Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington Crossing is located along the Delaware River, just eight miles North of Trenton, New Jersey. As the end of 1776 approached, the "War for Independence" was going badly. General George Washington faced a desperate situation. Morale was low, and the enlistments for many of his regiments, including the 14th, would expire at the end of the year.

The Father of Our Country decided to get one more battle in before these troops left the service. General Washington chose to cross the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey at this historic point, because it allowed his troops to ferry the Continental army without probable detection. At this time of year the British thought the river impassable due to the fast moving blocks of ice.

A wide variety of watercraft were assembled for the crossing, primarily by militia companies from the surrounding counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In addition to the large ferry vessels (which were big enough to carry large coaches, and likely served for carrying horses and artillery during the crossing), a large number of Durham boats were used to transport soldiers across the river. These boats were designed to carry heavy loads from the Durham Iron Works, featured high sides and a shallow draft, and could be poled across the river.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1776, through sleet and snow the embarkation was made. General Washington, General Henry Knox, and 2,400 troops slowly paddled a quarter mile across the frozen Delaware river to the New Jersey shore to win the Battle of Trenton. The victory was the "turning-point of the American Revolution."