How many troops did Washington lead across the Delaware on Christmas night in the Battle of Trenton?

• A. 2000
• B. 5000
• C. 7500
• D. 10000

Answer: (B)

The question tests your knowledge of how large Washington’s force was when it crossed the Delaware on Christmas night. This was a bold, small-force operation aimed at a quick, surprise strike rather than a mass assault.

Historically, about 2,400 troops made the crossing—primarily Continental Army regulars with a portion of New Jersey militia. They crossed under harsh winter conditions to launch the attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton, a move that paid off with a swift victory and a significant morale boost for the American cause.

That figure is the figure you’ll see cited most often in histories. The other listed totals are much larger than the actual crossing and don’t fit the size of this operation.