The Battle of Princeton, a Continental Army victory, helped expel British forces from Central New Jersey and boosted patriot morale after a difficult campaign.
Key Facts
- Date
- January 3, 1777
- British garrison strength
- 1,400 troops
- British commander
- Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood
- Continental commander
- General George Washington
- Mercer's wounds
- Stabbed 7 times with a bayonet
- British evacuated
- Central Jersey following defeat
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After defeating Hessians at Trenton on December 26, 1776, General Washington chose to press the offensive before entering winter quarters. He recrossed the Delaware into New Jersey, repulsed a British attack at Assunpink Creek on January 2, then secretly maneuvered around Cornwallis's army to strike the British garrison left at Princeton.
On January 3, 1777, Continental forces under Washington clashed with two British regiments commanded by Mawhood near Princeton. Brigadier General Mercer's troops were overrun and Mercer was mortally wounded. Washington personally rallied fleeing militia and drove Mawhood's forces back. British troops sheltering in Nassau Hall surrendered to Brigadier General Sullivan, ending the engagement.
The British suffered their third defeat in ten days and subsequently evacuated Central New Jersey. Washington withdrew his army to Morristown for winter quarters. The twin victories at Trenton and Princeton revived patriot morale and encouraged fresh recruits to join the Continental Army in the spring of 1777.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
George Washington, Hugh Mercer, John Cadwalader, John Sullivan.
Side B
1 belligerent
Charles Mawhood, Lord Cornwallis.