George Washington made the risky move of crossing the Deleware River on Christmas night in 1776 because wanted to surprise the Hessian forces in Trenton, NJ. This attack was planned only in partial secrecy.
Washington led a company of Continental Army troops across the icy Delaware River in a challenging and fairly dangerous operation. Other previously 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 stationed in Trenton. The army crossed the river back to Pennsylvania, this time bound with prisoners and military stores taken as a result of the successful battle.
