On which dates did George Washington’s 1776 crossing of the Delaware River take place?

George Washington’s 1776 crossing of the Delaware River took place during the night of December 25–26, 1776.

Washington led Continental Army troops across the ice-choked river from Pennsylvania toward New Jersey. The operation began on Christmas night, and the soldiers completed the difficult crossing in the early hours of December 26.

The movement enabled a surprise attack on Hessian forces at Trenton on the morning of December 26. The victory provided an important morale boost after a difficult campaign and helped sustain enlistments in the Continental Army.

The famous crossing is often remembered through Emanuel Leutze’s 1851 painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware. The painting is an artistic interpretation, not a precise documentary record: its boat, passengers, and composition differ from the historical operation. Washington’s army also crossed the river again later in the campaign, which can cause confusion about the dates.