Alarmed by the blow at
Trenton (see
Trenton, Battle of.), the
British broke up their encampments along the
Delaware, and retired to
Princeton.
Washington thereupon reoccupied
Trenton, where he was speedily joined by 3,600
Pennsylvania militia.
At that time the term of enlistment of the
New England regiments expired, but the persuasions of their officers and a bounty of $10 induced them to remain for six weeks longer.
Howe detained Cornwallis (who was about to sail for
England), and sent him to take command of the concentrated troops at
Princeton, about 10 miles northeast of
Trenton.
Reinforced by troops from
New Brunswick, he marched on
Trenton (Jan. 2, 1777), where
Washington was encamped on high ground east of a small stream, near where it enters the
Delaware.
After a sharp cannonade at a bridge and a ford, the
British encamped, feeling sure of capturing the whole of
Washington's army in the morning.
The position of the latter was a perilous one.
He had 5,000 men, half of them militia who had been only a few days in camp.
To fight the veterans before him would be madness; to attempt to recross the
Delaware in the face of the enemy would be futile.
Washington called a council of war, and it was decided to attempt to gain the rear of the enemy during the night, beat up his quarters at
Princeton, and, if possible, fall on his stores at
New Brunswick.
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|
Battle of Princeton (from an old print). |
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296]
Washington kept his camp-fires brightly burning, sent his baggage silently down the river to
Burlington, had small parties throwing up intrenchments within hearing of the
British sentinels, and at about midnight, the weather having suddenly become very cold and the ground hard frozen, the whole American army marched away unobserved by the enemy.
By a circuitous route, they reached
Princeton (Jan. 3) before sunrise.
Two or three
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 army had mysteriously disappeared.
Faint sounds of cannonading at
Princeton reached the ear of Cornwallis at
Trenton.
Although it was a keen winter morning, he thought it the rumbling of distant thunder.
General Erskine more readily comprehended the matter, and exclaimed, “Thunder?
To arms, general!
Washington has outgeneralled us!
Let us fly to the rescue at
Princeton!”
The army was soon on the move in that direction.
In the mean time the
battle at Princeton was sharp and decisive.
Mercer'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 artillery, intercepted the other British regiment.
Mawhood saw
Washington bringing order out of confusion, and, charging with his artillery, tried in vain to seize Moulder's cannon.
At this onset the Pennsylvanians, first in line, began to waver, when
Washington, to encourage them, rode to the forefront of danger.
For a moment he was hidden in the battle-smoke, and a shiver of dread lest he had fallen ran through the army.
When he appeared, unhurt, a shout of joy rent the air. A fresh force of
Americans, under
Colonel Hitchcock, came up, and, with
Hand's riflemen, were turning the
British left, when
Mawhood ordered a
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297]
retreat.
His force (the 70th Regiment) fled across the snow-covered fields, leaving two brass cannon behind them.
The 55th Regiment, which had attempted to reinforce them, were pressed by the
New England troops, under
Stark, Poor,
Patterson,
Reed, and others, and were joined in their flight towards
New Brunswick by the 40th, who had not taken part in the action.
A British regiment in the strong stone-built Nassau Hall, of the College of New Jersey, was cannonaded, and soon surrendered.
In this short but sharp battle the
British lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, about 430 men. The American loss was about 100, including
Colonels Haslet and
Potter,
Major Morris, and
Captains Shippen,
Fleming, and
Neal. Mercer died nine days after the battle.
When Cornwallis arrived at
Princeton,
Washington and his little army and prisoners were tar on their way towards the
Millstone River, in hot pursuit of the 40th and 55th regiments.
Washington relinquished the chase because of the great fatigue of his soldiers; and moving on to
Morristown (q. v.), in
east Jersey, there established the winter-quarters of the army.
He was universally applauded.
It is said that Frederick the
Great, of
Prussia, declared that the achievements of
Washington and his little band of patriots, between Dec. 25, 1776, and Jan. 4, 1777, were the most brilliant of any recorded in military history.
