The Battle of Princeton
War: American Revolutionary War
Date: 3rd January 1777
Place: Princeton in New Jersey, USA
Combatants: Americans against the British
Generals: General George Washington against Major General Lord Cornwallis
Size of the armies: 7,000 Americans against 8,000 British and Hessians although only 1,200 British troops were principally engaged.
Winner:
The Americans outmanoeuvred the British and escaped Cornwallis’ encircling move, although the troops of Mawhood’s two regiments, the 17th and 55th Foot, must be considered the heroes of the battle.
Between 29th and 31st December 1776 Washington brought his troops back across the river into Trenton. He there received information that Lord Cornwallis and Major General Grant were at Princeton with 8,000 British troops and artillery and about to advance upon him. Washington force numbered 1,500 soldiers. Cadwalader was south of Trenton with 2,100 men, while at Bordenton General Mifflin waited with 1,600 Pennsylvania militia.
Washington faced the curious crisis that arose on several occasions during the war, that many of his soldiers were about to become “time expired”. That is their period of enlistment lapsed at midnight on 31st December 1776. With some frantic bargaining many of these men were persuaded to stay for a further six weeks.
Washington’s army could be categorised as either recently embodied militia, well dressed and fed, but almost devoid of training or experience, or Continentals, experienced and hardy, but almost destitute and exhausted.
Date: 3rd January 1777
Place: Princeton in New Jersey, USA
Combatants: Americans against the British
Generals: General George Washington against Major General Lord Cornwallis
Size of the armies: 7,000 Americans against 8,000 British and Hessians although only 1,200 British troops were principally engaged.
Winner:
The Americans outmanoeuvred the British and escaped Cornwallis’ encircling move, although the troops of Mawhood’s two regiments, the 17th and 55th Foot, must be considered the heroes of the battle.
Between 29th and 31st December 1776 Washington brought his troops back across the river into Trenton. He there received information that Lord Cornwallis and Major General Grant were at Princeton with 8,000 British troops and artillery and about to advance upon him. Washington force numbered 1,500 soldiers. Cadwalader was south of Trenton with 2,100 men, while at Bordenton General Mifflin waited with 1,600 Pennsylvania militia.
Washington faced the curious crisis that arose on several occasions during the war, that many of his soldiers were about to become “time expired”. That is their period of enlistment lapsed at midnight on 31st December 1776. With some frantic bargaining many of these men were persuaded to stay for a further six weeks.
Washington’s army could be categorised as either recently embodied militia, well dressed and fed, but almost devoid of training or experience, or Continentals, experienced and hardy, but almost destitute and exhausted.