On Dec. 27th General Calwalader, who had been unable to land on the Jersey shore on the 26 th due to the ice on that shore, reported he was crossing near Burlington, reinforced by militia which was turning up encouraged by the victory. Calwalader was unaware that Washington had recrossed the river. He moved into the now empty Burlington and then to Bordontown, reporting that the citizens were hastily removing the red rags nailed to their doors as symbols of loyalty to the crown. George Washington joined him in advancing on the British who were in a panic.
Washington's troops were at the moment in no condition to advance, further, he was short of food. Many of his New England troop enlistments were due to expire on the 1 st of Jan. By the 30th he had improved his supply situation and recrossed the river. On the 30th he made an impassioned plea to a regiment whose enlistments were about to expire. No one stepped forth to stay. Once again Washington spoke
"My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do and more than could reasonably be expected. But your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay only one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty and to your country which you probably never can do under any other circumstances. The present is emphatically the crisis which is to decide our destiny."
Again the drums rolled, calling for men to step forward, and finally about half the men step out to reenlist. Other officers spoke to other regiments with the same success. With the other troops on hand, it will have to be enough. If Washington could maintain the initiative, he might save the Revolution. If he loses a battle at this critical time, it was thought the revolution would collapse.
The British General Howe orders Cornwallis to Princeton to gather all available troops for a counter attack. January 2nd Cornwallis marches on Trenton with about 6000 men, leaving 3 regiments of the 4th Brigade at Princeton as rear- guard, under Colonel. Mawhood.
At Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, the British on Jan 2nd meet with American units who began a fighting withdrawal, ambushing and delaying the British. The British finally got to Trenton to find Washington entrenched but out numbered and outclassed. Washington has but 5,200 men, mostly militia. Washington had deployed his troops to the south side of the Assunpink Creek, a strong position, and repels several attempts of the British to take the bridge. Night fell finally. His troops are tired, Cornwallis decides to wait to attack until morning, when he can "bag the fox" as he says. His officers want to attack now, fearful of Washington's known ability to retreat and escape.
During the night, Washington leaves a few men to keep the campfires burning, make entrenchment noises, and keep up appearances, while the rest of the army moves around the British forces toward Princeton, where they can attack the rear of the British forces and maybe even capture the 70,000 pound sterling war treasury of Howe in New Brunswick. Washington orders silence. Orders are given in whispers. Taking back roads the Americans move to the south around the British and swing towards Princeton. Main roads at this time are poor tracks. Some of these back roads are little more than trails which had already become unused as the area was settled. The troops stagger along them in the dark all night. Luckily a freeze has set in with nightfall and the roads are frozen and passable for both men and cannon.
At dawn, Colonel Mawhood has begun to follow in the wake of Cornwallis to Trenton, his 40th regiment ordered to remain in Princeton. Now the Americans under General Mercer who had been sent to guard the left flank. Mawhood discovers General Mercer and move to attack. One regimen moves back into Princeton. Mercer and Mawhood each believe they have encountered a patrol. Mawhood has about 276 men, and Mercer 120 with 200 following. Both race to the high ground now called Mercer heights. Mercer is surprised to run into Mawhood's men deployed in line. Captain Willie Leslie of the 17th, and nephew of General Alexander Leslie, is killed in the first fire. After exchanging fires, Mawhood's regiment charges with the bayonet. Only 20 or so of Mercers men have muskets and bayonets, most being slow reloading riflemen whose guns cannot use bayonets. Mercer is mortally wounded and his troops fall back. 600 men of the Pennsylvania militia arrive. They fire and then start to fall back, even though they greatly outnumber the 17th. (Mawhood and the 17th regiment put up a terrific defense, still remembered and honored in Great Britain.)
The British took shelter in and around Nassau Hall in Princeton. The Americans brought up a cannon, and took two shots at the building. The first bounced off, but the second entered the main room where the troops were holding, and allegedly decapitated a picture of King George the 2nd on the wall. The British in Nassau Hall surrendered.
Back at Trenton, Cornwallis, January 3rd , found that the Americans were gone. At first it was believed they have marched to Bordentown. Soon reports of fighting at Princeton were received. Cornwallis marches on Princeton. His vanguard arrives as the bridge over the creek is broken up. The militia makes a short stand. Forcing the British to stop and form for battle. Washington and the troops are able to get away, and Cornwallis rests his troops for a few hours, then marches to defend Brunswick, following after Washington.
At Kingston, Cornwallis heads for Brunswick and deploys to defend the town. Washington is a few miles away at Somerset Court House, now Millstone, but his troops are exhausted. Some have hardly eaten. Cornwallis position was not known, except that he was close. Any attack is not considered possible.
On the 4 th, after deciding not to attack New Brunswick, Washington continued north. Later that day they arrived in Pluckemin. With the Watchung Mountains to his east and Morristown units behind him. Washington was now safe. He would soon move the army into winter quarters at Morristown.
Captain Leslie was buried with full militiary honors in the Pluckemin churchyard. He had known Dr. Benjimen Rush of Philadelphia when the doctor studied medicine in Edinburgh. After the war the doctor put a marker on the grave in respect of the family.
Washington, who had about 40 killed and wounded at Princeton. But were able to drive the British from most of New Jersey. This is called the Ten Crucial Days of the Revolutionary War; Dec. 25th to Jan. 3rd.
More importantly, the Revolution now had a chance, morale was improved, and the people once again believed they could stand and face the enemy troops. The British outrages in the invasion of NJ had turned many previously on the fence to the side of the rebels, paper money was acceptable once more and the rebel government and army found support again. Washington had learned to fight not the main British army, but its outposts, forcing the British to give up any effort to control the hinterlands of America. The French government, encouraged by the British defeats, released supplies to the American war effort. In England, the royal government started losing support for the war. The Crisis was past, even if severe hardship and fighting were yet ahead, in a long and bitter struggle for freedom and independence.
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