of a distant cannonade. Washington, escaped from their snares, was
sounding the reveille at Princeton. The British camp awoke and listened.
Soon the rumor spread that the American lines were deserted. Drums beat,
trumpets sounded, ranks were formed in as great haste as if the enemy
were actually in the camps, instead of being at that moment a dozen
miles away. Cornwallis, who had gone to bed expecting to make short work
of Washington in the morning, saw himself fairly outgeneralled. His
rear-guard, his magazines, his baggage, were in danger, his line of
retreat cut off. There was not a moment to lose. Exasperated at the
thought of what they would say of him in England, he gave the order to
press the pursuit to the utmost. The troops took the direct route by
Maidenhead to Princeton; and thus, for the second time, Trenton saw
itself freed from enemies, once routed, twice disgraced, and thoroughly
crestfallen and stripped of their vaunted prestige.
[Sidenote: Mercer's fight.]
Three British battalions lay at Princeton the night before.[7] Two of
them were on the march to Trenton when Washington's troops were
discovered approaching on a back road. Astonished at seeing troops
coming up from that direction, the leading battalion instantly turned
back to meet them. At the same time Washington detached Mercer to seize
the main road, while he himself pushed on with the rest of the troops.
This movement brought on a spirited combat between Mercer and the strong
British battalion, which had just faced about.[8] The fight was short,
sharp, and bloody. After a few volleys, the British charged with the
bayonet, broke through Mercer's ranks, scattered his men, and even
drove back Cadwalader's militia, who were coming up to their support.
Other troops now came up. Washington himself rode in among Mercer's
disordered men, calling out to them to turn and face the enemy. It was
one of those critical moments when everything must be risked. Like
Napoleon pointing his guns at Montereau, the commander momentarily
disappeared in the soldier; and excited by the combat raging around him,
all the Virginian's native daring flashed out like lightning. Waving his
uplifted sword, he pushed his horse into the fire as indifferent to
danger as if he had really believed that the bullet which was to kill
him was not yet cast.
Taking courage from his presence and example the broken troops re-formed
their ranks. The firing grew brisker and brisker. Assailed with fresh
spirit, the British, in their turn, gave way, leaving the ground strewed
with their dead, in return for their brutal use of the bayonet among the
wounded. Finding themselves in danger of being surrounded, that portion
of this fighting British regiment[9] which still held together
retreated as they could toward Maidenhead, after giving such an example
of disciplined against undisciplined valor as won the admiration even of
their foes.
While this fight was going on at one point, the second British battalion
was, in its turn, met and routed by the American advance, under St.
Clair. This battalion then fled toward Brunswick, part of the remaining
battalion did the same thing, and part threw themselves into the college
building they had used as quarters, where a few cannon shot compelled
them to surrender.
Three strong regiments had thus been broken in detail and put to flight.
Two had been prevented from joining Cornwallis. Besides the killed and
wounded they left two hundred and fifty prisoners behind them. The
American loss in officers was, however, very severe. The brave Mercer
was mortally wounded, and that gallant son of Delaware, Colonel Haslet,
killed fighting at his commander's side.
After a short halt Washington again pushed on toward Brunswick, but
tempting as the opportunity of destroying the depot there seemed to him,
it had to be given up. His troops were too much exhausted, and
Cornwallis was now thundering in his rear. When Kingston was reached the
army therefore filed off to the left toward[10] Somerset Court House,
leaving the enemy to continue his headlong march toward Brunswick, which
was not reached until four o'clock in the morning, with troops
completely broken down with the rapidity of their fruitless chase.
Washington could now say, "I am as near New York as they are to
Philadelphia."
Footnotes:
[1] Cadwalader seems to have done all in his power to cross his troops
in the first place. His infantry mostly got over, but on finding it
impossible to land the artillery--ice being jammed against the shores
for two hundred yards--the infantry were ordered back. Indeed, his
rear-guard could not get back until the next day. This was at Dunk's
Ferry. The next and successful attempt took from nine in the morning
till three in the afternoon, when 3,000 men crossed one mile above
Bristol.
[2] Thomas Rodney's letter.
[3] Heath was ordered to make a demonstration as far down as King's
Bridge, in order to keep Howe from reenforcing the Jerseys. It proved a
perfect flash-in-the-pan.
[4] Part of Donop's force fell back even as far as New Brunswick.
[5] Stark made a personal appeal with vigor and effect. His regiment had
come down from Ticonderoga in time to be given the post of honor by
Washington himself.
[6] In a letter to his wife Knox gives the credit of this suggestion to
Washington, without qualification.
[7] These were the Seventeenth, Fortieth, and Fifty-first.
[8] The hostile columns met on the slope of a hill just off the main
road, near the buildings of a man named Clark, Mercer reaching the
ground first.
[9] The Seventeenth regiment, Colonel Mawhood, carried off the honors of
the day for the British.
[10] The position at Morristown had been critically examined by Lee's
officers during their halt there. Washington had therefore decided to
defend the Jerseys from that position.
XII
AFTER PRINCETON
It had taken Cornwallis a whole week to drive Washington from Brunswick
to Trenton; Washington had now made Cornwallis retrace his steps inside
of twenty-four hours. In the retreat through the Jerseys there had been
neither strategy nor tactics; nothing but a retreat, pure and simple. In
the advance, strategy and tactics had placed the inferior force in the
attitude menacing the superior, had saved Philadelphia, and were now in
a fair way to recover the Jerseys without the expenditure even of
another charge of powder.
While Washington was looking for a vantage ground from which to hold
what had been gained, everything on the British line was going to the
rear in confusion. Orders and counter orders were being given with a
rapidity which invariably accompanies the first moments of a panic, and
which tend rather to increase than diminish its effects.
What was passing at Brunswick has fortunately found a record in the
diary of a British officer posted there when the news of Washington's
coming fell like a bombshell in their camp. It is given word for word:
On the 3d we had repeated accounts that Washington had not only
taken Princeton, but was in full march upon Brunswick. General
Matthew (commanding at Brunswick) now determined to return to the
Raritan landing-place, with everything valuable, to prevent the
rebels from destroying the bridge there. We accordingly marched
back to the bridge, one-half on one side, the remainder on the
other, for its defence, never taking off our accoutrements that
night.
On the 3d, Lord Cornwallis, hearing the fate of Princeton, returned
to it with his whole force, but found the rebels had abandoned it,
upon which he immediately marched back to Brunswick, arriving at
break of day on the 4th. I then received orders to return to
Sparkstown (Rahway?). Washington marched his army to Morristown and
Springfield. At about the time I arrived at Sparkstown, a report
was spread that the rebels had some designs upon Elizabethtown and
Sparkstown. The whole regiment was jaded to death. Unpleasant this!
Before day notice was brought to me by a patrol that he had heard
some firing towards Elizabethtown, about seven miles off. I
immediately jumped out of bed and directed my drums to beat to
arms, as nothing else would have roused my men, they were so tired.
Soon after this an express brought me positive orders to march
immediately to Perth Amboy, with all my baggage. At between six and
seven the rebels fired at some of my men that were quartered at two
miles distance. I had before appointed a subaltern's guard for the
protection of my baggage. This duty unluckily fell upon the
lieutenant of my company, which left it without an officer, the
ensign being sick at New York. I immediately directed my
lieutenant, who was a volunteer on this occasion, to march with his
guard, that was then formed, to the spot where the firing was,
while I made all the haste I could to follow him with the
battalion.
The lieutenant came up with them and fired upwards of twelve
rounds, when, the rebels perceiving the battalion on the march, ran
off as fast as they could. Had I pursued them I should perhaps have
given a good account of them.
The company baggage-wagon was, however, carried off by the Americans,
driver and all. The garrison got to Perth Amboy that night.
Elizabethtown was evacuated at the same time. The narrative goes on to
say:
The only posts we now possess in the Jerseys are Paulus Hook, Perth
Amboy, Raritan Landing, and Brunswick. Happy had it been if at
first we had fixed on no other posts in this province....
Washington's success in this affair of the surprise of the Hessians
has been the cause of this unhappy change in our affairs. It has
recruited the rebel army and given them sufficient spirit to
undertake a winter campaign. Our misfortune has been that we have
held the enemy too cheap. We must remove the seat of war from the
Jerseys now on account of the scarcity of forage and provisions.
The writer shows the wholesome impressions his friends were under in
this closing remark: "The whole garrison is every morning under arms at
five o'clock to be ready for the scoundrels."
In New York great pains were taken to prevent the truth about the
victories at Trenton and Princeton from getting abroad. False accounts
of them were printed in the newspapers, over which a strict military
censorship was established; but in spite of every precaution enough
leaked out through secret channels to put new life and hope in the
hearts and minds of the long-suffering prisoners of war.
It was one of the misfortunes of this most extraordinary campaign that
every blow Washington had struck left his army exhausted. After each
success it was necessary to recuperate. It was now being reorganized in
the shelter of its mountain fastness, strengthened by a simultaneous
uprising of the people, who now took the redress of their wrongs into
their own hands. No foraging party could show itself without being
attacked; no supplies be had except at the point of the sword. A host of
the exasperated yeomanry constantly hovered around the enemy's advanced
posts, which a feeling of pride alone induced him to hold. Putnam was
ordered up to Princeton, Heath to King's Bridge, so that Howe was kept
looking all ways at once. Redoubts were thrown up at New Brunswick,
leading Wayne to remark that the Americans had now thrown away the spade
and the British taken it up. Looking back over the weary months of
disaster the change on the face of affairs seems almost too great for
belief. From the British point of view the campaign had ended in utter
failure and disgrace. In England, Edward Gibbon says that the Americans
had almost lost the name of rebels, and in America Sir William Howe
found that he had to contend with a man in every way his superior.
INDEX
American Army, 12, 17 _note_;
marches to N. York, 12;
its efficiency, 14;
weakened by detachments, 19, 24 _note_;
reenforced, 19, 20;
effectives in summer of 1776, 22, 24 _note_;
defeated at L. Island, 29;
losses there, 31;
how posted after the battle, 31, 32;
driven from N. York, 39;
fights at White Plains and Fort Washington, 40;
losses there, 41;
is divided into two corps, 44;
dissension in, 49 _note_;
reduced numbers, 50;
summary of losses, 52, 53;
reaches the Delaware, 57;
in position there, 75;
is reenforced, 79;
time expiring, 80;
reenlistments, 97.
Bedford, L. I., seized by British, 27.
Bordentown, occupied by British troops, 71, 72;
evacuated, 95.
British Army of subjugation, 23;
by regiments, 25 _note_;
takes the field, 27;
drives the Americans from L. Island, 27 _et seq._;
in winter quarters, 72, 76.
Brooklyn Heights fortified, 20, 24 _note_;
outer defences, 26;
turned by British, 27, 28.
Cadwalader, Col. John, 80, 87 _note_;
fails to get his troops across the Delaware, 83;
succeeds better in a second attempt, 94;
and occupies Bordentown, 95.
Clinton, Gen. Sir Henry, at N. York, 34;
moves to Throg's Neck, 36;
captures Newport, R. I., 70.
Cornwallis, Gen. Lord, surprises Fort Lee, 45;
is reenforced, 55;
pursues Washington, 55, 56, 57, 58 _note_;
is unable to follow him beyond Trenton, 62, 67 _note_;
has leave of absence, 71;
hastens back to Trenton, 97;
makes a forced march back to N. Brunswick, 106.
Declaration of Independence, read to the army, 23.
Donop, Col. Count, 72, 75;
abandons Bordentown, 95.
Ewing, Gen. James, 83, 87 _note_.
Fort Lee, 24 _note_;
evacuated, 45, 49 _note_.
Fort Washington, built, 21, 24 _note_;
assault and capture of, 40, 41, 42 _note_.
Gates, Gen. Horatio, brings troops from Ticonderoga, 63, 67 _note_;
refuses a command, 81.
Glover, Gen. John, at L. Island, 30;
at Trenton, 85, 88 _note_.
Greene, Gen. Nathaniel, advises the holding of Fort Washington, 40;
at Fort Lee, 45;
heads a column at Trenton, 87.
Griffin, Colonel, moves into the Jerseys, 82.
Hale, Capt. Nathan, taken and hanged, 36.
Harlem Heights, the army headquarters, 32, and _note_.
Haslet, Col. John, at Princeton, 105.
Heath, Gen. Wm., put in command in the Highlands, 44, 96, 106 _note_.
Howe, Gen. Sir William, lands at L. Island, 26;
his delays, 36;
moves into Westchester, 39;
fights at White Plains, 40;
and takes Fort Washington, 40;
inhumanity to prisoners by his permission, 52;
plans for next campaign, 70;
takes things easy, 71;
roused by Washington's bold strokes, 97.
King's Bridge, importance of, to N. York, 20, 21;
an outpost, 22, 24 _note_.
Kipp's Bay, landing-place of British, 34;
account by an eye-witness, 34, 35.
Knox, Gen. Henry, improves the artillery service, 16, 17;
at Trenton, 84, 85.
Lee, Gen. Charles, sent to N. York, 18 _note_;
ineffectually urges evacuation of Fort Washington, 41;
a rival of Washington, 41;
gets a separate command, 44;
moves to join Washington, 59;
his equivocal attitude, 50, 60;
his troops, 60, 67 _note_;
is reenforced, 61;
halts at Morristown, and is captured, 63;
probable aims, 65.
Long Island, campaign opened at, 26;
British plan of attack, 27;
flank march, 27, 28; evacuated, 30.
McDougall, Gen. Alexander, at Morristown, 96.
Mercer, Gen. Hugh, at Princeton, 104, 105, 107 _note_.
Mifflin, Gen. Thomas, at Trenton, 98.
New Jersey, invaded, 50;
apathy of people, 51;
military situation in, 71;
outrages perpetrated by the invaders, 77, 78;
arouse the people, 78;
mostly reconquered, 108, 112.
New York, the seat of war, 11;
its strategic value, 13;
defence determined upon, 13;
how effected, 20 _et seq._;
the city and island in 1776, 20;
escapes bombardment, 30;
dispositions for holding the city, 31, 32;
evacuation ordered, 33;
takes place, 34;
partially burnt, 35.
North Castle, Washington retreats to, 40.
Percy, Gen. Lord Hugh, in command at Harlem, 36.
Philadelphia, critical situation there, 81.
Princeton, attacked by Washington, 103;
losses at, 105.
Putnam, Gen. Israel, commands at Philadelphia, 81;
sends a force into the Jerseys, 82, 88 _note_.
Rall or Rahl, Col., 72;
alarm of an attack, 89, 93 _note_;
fights bravely, and is mortally hurt, 91.
Reed, Joseph, 81, 87 _note_.
St. Clair, Gen. Arthur, at Princeton, 105.
Stark, Gen. John, at Trenton, 87, 106 _note_.
Sterling or Stirling, Lord (William Alexander), at Princeton, 62.
Sullivan, Gen. John, succeeds to command of Lee's corps, 64;
leads a column at Trenton, 87.
Throg's Neck, British land at, 39, 42 _note_.
Trenton, occupied as a British outpost, 72;
carried by assault, 89 _et seq._;
fruits of victory, 91;
an epoch in the war, 93;
first abandoned, 93;
then reoccupied, 96.
Washington, Gen., at N. York, 12;
decides to act on the defensive, 18 _note_;
stands on his dignity, 24;
not in command at L. Island, 29;
orders its evacuation, 30;
moves to White Plains, 39;
rights there, but has to fall back, 40;
his dilemma, 43;
decides to divide his force, 44;
crosses into N. Jersey, 45;
manoeuvring for delay, 50;
rises above partisanship, 54;
directs Lee to join him, 54, 55;
retreats to Newark, 55;
to New Brunswick, 56;
troops leave him, 56;
at Princeton, 57;
admirable retreat, 57;
crosses the Delaware, 62;
determines on striking the British outposts, 79, 80;
his plan, 82, 83;
marches on Trenton, 83 _et seq._;
carries Trenton by assault, but is obliged to recross the
Delaware, 91, 92;
but reoccupies Trenton, 96;
takes post there, 98;
steals a march on Cornwallis, 101, 107 _note_;
fights at Princeton, 103;
personal gallantry, 104;
marches to Somerset C. H., 106.
White Plains, Washington concentrates at, 39, 42 _note_;
action at, 40.