Battlefield

Princeton

After crossing the Delaware, George Washington's ten-day campaign culminated in a decisive victory at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, proving his army could defeat the British. The battle saw Washington's forces overcome initial setbacks to rout the British and shift the momentum of the war

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New Jersey | Jan 3, 1777

After crossing the Delaware on December 25, 1776, George Washington embarked on a ten day campaign that would change the course of the war. Culminating at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, Washington snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and proved his amateur army could defeat the British.

The Battle of Princeton was a classic meeting engagement, both sides stumbled into one another, and neither expected to fight on the ground where the battle raged. Initially, the British commander Charles Mawhood, marched his force south towards Trenton to meet the main British army, when he spotted the American column. Washington had stolen a march on Charles Lord Cornwallis, slipping away from the British forces along Assunpink Creek the night before.

When the Americans spotted British troopers around William Clarke's farm, Washington detached Hugh Mercer's brigade to investigate. Mercer ran headlong into the 17th Foot, firmly stationed behind a fence at the end of Clarke's orchard. In the ensuing volleys, Mercer was wounded and his men routed by a bayonet charge. With the outnumbered British on the verge of splitting his army, Washington quickly detached John Cadwalader's Philadelphia Associatiors to plug the gap. These green troops fought valiantly, but were also broken by British bayonets.

Original Sword from the Battle of Princeton

With the battle, and the war, hanging in the balance, Washington personally led fresh troops onto the field while grapeshot and canister from Joseph Moulder's artillery battery forced the British back towards William Clarke's farmhouse. Washington's counterattack broke the British line, which quickly turned into a rout. 

Further towards town, two smaller engagements at Frog Hollow and on the grounds of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), also resulted in British retreat. Washington had won a great victory, defeating an inferior force of British regulars, but Colonel Mawhood was also praised for delaying the Americans long enough to rescue most of his supplies.

What's Nearby

Explore more of The Liberty Trail by visiting these nearby attractions.

A painting illustrating British grenadiers bayoneting Gen. Hugh Mercer.

Princeton, NJ 08540

Final, decisive battle of the Ten Crucial Days

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The Thomas Clarke House, located at the Princeton Battlefield

Princeton, NJ 08540

Death site of Hugh Mercer and field hospital

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Nassau Hall, Princeton University

Princeton, NJ 08542

Defensive British position at the Battle of Princeton

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Washington's Headquarters at Rockingham

Franklin Township, NJ 08528

Where Washington penned his Farewell Orders

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Assunpink Creek from Mill Hill Park

Trenton, NJ 08608

Washington & his generals thwart Cornwallis yet again

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Washington Crossing the Delaware

Trenton, NJ 08608

Washington leads his assault on Hessian forces

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Washington Crossing State Park in the Fall

Titusville, NJ 08560

Washington lands and moves on the Hessian garrison

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Johnson Ferry House

Titusville, NJ 08560

Ferry used by Washington on Christmas, 1776

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Visitor Center Washington Crossing State Park PA

Washington Crossing, PA 18977

Washington prepares to attack Trenton

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The Van Veghten House, Greene's Headquarters at Middlebrook

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Greene's Headquarters at Middlebrook

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Exterior of the Wallace House

Somerville, NJ 08876

Washington's HQ at the Middlebrook encampment

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The Village Inn in Englishtown, New Jersey

Englishtown, NJ 07726

Washington orders Lee to begin the Battle of Monmouth

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Abraham Staats House, located in South Bound Brook, NJ

South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

Von Steuben's Middlebrook HQ that hosted Washington

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Home sitting adjacent to Petticoat Bridge

Columbus, NJ 08022

Site of several Hessian skirmishes

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Washington at Monmouth

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Continental generals attack the British rear guard

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Stories from Princeton

Trail Site

Renowned for Gen. George Washington's daring crossing of the Delaware River on a frigid Christmas night, Trenton marked the start of the Ten Crucial Days—a series of bold victories that reignited hope in the Revolutionary cause.

Biography

The commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, Howe is now known for his failure to quell the revolution in the colonies during its early years and return loyalty to the British crown.

Video/Audio
Reposted from battlefields.org December 25, 1776: Victory or Death. General Washington opted for a last bold strike against the British by attacking the garrison at Trenton, NJ. The result convinced...