Washington Crosses the Delaware

December 26, 1776

On a sleet-lashed Christmas night, Washington ferried 2,400 men across ice-choked water and marched on Trenton. He caught the Hessian garrison asleep after Christmas celebrations and took the town in 45 minutes. A single small victory resurrected a dying revolution. Enlistments that had been expiring were quietly renewed, and the army that had been melting away in despair suddenly believed it could survive the winter.