Washington crosses the Delaware River

  The British had forced the Continental Army to abandon New Jersey, so this make them have the control of Rhode Island and New Jersey and make them think that the revolution has been crushed. Washington had to do something and quickly because his commands in the militia were due to expire in that month and all the soldiers were going back home.


His decision was to attack the British. The target was the Hessian-held town of Trenton just across the Delaware River. So in the night of Christmas in 1776. In the night of Christmas i 1776, Washington led his troops toward the icy and dangerous Delaware River. The climate was raging winds combined with snow and  it was icy cold. Also some members of the troop marched through the snow without shoes. 

 So the next morning Washington troops attacked the Hessian fores, which were tired and drunk from the Christmas night. After fighting the Hessians surrender, and Washington's victory was complete. Washington and his commanding officers decided to retrace their steps across the Delaware taking their Hessian prisoners with them.

The news of the American victory spread rapidly and make the revolution spirit again.  The battle's winning also gave Washington and his officers the confidence to make another campaign. On December 30 they again crossed the Delaware, attacked and won another victory at Trenton on January 2, and then pushed on to Princeton defeating the British there on January 3.

This battles were a decisive point in the Revolution because they give the colonial army for confident and support from other armies too, the British now were aware of the cleverness of the wash

The crossing  of the Delaware river, in the Christmas night  energized the tired and sad Colonial army, and gave the American people a reason to celebrate.