Named Entity Results, Hugh Mercer

Mercer, Hugh 1720- Military officer; born in Aberdeen, Scotland, about 1720; became a physician, and was assistant surgeon at the battle of Culloden, on the side of the Pretender, and was obliged to leave his country. He came to America in 1747, was a captain in the French and Indian War, was severely wounded in the battle Hugh Mercer. where Braddock was defeated, and received a medal from the corporation of Philadelphia for his prowess in that expedition. He was made lieutenant-colonelHugh Mercer. where Braddock was defeated, and received a medal from the corporation of Philadelphia for his prowess in that expedition. He was made lieutenant-colonel in 1758; entered heartily into the military service when the Revolutionary War broke out, and was made colonel of the 3d Virginia Regiment in February, 1776. In June following Congress made him a brigadier-general. He led the column of attack at the battle of Trenton (q. v.), and at the council of war there he suggested the daring night march on Princeton. In the battle that ensued the following morning he was mortally wounded, and died Jan. 12, 1777. See Princeton, battle of.

of friendship with the English. In 1756 Dieskau was succeeded by the Marquis de Montcalm, who, perceiving the delay of the English at Albany and their weakness through sickness and lack of provisions (of which he was informed by spies), collected about 5,000 Frenchmen, Canadians, and Indians at Frontenac (now Kingston), at the foot of Lake Ontario, crossed that lake, and appeared before Oswego in force on Aug. 11. He attacked Fort Ontario, on the east side of the river, commanded by Colonel Mercer, who, with his garrison, after a short but brave resistance, withdrew to an older fort on the west side of the stream. The English were soon compelled to surrender the fort. Their commander was killed, and on the 14th Montcalm received, as spoils of victory, 1,400 prisoners, a large quantity of ammunition and provisions and other stores, 134 pieces of artillery, and several vessels lying in the harbor. The Six Nations had never been well satisfied with the building of these forts by t

rise. Two or three View of the battle-field near Princeton. British regiments lying at Princeton had just begun their march to join Cornwallis at Trenton. Their commander, Colonel Mawhood, first discovered the approaching Americans, under General Mercer, and a sharp engagement ensued, each having two field-pieces. Meanwhile the British at Trenton were greatly surprised, in the morning, to find their expected prey had escaped. The American camp-fires were still burning, but the little armcer's forces were furiously attacked with the deadly bayonet, and they lied in disorder. The enemy pursued until, on the brow of a hill, they discovered the American regulars and Pennsylvania militia, under Washington, marching to the support of Mercer, who, in trying to rally his men, had his horse disabled under him, and was finally knocked down by a clubbed musket, and mortally wounded. Just then Washington appeared, checked the flight of the fugitives, and, with the help of Moulder's artil

lt strong enough to attack this force, and at twilight on Christmas night he had about 2,000 men on the shore of the Delaware at McConkey's Ferry (afterwards Taylorsville), a few miles above Trenton, preparing to cross the river. He rightly believed that the Germans, after the usual carouse of the Christmas festival, would be peculiarly exposed to a surprise, and he prepared to fall upon them before daylight on the morning of the 26th. With him were Generals Stirling, Greene, Sullivan, Mercer, Stephen, and Map of the battle of Trenton. Knox, commanding the artillery. Arrangements were made for a similar movement against the cantonments below Trenton, the command of which was assigned to General Gates; but that officer, jealous of Washington, and in imitation of General Lee, with wilful disobedience refused the duty, and turning his back on Washington, rode on towards Baltimore to intrigue among Congressmen against Gen. Philip Schuyler (q. v.). Ice was forming in the Delaware,