Every Christmas, as the world quiets down to celebrate peace and goodwill, I find myself drawn back to a darker, colder night—one that stood as the turning point in a war for liberty. I make it a personal ritual to pause, contemplate, and honor what must have been coursing through George Washington’s mind on that night in 1776 as he stood at the icy edge of the Delaware River. Courage, yes—but also a crushing weight of responsibility. His was not merely the duty of a commander in chief, but the burden of holding together a crumbling cause, a dwindling army, and a vision of a new nation against all odds.
Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River and the ensuing victory at Trenton was nothing short of audacious—a defining moment of resolve and leadership in a time of despair. It demonstrates that even in the face of impossible odds, perseverance can achieve what once seemed unattainable. This is the story of an exhausted general refusing to give up and common men enduring unimaginable conditions, all for the promise of liberty.
If there was ever a night to remember what true leadership looks like, it is that frigid, snow-swept night of December 25, 1776.
The Long Retreat and Desperation
By late 1776, the American Revolution seemed all but lost. The high hopes of independence, heralded so confidently in Philadelphia just months earlier, had given way to humiliation and despair. The British forces under General Howe had relentlessly pursued Washington’s Continental Army, driving them across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. Desertions mounted as the troops’ resolve eroded. For many Americans, the cause seemed finished. Thomas Paine captured the sentiment of the time in his iconic The American Crisis: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” ¹
Washington, too, must have felt the weight of those trying times. But unlike others, he did not waver. Desperate times demanded bold measures. The war could not drag on into oblivion; a rallying cry was needed, and a victory was critical to revitalizing the faltering cause. The target: a small Hessian garrison stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. The plan was simple in concept but perilous in execution. Under the cover of Christmas night, Washington would lead his men across the ice-choked Delaware River to surprise the Hessians at dawn.
The Crossing: Men Against the Elements
History often overlooks the sheer physical and emotional ordeal of this moment. Washington’s men—frostbitten and malnourished—pressed forward without complaint. Many had no boots, their feet wrapped in rags or leaving bloody prints in the snow. The cold gnawed at their limbs, and the icy wind carried a bitter tang, stinging their faces as they worked. Yet they obeyed their leader’s call, driven by something beyond survival—something closer to destiny.
As Washington stood on the banks of the Delaware, with wind whipping against his face and the blackness of night engulfing his vision, he must have reflected on the stakes of the moment. Failure was not an option—he could not fail his men, and he could not fail the cause.
The river was unforgiving. Blocks of ice floated downstream, colliding with boats, and threatening to capsize them. Rain turned to sleet, and sleet to snow. Those tasked with rowing the heavy Durham boats strained against the current, their hands raw and numb. The effort was immense, and the progress slow. What began as a midnight crossing dragged on until nearly 4 a.m.
Among those braving the storm that night were individuals whose names history has largely forgotten, such as members of the 14th Continental Regiment, and skilled New England river pilots and fishermen. These men, with their intimate knowledge of waterways, worked tirelessly through freezing conditions to guide the boats across the treacherous river, ensuring Washington’s army could cross safely. Their steady hands and courage were as vital to the mission as Washington’s daring vision. ²
And yet, alongside these anonymous heroes, history places familiar figures such as a young Alexander Hamilton, as always, by his general’s side. Then a fiery artillery captain, Hamilton had already begun forging the bond with Washington that would shape his meteoric rise as a soldier, statesman, and architect of the nation. The scene, as captured by Emanuel Leutze in his iconic 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, allows us to reflect on this unity of purpose—where each man, whether a humble ferryman or a future Founding Father, played his part in the bold gamble that would change history. ³
The Battle of Trenton: Boldness Rewarded
When Washington’s army finally reached the New Jersey shore, they marched ten miles through the snowstorm to Trenton. The Hessians—German mercenaries employed by the British—were caught entirely by surprise.
The battle was swift but decisive. Washington’s troops, despite exhaustion and wet gunpowder, overwhelmed the Hessians with precision and ferocity. The Hessian commander, Colonel Johann Rall, fell mortally wounded as his forces crumbled under the relentless American assault. In under two hours, Washington secured the surrender of nearly 1,000 Hessian soldiers—a staggering victory achieved through sheer determination and adaptability. ⁴
The plan, however, did not unfold flawlessly. Severe weather delayed the landings in New Jersey until 3:00 a.m., well behind schedule. Originally, Washington had envisioned completing the crossing by midnight to launch a pre-dawn attack under the cover of darkness. The delay left the troops exposed and further complicated coordination, as Generals Cadwalader and Ewing, hindered by treacherous conditions, were unable to join the attack. Yet Washington’s resolve did not waver. As the army advanced, he rode up and down the line, offering words of encouragement to his frostbitten men. When General Sullivan sent a message reporting that the weather had soaked his soldiers’ gunpowder, Washington’s response was decisive: “Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton.” ⁵ It was a moment that defined his leadership, underscoring that the courage to adapt and execute, even under adverse conditions, could turn a faltering plan into a resounding success.
The Leadership and Legacy
Washington’s triumph at Trenton not only saved the revolution but also altered its trajectory. It demonstrated to a skeptical international audience, particularly France, that the American cause could succeed. This victory set the stage for future alliances that would prove crucial to ultimate independence. ⁶
Endnotes
- Thomas Paine, The American Crisis (December 1776).
- David Hackett Fischer, Washington’s Crossing (Oxford University Press, 2004), pp. 199–204, 318–320.
- Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851), in Barbara Groseclose, Emanuel Leutze, 1816-1868: Freedom Is the Only King (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1975), pp. 22–25.
- Edward G. Lengel, General George Washington: A Military Life (Random House, 2005), pp. 250–255.
- Richard Ketchum, The Winter Soldiers (Doubleday, 1973), pp. 345–350.
- Joseph J. Ellis, His Excellency: George Washington (Knopf, 2004), pp. 121–123.
Charlton Allen is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina School of Law, a writer, and the founder of The American Salient. A lifelong student of history, he is dedicated to exploring the pivotal moments and figures that have shaped America’s exceptional story.
Charlton Allen is the founder and editor-in-chief of The American Salient and the founder of the Madison Center for Law & Liberty, Inc. Learn more about him at charltonallen.org.
