On Christmas night 1776, General George Washington and 2400 Continental soldiers crossed the icy Delaware River from Pennsylvania and landed at this spot on their way to attack the British mercenary force of Hessian soldiers at Trenton. In the pre-dawn hours of December 26, the last of the rebel soldiers, horses, and 18 cannon landed from Durham and ferry boats and assembled in a snowcovered field next to the nearby Ferry House. At dawn they made a surprise attack on Trenton, killing or wounding over 100 Hessians and capturing 900 along with their arms, ammunition, and artillery. That afternoon the victorious but exhausted Continentals marched their prisoners back through the snow and re-crossed into Pennsylvania. The captured Hessians were marched through Philadelphia on New Years Day 1777. Coming after so many defeats, this victory renewed the spirits of the rebellious colonies and is recognized as “The Turning Point of the American Revolution.”
