George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, which occurred on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the
American Revolutionary War, was the first move in a surprise attack organized by
George Washington against the
Hessian forces in
Trenton, New Jersey on the morning of December 26. Planned in partial secrecy, Washington led a column of
Continental Army troops across the icy
Delaware River in a logistically challenging and dangerous operation. Other planned crossings in support of the operation were either called off or ineffective, but this did not prevent Washington from
surprising and defeating the troops of
Johann Rall quartered in Trenton. The army crossed the river back to Pennsylvania, this time laden with prisoners and military stores taken as a result of the battle.