The Battle of Trenton followed George Washington's Christmas-night Delaware crossing and captured many Hessian troops.
Washington led the Continental Army 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, New Jersey. The assault caught the defenders off guard and ended after a short battle with most of the Hessian force captured.
The victory came after a difficult period for the revolutionary cause. American forces had been driven from New York and retreated across New Jersey, while enlistments were expiring and morale was low. Trenton gave the Continental Congress renewed confidence and encouraged soldiers to remain in the army.
The Battle of Trenton is sometimes confused with the Battle of Princeton, fought about a week later on January 3, 1777. Both victories formed part of Washington's New Jersey campaign, but Trenton was the earlier action and the one directly associated with the Delaware crossing.