After a brief struggle, Mercer was bayonetted repeatedly and left for dead. Hugh Mercer, a friend of the Washingtons and a resident of Fredericksburg, Virginia, attempted to reform his command, but was soon surrounded by angry British regulars shouting “Surrender you damn rebel!” Mercer, a veteran of European wars and a fierce patriot, refused to lay down his arms. Washington during the battleĭuring the opening phases of the battle, a bayonet charge by the British forces broke Hugh Mercer’s American line near an orchard fence line on the Clarke Farm. 5. Many British soldiers believed they had killed Gen. As David Hackett Fischer writes, “ delighted in the display of a highly developed air of nonchalance, especially on the field of battle.” Despite this strangely casual display, Mawhood was a veteran and highly capable officer who would more than prove his mettle on the fields at Princeton. Mawhood himself could soon be seen atop his “brown pony” and with a pair of his favorite spaniels bounding at his side. Mercer’s American force soon beheld the advance of soldiers from two British regiments – the 17 th and 55 th Foot. Charles Mawhood rode into battle with springer spaniels at his side Mawhood would have been well on his way to Trenton and Washington would have found but a small, vulnerable garrison at Princeton.īattle Map: Opening Phases of the Battle of Princeton 4. Lt. One might imagine what would have occurred if this chance meeting had not occurred.
Mawhood, now aware of a new threat near Princeton, wheeled his force about and approached Mercer on the Clarke Farm. It was this detachment that was viewed by scouts attached to Mawhood’s column. Behind schedule, Washington sent a small detachment under the command of Hugh Mercer to seize and destroy the Stony Brook bridge along the Post Road. Washington’s northward marching army was primarily traveling on a parallel and lesser-known road that crossed the Thomas Clark Farm – a road that was largely out of view from the Post Road. Leaving a small garrison in Princeton, Mawhood began his march down the Post Road towards Trenton just after dawn. Charles Mawhood, the British officer in command at Princeton, had been ordered by Cornwallis to bring reinforcements down to his position at Trenton. Opposing forces almost missed one another The map also included valuable information on the road network around Princeton – all information that Washington put to great use on January 3, 1777.ģ. Cadwalader’s map included detailed information on British works, cannon, and force dispositions. Cadwalader had received this detailed information from “a very intelligent young gentleman” who had just returned from the area. “Spare no pains or expense to get intelligence of the enemy’s motions and intentions… Every piece of intelligence you obtain worthy of notice, send it forward by express.”Ĭadwalader’s intelligence efforts bore fruit in the form of a detailed, handwritten map of the British positions around Princeton, New Jersey. “A very intelligent young gentleman” provided Washington with valuable intelligenceĮver-hungry for good intelligence on British positions north of the Delaware River, Washington had ordered militia Colonel John Cadwalader, on December 12, 1776, to obtain information on British forces and intentions.
Washington’s successful night march on January 2 is remembered as one of the great flank marches in American history. By stealing a march on Cornwallis, Washington retained the all-important initiative and avoided any movement that smacked of retreat. With deceptive campfires still burning along the creek, Washington’s intrepid soldiers began their 18-mile march through the dark and bitterly cold night. That very night the Continental army would quietly leave its positions along the creek and march east, then north towards Princeton. Rather than risk defeat in Trenton, Washington, in collaboration with his senior officers, agreed upon a bold and dangerous plan. The fact that the British had discovered a ford that led to the vulnerable American right flank made the American position on the Assunpink Creek near Trenton all the more dangerous. Charles Cornwallis’ army of 8,000 veteran soldiers were poised to deliver a punishing blow the following morning. George Washington and his senior officers were filled with a sense of dread. 1. Washington escaped from one enemy to attack another at Princetonĭespite their success in repulsing several frontal attacks at the Battle of Assunpink Creek (Battle of Second Trenton) on January 2, 1777, Gen.
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