crossing the Delaware
Washington's icy voyage
Crossing the Delaware refers to George Washington's surprise military maneuver on December 25-26, 1776, when Continental Army forces crossed the icy Delaware River to attack Hessian troops at Trenton, New Jersey.
The phrase evokes bold, decisive action against difficult odds: Sometimes leadership means crossing the Delaware—making the risky move when everything's on the line.
Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting immortalized the scene.
- WashingtonU.S. seat of government
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- ChristmasWinter nativity celebration
- 1776American founding year
- boatsWater vehicles with hulls
George Washington · soldiers · ice · Trenton · surprise · attack · turning point · oars · freezing · night · Hessians · surprise attack · sneak attack · painting · colonial · American Revolution · winter · winter storm
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
- George Washingtonfirst president, Mount Vernon, founding father, Continental Army, Valley Forge
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, Pandora's box, sword of Damocles
crossing the Delawareretreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
withdrawal · retreat from Moscow · falling back · fleeing · Dunkirk evacuation
crossing the Delawarecapitulation
Complete yielding to demands
surrender · giving up · hesitation · inaction · playing it safe
cross, crossing, crossed, crosses, crosser, crossings, crossable, uncrossed, Delaware