Battle+of+Princeton


 * __Battle of Princeton- January 3, 1777__**

WASHINGTON LEADS MEN TO VICTORY AT PRINCETON

 * By: Jon Scott**

After [|crossing the Delaware River] proving himself to the world with his suprise win at [|Trenton] against the [|Hessians,] General [|George Washington] has once again gained another [|Revolutionary War] victory at [|Princeton, NJ]against [|Major General Lord Cornwallis].

The [|enlistment period] for most of Washington's troops was ending on January 1, 1777. Washington was able to work out a deal so that many of them agreed to re-enlist.

On January 1, 1777 British General Cornwallis proceeded to Trenton with approximately 6,000 troops. About 1,200 other British troops stayed in Princeton with [|General Charles Mahwood].

On January 2, the Americans faced off against the British at the [|Assunpink Creek]. Inside of [|Trenton,] the Americans were successful in preventing the British from crossing the bridge that night. Cornwallis eventually backed down and decided to wait until morning. Washington saw his opportunity to escape.

A small number of troops stayed in Trenton as part of Washington's plan to decieve the enemy. A group of [|militia] kept fires going, fired [|cannons] occasionally and made noises to make it sound like they were planning [|defensive moves]. The remaining 7,000 troops quietly left and headed towards Princeton.

General Washington sent some of his soliders and [|General Mercer] to the [|Stony Brook Bridge], The plan was to destroy the bridge to stop the British from using it to get back and forth from Trenton to Princeton. Unfortunally, they met up with British troops led by Colonel Mahwood. The fighting began. The American troops were ready to give up thinking they couldn't defeat the British as they were overwhelmed and had inferior weapons. Washington showed up and rallied his troops by his bravey and leadership. The troops responded and the fight was on.

The American troops followed the British to Princeton where they had entered [|Nassau Hall] at the [|College of New Jersey] to seek [|refuge.] The American shot cannons at Nassau Hall until the British surrendered. While the cannons were firing, one cannonball apparently went through a window into a portrait of [|King George].

When Cornwallis heard of this, he was furious. He had just realized that the Americans had left the camp in Trenton and had fooled him. He and his troops left for Princeton immediately.

When Cornwallis arrived at Princeton, Washington and his troops had already left. The initial plan was to go to New Brunswick to replenish supplies because this is where the British kept their supplies. Instead, though, Washington decided his soliders were too exhausted and instead went to [|Morristown] to safely camp for the rest of the winter. When Cornwallis arrived in [|New Brunswick], he was given orders by [|General Howe] to leave NJ except for a few remaining troops.

Washington clearly outsmarted Cornwallis leading to a victory for the Americans. A total of 86 British were killed and wounded. Another 200 [|British soliders] were captured. The American had a total of 40 [|casualties.]

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 * QUESTIONS:**

1. Describe Washington's battle strategy during the Battle of Princeton. 2. Trace the route that Washington and his men took starting in Trenton and ending in Morristown. 3. Why was it a bad idea for British troops to hide out in Nassau Hall?