Battle of Princeton Part of the American Revolutionary War The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton by John Trumbull. Date January 2, 1777 Location Princeton, New Jersey Result Tactical American Victory Combatants United States Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Hugh Mercer†, John Haslet† Charles Mawhood Strength 4,600 1,200 (Rearguard of main force) Casualties 46 killed c.160 wounded 24 dead, 58 wounded, 194 captured

New York and New Jersey, 1776–1777 Long Island – Kip's Bay – Harlem Heights – Pell's Point – White Plains – Fort Washington – 1st Trenton – 2nd Trenton – Princeton – Forage War – Bound Brook

The Battle of Princeton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought near Princeton, New Jersey, on January 3rd, 1777. The site is administered as a state park operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. This article is about military actions only. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1458x914, 209 KB) The battle of Princeton by John Trumbull. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1777 (MDCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Nassau Street, Princetons main street. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Image File history File links Grand_Union_Flag. ... Image File history File links Union_flag_1606_(Kings_Colors). ... For an explanation of terms such as Scotland, Wales, England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom, see British Isles (terminology). ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... For the Confederate general, see Hugh W. Mercer. ... John Haslet (about 1727– January 3, 1777) was an American clergyman and soldier from Milford, Delaware in Kent County. ... Charles Mawhood was one of the commanders in The Battle of Trenton and in The Battle of Princeton. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Charles Lee Sir William Howe, Lord Cornwallis Strength 19,000 regulars and militia 25,000 soldiers, 10,000 seamen The New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of engagements in the American Revolutionary War between British forces under General Sir... Combatants United States Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Israel Putnam William Howe, Charles Cornwallis, Henry Clinton Strength 11,000-13,000 (about 10,000 of which were militia ) 22,000 (including 9,000 Hessians) Casualties 1,719 total (312 dead, 1,407 wounded, captured or missing) 377 total... The Landing at Kips Bay was a British maneuver during the New York Campaign in the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Harlem Heights was a skirmish in the New York Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Pells Point, also known as the Battle of Pelham, was a skirmish during the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength 14,500 men 14,000 men Casualties 300 killed and wounded 313 killed and wounded Battle of White Plains Historic Site : George Washingtons HQ The Battle of White Plains was an inconclusive meeting on October 28, 1776 in the... Combatants United States Britain Hessian Army Commanders George Washington Robert Magaw William Howe Wilhelm Knyphausen Strength 2,900 8,000 Casualties 53 killed, 96 wounded, & 2,818 captured 78 killed, 374 wounded Fort Washington was a fort located at the upermost tip of Manhattan, New York overlooking the Hudson River... Combatants Continental Army a Hessian Brigade Commanders George Washington Johann Rall† Strength 2,400 1,400 Casualties 2 dead,On the march 2 wounded 23 dead, 92 wounded, 913 captured The Battle of Trenton was a battle which took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War after... The Second Battle of Trenton took place on January 2, 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. ... The Forage War was a partisan war consisting of many small skirmishes that took place in New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War in 1777, following the battles of Trenton and Princeton. ... Battlefield Marker The Battle of Bound Brook , one of the battles in New Jersey during the American War for Independence, occurred on April 13, 1777 and resulted in a defeat for the Continental Army who were routed by about 4,000 troops under British command. ... This article is about military actions only. ... Nassau Street, Princetons main street. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1777 (MDCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... State park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreation, or other reason, and under the administration of the government of a U.S. state or one of the states of Mexico. ... The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jerseys 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts. ...

Background

In the night after the Second Battle of Trenton, General Washington's army silently slipped away from Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and his troops. Washington left behind several soldiers to tend to large campfires, to disguise the departure of the American soldiers. The Second Battle of Trenton took place on January 2, 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (December 31, 1738-October 5, British general and colonial governor. ...

Throughout the night, the army marched over a back road toward Princeton and reached the Quaker Bridge over Stony Brook, about a mile south of town. The Quaker Bridge was not strong enough to support the army’s cannon and ammunition carts, so another bridge had to be built quickly. While the bridge was being constructed, Washington reformed his army, and then split it into two parts—the smaller left wing under General Nathaniel Greene and the larger right wing under General John Sullivan. Washington had intended to attack Princeton before dawn, but the sun was rising. Nathanael Greene Nathanael Greene (July 27, 1742 (O.S.)–June 19, 1786), was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. ... John Sullivan (b. ...

Greene’s assignment was to advance to the Princeton-Trenton highway to stop its traffic and destroy its bridge over Stony Brook. Sullivan’s division, the main attack force, moved toward the rear of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). The British were known to have outposts on the roads to the north, east and west, but an abandoned road went into town from the west, which Sullivan took. Nickname: Location of Trenton inside of Mercer County Coordinates: , Country State County Mercer Incorporated November 13, 1792 Government  - Mayor Douglas H. Palmer Area  - City  8. ... Princeton University is a private coeducational research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. ...

Battle

Before Greene’s division (with 3,400 men) reached the highway, the leading brigade, 1,200 men under General Hugh Mercer of Virginia, encountered 800 men who were elements of the British 4th Brigade, accompanied by 2 light guns, under the overall command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood. The British group was marching from Princeton to Trenton to reinforce General Leslie's 2nd Brigade. The last unit of the 4th Brigade was left to hold Princeton with another 400 men. For the Confederate general, see Hugh W. Mercer. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Charles Mawhood was one of the commanders in The Battle of Trenton and in The Battle of Princeton. ...

Upon seeing the American force, Mawhood formed up his men across the edge of an orchard which Mercer's troops were passing through. A violent firefight developed, and Mawhood launched an assault which largely cleared the orchard of Mercer's troops, who began to retreat in confusion. General Mercer was wounded but refused to surrender. When he tried to attack the enemy with his sword, he was bayoneted until presumed dead; he died nine days later. Colonel John Haslet of Delaware replaced General Mercer and was killed by a shot to the head. John Haslet (about 1727– January 3, 1777) was an American clergyman and soldier from Milford, Delaware in Kent County. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Delaware. ...

During this confusion, General Washington rode up to rally Mercer's men, while a fresh brigade of 2,100 troops under General John Cadwalader arrived with an artillery battery. With these reinforcements, Mercer's men were rallied, and the now much larger American force was able, by pressure of numbers, to retake most of the orchard, until fire from Mawhood's guns halted the American advance. John Cadwalader (1742-1786) was a merchant and soldier from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

A second British assault cleared the orchard, and seemed about to win the day until Sullivan led up another 1,300 troops. Now outnumbered nearly 6 to 1, Mawhood led a final charge to break through American lines. A number of the British soldiers broke through the Americans in a desperate bayonet charge, continuing down the road to Trenton. Washington led some of his force in pursuit of Mawhood, but they abandoned this and turned back when some of Leslie's troops came into sight. The remainder of the British fell back into Princeton, which, along with the men already there, they defended against Sullivan's force for a while, before retreating to New Brunswick. A number of troops were left behind in Princeton. Facing overwhelming numbers and artillery fire, they surrendered. The British official casualty list stated 18 killed, 58 wounded and 200 missing. 194 of the missing men were captured, while the remaining 6 are presumed to have been killed. 46 American soldiers were killed at the Battle of Princeton, mostly by Mawhood's regiment. John Sullivan (b. ...

In Trenton, Cornwallis and his men awoke to the sounds of cannon fire coming from behind their position. Cornwallis and his army began to race to Princeton. However, Washington's rear guard had managed to damage the bridge over the Stony Brook, and American snipers further delayed Cornwallis' Army. The exhausted American Army slipped away, marching to Somerset County Courthouse (now Millstone), where they spent the night. When the main British force finally reached Princeton late in the day, they did not remain but continued in haste toward Trevor M. New Brunswick, New Jersey. Map of Millstone in Somerset County Millstone is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. ... Nickname: Location of New Brunswick in Middlesex County Coordinates: , Country State County Middlesex Established December 30, 1730 Incorporated September 1, 1784 Government  - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)  - Mayor James Cahill Area  - City  5. ...

Aftermath

The Princeton Battle Monument in Princeton Borough, NJ

Princeton Battlefield State Park

After the battle, Cornwallis abandoned many of his posts in New Jersey, and ordered his army to retreat to New Brunswick. The battle at Princeton cost the British some 276 men killed, wounded or captured and greatly boosted the morale of the Continental troops, leading 8,000 new recruits to join the Continental Army. Image File history File linksMetadata BattleOfPrincetonMonument. ... Image File history File linksMetadata BattleOfPrincetonMonument. ... The Princeton Battle Monument is located in Princeton, New Jersey. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 953 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 953 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ...

American historians often consider it a great victory on par with the battle of Trenton, due to the subsequent loss of control of most of New Jersey by the Crown forces as well as the important political implications of the battle across the Atlantic in France and Spain, both of which would expand their military aid to the Continental forces after the battle. However, while the British were driven from the field, they were able to execute a textbook offensive breakout and managed to avert complete disaster. They also inflicted considerably more killed and wounded on the Patriots than they suffered in return in battle, although their total loss including prisoners was greater.

The site of the battlefield is south of Princeton and has become the Princeton Battlefield State Park. The wounded and dying General Mercer reportedly rested under an oak tree on the battlefield. The county containing Princeton is now named for him and a picture of the Mercer Oak is on its seal. The old tree finally died in 2000 and a replacement grown from its acorns was planted on the site. Combatants United States Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Hugh Mercer†, John Haslet† Charles Mawhood Strength 4,600 1,200 (Rearguard of main force) Casualties 46 killed c. ... The Mercer Oak was a large white oak tree that stood in Princeton Battlefield Park in Princeton Township, New Jersey. ...

The 3rd Battalion/112th Field Artillery Regiment claims lineage from the Eastern Artillery Company of New Jersey which was assigned to Thomas Procter's 4th Continental Artillery Regiment which took part in battle of Princeton.

References

• Fisher, David Hackett. Washington's Crossing. Oxford University Press USA, 2004, 576 pages. ISBN 0195170342
• Ketchum, Richard. The Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton. Owl Books, 1999, 448 pages. ISBN 0805060987

David Hackett Fisher is an American political/economic author and a Professor of History at Brandeis University. ... Washingtons Crossing is a book written by David Hackett Fischer and part of the Pivotal Moments in American History series. ...

External links

• Princeton Battlefield Society
• The Battle of Princeton
• Battle of Princeton

v • d • e New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War
1776 -Fort Lee - Washington's crossing of the Delaware - First Trenton - 1777 - Second Trenton - Princeton - Millstone - Short Hills - Forage War - Bound Brook - Middlebrook encampment - 1778 - Monmouth - Molly Pitcher - Baylor Massacre - Little Egg Harbor massacre - Chestnut Neck - 1779 - Paulus Hook - 1780 - Connecticut Farms - Springfield - 1783 - U.S. Capital at Princeton