Von Howze Just now On this day in 1777, General George Washingtons revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey in what is known as the Battle of Princeton. On the night of January 2, 1777 George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek in Trenton. That night, he evacuated his position, circled around General Lord Cornwallis army, and went to attack the British garrison at Princeton. Brigadier General Hugh Mercer of the Continental Army, clashed with two regiments under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood of the British Army. Mercer and his troops were overrun and Washington sent some militia under Brigadier General John Cadwalader to help him. The militia, on seeing the flight of Mercers men, also began to flee. Washington rode up with reinforcements and rallied the fleeing militia. He then led the attack on Mawhoods troops, driving them back. Mawhood gave the order to retreat and most of the troops tried to flee to Cornwallis in Trenton. In Princeton itself, Brigadier General John Sullivan encouraged some British troops who had taken refuge in Nassau Hall to surrender, ending the battle. After the battle, Washington moved his army to Morristown, and with their third defeat in 10 days, the British evacuated southern New Jersey. With the victory at Princeton, morale rose in the ranks and more men began to enlist in the army. The battle was the last major action of Washingtons winter New Jersey campaign. The site of the battle is now Princeton Battlefield State Park in New Jersey. Forty Patriots and 275 British soldiers died during ensuing Battle of Princeton. After the defeat, the Howe brothers (General William and Admiral Richard) chose to leave most of New Jersey to Washington. Instead of marshalling their significant manpower to retake New Jersey, they concentrated all of their forces between New Brunswick and the Atlantic coast. New Jersey had endured British invasion and rape and plunder at the hands of Britains Hessian mercenaries. Now, as the Patriot militia resumed control, New Jersey Loyalists faced exile or humiliating repatriation. The Howes decided to abandon New Jersey Loyalists permanently The equestrian statue of George Washington at Washington Circle in Washington, D.C. depicts General Washington at the Battle of Princeton. Sculptor Clark Mills said in his speech at the statues dedication ceremony on February 22, 1860, The incident selected for representation of this statue was at the battle of Princeton where Washington, after several ineffectual attempts to rally his troops, advanced so near the enemy’s lines that his horse refused to go further, but stood and trembled while the brave rider sat undaunted with reins in hand. But while his noble horse is represented thus terror stricken, the dauntless hero is calm and dignified, ever believing himself the instrument in the hand of Providence to work out the great problem of liberty.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 12:50:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015