December 25 in American History

December 25, 1776 — Washington crosses the Delaware

On a freezing Christmas night, George Washington ferried 2,400 men across the ice-choked Delaware River for a surprise dawn attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton. The Revolution had been collapsing; this desperate, brilliant gamble revived it. The famous painting hangs in the Met, but the real crossing was colder, darker, and braver.

Common Questions

What happened on December 25 in American history?

In 1776: Washington crosses the Delaware. On a freezing Christmas night, George Washington ferried 2,400 men across the ice-choked Delaware River for a surprise dawn attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton.

Why is December 25 significant?

On a freezing Christmas night, George Washington ferried 2,400 men across the ice-choked Delaware River for a surprise dawn attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton. The Revolution had been collapsing; this desperate, brilliant gamble revived it. The famous painting hangs in the Met, but the real crossing was colder, darker, and braver.

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