacked Trenton later that morning and captured a large number of Hessian soldiers.

The famous 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware shows the operation as a dramatic daytime scene, but the actual crossing occurred at night in snow, sleet, rain, and darkness. The crossing was followed by further fighting at Trenton and Princeton.