United States
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, after General George Washington led Continental Army troops across the icy Delaware River on Christmas night. Early that morning, American forces surprised a garrison of Hessian (German) troops stationed at Trenton, New Jersey. The surprise was effective and quick, and many Hessian soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.
The victory came at a low point in the war, when morale in the Continental Army and among colonists was very low. News of the win boosted confidence in Washington’s leadership and encouraged more men to enlist or re-enlist. Historians often view the battle as a turning point that helped keep the American Revolution alive.