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26 December 1776Primary source · 2 sourcesWell documented

Washington Crosses the Delaware: Trenton and Princeton

A Christmas night surprise attack revives a collapsing Continental Army

On the timeline · around 26 December 1776 · The War for IndependenceOutbreak of WarThe War for IndependenceWashington Crosses the Delaware: Trenton and Princeton177617771778

Quick facts

Location
Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey
Date
26 December 1776 (Trenton); 3 January 1777 (Princeton)
Hessians captured
Close to 900
American losses at Trenton
5, all wounded

What happened

After months of retreat left the Continental Army shrinking as enlistments expired, Washington led about 2,400 men across the ice-choked Delaware River on the night of 25-26 December 1776 and marched ten miles to Trenton, New Jersey. At dawn on 26 December his three columns overran a garrison of roughly 1,500 Hessian soldiers hired by Britain, killing or wounding over 100 and capturing close to 900 for the loss of only a handful of wounded Americans. A week later, on 3 January 1777, Washington outmaneuvered a British force sent to retaliate and won a second victory at Princeton, New Jersey.

Why it matters

The victories at Trenton and Princeton, won when the American cause looked nearly finished, restored morale, convinced wavering soldiers to reenlist, and demonstrated that Washington could out-general the British in the field. Thomas Paine had published his essay "The American Crisis," opening with "these are the times that try men's souls," days before the crossing, and it was read aloud to troops preparing for the attack.

How we know

American Battlefield Trust's account of Trenton cites period casualty and prisoner counts recorded by American officers after the battle.

Sources

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