erto inspired the people with fear, now ceased to be terrible. The prisoners were paraded through the streets of Philadelphia, where Putnam was now in command, to prove that the victory was a reality, as the British had denied that such an event had occurred.* The hopes of the Americans were considerably revived, because they had now clearly proven that the British were not invincible, and they became more firm in their belief that perseverance and courage would finally result in success. The British also discovered that they had to deal with a commander who was not only daring, but at the same time cautious and prudent; who, while he was prepared to retreat, was also ever ready to take advantage of the least oversight on their part, in order to convert defeat into victory.

While General Cadwalader had been unable to make the passage of the Delaware at the appointed hour, yet on the 27th, believing that Washington was still on the Jersey shore, he crossed the Delaware with about 1,500 men, two miles above Bristol, and though he had been informed that Washington had again passed into Pennsylvania, he proceeded to Burlington and then marched to Borden

* Stryker, Battles of Trenton and Princeton, 213-214; Lowell, Hessians in the Revolution, pp. 102-106; Force, American Archives, 5th series, vol. iii., pp. 1429, 1441-1448; Livingston, Life of Putnam, pp. 335–336; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. ii., pp. 525–528.

Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. iii.,

124-128.

pp.

7

town, all the while driving the enemy before him as he advanced.* Large numbers of the militia in Pennsylvania now joined the army under Washington,† and on the 29th, he again crossed the Delaware and marched to Trenton, where early in January, 1777, he was able to gather together a force of 5,000 men.

Becoming alarmed at the success of the Americans, the British determined to offset these recent successes by inflicting a crushing blow. General Grant marched to Princeton with a strong detachment, and Lord Cornwallis, who at that time was on the point of sailing for England, was ordered to resume his command in the Jerseys.‡ Cornwallis and Grant joined forces and then pressed forward to Trenton. On their approach, Washington crossed the Assanpink and took post on some high ground with a rivulet in his front. On Jan

Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, p. 276; Stryker, Battles of Trenton and Princeton, p. 218; Cadwalader's letter to Washington in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 313–314. Ford's edition of Washington's Writings, vol. V., pp. 136, 137, 141.

‡ Fiske, American Revolution, vol. i., p. 231.

|| Marshall, speaking of the importance to Washington of obtaining secret intelligence of the plans of Cornwallis, states that at that critical moment Mr. Robert Morris raised on his private credit in Philadelphia £500 in specie, which he transmitted to the commander-in-chief, who employed it in securing information not otherwise to be obtained. - Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 130. Oberholtzer says that the sum consisted of 410 Spanish dollars, 2 English crowns, a French half-crown, and 10% English shillings.-Life of Robert Morris, p. 30. Morris also sent him $50,000 which he had raised on his own credit from friends in Philadelphia, so that Washington could pay the soldiers a bounty to re-enlist. See Stryker, p. 256; Oberholtzer,

8

uary 2 the British troops advanced against Washington's forces, and a cannonade was maintained until far into the night;* but though Corwallis was urged by some of his officers to make an immediate attack, he concluded to wait until the next morning when he thought that it would be still more easy to secure a victory over the American forces. "At last," said he "we have run down the old fox, and we will bag him in the morning."†

Washington was now in a critical situation, for if he awaited the attack he would surely be crushed by a superior force, while, on the other hand, to attempt to escape by crossing the Delaware would be even more hazardous. He therefore called a council of war, at which it was suggested that he take his troops around the British army and strike them suddenly upon the rear, fall upon their magazines at Brunswick and carry the war again from the neighborhood of Philadelphia into the mountainous interior of Jersey. This plan was adopted and no time was lost in putting it into operation. Sending the

Life of Robert Morris, pp. 30-32; Force, Ameri

superfluous baggage down the river to Burlington, keeping the watch fires lighted, maintaining a strict patrol, and also working upon new entrenchments so as to deceive the enemy, Washington's army silently abandoned the camp about midnight and marched off by a circuitous route through Allentown toward Princeton.*

While it was the most inclement season of the year, the Americans were greatly favored by the weather. For two days it had been warm and foggy, which rendered the roads. almost impassable; but at about the time the march was begun, the wind suddenly shifted and a heavy frost set in, leaving the roads solid and easy of passage. Greatly encouraged by this turn of affairs, the American army marched forward with high spirits.

At Princeton, Cornwallis

had left three regiments, under Colonel Charles Mawhood, with orders to advance on January 3. Toward daybreak of the 3d, as they were executing these orders, they suddenly came in sight of the approaching Continental forces and almost

Simpson, The Lives of Eminent Philadelphians. p. 705. See also Morris' letter to Washington, in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 316-317.

Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 284286; Knox's letter of January 7 to his wife, in Brooks, Life of Knox, pp. 83-84.

Fiske, American Revolution, vol. i., p. 232. See also Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. iii., pp. 130-132; F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, p. 64.

General St. Clair is supposed to have been the author of this plan. See Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 140; Stryker, Battles of Trenton and

From their post behind the fence, the Americans poured in a heavy and well-directed fire against the

British, who, after the first volley, charged with such impetuousity that the Americans broke and precipitately fled, closely pursued by the British.* In their flight, however, the Americans were suddenly arrested by the arrival of a force under Washington, who, having beheld the rout, hastened to the scene of battle, and, colors in hand, endeavored to rally the retreating soldiers. Probably at no time during his life was Washington so exposed to danger, but he finally succeeded in rallying the Americans. the Americans. Both the English and American lines were immediately reformed. Washington, whose ardor had carried him into a most perilous position, stood between the two forces, a mark for the bullets of both, yet he fortunately escaped injury and urged his men for-, ward to the attack. Without waiting the onset, the British fled. Mawhood, having seen reinforcements arrive, wheeled off, leaving his artillery, and, regaining the Princeton road, marched to join Cornwallis. Having routed the British, Washington advanced toward Princeton where he also put to flight a regiment of British and took a number of prisoners. In this action the American loss was about 30 killed, including several officers, while

*Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. i., p. 567; Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. iii., pp. 133–135.

† Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 287288; Johnson, General Washington, p. 154; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. ii., p. 546.

the British loss was 150 killed and 230 prisoners.* The chief loss to the American army was General Mercer, who was mortally wounded and died on January 12.†

Meanwhile, early in the morning, Cornwallis discovered that Washington had made his escape and for a time was perplexed as to what direction the "old fox " had taken. However, when he heard the booming of cannon in the direction of Princeton, he quickly saw that Washington had outgeneraled him.‡ Becoming alarmed for the safety of the stores at Brunswick, he made a rapid march toward Princeton in the hope of overtaking the American forces and inflicting a decisive defeat. The Americans had intended to make a forced march to Brunswick to capture the British stores, but the battle in the morning had so completely exhausted the men (who had been without rest and almost without food for two days. and nights) that this project was abandoned.|| As Washington proceeded toward Morristown, Cornwallis pressed close on his rear, but on crossing the Millstone River the American troops demolished the bridge at Kingston, and Cornwallis

Bancroft, vol. v., pp. 100-107; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, p. 289; Ford's ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. v., pp. 148-151; Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i., pp. 141-150; Stryker, Battles of Trenton and Princeton, p. 292.

Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 28-30; Brooks, Life of Knox, pp. 84-85. Fiske, American Revolution, vol. i., p. 234. Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. i., p. 569; Trevelyan, p. 137.