Crossing of the Delaware

After retreating from the failed New York Campaign, George Washington led the Continental Army to cross the Delaware River on the night of Christmas 1776. This critical strategic decision led to key American victories in the Battle of Trenton in late 1776 and the Battle of Second Trenton and Battle of Princeton in early 1777. This famous transport of almost 2,500 Continental soldiers across an icy river in one night through severe winter weather is lauded as one of Washington’s best tactical decisions in the American Revolution. Washington understood that the element of surprise was the only way that he and his army stood a chance of defeating the highly trained, hired Hessian soldiers stationed in New Jersey.

Preparing to Cross the Delaware

In the days leading up to the crossing, Washington ensured the location of their potential crossing was secured, writing, “As it is a Matter of the utmost Importance to prevent the Enemy from crossing the Delaware, and to effect it, that all the Boats and Water Craft should be secured or destroyed.”¹ Washington understood the strategic importance of the river in accessing British strongholds in New Jersey, and as a launch point for the British to possibly attack American forces.

On the morning of December 25, 1776, Continental soldiers woke up in their camps along the Delaware River to frozen, snow-covered ground. Weather conditions worsened and temperatures continued to drop throughout the day. Late in the afternoon, the Continentals left their tents and began to form along the river in anticipation of the night's events. Washington kept almost all of the details of the crossing a secret; as a result, none of the soldiers knew anything about their upcoming mission.

Washington's plan was to cross the river at night, march to the nearby town of Trenton, New Jersey, and attack the Hessian garrison right before dawn. He ordered various regiments to assemble at their designated crossing points no later than sunset. The close proximity to the crossing points allowed the soldiers to begin the journey immediately after nightfall struck and complete the crossing no later than midnight. Once across, Washington intended for the armies to reassemble and march approximately ten miles to Trenton, arriving there no later than five o'clock in the morning to achieve surprise. Despite his meticulous planning, the schedule failed almost before it even began.

Crossing the Delaware

Many of the regiments did not arrive at the river until well after dark. Additionally, a severe winter storm that included wind, rain, snow, hail, and sleet met the soldiers at the banks of the river significantly slowing their crossing. Many of the boats had to combat ice jams and unfavorable currents. To make matters even worse, the extreme darkness caused by the storm made it hard for the boatmen to see the opposite shore.

The necessity of using larger ferries to carry pieces of artillery across the river caused even more delays. Washington crossed the river with John Glover's Marblehead mariners and upon arrival debated whether or not to cancel the entire operation because it was more than three hours behind schedule.

Washington decided it was too costly to retreat and he painfully watched as his army continued to trickle across the river. The freezing and tired Continental Army assembled on the Jersey shore on the morning of December 26 without any major debacles.

Washington’s Army Continues into New Jersey

Once ready, Washington led his army on the road to Trenton. It was there that he secured an important victory for the Continental Army. Without the determination, resiliency, and leadership exhibited by Washington while crossing the Delaware River, the victory at Trenton would not have been possible. Their success boosted American morale after a series of losses, with The Committee of Secret Correspondence noting of the crossing of the Delaware, “We hope, this blow will be followed by others, that may leave the enemy not so much to boast of, as they some days ago expected, and we had reason to apprehend.”²

Cody Lass Texas Tech University, revised by Zoie Horecny, Ph.D., 16 April 2025

Notes:

1. “From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 8 December 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives.

2. “The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the Amerìcan Commissioners, 30 December 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives.

Bibliography:

Fisher, David Hackett, Washington Crossing the Delaware. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Higginbotham, Don, The War of American Independence: Military Attitudes, Policies, and Practice, 1763-1789. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1983.

Middlekauf, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. New York: Oxford University Press, 1985.