Learn Our History Today: On January 3, 1777, the Battle of Princeton was fought in New Jersey during the American Revolution. Following his stunning victory over the Hessians at Trenton on December 26 of the previous year, George Washington and his generals debated what should be done next. Some thought that the army should cross back into Pennsylvania, some thought that the army should hold their position in Trenton, and others thought that the army should move farther into New Jersey. Meanwhile, the British in the town of Princeton, under the command of General Lord Charles Cornwallis, mobilized and moved out towards Trenton leaving a small force to garrison Princeton. Cornwallis arrived in Trenton on January 2 and promptly launched an attack on the Americans. Both sides lost more than 100 men each in the fighting and that night each reevaluated their positions. Both the British and the Americans had a meeting of their commands. Each was essentially a reflection of the politics of each nation as a whole. On the British side, General Cornwallis asked for little to no input from his subordinates and quickly resolved to attack the Americans once again in the morning. In the American meeting it was a totally different story. George Washington went around the room and each officer got a say. When it came to Arthur St. Clair, he suggested a daring plan. He suggested that the Army move from their positions, flank the British, and attack their rear at the critical supply depot of Princeton. Washington, knowing that he didn’t have the strength to engage Cornwallis again head on, chose this plan, and that night the army moved out with wagon wheels muffled and fires still burning. In the early morning hours of the 3rd, Washington’s men arrived at Princeton after a grueling march through the bitter cold, and met the British garrison with almost a 5 to 1 advantage. In the ensuing battle, there were actually moments in which it looked like the American lines might break, but after a spirited rallying by General Washington the British were driven back and the town was taken. This was a huge victory for the Patriot Cause and it forced the British to abandon all of southern New Jersey.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 14:18:17 +0000
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