The Battle of Trenton was the first major American victory of the Revolutionary War, fought in New Jersey in December 1776.
George Washington led Continental Army troops across the Delaware River during the night of December 25–26, 1776. At dawn on December 26, his forces attacked the Hessian garrison at Trenton and captured about 900 prisoners, while suffering only a small number of casualties.
The victory restored morale after a series of American defeats and expiring enlistments. Washington followed it with another success at Princeton on January 3, 1777. Together, the victories helped preserve the Continental Army and encouraged continued resistance.
The battle was against Hessian troops serving Britain, not against the entire British army. The famous crossing occurred on Christmas night, but the fighting itself took place the following morning in Trenton.