",;-:;: -.-^'i'^'m?
',' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bk'' ■'
ainuniiiniiiimnnnnHBM
Mill \ \\ iB^iMTnnHnnniiiiiniinirnnni ^
'}\ :^i;'-i;-i:;:-:>::>::ir;^ ■,•■;;;:
; • ! ' ■ '■'■''.
■■/:v- ■ '^■'':';-i^ini
•:• ;H;;;;::!-;-J-|-i>^:;''^;-' ':"^^;;^-
:;|;i|||:|;|i
" - ' ; Z " ! • ' - ^ - ; - 1 ■ ! ■ ! ■ .' !■■'•. I ■;.■;".-',". '
* ~ 1 ■ . " «' " " ! ■ t ■
J >; J ,-:;;:!■■ 1 .■•■•'; ';■
>:-;^--:-:;^':;':^ !:;;!
■;: ;;-:::ii:;>::i-:;::::;, •;:::;;;;■:;:;;;.
.::•:•;■:,•;';;;"
'■•'•■-'■'■*'!* t ' '. '.'',',
.•:■ :::>^^:i:^;^:;i:::::-:'-;:;;;:;:; S'i'
il;-^i'!ii^:ltel-lli-|i=
:-i ::>;::'>':i::':5:^:"-"-?::-:;:!:::;
;':":';^'-i^:-!
:;:i:;:.::;i'::::::^::;;i
;;;>;::;:;:;;:;;;::;:; ^rji
:;• ■;:::;■:•;:;■ j: ;:;■;:; -i-::^::*;"::;;^:;^^
H::i;;i;::;;s;i;;;;i;s
'i;i;:;;;-^^;-.;;t:hi;i.Ui!ii
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME
FROM THE
SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND
THE GIFT OF
Benrg W. Sage
1891
:A:iitL'/..i>. ■.,■■■■,..:■■....- t3////./f;f
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
3 1924 086 860 784
Cornell University
Library
The original of tiiis bool< is in
tine Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924086860784
THE BATTLES
OF
TRENTON AND PRINCETON
BY
WILLIAM S. STRYKER
A djtiia?tt- General of New Jersey ; President of the New Jersey
Society of the Ciitcinnati ; Presidetit of the Trenton
Battle Monument Association ; President
of the New Jersey Historical
Society^ etc.
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1S9S, BY WILLIAM S. STRYKER
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PREFACE
In my youth I spent many pleasant hours in hstening to
the residents of Trenton as they related the brave deeds of
their fathers in the old war, and told the story of the trials
and sufferings of the heroic men and women of the Revolu-
tionary period, which they had heard directly from the lips
of those who had taken a part in the struggle for independ-
ence. In my early manhood I began to take notes from the
conversations of my mother and her aged friends, as they
described the personal appearance and peculiarities of the
rich merchant who had lived here in 1776 and for forty-five
years thereafter ; of the country miller who had entered the
village as an American spy ; of the beloved physician who
had commanded the local military force ; of her grandfather
who had been one of the guides of the American army to
the surprise at Trenton. . After some years had elapsed I
published a little pamphlet for private distribution, entitled
"Trenton, One Hundred Years Ago," which gave a brief
description of the citizens and their homes in the village as
it appeared in 1776 and 1777. As I continued to study the
past of this historic town, and found myself surrounded in
official life by the manuscript records of those brave soldiers
who fought for liberty in the hour that tried men's souls, I
compiled all the authentic military rolls which I could obtain,
and published my " Official Register of the Oiificers and Men
of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War." In the prepara-
tion of this work I became possessed of a large amount of
iv PREFACE
new facts and unpublished documents relating to the battles
of Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth. In 1877 I crossed
the ocean to examine the official records at Cassel, Germany,
and in 1 892 I caused a most exhaustive search to be made in
the State Archives at Marburg, Germany, by competent
men, and secured copies of all documents filed there (some
eleven hundred pages of manuscript, certified under seal as
correct) which bear directly on the conduct of the Hessian
force in New Jersey. This new material has never before
been thoroughly examined by an American. Every history,
every letter, every diary, every document that came to my
notice has been carefully studied for facts which bear in any
way on this important crisis in our country's history. Many
of these documents are published in full in this volume.
In the light of all the new material to which I have referred
this work has been prepared, and I trust it will be found a
complet'e history of the wonderful winter campaign of 1776
and 1777 in New Jersey.
For facts, advice, or careful revision I acknowledge myself
greatly indebted to General T. F. Rodenbough, U. S. Army ;
Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner, U. S. Army ; Professor Henry P.
Johnston of the College of the City of New York ; Rev. Dr.
Henry C. Cameron of Princeton University ; General Henry
B. Carrington, U. S. Army ; Dr. Austin Scott, president of
Rutgers College ; the late Frederick D. Stone, librarian of
the Pennsylvania Historical Society ; William Nelson, cor-
responding secretary of the New Jersey Historical Society ;
Dr. William H. Egle, librarian of the State Library of Penn-
sylvania ; Hon. John B. Linn of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania ;
General William W. H. Davis of Doylestown, Pennsylvania ;
Colonel E. M. Woodward of Ellisdale, Monmouth County,
New Jersey ; Joseph H. West of Hamilton Square, Mercer
PREFACE
County, New Jersey ; Hon. Garret D. W. Vroom, Captain
Charles B. Dahlgren, Hon. William S. Yard, all of Trenton ;
Friederich Hirschfeld of Hamburg, Germany ; the late Hon.
Edmund D. Halsey of Dover, New Jersey ; the late Dr.
Friederich Kapp of Berlin, Germany ; the late Dr. Benson J.
Lossing and the late Dr. George H. Moore, and to the men
living and dead whose books appear in the list at the close
of this volume, as authorities cited in the work.
W. S. S.
Trenton, New Jersey, December 26, 1897.
CONTENTS
PART I.
PAGE
The Battles of Princeton and Trenton' ... i
PART II.
1. American Army at beginning of Campaign, 1776-1777 308
2. Washington's Orders . . . . 310
3. Proclamation of the Howes .... 314
4. Hessian Field Officers . . . 316
5. General Howe to Colonel von Donop . 316
6. Colonel von Donop to Colonel Rall . . 318
7. Colonel von Donop to General Leslie . 318
8. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . . 320
9. Extract from a Letter to a Gentleman in Connecticut 321
10. Colonel Joseph Reed to General Washington . 322
11. Colonel Cadwalader to Council of Safety, 1776 . . 323
12. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 323
13. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . 324
14. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . 326
15. General Washington to Major-General Lee . 326
16. General Howe to Lord Germain 327
17. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 329
18. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . . . 329
ig. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . 331
20. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 331
21. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 332
22. Colonel von Donop to General Gr.ant . 333
23. General Grant to Colonel Rall . . 334
24. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterling to Colonel von Donop 335
25. Memoranda ... . 336
26. Captain Loray to Colonel Rall . 339
27. General Leslie to Colonel Rall . . . 339
28. Colonel Reed to General Washington . 339
29. General Washington to Colonel Reed . 342
30. Quartermaster Gamble's Circulars . . 343
31. Colonel John Cadwalader's Division 344
32. Brigadier-General James Ewing's Division . 346
viii CONTENTS
33. General Officers of the American Revolution . 347
34. Field Officers of Troops under Washington's Immediate
Command 351
35. John Honeyman . ... 358
36. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee . 359
37. From Diary of an Officer on Washington's Staff 360
38. Colonel Cadwalader to . . 364
39- Colonel Cadwalader to . 365
40. Colonel Clement Kiddle to . . 365
41. Tench Tilghman to James Tilghman, Esq. . . 366
42. Extract of Letter from an Officer of Distinction . 367
43. From the "Pennsylvania Evening Post" . 369
44. Colonel Clement Biddle to Committee of Safety . 369
45. Lieutenant Patrick Duffy to Colonel Thomas Procter 370
46. Colonel Knox to his Wife . . 371
47. Captain Thomas Forrest to Colonel Thomas Procter 372
48. Governor Tryon to Lord Germain . . . 373
49. Memorandum in General Robert Anderson's Letter Book 373
50. Proclamation . . 374
51. Captain William Hull, Seventh Connecticut Regiment,
TO Andrew Adams ... . . 375
52. Colonel John Haslet to C^sar Rodney . 376
53. Commissioned Officers of Rall's Brigade, December, 1776 378
54. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee 379
55. Hessian Outposts of Trenton . . 379
56. Hessians who escaped Capture . ... 383
57. Return of Prisoners taken at Trenton . . 386
58. Hessian Prisoners of War . 386
59. Roster of Officers of Rall's Brigade . 388
60. Lord Stirling to Governor Livingston . . 394
61. Proclamation by the Pennsylvania Council of Safety 395
62. Count de Schaumburg to Baron Hohendorf . . 396
63. Colonel von Donop to General Knyphausen . 398
64. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . 400
65. General von Heister to the Prince of Hesse 401
66. Earl of Suffolk to General von Heister . 402
67. Prince of Hesse to Lieutenant-General von Knyphausen 403
68. Friedrich L. I. Hessen to General von Knyphausen . 404
69. Return Casualties Rall's Brigade . . . 408
70. Proceedings of Hessian Court-Martial . . 409
71. Finding of Hessian Court-Martial 411
72. Report of Hessian War Commission . . . 419
73. Colonel Cadwalader to General Washington . 423
74. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop .... 424
75. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop . . . 424
76. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . . . 425
77. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . . . 425
78. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . 426
79. General Washington to Colonel Cadwalader . . 427
CONTENTS ix
80. General Washington to the Congress . . 429
8t. British P'grces in New Jersey . ... 430
83. General Mifflin's Orders
83. General Cadwalader to General Washington
84. General Washington to the Congress .
85. General Knox to his Wife
86. Colonel Reed to General Putnam .
87. General Putnam to ....
88. From the Journal of Captain Thomas Rodney
89. Private Lardner to Captain Smith
go. Congressional News
91. Doctor Potts to Owen Piddle
92. General Cadwalader to Council of Safety
93. Letter from an Officer of Distinction .... 446
94. Colonel Lambert Cadwalader to Mrs. Samuel Meredith 448
95. General Knox to his Wife
96. Lord Stirling to 8 , 1777 .
97. American Officers killed at Princeton
98. British Officers killed at Princeton
99. British Casualties at Princeton .
100. General Howe's Congratulations
Id. Note on General Mercer .
102. Washington's Report on Princeton
103. General Washington to General Putnam
104. Comments on the Battle of Princeton .
105. Letter from the American Army .
106. Major Samuel Meredith to . . . 468
107. Letter from the British Army . . 469
108. From the "New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury" 471
109. General Greene to . . . . 472
no. From the "Freeman's Journal" . . 473
III. From the "Pennsylvania Evening Post" . 474
n2. From the "Connecticut Journal" . . . 475
113. Proclamation. . . . . .... 476
114. From George Inman's Narrative of the American Revo-
lution ... 477
115. Sergeant Joseph White's Narration . . . . 478
116. Extract from the Journal of Lieutenant Samuel Shaw
OF THE Artillery ... . ... 480
117. From Almon's Parliamentary Register . 482
118. General Howe to Lord Germain .... 482
119. Lord Germain to H. M. Peace Commissioners . 483
120. Translation of a Hessian Diary . . . . 483
121. From an English Book of Orders found at Trenton 484
122. Contemporaneous Documents . . . 485
Books examined and Authorities used in the preparation of
THIS Work . . . 486
Index . . . ' . . . . 493
431
434
435
436
437
437
438
442
444
445
446
449
452
452
456
458
458
459
460
462
463
466
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
George Washington {photogravure) Frontispiece
From the painting by Charles Wilson Peale, in the museum of Princeton
University.
Page
Lord Cornwallts's Path 3
On Old Closter Dock Road (now Alpine, Bergen County, N. J.), as it ap-
peared in September, 1S97.
Adjutant-General Joseph Reed, Staff of the Commander-in-
Chief 7
Brigadier-General Thomas Mifflin, Continental Army . 9
General Sir William Howe, British Commander-in-Chief . 1 1
William Livingston, First Governor of New Jersey . . 13
Captain Alexander Hamilton, New York Provincial Com-
pany of Artillery ... . . ... 16
Residence of Quartermaster Robert Stockton, Prince-
ton, N. J 17
■'Tusculum," the residence of Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon . , 19
Lieutenant-Gexeral Charles Cornwallis, British Army . 21
Admiral Richard Howe, British Navy . . -23
Protection Paper signed by Colonel Rail in Trenton .... 24
From the original in possession of the author.
Washington's Headquarters (present appearance) . . 29
At Trenton Landing on the Pennsylvania shore of the river. Called by
him " Mr. Berkeley's summer seat."
Colonel Knox's Headquarters (from a photograph in 1894) . 31
Owned in 1776 by Dr. Chapman. Situated near Jericho Hill, about a mile
from Brownsburg, Bucks Co., Fa.
Washington's Headquarters, called the " Keith House " • . 33
From a photograph.
Major-General Israel Putnam, Continental Army . . 35
Hessian Grenadier 41
Parole of Rev. Jonathan Odell, of Burlington, N. J. . 43
From the original in possession of the author.
Major-General James Grant, British Army ... 49
xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Major-General Charles Lee, Continental Arnay 55
iMajor-Gexeral John Sullivan, Continental Army ... 60
Brig.vdier-General Alexander Leslie, British Army . . 71
George Washixgtox ..... • ■ 79
After the TnuiibuH portrait in Vale College.
Colonel Johx Cadwalader, Philadelphia Associators . .81
Ferry-House of Patrick Colvin 82
Still standing at Trenton Ferry on ttie Pennsylvania side of the Delaware
River.
Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson, New Jersey Militia 83
Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel B. Webb 84
Plan of the Operations of General Washington against
THE King's Troops in New Jersey facing 84
Rall's Headquarters 92
The house of Stacy Potts, and the residences of Miss Rebecca Coxe and
Thomas Barnes.
■Ky Map of Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776. (Prepared by Wil-
liam S. Yard) . .... ... . . 93
Post-Office, on the corner of Second and King streets ... 94
City Tavern, on the corner of Second and King streets . 95
The " Old Barracks " (present appearance) 97
Fox Chase Tavern . . loi
Dr. William Bryant. . . . in
Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Hunt, First Regiment Hunter-
don County Militia .... . .121
Residence of Abraham Hunt . . . .123
Lieutenant Piel's Map . . facing 124
Lieutenant Wiederhold's Map . . facing 126
Lieutenant Fischer's Map . facing 128
Major-General Horatio Gates, Continental Army 130
Monument at Taylorsville, Pa. . . ... 131
Near the spot where Washington crossed the Delaware. Erected by the
Bucks County Historical Society, October 15, 1895.
Colonel John Glover . . . 132
From his portrait in The Surrender of Burgoyne by John Trumbull.
John Russell, private in Colonel Glover's regiment . . . 133
From the bronze statute at the doorway of the Trenton Battle Monument
presented by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Washington crossing the Delaware 135
After the painting by F. Leutze in the New York Metropolitan Museum.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii
"The Continental Akmv crossing the Delaware" . 136
Bronze tablet on the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania.
House at " Washington's Crossing " . . . . . 137
Still standing on the New Jersey side.
Amos Scudder .... .139
One of the guides of Washington's army down the River road to the bat-
tle of Trenton, December 26, 1776.
Gun carried by Amos Scudder when guiding. Washing-
ton's Army to the Surprise at Trenton ... . . 140
Monument at Washington's Crossing, New Jersey . 141
Erected by the New Jersey Society of tlie Cincinnati, October 15, 1895.
Bear Tavern (still standing) at Jacob's Creek, Mercer County . 142
Major-General Nathanael Greene, Continental Army . . 143
Richard Howell's Cooper-Shop . ... 146
The Hessian picket post on the Pennington road.
Alexander Calhoun's House . 148
The quarters of Captain von Altenbockum's company.
Blair McClenachan, private in Philadelphia Troop of Light
Horse ... . ... 149
From the bronze statue at the doorway of the Trenton Battle Monument
presented by the City Troop of Philadelphia.
Captain Samuel Morris, Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse 150
"The Hermitage," residence of General Philemon Dickinson . 151
The yager picket post on the River road.
The -Barracks (as they appeared at the time of the battle at
Trenton) i53
Headquarters Guard-House (Lieutenant Sternickel in com-
mand on Christmas night) . . ... 154
Still standing on the southeast corner of Warren and Perry streets, Tren-
ton.
Place where the Artillery opened on the Hessian
Troops (as it appeared in Revolutionary days) . ... 155
Trenton Battle Monument . . . • iS7
General Washington . . 160
From the bronze statue on the top of the Trenton Battle Monument pre-
sented by the State of New York.
High Ground where Washington remained during the
Battle . . . . ... . . . . . 161
"Opening of the Fight" ... ... 163
From the bronze tablet on the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the
State of New York.
xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Captain William Washington, Third Virginia Continental
Regiment . . . . 164
Lieutenant James Monroe, Third Virginia Continental Regi-
ment . . . . . 165
Captain Thomas Forrest, Pennsylvania State Artillery Bat-
talion . ... 167
General John Stark . . . . 169
From the statue in the Capitol at Washington,
iMr. Davies' House, on Second street ... . . 171
Methodist Church, on corner of Queen and Fourth streets . .173
Presbyterian Church, on Second street . ... . . 175
Friends' Meeting House, on Third street . . . 181
"Surrender of the Hessians" . . ... 183
From the bronze tablet on the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the
State of Connecticut.
Major James Wilkinson, acting as aide-de-camp to General
St. Clair . . , . 185
Brigadier-General Lord Stirling, Continental Army . 186
Generals Washington and Greene calling on Colonel
Rall at the House of Stacy Potts . . . 191
From the painting by George W. Flagg. The likeness of Rail is from a
sketch made by Colonel John Trumbull.
Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rall 197
From painting by George W. Flagg.
The von Lossberg Regimental Flag . 203
Colonel Henry Knox, Continental Artillery ... . 205
Flag of the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse . . . 209
Signatures of Hessian Officers on the Parole . .212
The House of Major John Barnes, the loyalist 247
The headquarters of General Washington, December 30, 31, and January i.
"Morven," the residence of the Hon. Richard Stockton . 249
Facsimile of Washington's Call to Arms, December 31,
1776 . .... 252
Friends' Meeting House at Crosswicks . . . 255
Robert Morris . . 257
Colonel Edward Hand, of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment . 259
Captain Henry' Miller, of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment . 260
General Washington at the Bridge over the Assun-
PINK Creek . . . 262
After the painting by Colonel John Trumbull.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv
The Beakes House (still standing) .... . . 267
The Douglass House . 270
General St. Clair's headquarters, where General Washington held a council
of war, January 2, 1777.
Tavern kept by Jonathan Richmond 271
General Washington's headquarters, January 2, 1777.
Brigadier-General Arthur St. Clair, Continental Army . . 272
Chair used by General Washingto_n at the Council of
War held in the Douglass House, Trenton, January 2,
1777. Now in the Battle Monument 273
The Quaker Meeting House at Stony Brook on the
Pri.ncetox Battlefield . 276
The building is still standing. It was used as a hospital after the battle,
and many of the dead were interred in the graveyard adjoining.
Interior of the Quaker Meeting House at Stony Brook 277
Bridge over Stony Brook 278
Map of the " Lower Road to Princeton " ... 279
Brigadier-General Hugh Mercer, Continental Army . .281
Wounding of General Mercer at Battle of Princeton 283
Sword of General Hugh Mercer . . . 284
Given on the battlefield to Colonel Jacob Morgan, first battalion, Philadel-
phia Associators, and by him to the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia. It
is now in the rooms of the Pennsylvania Historical Society in Philadelphia.
The House of Thomas Olden . . ... . 287
Now the lodge of Drumthwacket, the residence of M. Taylor Pyne, a trustee
of the Princeton University.
Map of the Battlefield of Princeton ... ... 288
Prepared from a map made by the late Professor Albert B. Dod for the
library of the college.
Nassau Hall, as it appeared at the time of the battle of Prince-
ton . ... 289
Ensign Anthony Morris, Philadelphia Battalion of Associators 291
Stone at the Grave of Captain Leslie;, of the British
Army ' 293
House in which General Mercer died 294
Room in which General Mercer died . . ... 295
The stains made by his blood are to be seen on the left of the picture.
Dr. Benjamin Rush .... 299
John Van Doren's House (present appearance), Somerset
Court House . . • ■ • • 3°!
Where General Washington spent the night of January 3, 1777.
THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND
PRINCETON
PART I
Nowhere in the annals of warfare can be found a coun-
terpart of the winter campaign of Washington and his army
in I JJ^i-JJ — that army which left the vicinity of New York
a ragged, starved, defeated, demoralized band, which passed
through the Jerseys and over the river, then dashed upon
the Hessian advance, punished the flank of the British line,
doubled on its own bloody tracks through the village of
Princeton, and at last marched into quarters an army of vic-
tors. In just one month and a half the patriot troops of
America had been forced to surrender the forts of the Hud-
son and beat an inglorious retreat ; then they struck such
blows at the royal army that it was thought prudent to allow
them to reorganize, undisturbed, among the mountains of
Morris County.
On the 27th day of August, 1776, the disastrous battle of
Long Island was fought. At that time the American army
had never met the enemy in the open, and it was with great
solicitude that General Washington contemplated a conflict
between his small unskilled force and the trained troops of
England and Hesse. The battle was also unequal in that
the foreign soldiery outnumbered our own fully one half.
And although the patriots fought bravely, — the Continental
battalions of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware, with
the militia levies of New York and ISTew Jersey, inflicting
2 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
great damage on the enemy, — they were overwhelmed and
thoroughly routed. About 600 men were killed and over
1000 taken prisoners, among whom were the general officers
Sullivan, Woodhull and Lord Stirling.
The effect of this disaster upon the commander-in-chief
and his troops was absolutely distressing. Almost in despair
they abandoned the soil they had defended so bravely, and
during the night of August 29, and in the fog of the early
morning of the following day, they quietly passed over the
East River into New York.
In October the affairs at Harlem Heights and White
Plains took place, but without any decided results. On
November 16, after a severe assault and a loss to the British
army of about 800 men slain, Fort Washington, with its gar-
rison of 2000 soldiers of the Continental line and 600 of the
militia, was surrendered to General Howe. This garrison
marched out between the Hessian regiments of Rail and
von Lossberg and laid down its arms. Colonel Rail was
mentioned in orders for his gallantry on this occasion.
Not a week later General Greene was compelled to aban-
don Fort Lee, on the west bank of the Hudson River, when
he found that Lieutenant-General Cornwallis, who had
landed with a force of some 4000 men at old Closter Dock
in the early morning of November 20, and ascended the
steep and rocky roadway to the top of the ridge of the Pali-
sades, was rapidly gaining a position which would soon make
the fort utterly untenable. In making a hasty retreat to the
main army at Hackensack, New Jersey, General Greene's
division had time to carry only their firearms and ammu-
nition. The want of wagons and the necessity for a rapid
withdrawal of the garrison compelled them to abandon a
large quantity of commissary stores, camp equipage and
baggage, thirty mounted guns and two brass mortars.
The American army had lost in prisoners 329 officers and
4101 enhsted men, in all 4430 soldiers, during the past
twelve weeks.
The remnant of the army was posted on the west bank
GREENE ABANDONS FORT LEE 3
of the Hackensack River, under the immediate command of
General Washington, who occupied the house of Peter
Zabriskie in the village of Hackensack. Official reports
made at that time show scarcely 4000 men fit for duty, and
even this force was being constantly diminished. The divi-
sion of troops under General Greene was entirely without
tents, and in great need of shoes, stockings and blankets.
LORD CORNWALLIS'S PATH ON OlAJ CLOSTER DOCK ROAD (NOW ALPI.N'E, BERGEN
COUNT\', NEW jersey), AS IT APPEARED SEPTEMBER, lSu7
The chilling frosts and cold winds which swept down the
Highland range through the valley of the Hackensack
already betokened the early approach of winter. Under the
circumstances it did not appear possible for General Wash-
ington to fortify himself there and give battle. A sufficient
quantity of shovels and axes could not be procured for the
purpose of intrenching the position. The river was fordable
in many places, and not all the people of that section of the
State could be counted on as thoroughly true to the cause
of independence. An appearance of preparation for resist-
ance was for some time assumed, but the idea of contesting
4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the British advance was not for a moment seriously enter-
tained.
The future of the states never wore a more gloomy aspect
than at this period. Desertions increased daily ; hardly a
recruit joined the army, and the militia remaining could not
be depended on for any active duty. There was imminent
danger that the force might be hemmed in between the
Passaic and Hackensack rivers and be unable to extricate
itself. For the patriot army to give battle was but to invite
defeat and the early surrender of " the lives, fortunes and
sacred honor " which its representatives in the Continental
Congress had just solemnly pledged. A retreat across the
State was the only alternative, and this must be made by a
demoralized band, closely followed by the trained troops of
Britain. It was, indeed, a hazardous expedient.
By the direction of Congress, General Washington ordered
General Philip Schuyler, who, with the Continental line of
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was then at Ticonderoga, on
Lake Champlain, to send aid to him without delay. These
troops, however, had nearly completed their terms of service,
and were reluctant to re-enlist for the war. Brigadier-Gen-
eral Hugh Mercer, with his flying camp which had been
stationed at Bergen Neck for some months, was ordered to
report to the commander-in-chief, although his troops, hav-
ing scarcely a week longer to serve, were rapidly absenting
themselves without leave. Major-General Charles Lee, who
had commanded the rear-guard of the army during the oc-
cupancy of New York, and who was still stationed at White
Plains, on the east side of the Hudson River, under orders
from General Washington, dated November lo, 1776,^ had
been instructed to cross the river and join the main army.
General Lee's command, like the rest, was suffering from de-
sertions. Having completed all the preparations which could
be made, General Washington began the retreat through the
Jerseys with only twenty-eight regiments of infantry, three
1 The Lee Papers, vol. ii. p. 267, New York Historical Society Col-
lections.
WASHINGTON'S RETREAT THROUGH THE JERSEYS 5
companies of artillery and a detachment of dragoons, — say,
5500 oiBcers and men.^
As already stated. General Washington feared that his
army might soon be hemmed in between the Hackensack
and Passaic rivers ; therefore, on the 2 1 st day of Novem-
ber he began his march southward by crossing the Acquack-
anonk bridge over the Passaic River to its westerly bank,
and, during the evening of the 22d and early on the morning
of the 23d, posted his force at Newark. The British ad-
vance column under Major-General the Hon. John Vaughan,
colonel of the Forty-sixth regiment of foot, soon after ap-
peared on the east bank of the Hackensack River, ready
to commence the march into New Jersey which General
Washington had predicted in his letter to Congress, Novem-
ber 6, 1776. The rear-guard of the American army, which
had remained near the village of Hackensack, quickly burned
the bridge over the river, and hastened to join their retreat-
ing comrades.
Amid all these discouraging circumstances. General Wash-
ington was still planning some movement which might bring
success. The Rev. William Gordon, D. D., in his "History
of the American Revolution," gives us this account of a
conversation which is said to have occurred about this
time between the American chief and his adjutant-general :
" Should we retreat to the back parts of Pennsylvania, will
the Pennsylvanians support us .? " Colonel Reed answered,
" If the lower counties are subdued and give up, the back
counties will do the same." The general passed his hand
over his throat, and remarked : " My neck does not feel
as though it was made for a halter. We must retire to
Augusta County in Virginia. Numbers will be obliged to
repair to us for safety ; and we must try what we can do in
carrying on a predatory war ; and if overpowered we must
cross the Alleghany Mountains." It is quite apparent that
he had no intention of abandoning the sacred cause to which
he had devoted his life.
^ For details see Part ii. No. i.
6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Even at this early stage of the war we can clearly trace
in the character of Washington qualities all important to a
successful commanding general — a brave heart, unwearied
vigilance, great strength of will and boundless resources.
His profession in early life made him a close observer of the
topography of the country through which he passed, and
prepared him to utilize his knowledge when the time for ac-
tion arrived. Defeat seldom depressed him for any length
of time, and in the hour of victory he preserved a calm
demeanor. His patience under the ofttimes slow and unwise
action of Congress is a marvel to the historians of to-day.
His dignified bearing attracted the attention of everyone,
and the grandetir of his character and hfe compelled all to
honor, respect and trust him. Far above the petty intrigues
of military life, he was so strong in his patriotism, so pro-
found in his conviction of ultimate success, that all cabals
ended in finding him stronger alike with the soldiery and
the people.
At Newark General Washington halted his entire force,
sent his sick to Morristown, and made every exertion to re-
organize his shattered command. Desertions were of hourly
occurrence. The New Jersey brigade had about completed
its tour of duty, and all the influence of its leaders was
required to prevent the dissolution of the army.
At this juncture one more effort was made by the com-
mander-in-chief to procure reinforcements. His adjutant-
general, Colonel Joseph Reed, a Jerseyman by birth, was
dispatched to Governor William Livingston on November
23, with the urgent request that he and the legislature of
New Jersey, then sitting at Burlington, would urge forward
recruits for the army. General Washington wrote, "The
critical situation of our affairs and the movements of the
enemy make some further and immediate exertions abso-
lutely necessary."
No man was more freely admitted to the confidence and
counsel of General Washington than his friend Reed, and to
no man did he more frequently refer for advice. To him
NEW JERSEY'S REINFORCEMENTS 7
Washington always wrote with a familiarity and frankness
wliicli lie never used toward any other officer. Colonel Reed
was always energetic and brave, a model staff officer, a " won-
derfully quick, penetrating genius," and an accomplished
ADJUTANT-GENERAL JOSEPH REED. STAFF OF THE
COMMA NIJER-IX-C HI EF
gentleman. Who has not heard the indignant answer which
he made to George Johnstone, the British diplomatist, who
had tried to bribe him to return to the support of the Eng-
lish crown, — "I am not worth purchasing, but, such as I am,
the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to do it."
As a result of Adjutant-General Reed's efforts an act
was passed by the Council and General Assembly of New
Jersey to organize four battalions of state troops by embody-
ing, as occasion required, a certain quota of volunteers from
the militia of the different counties. Great efforts were
made to put this force into the field, but it does not appear
8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
that they took any part in the brilHant events which fol-
lowed.
Brigadier-General Thomas Mifflin, at the request of the
other general officers, was sent to Congress, then in session
at Philadelphia, and to the adjacent counties, to arouse the
patriotism of the people and urge them, in view of the im-
pending fate of their principal city, to encourage enlistments
and hurry forward troops. He was well received by Con-
gress, he " spoke animatedly pleasing, which gave great satis-
faction," and a committee was appointed to advise with him
and aid him. His success in dispatching reinforcements
will appear more fully hereafter.^
To add to his discouragement, Washington was compelled,
on November 24, to send Colonel David Forman and his bat-
talion from General Nathaniel Heard's brigade to Monmouth
County to suppress an outbreak among the loyalists of that
section of the State, with orders to " apprehend all persons
who appear to be concerned in any plot or design against
the liberty or safety of the United States." " Black David,"
as he was called, full of energy and merciless severity, was
the very man to suppress an intestine conflict around his
own home. This he did quickly and well.
On November 26 the American force at Newark made
a demonstration against the English, but it was ineffectual.
On Thursday morning, the 28th day of November, Wash-
ington abandoned the town, after a rest of nearly a week,
and with his broken forces resumed the memorable retreat
through the Jerseys. Again and again he hoped to receive
1 General Mifflin was well suited for this work. He was born in
Philadelphia in tlie year 1744, and although of Quaker parentage he
early displayed all the great qualifications of the soldier. When Gen-
eral Washington took command of the army, Mifflin was placed on his
staff as colonel and quartermaster-general. He was made a brigadier-
general, May 16, 1776, and October i of the same year Congress re-
quested him to resume the office of quartermaster-general. Soon after
the battle of Princeton he received tlie commission of major-general.
He was a man of pleasing manners, singularly attractive presence, and
in speech he was truly eloquent.
BRITISH ENTKR NEWARK 9
aid from the militia of New Jersey and the neighboring
States, so tliat he might make a temporary stand, inflict
some damage on the foe, and then retire to the Delaware
River. But no large body of recruits joined him until he
reached Trenton, and all the while the remnant of his ragged
army was compelled to fall back before the British force.
BRIGAIJIER-GENERAL THOMAS MIFFLIN
12,000 strong, confidently advancing. The enemy's advance
guard entered Newark, November 28, as the American army
left that city.
It is difficult to understand how the patriot army sustained
itself and concealed its weakness in the face of such a power-
ful enemy. A very small detachment of the Second regi-
ment of light dragoons. Continental army, commanded by
10 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Colonel Elisha Sheldon of Connecticut, appears to have been
the only cavalry for protecting the flanks of the American
army and impeding the British advance. ^
When the Americans left Newark, one column marched
by way of Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge, and the other
by Springfield, Scotch Plains, and Quibbletown, now New
Market, Middlesex County, reaching Brunswick at noon on
Friday, the 29th day of November. They formed a junc-
tion there with a small body of troops under Brigadier-Gen-
eral Lord Stirling, which had been sent in advance to guard
the river at Brunswick and the coast at Amboy against any
unexpected incursion of the British.
Shortly before this period Lieutenant-General Sir William
Howe had succeeded General Gage in the command of all
the forces of Great Britain in America, and had established
his headquarters in New York. This command he contin-
ued to hold until the spring of 1778, when he was succeeded
by Sir Henry Clinton. General Howe was a poor com-
mander for an army whose business it was to crq^h out
rebellion. He was fond of taking his own ease, and given
to postponing decisive action. The fascinations of gaming
and the blandishments of beauty had more charms for him
than the rough path of duty in a soldier's life. General Lee
said of him, " He was the most indolent of mortals, and never
took pains to examine the merits or demerits of the cause in
which he was engaged."
It has always seemed strange that General Howe did not
1 We find the members of this detachment described in Captain
Graydon's Memoirs as " old-fashioned men, apparently beyond the me-
ridian of life. They were truly irregulars; and whether their cloathing,
equipments or caparisons were regarded, it would have been difficult to
have discovered any circumstance of uniformity. Instead of carbines
and sabres, they generally carried fowling pieces ; some of them very
long, and such as are used for shooting ducks. Their order of march
corresponded with their other irregularities. It spindled into longitude
immense. One of them, on being captured, told the British officers,
who made themselves very merry at his expense and obliged him to
amble about for their entertainment, that his duty in the army ' was to
flank a little and carry tidings.' "
CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERAL HOWE ii
intercept General Washington's retreat before he reached
the Raritan River. A force sent from New York on the
vessels of his brother, Lord Richard Howe, admiral of the
British fleet, could have landed at South Amboy, marched
along the Raritan River, and cut off the retreating army,
which would have been crushed between the two British
GENERAL SIR WILLIAM HOWE
columns. That this was sugfErested in Ensflish war councils
is evident, as Sir Henry Clinton insisted that the expedi-
tion destined for Rhode Island should be " landed at Amboy
to have co-operated with Lord Cornwallis or should be
embarked on board Lord Howe's fleet and landed on the
Delaware and taken possession of Philadelphia." General
Washington's rapid movement from Newark to Brunswick
certainly implied that he feared he might have an enemy in
front as well as in the rear.^
' Major Stephen Kemble, deputy adjutant-general of General Howe,
12 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
At Brunswick, in the very face of the enemy, then at
Woodbridge and near to Amboy, the mihtia of the flying
camps of Maryland and New Jersey, which had been enhsted
only until the ist of December by virtue of an order to
" reinforce the army at New York," and whose terms of ser-
vice had now expired, demanded their discharge, notwith-
standing the patriotic appeals of General Mercer, and almost
to a man left for their homes. Desertions still continued,
and to such a degree that it was found necessary to request
Governor Livingston to post proper guards on the roads
south of Trenton and at all the ferries across the Delaware
River, to arrest all the soldiers without a regular discharge
or pass, so that the Pennsylvania militia, which still had one
month to serve, might not also escape over the river.
As General Greene informed Governor Cooke of Rhode
Island, the American army, at this time, did not number
3000 efficient men.
General Washington once more made an attempt to pro-
cure reinforcements, "because," he said, "of the broken
state of our troops, and that the enemy had changed their
plan, and were rapidly advancing on the Delaware." He
sent another messenger to Governor Livingston to urge the
necessity for troops to drive out the invaders.^
makes this " Observation on the Conduct of Commanders in Chief of
Armies," etc., in his journal: "After Fort Washington was taken why
not send a detachment of the Army to Brunswick to cut off Mr. Wash-
ington's Retreat, while Lord Cornwallis was pursuing him to Newark
etc. ? General Clinton's Troops would have answered that purpose
Efiectually." He also adds in the same strain : " Why not pursue Wash-
ington from Brunswick with more Spirit? His Cannon and Baggage
must have fallen into our hands. Provisions might have been sent to
Brunswick for all these services by Water and no delay in the proceed-
ings of the Troops." — N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collections., 1883, p. 104.
1 William Livingston was the first governor of New Jersey under the
Constitution, having been elected August 13, 1776. He was born in
1723, and educated at Yale College. He was a lawyer by profession
and also a writer of considerable talent. No one was more zealous
than he in urging the colonies to separate from the mother country,
and after the separation no one was more faithful in defending the
WEAKNESS OF THE PATRIOT ARMY
13
It was impossible, liowever, for even so patriotic a gov-
ernor to do much to aid tlie retreating army. The legisla-
ture, on the first knowledge of the movements of the enemy,
left Princeton for Trenton, and then removed to Burlineton
o
Even there they did not remain long, but soon dispersed to
their homes.
To all these discouragements was added the fact that the
Tories, of whom there were many in the State through which
the army was retreating, spoke out openly in favor of the
GOVERNOR WILLL-VM LIVINGSTON
royal cause, and the Quakers, always friendly to peace, if
not loyalists, were doing nothing to aid the cause of inde-
pendence.
Again General Lee was urged to hasten his column to the
support of the commander-in-chief. Washington wrote him
rights of New Jersey against all opposers. He was re-elected governor,
annually, fourteen times, and died in office, July 25, rypo.
14 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
from Brunswick, December i : " The force I have with me
is infinitely inferior in numbers, and such as cannot give or
promise the least successful opposition. I must entreat you
to hasten your march as much as possible, or your arrival
may be too late to answer any valuable purpose." ^
^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 62.
II
As soon as Washington arrived at Brunswick he directed
Colonel Richard Humpton, commanding the Eleventh Penn-
sylvania regiment, Continental line, then organizing in that
State, to collect all the boats on the Delaware River, and
secure them on the west bank opposite Trenton. i
He sent General William Maxwell to the Delaware River
on the same mission. He also directed General Putnam to
have rafts made from timber to be found at the ferry land-
ing in that village.
A semblance of preparation for resistance was made at
Brunswick to deceive the enemy's pickets, and thus gain
time. But on Sunday afternoon, December i, on the ap-
proach of the British column to the bridge across the Raritan
River and the banks along its fordable parts, the little army
of Americans partially destroyed the bridge, and retired
toward Princeton under cover of a brisk fire from Captain
Alexander Hamilton's battery.^
Washington entered Princeton between eight and nine
o'clock on the morning of December 2, wrote a letter to the
President of Congress, and, tradition says, partook of break-
fast at the residence of Quartermaster Robert Stockton,
still standing, on Constitution Hill, and with the main body
of the army pushed on immediately to Trenton, which he
reached before noon.^ In Trenton he learned that Lord
^ Part ii. No. 2.
2 It is said of Hamilton's battery that "it was a model of discipline;
its captain a mere boy, with small, slender, and delicate frame, who
with cocked hat pulled down over his eyes, and apparently lost in
thought, marched beside a cannon, patting it every now and then as if
it were a favorite horse or pet plaything."
" Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 63.
i6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Cornwallis had halted his column near Brunswick. It ap-
pears that orders had been received from General Howe to
go no farther than Brunswick ; but Cornwallis, thinking
that he could virtually annihilate the fragment of an army in
CAPTAIN ALEXANDER HAMILTON, NEW YORK PROVINCIAL
COMPANY OF ARTILLERY
front of him by a sharp pursuit, sent a message to Howe for
])ermission to attack the Americans before they could cross
the ri\'er. Howe's inertness undoubtedly saved the patriot
army, for his answer to Cornwallis was that he "would join
him immediately ; " but he did not do so before December 6.
He brought with him the fourth brigade, Major-General
Tames Grant commandins:. In this brifjade was a stronff
contingent of Hessians, commanded by Colonel Rail. Evi-
dently Howe's plan was to obtain a foothold in the State,
place a large body of troops in winter quarters, with a fine
WASHINGTON CONCENTRATES HIS ARAIY
'7
opportunity of procuring provisions for his men and for his
horses, and then await the opening of the following spring
for active operations.
As soon as he found the British army had halted, Wash-
ington ordered two brigades, consisting of five regiments
from Virginia and the Delaware regiment, in all about 1400
men, under command of Brigadier-General Lord Stirling,
senior officer, and Brigadier-General Adam Stephen, to re-
main near Princeton, observe the enemy's movements, and
cover the passage of stores and baggage over the Delaware
River.
On December 6 Major-General Greene returned to Prince-
ton with an additional force of 1200 men, and assumed com-
mand there ; soon after, the entire American army was
concentrated at Trenton.
The king's troops, with General Howe in supreme com-
QUARTERM.ASTIiK ROBHRT STC'CKTON'S HOUSE
mand, left Brunswick at four o'clock on the morning of
December 7 in two columns, one corps commanded by f^ord
Cornwallis and the other by Colonel von Dono]3. The
advance guard of the left column entered Princeton the same
i8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
afternoon, but the right column did not reach there until
some hours after dark. Lord Cornwallis took immediate
possession of the college buildings and the Presbyterian
church. The British army held the village of Princeton for
nearly a month, during which time they pillaged the houses
of the principal patriots. "Tusculum," the residence of the
Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, president of the college, was
stripped, and "Morven," the home of the Hon. Richard
Stockton, who, as well as Dr. Witherspoon, had signed the
Declaration of Independence, was denuded of its library and
furniture. The residence of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant,
now the Miller property, was burned by the soldiery.
General Washington finished his masterly retreat through
New Jersey with scarcely the los'fe of a single life, and
reached the banks of the Delaware River with his bare-
footed and almost naked army. It was a march of hardly
one hundred miles, and yet Washington had prolonged to a
journey of nearly three weeks what might have been ac-
complished in four days, had Lord Cornwallis pressed him
closely. As Washington said, "Nothing but the infatuation
of the enemy " saved them.^
During the retreat but few recruits joined the American
army, though at Trenton a small detachment of the New
Jersey militia, belonging to the First regiment, Hunterdon
brigade. Colonel Isaac Smith, and part of the Second regi-
ment, Middlesex brigade. Colonel John Neilson, volunteered
to assist the forlorn cause.^
1 Thomas Paine, who was with the army on this march, says : " With
a handful of men we sustained an orderly retreat for nearly a hundred
miles, brought off our ammunition, all our fieldpieces, the greatest part
of our stores, and had four rivers to pass. None can say that our
retreat was precipitate, for we were three weeks in performing it, that
the country might have time to come. Twice we marched back to
meet the enemy and remained out until dark."
2 Captain Johann Ewald of the German yagers refers to these troops
in his notes on the war in this language : " The irregular militia of this
province were brave during the whole war ; they performed all the
service that could be expected of them on every occasion, and although
MIFFLIN AS A RECRIHTING OFFICER
19
TUSCULUM, REV.
.lOHN \VITHl-;KSrf ION S HOl'SE
The Continental Congress sent to Trenton a German bat-
talion, raised in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and commanded
by Colonel Nicholas Hansseger. As a first response to the
appeals of General Mifflin, Philadelphia sent three battalions
of " Associators " under Colonel John Cadwalader, Captain
Samuel Morris's troop of light horse, and Captain Thomas
Forrest's battery of artillery — in all about one thousand
men.i
General Washington determined to remain in Trenton as
often greatly assisted by the regular troops, they were willing to sac-
rifice themselves at their own hearthstones."
1 The militia of the citv of Philadelphia and liberties enrolled as
Associates — for thev had associated together to " defend with arms,
their property, liberty and lives" — were called out for review Novem-
ber 26, when General Mifflin addressed them in an eloquent manner, as-
serting that Howe's army contemplated the invasion of their State. He
appealed to them to march out in defense of their commonwealth and
the cause of freedom. Congress also requested them to march into
New Jersey. Another review took place November 28, and soon after,
by detachments and companies, the city battalions proceeded to Tren-
ton, as stated. They agreed to remain in service six weeks, unless
sooner discharged. On December 12 the Assembly offered a bounty
20 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
long as possible. Boats were still being gathered, military
stores were being transported to the west of the Delaware
River, and the sick and disabled men sent to Philadelphia,
The Durham boats, much used at that time for carrying
fresh provisions to different points on the river, and which
held what was then a full regiment of men, were now put
into immediate use.
Strange indeed does it appear that Cornwallis, with his
large and well-equipped force, did not crush out with one
blow this apology of an army, composed, as it was, of men
despondent, and many of them eager to seek safety in flight.
The debates in the English Parliament show us that Lord
Cornwallis was once interrogated as to the reason the pur-
suit was not made with greater rapidity. To save the re-
putation of General Howe, perhaps, he could only give this
rather evasive reply : " We wanted reinforcements in order
to leave troops for the communication between Brunswick
and Amboy. It was likewise necessary to pay some atten-
tion to a considerable body then passing the North River
under General Lee."
In his examination Lord Cornwallis further said, as an
excuse for his own slow movements : " I am free to say that
I could not have pursued the enemy from Brunswick with
any prospect of material advantage or without distressing
the troops under my command. We arrived at Brunswick
the night of the ist of December. We had marched that
day twenty miles, through exceeding bad roads. We sub-
sisted only on the flour we found in the country ; and as the
troops had been constantly marching ever since their first
entrance into the Jerseys, they had no time to bake their
flour ; the artillery horses and baggage horses of the army
were quite tired ; that sufificiently proves that we were not
in a good condition to undertake a long march. The bridge
over the Raritan was broken, which caused a necessary delay
of ten dollars to all volunteers who should join General Washington
on or before the 20th of the month, and seven dollars and five dollars,
respectively, for all joining before the 25th or 30th of the month.
CORNWALLIS EXPLAINS 21
of one day. If the enemy could not have passed at Tren-
ton, they might have marched down the east side of the
Delaware." ^
The condition of the State of New Jersey during the pas-
sage of these hostile armies across its territory was most
deplorable. Situated between two large and powerful States,
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CHARLES CORNWALLIS
close to two great cities, one under British rule and the
other the objective point of the march of the English army,
1 Lieutenant-General Charles Cornwallis was the son of the first Earl
CornwaUis. He commenced military studies early in life, was made
colonel of the Thirty-third foot August 2, 1765, major-general September
29, 1775, and January I, 1776, received the local rank in America of
lieutenant-general. He was considered the most able and reliable of
all the English commanders during the war, but his reputation was
greatly stained by the many cruelties afterward inflicted in the South-
ern Department by his e.xpress orders.
22 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the people living on the highway between these centres
of interest had to undergo all the sufferings which follow
in the track of war. Their farms were devastated, their
houses ransacked, their barns consumed, their money and
valuables stolen, their cattle and horses, their forage, crops
and merchandise carried off, their bridges and their churches
damaged and despoiled. Society was thoroughly disorgan-
ized, quarrels were engendered, families were subject to
every indignity or else were obliged to flee for their lives.
The wanton destruction of private property by Howe's army
fully accounts for its slow movements across the State.^ An
old Quaker who had been thoroughly robbed by the foreign
soldiery expressed his opinion of them in emphatic language
when he said : " Well, God made these men, though I am
sure the devil governs them."
The State was virtually in the possession of the enemy,
and nothing was wanting but freezing weather to bridge the
Delaware River, so that the foe might pass direct to the city
where the Continental Congress was in session. The national
treasury was known to be well-nigh bankrupt, and all the
power of Congress could not keep up the credit of the gov-
ernment and provide for the relief and strengthening of the
army. Symptoms of general distrust in the power of Con-
gress and the efficiency of the army seemed widespread and
increasing.
As soon as the British army entered the State, General
Howe and his brother. Admiral Howe, by instruction of their
government, issued a proclamation, dated November 30,
directing all men in arms against his majesty's authority to
return to their homes. At the same time they tendered a
free and general pardon, and a secure enjoyment of their
liberties and properties, to all who would, within sixty days,
renounce the cause of independence, claim the benefits of
this offer, and declare their full loyalty to the crown, and
their obedience to the laws, by subscribing a declaration of
1 This delay of Howe's army is more fully explained in the History
of Paterson, New Jersey, by William Nelson, vol. i. pp. 415, 416.
THE HOWES ISSUE A PROCLAMATION
^3
this submission to the constitutional authority and suprem-
acy of Great Britain. ^ This document was scattered broad-
cast over the State, and increased, if possible, the fears of
the patriots. There were many who thought this an easy
ADAIIKAl. KlCllAlcli HdWH
method of sa\ing themseh-es and securing their property
from molestation, and these flocked in great numbers to
make their submission. It is said that twent)'-se\'en hundred
citizens of New Jersey took protection in this way. Lord
Cornwallis stated that "three or four hundred came in e\-ery
day for ten days to take protection." When asked to aid in
' Part ii. No. 3.
24 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
driving out the foe they said, "General Howe promises
peace, hberty and safety — more than this we could not
desire." But the Reverend James Caldwell (afterward the
patriot martyr) wrote to General Washington : " General
Howe gives sixty days of grace and pardons from the Con-
o-ress down to the committee. No one man in the Con-
o
tinent is to be denied his mercy. The Lord deliver us from
his mercy."
The timid, the distrustful, the sycophantic, in this dark
hour cjuietly entered the liritish lines and craved protection.
They apologized to their more patriotic neighbors and the
reproof of their own consciences by saying they did not be-
lieve in war ; that they opposed rebellion ; that all wrongs
should be constitutionally righted, and that acts of Congress,
■^c^,.^»^^ M ^.._i^ .. , ■ ^a/i'
PROTECTION PAPER SHJNEU RY COLfiNliL RALE IN TRENTON
Original lu possession of Author
recently adopted, especially that of the Declarati(jn of Inde-
pendence from the mother country, were too hastily drawn
and voted on before the delegates properly understood the
views of their constituents. They thought the army thor-
oughly routed, the cause virtually abandoned, and that their
clear duty was to insure the protection and safety of thcjse
dependent upon them.
However, the Hessian soldiery had little regard for these
protection papers, which they would not read and did not care
to understand. They looked upon everything in an enemy's
country as free for them to enjoy. The British soldiers, too,
HESSIAN EXCESSES 25
thought the plundering of the people a fair game, and they
did not relish the idea of the German troops taking all the
spoils. Therefore both acted regardless of "safeguards,"
and shamefully violated the pledged faith, attacking friend
and foe, irrespective of age or sex. Their brutal passions,
uncontrolled by any order of their superior officers, urged
them to commit acts of rapine that were both distressing and
disgusting.^
In reference to the brutal conduct of the British troops
and the Hessian mercenaries. Governor Livingston, in his
message to the Council and General Assembly of New Jer-
sey, February 25, 1777, made the following forcible state-
ment : " The rapacity of the enemy was boundless, their rapine
indiscriminate, and their barbarity unparalleled. They have
plundered friends and foes. Effects capable of division they
have divided ; such as were not they have destroyed. They
have warred upon decrepit age ; warred upon defenseless
youth. They have committed hostilities against the pro-
fessors of literature and the ministers of religion ; against
public records and private monuments ; against books of im-
provement and papers of curiosity ; and against the arts
1 This is frankly admitted under date of November 24, 1776, in the
journal of Major Stephen Kemble, deputy adjutant-general of General
Howe, wherein he says : " His lordship will not be able to restrain the
troops from plundering the country; their excess in that respect is
carried to a most unjustifiable length." Dunlap, in his History of the
American Theatre, thus describes the conduct of the British soldiery
at Piscataway in the march through New Jersey: " I saw the soldiers
plundering the houses, the women of the village trembling and weeping
or flying with their children ; the men had retired to await the day of
retribution. In many houses helpless old men or widowed females
anxiously awaited the soldiers of monarchy. A scene of promiscuous
pillage was in full operation. Here a soldier was seen issuing from a
house armed with a frying-pan and gridiron, and hastening to deposit
them with the stove over which his helpmate kept watch. The wo-
men who had followed the army assisted their husbands in bringing
the furniture from the houses, or stood sentinels to guard the pile of
kitchen utensils or other articles already secured and claimed by right
of war."
26 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
and sciences. They have butchered the wounded asking
for quarter ; mangled the dying weltering in their blood ;
refused the dead the rights of sepulchre ; suffered prisoners
to perish for want of sustenance ; violated the chastity of
women ; disfigured private dwellings of taste and elegance ;
and in the rage of impiety and barbarism profaned edifices
dedicated to Almighty God."
Sir Henry Clinton afterward severely criticised the course
of the English army in plundering the people of New Jersey,
many of whom, as is well known, were kindly disposed toward
them, and some of whom had renewed their allegiance to the
crown. These are his words : " Unless we would refrain
from plundering we had no business to take up winter quar-
ters in a district we wished to preserve loyal. The Hessians
introduced it."
Ill
To return to the little army at Trenton. During the
night of December 6, or early in the morning of December
7, General Washington set out with a small body of men on
the road toward Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, and Prince-
ton. He had not marched far before he came up with Gen-
eral Greene's command on the retreat to Trenton, the First
Maryland regiment and the Delaware regiment covering the
rear of the column. The British army, after nearly twenty
hours' rest in Princeton, commenced the march toward the
river by different roads, hoping to intercept or get in the
rear of the patriot lines, in some place, and so prevent any
attempt to cross. At Stony Brook the column was obliged
to halt and repair the bridge over that stream, which had
been broken down by the Americans in their retreat, and it
was not until nine o'clock on the morning of December 8
that it was rendered fit for the passage of artillery.
General Washington was privately censured, even by his
own officers, for risking his army, by keeping them on the
Jersey side of the river, and delaying the crossing until the
royal forces threatened their entire capture by a single forced
movement. Colonel George Weedon of the Third Virginia
Continental regiment, keenly alive to the danger of the situa-
tion, wrote a friend at Fredericksburg, Virginia, that " Gen-
eral Howe had a mortgage on the rebel army for some time,
but had not yet foreclosed it."
Boats which had been used for conveying the military
stores having been placed in readiness on the bank of the
river near the village of Trenton, the passage of the troops
commenced at Beatty's and Trenton ferries, just above
and below the falls. During the afternoon of December 7,
and up to daylight of Sunday, December 8, the boats were
28 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
constantly passing back and forth. Lieutenant-Colonel
David Henley, acting as deputy adjutant-general on General
Washington's staff, superintended the transfer of the troops
to the Pennsylvania side of the river, and was with the rear-
guard as the army passed over.
Scarcely had the last of the Americans crossed in safety
when the British fourth brigade, two battalions of light
infantry, three battalions of Hessian grenadiers, and the
reserves, the advance of the royal army, entered Trenton
with music and much display. ■ The Hessian battalions,
under command of Colonel von Donop, came into the town
about eleven o'clock in the morning of December 8, and as
they marched down to the river bank they were greeted
with a shower of grapeshot from the western shore.
Having tarried in Princeton for nearly an entire day, the
British army had then taken fully twice the necessary time
to reach Trenton. Their action, in this respect, was a
source of considerable satisfaction to General Washington.
Another division of the corps of Lord Cornwallis, and
under his immediate command, halted for the night at Maid-
enhead, about six miles from Trenton, preferring to wait
until morning before entering the town. But at one o'clock
in the morning of December 9 he was ordered to take a
strong detachment, consisting of two battalions of British
grenadiers, three battalions of British light infantry, the
Forty-second British regiment, and two battalions of British
foot, and cross the river about two miles south of Coryell's
Ferry, or twelve miles above Trenton, capture the boats
there collected, and then attempt to carry over the whole
army. He failed, however, to find the means to get his de-
tachment over the river, and like the Hessians at Trenton,
was greeted with shot from the opposite bank. Every boat
which could be pressed into service had been brought to the
Pennsylvania shore and fastened ; and to secure their further
safety. General Lord Stirling had placed a strong guard over
them. Even a large Durham boat, which had been sunk
in the river a few days before, had fortunately been raised
HOWE'S PURSUIT CHECKED
29
and taken away. After reconnoitring the shore for a long
time, and finding no possible means of crossing, the British
returned to their posts, halting, however, by order, at the
village of Pennington. General Howe's adjutant, Captain
Frederick Ernst von MUnchhausen, of the regiment Land-
graff, had been very zealous in his search for boats and in
his desire to place his Hessian brethren across the river.
In this manner General Howe's pursuit of the Americans
was suddenly checked on the river bank. The game had
been almost within his grasp, yet it had eluded him. Sted-
man, the historian, says of the movements of the British
army at this time, that it looked as though " Howe had cal-
culated with the greatest accuracy the exact time necessary
for his enemy to make his escape."
A detachment of the British was also ordered down the
WASHINGTON'S HEAUOUAliTERS AT TRENTUN L.ANDlNe
river to Bordentown, and this movement gave the American
spies the impression that Howe's intention was to cross in
two columns, above and below Trenton, and so surround the
patriot army. But this party also was baffled, and nothing
could now be done by the British but wait the forming of ice
30 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Strong enough to admit of their passing over the Delaware
River, the procuring of boats from the Raritan River, or the
building of flat-bottomed boats at Trenton.
On the morning of December 9 the remnant of the Amer-
ican army was divided into parties of observation, guards
and patrols, to prevent as far as possible any attempt at
crossing the river. Small earthworks were thrown up where
a passage might be attempted, opposite the ferries known
as Sherwood's, Coryell's, McKonkey's, Yardley's, Howell's,
Kirkbride's, Beatty's, and Trenton. From Coryell's Ferry
to Yardley's Ferry four brigades of Continental troops were
stationed. These brigades were commanded by Generals
Stirling, Stephen, Mercer and De Fermoy. The Pennsyl-
vania militia belonging to the flying camp, with a small
body of New Jersey militia, protected the shore from Yard-
ley's Ferry to the ferry opposite Bordentown. At first the
Philadelphia battalions of Associators were also stationed
just below Trenton Ferry, and there they' began to build
themselves rude huts for shelter from the inclement weather.
These were nearly completed, when, on December 11, the
third battalion was ordered to Dunk's Ferry, below Bristol,
and the next day it was joined by the entire brigade. ^
The commissary and quartermaster's departments of the
army were established at Newtown, in Bucks County. This
village, about eight miles from the river, was a central point
for supplies for both wings of the army. After crossing
the river on December 8, Washington spent the night at
the summer residence of Thomas Barclay, about half a
mile back from the shore at Trenton Ferry, now Morris-
ville,2
' For the orders in these cases see Part ii. No. 2.
^ Washington calls this house " Mr. Berkeley's.'' It is still called
" Summer Seat," and is owned by the estate of John H. Osborne. (See
sketch of Thomas Barclay, p. 61, Baker's Itinerary of George Wash-
ington.) The commander-in-chief probably remained there several
days, dating all his letters at " Headquarters, Trenton Falls." He ap-
pears to have changed his quarters on December 14 to the farmhouse of
'William Keith, in Upper Makefield Township. This dwelling was at
GUARDING THE DELAWARE
31
COLONEL KNOX S HEADQUARTERS
On the evening of the loth day of December Commodore
Thomas Seymour was directed by General Washington to
place the galleys under his command on the river between
Bordentown and Philadelphia, so that he could furnish im-
mediate information of the appearance of the enemy on the
New Jersey shore, or of any preparation they might make to
effect a crossing. He had command of all the vessels, gon-
dolas and row-galleys above the chevaux-de-frise at Billings-
port. It was expected that a portion of this naval force would
Knowles's Creek, about a mile and a half from the mouth of the creek
and about four miles north of Newtown. The stone house, which still
stands, was built in 1763, and is on the road from Brownsburg to the
Eagle Tavern, and on the south side of Jericho Hill. General G.reene
quartered in Samuel Merrick's house. General Sullivan in John Hav-
hurst's house; General Lord Stirling at Robert Thorap.son's, the
miller, at Beaumonts, often called " Blue Mounts '' in dispatches, near
Brownsburg, and Colonel Knox in Dr. Chapman's house, now owned
by Edward Johnson. All of these dwellings were near Jericho Hill, an
excellent place to obtain a view of the surrounding country. General
De Fermov with his brigade was at Coryell's Ferry, at what is now
called New Hope. General Lord Stirling's and General De Fermov's
brigades built themselves wooden sheds as barracks. — History of
Bucks Coiintv, Pcnn., by Gen. William W. H. Davis.
32 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
aid materially in preventing the British from crossing at
Cooper's Creek, opposite Philadelphia, or even lower down
on the Jersey shore. The gondolas, armed with small ship-
guns, cruised up as far as the " Falls " at Trenton, watching
the enemy, and keeping in check the Tories, who were eager
to obtain information for the English officers. These sailors
and marines also kept strict control of the little village of
Burlington, and often sent parties off from the galleys to
search for those unfriendly to the cause of independence.
Adjutant-General Reed, who had been trying to hasten
reinforcements from New Jersey for the army, joined his
chief at Trenton, and on December 8 again left the army
with a letter for the Continental Congress. In this commu-
nication the commander-in-chief urgently stated that there
was " not a moment's time to be lost in assembling such force
as can be collected." In addition to this appeal, he made
every effort in his power to strengthen the army. Brigadier-
General William Smallwood, who was unfit for field service
on account of wounds received at the battle of White Plains,
was sent in all haste to Maryland and Delaware to beg them
to forward militia as rapidly as possible. Brigadier-General
John Armstrong, of Cumberland County, was also detached
from his command, and sent into those counties of Pennsyl-
vania where it was thought he could most effectually arouse
the people.
The preservation of Philadelphia was now the desire of
every patriot. Washington bestowed much thought upon
this subject, and, having placed Major-General Israel Putnam
in command of the city, directed him to defend it at all
hazards. Lines of defense were then planned from the river
Schuylkill, covering the high ground around Germantown in
an easterly direction to the Delaware River.i
General Mifflin, having returned from his mission, was
then at the general headquarters, and was ordered back to
1 On December 9 Washington suggested to Congress a French en-
gineer of eminence, Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, as the proper officer
to take charge of this work.
PROTECTING PHILADELPHIA
33
Philadelphia to take charge of the supplies and camp equi-
page which had been collected there.
On the loth of December Congress resolved to defend
the federal capital with all the force which could be mus-
tered. They commenced earnestly to work on a plan pro-
posed by the commander-in-chief for the reorganization of
the army. Up to this time the militia had been called out
by classes, some for but one month, and state troops had
been called for sixty days or four months. These short
terms of service did much to impair the practical efficiency
THE KKITH HOI bK. WASHING i U.N b Hli.AD'JU.AKTLl^S
of the force. No sooner was a man well drilled as a soldier,
than he was ready for discharge. Congress for the first time
offered bounties to men who would enlist in the eighty bat-
talions of Continental troops which it had directed to be
raised, and agreed to borrow live million dollars for the pur-
pose. About this time an appeal was made by Washington
to Congress not to wait to fill up the old regiments, but to
increase the number of new organizations enlisted for the
34 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
war. He thought that every new officer would draw around
him an additional number of new men to be trained for the
next campaign. Although this method might involve con-
siderable expense, and it seemed to some members of Con-
gress a dangerous precedent, yet " desperate diseases require
desperate remedies." ^
Congress also gave power to Major-General Israel Putnam
to assume absolute control of the city of Philadelphia. This
brave old officer, blunt and unpolished, was yet true to his
country's cause. Endowed with a cool, clear head and a de-
termined will, he was the very man to govern the alarmed
and almost disaffected city.
The state of affairs in Philadelphia at this time is best
shown by Putnam's order, that all the inhabitants of the city
who appeared in the streets after ten o'clock at night should
be arrested and confined. His order of December 13 well
describes the confusion and alarm which reigned in that city
during this dark hour of our country's history.^
1 To quote at length the picture which General Washington gives of
the situation : " The enemy are daily gathering strength from the dis-
affected. This strength, like a snowball, by rolling will increase, unless
some means can be devised to check effectually the progress of the
enemy's arms. Militia may possibly do it for a little while ; but in a
little while, also, the militia of those states which have been frequently
called upon will not turn out at all ; or, if they do, it will be with so
much reluctance and sloth as to amount to the same thing : — Instance,
New Jersey: — Witness, Pennsylvania ! Could anything but the river
Delaware have saved Philadelphia ? Can anything (the exigency of
the case indeed may justify it) be more destructive to the recruiting
service, than giving ten dollars bounty for six weeks' service of the
militia, who come in you cannot tell how, go you cannot tell when ;
consume your provisions, exhaust your stores, and leave you at last at
a critical moment ? " — Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v.
p. 112.
2 " The general has been informed that some weak or wicked men
have mahciously reported that it is the design and wish of the ofiScers
and men in the Continental army to burn and destroy the city of Phila-
delphia. To counteract such a false and scandalous report, he thinks
it necessary to inform the inhabitants who propose to remain in the city,
that he has received positive orders from the Honorable Continental
CONGRESS FLEES FROM PHILADELPHIA
35
On December 1 1 Congress passed a resolutiun denoun-
cing as false the rumor that they intended to leave Philadel-
phia, and asked General Washington to publish the same in
orders to his army. This he declined to do, in a letter dated
MAJOR-filiNHRAL
SRAEL PUTNAM
the following day ; ^ and on December 13, forgetful of their
solemn and indignant resolve, they made the city gossip a
Congress and from his excellency General Washington, to secure and
protect the city of Philadelphia against all invaders and enemies. The
general will consider every attempt to burn the city of Philadelphia as
a crime of the blackest dye, and will, without ceremony, punisli capi-
tally any incendiary who shall have the hardiness and cruelty to
attempt it."
1 Ford's JVriiings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 82.
36 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
reality. Under the advice of Generals Putnam and Mifflin,
Congress fled to Baltimore, leaving Robert Morris, George
Walton, and George Clymer, of their own body, to act for
them in Philadelphia. Oliver Wolcott, delegate in Congress
for Connecticut, wrote : "It was judged that the Council of
America ought not to sit in a place liable to be interrupted
by the rude disorder of arms." This unwise proceeding
increased the alarm in the city, and it was only by the
watchfulness of the resolute Putnam that he was able to
keep the loyahsts from making a serious outbreak. The
effect was also felt in the camps on the Delaware. Captain
Samuel C. Morris of the Philadelphia Associators wrote to
his friends : " It has struck a damp on ye spirits of many."
IV
Let us now return to the king's troops, which we left
vainly trying to cross the Delaware River on December 8.
Every effort to procure boats had failed, and no attempt was
made to build new ones. The capital city of the young
republic was a prize worth a supreme effort, and the British
soldiers were certainly competent to build bateaux and rafts.
A hundred wooden houses in the village would have given
them the material, if nothing else was at hand ; and John
Rickey's hardware store and the blacksmith shops of Joseph
and Samuel Lanning, Joshua Newbold and Hezekiah How-
ell would have afforded them all the nails and iron necessary.
But the same lack of enterprise which General Howe exhib-
ited when' he allowed the escape from Long Island, and the
halts at Brunswick and at Princeton, was repeated at Tren-
ton, and gave the Americans the opportunity.
Joseph Galloway, a Tory, who appears to have spent a few
days about this time at the house of Major John Barnes, on
Queen street, near the Assunpink Creek, in Trenton, said,
when examined before the House of Commons by Lord Ger-
main and others on June i8, 1779: "At Captain Montres-
sor's request, I did inquire whether there were any materials
in or about Trenton with which pontoons, boats, or rafts
might be constructed ; and I found 48,000 feet of boards, a
quantity of wire, and there was timber enough about Tren-
ton for that purpose. No boats were brought from the
Raritan River, as the Americans feared and anticipated.
Nor does it appear that the work of building boats or rafts
was ever begun." ^
1 The Abb^ Raynal, in his History of the Revolution of America.,
truthfully remarks in reference to the proper conduct of the British at
this time : " Without losing a moment, the king's troops ought to have
38 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
But General Howe was proud of the manner in which he
had driven the rebels out of the State.
His dispatches show that it was no part of his plan in this
campaign to cross the Delaware River. He seems to have
concluded that- he had had enough glory for this year, and,
" the weather having become too severe to keep the field,"
he had thought it better to spread a portion of the royal
army over the State, and thus occupy the territory so easily
conquered. As citizens and soldiers he regarded the colo-
nists with the utmost contempt, and by billeting his troops
upon the people he thought to stop all efforts to obtain re-
cruits in New Jersey for the new army of next year. In
this way, unless ice formed on the river, he proposed, to
remain in winter quarters until the opening of a new season,
and then commence an active and final campaign.
General Howe ordered that a number of cantonments in
New Jersey be formed immediately in the counties of Essex,
Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Burlington. General
Cornwallis rashly arranged a thin line of military posts at
Elizabeth Town, Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton and Bor-
dentown, the last two composed principally of Hessian
troops. These stations, however, were too far apart to sup-
port one another effectually in case of attack. Howe says :
" My first intentions were to have made Brunswick the left
and Elizabeth Town or Newark the right of these canton-
ments ; and my reason for extending to Trenton was that a
considerable number of inhabitants came in with their arms
in obedience to the proclamation of commissioners on 30th
of November."
The frontier posts, then in the very face of the American
passed the river in pursuit of the handful of fugitives, and have put
them totally to the rout. If the five thousand men, destined for the
conquest of Rhode Island, had gone up the river in the transports they
were aboard of, the junction of the two corps might have been effected
without opposition even in Philadelphia itself, and the new republic
had been stifled in that important and celebrated city which gave it
birth."
THE HESSIAN MERCENARIES 39
army, were garrisoned by German officers and soldiers, who
were ignorant of the character and language of the people,
and who could not therefore judge rightly of any information
brought them. It seems strange that a part of the Hessian
contingent should have been given so important a position.
The only reason is that these troops were placed by order
on the left of the column, and thus the duty fell to them to
hold the left of the chain of cantonments. To substitute
other troops might, as General Howe said, "have created
jealousies between the Hessian and British troops, which it
was my duty carefully to prevent."
These Hessian soldiers, whose services had been pur-
chased, who were fighting for hire, were uncouth in manners,
low in morals, but well trained in military duties, and familiar
with war and violence. They cared little on which side their
services were rendered.
But to maintain her authority in the colonies, England
had either to send new levies of her own soldiers, distasteful
though the war might be to them, or purchase the brains
and courage of some other nation. She found a market
among the petty princes of Germany, where the articles were
obtain able for thirty crowns banco, equal to jE,"] 4s. 4-|d. for
each soldier. Negotiations were commenced with Fred-
erick II., Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel ; Frederick, Prince of
Waldeck ; Charles I., Duke of Brunswick ; William, Count
of Hesse-Hanau ; Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-
Zerbst, and Charles Alexander, Margrave of Anspach-Bey-
reuth ; and from these potentates England received nearly
30,000 men, with which she proposed to conquer Amer-
icans struggling for independence. Before the troops
were sent the agreement was confirmed with the minister
of Brunswick that three wounded men should count as one
dead man, and that every man killed must be paid for as
one newly mustered. Lord Mahon, in his "History of
England," says Frederick the Great was so disgusted with
what he called "scandalous man-traffic," that, whenever
the Hessians passed through his dominions, he claimed the
40 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
same toll per head as for cattle ; for he contended they
had been sold "as one sells cattle to be dragged to the
shambles." ^
Before the first division of these Hessians had reached
the shores of America, the Continental Congress had pro-
mulgated this announcement concerning them in the Decla-
ration of Independence : " He is, at this time, transporting
large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works
of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun, with circum-
stances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most
barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized
nation."^
At Trenton were stationed three regiments of Hessian
infantry, a detachment of artillery, fifty Hessian yagers, and
twenty light dragoons of the Sixteenth British regiment, —
in all about 1400 men in and around the town. This force
' Lord Camden said in the Britisli House of Lords, March 15, 1776:
" Is there one of your lordships who does not perceive most clearly that
the whole is a mere mercenary bargain for the hire of troops on the one
side and the sale of human blood on the other ; and that the devoted
wretches thus purchased for slaughter are mere mercenaries in the
worst sense of the word?" To increase their coffers, filled now "with
blood and tears," and to enable them with more splendor to support
the coarse luxuries of a sensual court, these petty princes kidnapped
their poor subjects in the fields, in their shops, and even in their
churches, and forced them into the conscription. Yet the slaves of
these despots are the men whom we find throughout the war fighting
for the British crown, and dying as Colonel von Donop said he died, —
" a victim of my ambition and the avarice of my sovereign." — Parlia-
mentary History of England, vol. xviii., London, 1813.
^ The dress of the Hessian soldier is carefully described in Dunlap's
History of the American Theatre: "A towering brass-fronted cap;
moustaches colored with the same material that colored his shoes, his
hair plastered with tallow and flour, and tightly drawn into a long
appendage reaching from the back of the head to his waist ; his blue
uniform almost covered by the broad belts sustaining his cartouch box,
his brass-hilted sword, and his bayonet; a yellow waistcoat with flaps,
and yellow breeches, were met at the knee by black gaiters ; and thus
heavily equipped he stood an automaton, and received the command or
cane of the officer who inspected him."
COLONEL RALL'S COMMAND
41
was under the command
of Colonel Johann Gott-
lieb Rail/ as senior offi-
cer of the brigade, who
was given the command
of the post in return for
his gallant conduct at the
battle of White Plains
and at the assault on
Fort Washington. The
three regiments of infan-
try, one of them having
six grenadier companies,
the other consisting of
five fusilier companies
and one grenadier com-
pany each, were those
designated Rail, von
Knyphausen, and von
Lossberg. The first two
regiments came down
with the main army and
went into quarters at
Trenton December 12 ; but the von Lossberg regiment was
detained at Newark, then at Brunswick, where it was relieved
by the Waldeck regiment, and again detained at Princeton,
so it was unable to join the brigade at Trenton until the
HESSIAN GRENADIER
1 The name of Colonel Rail has been given by various historians in
many different forms. General Washington always wrote it Tft?///. John
I\Iarshall, in his Life of ll'as/iington, spells the name Rawle. Jared
Sparks and Dr. David Ramsey give us Rahl. Sergeant R. Lamb, in
his book of Occiirrenccs during the War, and Mrs. Mercy Warren say
Rhal. Captain Hall of the Forty-sixth regiment of British foot, in his
History of the Civil War in America, writes Railcj and General Sir
William Howe, Raille; the Rev. Dr. William Gordon speaks of him
as Roll; Charles Botta refers to him as Ralle ; and Charles Stedman,
the British military writer, alludes to the Hessian soldier as Rhalle.
His own autograph shows that he wrote his name Rail. See p. 24.
42 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
morning of December 14, when Colonel Rail established
his headquarters in that village.
It was General Howe's plan to make Trenton one of the
military posts, and not to dignify it by the name of a " head-
quarters," or put so large a force in the village, but these
men had been promised good winter quarters, and even Tren-
ton did not satisfy them, When Major von Hanstein came
into Trenton with his tired men, in the scanty uniform of
the von Lossberg regiment, he asked Colonel Rail if these
were the "good quarters" which had been promised them.
Rail replied, " No, but we will have them soon in Philadel-
phia." To increase the honors and influence of Colonel Rail,
General Howe ordered him to open a headquarters in this
important town.
It may be noted, when referring to the names by which
these regiments were called, that it was the custom, at that
time, in the English and German armies, as well as among
the troops of the Landgrave of Hesse, to call an organization
of this character by the name of its commanding officer, or
by the name of a general or a prince. This they continued
to do for years after the colonel had been promoted to a
generalship, or the prince or the general had died. The
custom still prevails at the present day in the army of Great
Britain, as well as in the battalions of the German Empire.^
The original strength of each of the Hessian regiments
sent' to America was 21 officers, 60 sergeants, 5 surgeons,
22 musicians, and 525 rank and file.
It was determined that a post of about 1500 men should
be organized at Bordentown, six miles below Trenton. Two
hours before daylight on the nth of December, Colonel von
Donop left Trenton with several officers and a detachment
of four or five hundred troops, passed over the drawbridge
at Crosswicks Creek, and proceeded to Bordentown. As
they advanced, the patriot militia of Burlington County
broke down the bridges, but the enemy succeeded in reach-
ing Bordentown, and then proceeded to Bustleton. Pursu-
1 For names of field officers of these regiments see Part ii. No. 4.
BURLINGTON THREATENED
43
ing a little party of American riflemen who had crossed the
ri\'er below Bordentown for the purpose of scouting, they
came, about two o'clock in the morning, to the York bridge
over the Assiscunk Creek. The Americans eluded further
pursuit b}' recrossing the ri\'er to Bristol, Hearing that
Colonel von Donop and the Hessian troops were approach-
ing, John Lawrence, the mayor of the town, with two or
three other prominent citizens, went out on the old York road
to meet them and to plead for the safety of the village and
its inhabitants. John Lawrence was a man of some distinc-
tion in his time ; and in after years his son, James Lawrence,
captain in the United States navy, became famous as the
hero of the Chesapeake, and his dying shout, " Don't give
up the ship," has rendered his name the ideal of Amer-
-!}.
-'t
tX^f*:^.- -^'- .^,-^< ^^y■^'■'■-'iyy'^^^,^.'yS'^'^'^^y^•'^^
■^- Jif .y
PAROLE OF REVEREND JONATHAN ODELL, UF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
Origi}Lal ill I'osscssion of A jdhor
44 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ican heroism. It is not stated in history nor in that singular
diary of Margaret Morris, the Quakeress, that John Law-
rence was in any way charged, as she was, with Toryism, but
the rector of St. Mary's Church at Burlington, the Rev.
Jonathan Odell, who was also a practicing physician, and
who accompanied the mayor for the purpose of speaking
French to Colonel von Donop, was a loyalist of extreme
views, and so a suitable man for this embassy. On October
i8, 1775, the Provincial Congress of New Jersey had discov-
ered that Mr. Odell had written two very un-American letters.
His case had been considered with great care, but at that
time Congress had declined to pass public censure against
him. On the 20th of the next July, however, the county
committee of Burlington was ordered to take his parole to
confine himself on the east side of the river and within a
radius of eight miles from his residence — because, as they
said, he was " a person suspected of being inimical to Amer-
ican liberty." He accompanied Sir Henry Clinton, the Brit-
ish commander-in-chief, when he returned to England in
November, 1783, at the close of the war.i The Burlington
County committee told Colonel von Donop that if he brought
his force into Burlington, they probably would have to sub-
mit to a cannonade from the vessels of the American fleet
lying in the Delaware River, near the town. Colonel von
Donop urged the deputation to see the commander of the
fleet, and, leaving his troops near the bridge, he entered
the town himself with some of his staff officers and a small
guard. It was agreed with the Burlington committee that
these men should receive quarters and refreshments, and
that no one in the village should conceal arms or ammuni-
tion, under threat of pillage by the Hessians. Then the offi-
cers went to the house of Mayor Lawrence, dined at his
table, and waited there for Commodore Thomas Seymour's
^ Hills's History of the Church in Burlington, p. 315 ; Force's Amer-
ican Archives, fourth series, vol. vi. p. 165 1 ; Tyler's Literary History
of the American Revolution, vol. ii. p. 103 ; Private Journal of Mar-
garet Morris of Burlington, p. 8.
BURLINGTON CANNONADED 45
answer to the delegation. Being on shore at the time, Cap-
tain Thomas Moore, one of the officers of the armed boat
Hancock, accompanied the party. The wind was blowing
very hard, and it was with great difficulty that the delega-
tion reached the flagship, which was some distance down
the river. While they were on their way to this vessel,
some of the men in the gondolas saw the Hessian guards
pacing the streets of Burlington, and fire was opened in-
stantly on the town. Hearing this, the mayor and William
Dillwyn, another prominent citizen of the place, went down
the main street to the wharf, and waved their hats to the
boats for the sailors to cease firing, but they, too, were fired
upon. Then Colonel von Donop and his officers left the
table, and went toward the river to make observations of
the state of affairs, but they were seen, and the cannonade
up Main, now High street, and along the river bank, now
Delaware street, was continued all the afternoon. Several
houses of the citizens were struck, but no one was injured.
It is said many of the people hid in their cellars during the
firing. When Captain Moore and the delegation had reached
the commodore's vessel, they fpund that he had already
ordered four galleys up to the town with orders to fire on it
if any Hessians were seen. Seymour told the committee
from Burlington that if the Hessian troops quartered them-
selves in that town, he would have no mercy on the place,
but would immediately open on it with all his guns. The
delegation promptly reported this threat to Colonel von
Donop, and as he had no heavy guns with which to reply to
the fleet, and had discovered that some of the residents
were loyalists, he thought it prudent to withdraw from Bur-
lington. This he did, and marched his men back to Bustle-
ton, where they spent the night. On the next morning,
December 12, some of the men from the gondolas came
into Burlington, and told the people that they intended to
burn the town, for they suspected that the Hessians were
concealed there. These men remained in the village until
the night of December 17, when Captain Shippin, who was
46 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
afterward killed at the battle of Princeton, took all the men
back to the vessels, and the town became quiet. In the
meantime Colonel von Donop had marched his men to Bor-
dentown, and having placed there a detachment of yagers,
under special orders to prevent the inhabitants from remov-
ing goods and provisions, and his own men from plundering
the houses, he returned to Trenton.
On the 13th of December General Howe informed Colo-
nel von Donop ^ that he would place him in command of the
two Hessian brigades, — his own and that of Colonel Rail, with
all the yagers, dragoons and artillerists attached. He also
assigned him winter quarters at Bordentown, and ordered a
strong body of troops to report to him there. The Forty-
second British regiment (known as the Royal Highland regi-
ment, and sometimes called the " Highland Watch "), one of
the best organizations in the service, and under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Sterling, a fine officer, was
ordered to this cantonment. There were also three battal-
ions of Hessians, — the grenadier battalions von Linsingen,
von Block and von Minnigerode. Also attached to these
organizations were the second company of Hessian yagers.
Captain Johann Ewald in command, a detachment of Hessian
artillery with six three-pounders, and one company of British
artillery with two six-pounders and two three-pounders.
The Hessian grenadier battalion von Koehler with four
eighteen-pounders was ordered from New York to join Colo-
nel von Donop at Bordentown, coming by vessel to Amboy,
and then marching across the State, but it did not join him
before he broke up his cantonment.
Colonel von Donop also directed that Captain Georg Hein-
rich Pauli, an engineer officer, should remain with Colonel
1 The commander of the grenadiers, Colonel Carl Emil Kurt von
Donop, belonged to the second division of the Hessian troops. Colonel
von Donop was one of the bravest and most cultured officers of the
Hessian soldiery. He was mortally wounded, October 22, 1777, at the
battle of Red Bank on the Delaware River. For copies of orders to
Colonel von Donop, and to Colonel Rail, see Part ii. Nos. 5 and 6.
HOWE'S SCATTERED OUTPOSTS 47
Rail for a few days to point out where redoubts should be
erected for the protection of the post of Trenton. He then
(December 14) marched to his winter post at Borden town
with the troops assigned him. It was von Donop's intention
to order the Forty-second regiment, British foot, and the
grenadier battalion von Block to the post of Burlington, but
finding that the town was under American guns, he thought
it prudent to delay the occupation until the heavy artillery
should come from Amboy with the battalion von Koehler.
The two organizations referred to were temporarily ordered
to Black Horse, Burlington County, a village now known as
Columbus. One company of yagers, consisting of one offi-
cer and thirty men, was ordered to post itself about two
miles north of Bordentown, on the road to Trenton, and
another detachment in a mill a short distance south of Bor-
dentown, on the river.
On the day that these Hessian battalions took post at
Bordentown, Captain Henry Miller, who belonged to Colonel
Edward Hand's Pennsylvania riflemen, and who had been in
New Jersey with a small scouting party, reported having
met and received the fire of von Donop's advance. The
soldiers were quartered in farmers' houses in Burlington
County in squads of ten to fifteen, much to the annoyance
of a community of Quakers peculiarly averse to war. The
vivacious Highlander in his kilt and tartan, his low checkered
bonnet, and many colored stockings, was in strong contrast
to the dull, phlegmatic German in his sombre uniform. But
the Germans were the first to commence a pillage upon the
inhabitants, friend and foe alike. They took possession of
every article they desired, under the spirit of the orders
which von Donop had received from Howe.
All the assignments which have just been stated were made
by General Howe, who regarded the party around General
Washington with utter contempt, and was confident of his
ability to hold possession of these widely scattered posts.
This arrangement of numerous unsupported cantonments
reflected no credit upon his generalship.
48 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Major-General James Grant, baronet, of Ballendallock,
and colonel of the Fifty-fifth regiment of British foot,i was
placed in command of all the troops in New Jersey, and
stationed with the strongest body of soldiers at Brunswick,
whither all the supplies for the army were sent and from
there distributed.
General Howe, accompanied by General Cornwallis, left
Trenton December 13, and returned to resume, for the win-
ter, his life of ease at his headquarters in New York. They
both thought that the capture of Philadelphia might occur
at any time, and that, if it was deemed necessary, the city
could be immediately taken, as the rebel army would soon be
disbanded. So impressed were they with this idea that Lord
Cornwallis obtained a leave of absence to visit his home in
England. He then made every arrangement to sail at an
early date, and had his baggage placed on the packet vessel,
confidently expecting to give the king the cheering informa-
tion of the final collapse of the feeble rebellion against his
authority.^
On December 15 Colonel von Donop ordered the gren-
adier battalion von Linsingen to take post half way between
Black Horse and Bordentown, at a little place known as
1 This is the same General Grant whom Lord Stiriing of the Amer-
ican army heard declare, in the English House of Commons, February
2, 1775, " that the Americans could not fight, and that he would under-
take to march from one end of the continent to the other with five thou-
sand men."
^ At this time the following orders were issued : " Headquarters, De-
cember 14, 1776. The Campaign having closed with the Pursuit of
the Enemies Army near ninety Miles by Lieut. Gen. Cornwallis's Corps,
much to the honor of his Lordship and the Officers and Soldiers under
his Command, The Approach of Winter putting a Stop to any further
Progress, the Troops will immediately march into Quarters and hold
themselves in Readiness to assemble on the shortest Notice.
" The Commander-in-Chief calls upon the Commanding Ofiicers of
Corps to exert themselves in preserving the greatest Regularity and
strictest Discipline in their respective Quarters, particularly attending
to the Protection of Inhabitants and their Property in their several
Districts."
\'0N DONOP'S WARINESS 4r,
Mansfield Square. A report had reached him at noon that
General Putnam had come up from Philadelphia in the direc-
tion of Mount Holl)' with a force of 3000 rebels. He im-
mediately sent out a detachment of 200 grenadiers and
mounted yag'crs to ascertain the truth of the report. The}-
MAJOR-CEXHRAL JAMES GRANT
were unable to find the xVmerican column, and reported to
that effect. During the day Major Nichols,' crossing the
river from Bristol, came up from Burlington to Bordentown
for the purpose of making an exchange of prisoners. Colo-
nel von Donop's criticism of this officer in his report is very
interesting.
The next day Colonel \'on Donop wrote to General Leslie
at Princeton and to General Grant letters giving in detail
the events of the preceding day.^
1 Probably Major Francis NichoLs, Ninth Penn.sylvania Continental
regiment. This oiificer is often alluded to in the documents connected
with the " Reed Controversy."
2 For these letters see Part ii. Nos. 7 and 8.
V
On December 17 the "express riders'' between Borden-
town and Brunswick must have been particularly active.
Very early that morning Colonel von Donop wrote as follows
to General Grant at Brunswick : —
"In accordance with my communication of yesterday, I
have the honour to advise you, my General, that the patrol
has been sent out and has seen nothing of the enemy. They
found near the bridge between Mount Holly and Moores-
town a quantity of cannon-ball and shells which they threw
into the water. According to the reports of the country
people the enemy must be at Cooper's Creek with a force of
4000 men and General Putnam who commands them must
be busy in collecting stores. If I did not know that the
heavy artillery were to arrive to-day or to-morrow I would
be very desirous of marching with the three battalions and
making a call on Mister General Putnam. I will follow out
your orders on this subject as soon as possible. Yesterday
evening a farmer came to say that General Washington had
crossed the river at Vessels' Ferry with a large force on the
right flank of Colonel Rail for the purpose of uniting with
the corps of General Lee. This man however has disap-
peared after telling his story to the Mayor of Burlington.
If this news is true the troops which have crossed must be
the corps of General Stirhng, who has his quarters at Beau-
monts about two miles above the ferry. The six chasseurs
who were lately driven from the house near the river at
Trenton were again attacked yesterday morning by a detach-
ment of the enemy which crossed in three boats under the
protection of the eighteen pounders in their batteries. We
were not able to prevent them from landing and were obliged
"TO DRIVE PUTNAM" 51
to retire until Colonel Rail brought up a force to their assist-
ance. After this the rascals went off taking away as their
only prize a pig which had j ust been killed by the chasseurs.
The two gondolas which came near me here and which I
made mention of yesterday, I believe have gone down the
river again to await me at Burlington. I have the honour
to send you two orders issued by General Putnam. It is
evident we will have to make a siege of it. . . .
"At this moment I have just received the news that Colo-
nel Rail sent yesterday evening a patrol of six dragoons to
Pennington, which has not yet returned and one of these
dragoons has been seen ten miles from Trenton mortally
wounded."
This letter was received by General Grant the same day,
and he immediately made this reply : —
"Brunswick 17th Dec. 1776. I have just received your
report of this Days date, that of yesterday has not reached
me. The General set out this morning for New York.
Your fourth Battalion of Grenadiers is still at this place.
You shall be informed when they march from South Amboy
with the heavy artillery, but you need not expect them for
some days, and you will have time enough before their arri-
val if you think proper to drive Putnam from Cooper's Creek
and put a stop to his carrying off the Magazines for I am
sure there is no Rebel force on this Side the Delaware,
which will attempt to stand before hessian Grenadiers under
your command.
" I can hardly believe that Washington would venture at
this season of the year to pass the Delaware at Vessels
Ferry,^ as the repassing it may on account of the ice be-
come difficult. I should rather think that Lee's Corps has
proceeded to Philadelphia, for we have heard nothing of
them, since Lee was made Prisoner, and prior to that the
Intention was to march to East-Town in order to cross the
river.
1 The ferry which afterward became known as McKonkey's Ferry.
52 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
" Putnam's Hand Bills and Lee's account ^ differ exceed-
ingly about the Intention of the Rebels with regard to Phila-
delphia. For Lee declares that they are determined to burn
the Town, if they cannot prevent its falling into our Hands.
General Matthew marched this morning to Plackhemin
where he fell in with a small body of rebels ; they fled on his
Approach — he has taken a few prisoners — some Arms and
stores, his Guide was wounded in the foot, that was all the
Loss we sustained. General Leslie marched this morning to
Springfield and is to proceed from thence by Bound-Brook
to Prince Town. I have had no report from him, indeed
cannot expect it till to-morrow.
"Lieut. Col. Mawhood likewise marched this morning by
Hillsborough towards Flemingtown, he is not yet returned.
When you send a Light Dragoon from Trenton, the Letter
should be forwarded to me from Princetown, where your
Dragoon should remain to carry back my answer from
Princetown to Trenton, by that means the conveyance will
be quicker and the Dragoons less fatigued. I will write to
General Leslie to observe this rule in future. After you get
the iS pounders, the rebel Gondolas will not remain long at
Burlington and if the Frost continues they will not wait even
this Event."
It will be seen that the false report of the crossing of a
large detachment of Washington's army at Vessels' Ferry
had reached the Hessian commanding officers, and they
were anxious to determine the truth of the statement. Gen-
eral Grant did not beheve that there was any large force on
the Jersey side of the river ; and even if there were he was
disposed to think lightly of any troops which the foe could
bring against the trained battalions under his charge.
Colonel Rail, too, was curious to know what was going on
around him, and that same day (December 17) he seems to
have specially exerted himself to obtain information.^
' It would appear that General Lee was even in 1776 expressing his
opinion and giving information to the enemy.
2 See letters. Rail and von Donop, Part ii. Nos. 12 and 13.
LEE'S VEXATIOUS DILATORINESS 53
Early in the morning of December 16 a little scouting
party of the Americans crossed the river at Trenton Ferry,
as stated in Colonel Rail's letter of the following day.i
Having so successfully stirred up the post on the first occa-
sion, the temptation to do it once more was irresistible.
Colonel Rail again wrote to Colonel von Donop, giving
him the news at Trenton up to December 18,^ reporting
affairs between scouting parties, — a service conducted with
great activity on the American side.
To return to the American army in camp on the Pennsyl-
vania side of the Delaware River. General Washington still
wondered why General Charles Lee did not join him as
directed. Requests by letter, written in the most pressing
terms, and direct orders by messengers, seemed alike inef-
fectual to hasten his march. All dispatches appeared to be
unheeded, and although it was known that he had crossed
the Hudson River even as late as December 4, and that he
was now on the march, yet his progress seemed slow indeed
to the commander-in-chief.
On December i Washington wrote these urgent words to
Lee from Brunswick : ^ " The enemy are advancing and
have got as far as Woodbridge and Amboy, and from infor-
mation not to be doubted they mean to push for Philadel-
phia. The force I have with me is infinitely inferior in num-
bers and such as cannot give or promise the least successful
opposition. . I must entreat you to hasten your march as
much as possible or your arrival may be too late to answer
any valuable purpose."
On December 7 Washington had dispatched from Tren-
ton Major Robert Hoops, brigade major on the staff of Bri-
gadier-General Philemon Dickinson, to urge General Lee to
hasten his march and to inform him that boats had been pro-
vided to transport his men across the river at what was then
known as Tinicum Ferry. And again (December 10) Wash-
1 Part ii. No. 12.
2 Part ii. No. 14.
3 Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 62.
S4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ington appealed to him : ^ " Do come on, your arrival may be
happy, and, if it can be effected without delay, it may be the
means of preserving a city, whose loss must prove of the
most fatal consequence to the cause of America." Finally
on the nth he wrote: "I shall only say that Philadelphia,
beyond all question, is the object of the enemy's move-
ments, and that nothing less than our utmost exertions will
be sufficient to prevent General Howe from possessing it.
The force I have is weak and entirely incompetent to that
end. I must therefore entreat you to push on with every
possible succour you can bring." ^ Neither of these letters
ever reached General Lee.
It is clear that General Lee did not regard any of these
dispatches as orders, but merely as letters of advice, and he
evidently did not care to merge his own command with the
main army. He had had plans of his own, such as a dash
on the city of New York, and even now preferred to follow
laggardly somewhat in the rear of the British troops rather
than place himself with his chief in their very front. He
had written to the president of the Council of Massachusetts
that he "considered the resolves of Congress as of no
weight," and had added this strange remark: "There are
times when we must commit treason against the laws of the
State, and the present crisis demands this brave, virtuous
kind of treason." This was singular language for the sec-
ond military commander in the new republic to use.
It is quite apparent that he considered himself as on de-
tached service, and there appears to be no doubt that he
had planned an important diversion by marching through
Pluckemin to Princeton, and making an attack on the en-
emy's rear-guard, or striking a signal blow at the post at
Brunswick, and then passing around to the British left, and
taking the old York road to the ferry at Burlington. Gen-
eral Washington had written General Lee that he would
have no objection to his hanging on the enemy's rear if
' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 74.
^ Ibid. vol. V. p. 83.
CAPTURE OF GENERAL LEE
55
there was sufficient force to oppose an advance upon Phila-
delphia.
It appears that Lee was twenty-three da)'s in mo\'ing his
army from White Plains, on the Hudson I^iver, to IMorris-
town. But about eleven o'clock on the morning of Friday,
December 13, he was surprised at White's Tavern, near
Baskingridge, Somerset County, by a scouting party of
d0
iMAJOR-CEXERAL CHARLES LEE
thirty dragoons. This tavern was fully twenty miles from
the English lines, and at least four miles outside the pickets
of his own division. This little body of troopers, which
belonged to the Si.xteenth regiment, also called Burgoyne's
regiment, of Queen's light dragoons, at that time under the
immediate command of I..ieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Wil-
liam Harcourt, and which had been sent out from Penning-
ton to watch the movements of Tee's division, captured the
general himself with "infinite address and gallantry." ^
^ This detachment, as we are informed in De Fonblanque's L//i
of General Burgovne, was part of that regiment which Lee, then a colo-
nel in the British service, led across the Tagus on October 5, 1762,
S6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
General Lee was treated by the British at first as a
deserter from their army rather than as a prisoner of war,
because he had entered the American service before his
resignation as a heutenant-colonel on half pay had been ac-
cepted. He had been made an ensign in the British army
while yet a youth, and had taken part in the French and
Indian war in America with such fierce energy that the
savages had given him the name of " the spirit that never
sleeps." He was also engaged in the Spanish war in Por-
tugal, and had been a general officer in the army of Poland.
After being held as a prisoner for many months, the English
government, considering that the war was about to close,
began to deal with him as a state prisoner.^
under instructions from Burgoyne, and inflicted great damage on the
enemy at Villa Velha. British accounts and the notes on the war writ-
ten by the Hessian officer Captain Ewald say that the troopers captured
one of Lee's messengers, forced him to act as their guide, and so came
upon the American officer suddenly; but Major William Bradford of
Lee's stafE, a Rhode Island officer, says that a Jersey loyalist (said to
have been James Compton of Baskingridge) had informed Lieutenant-
Colonel Harcourt that Lee was spending the night outside of his own
lines, with but an insignificant guard. Cornet Banistre Tarleton, First
regiment dragoon guards (afterward so notorious in the South), was
with this scouting party as a volunteer, and led the attacking force.
The troopers surrounded the tavern, fired a volley, and carried Lee off
without his hat and in his slippers, an odd-looking prisoner, whom they
took to " Penny Town " (Pennington). In January, however, he was
in the jail at Brunswick, and later (January 22, 1777) he arrived in New
York city. M. de Gaiault, a French officer (sometimes given the title
of lieutenant-colonel), who had just joined Lee as a volunteer aide-de-
camp, was taken with him.
It may be noted here that the little troop of the Sixteenth Queen's
light dragoons, while returning to its post, made a diversion for the
purpose of stirring up the patriotic people of the village of Flemington.
As they dashed up the old road to the town, a bullet from, the flint-
lock of some Jersey farmer emptied the saddle of Cornet Francis Geary,
entered in the British army lists as "killed December 14, 1776." In
1891 his grave by the roadside was opened, and the truth of the village
tradition verified by the buttons of his coat, marked " 16 Q. L. D.,"
being found. — Proceedings N.J. Hist. Soc. 2d series, xi. 166.
1 General Washington, in a letter dated December 18, and written to
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE 57
The capture of Lee had a bad effect upon the people and
upon the army. They had extolled him as a brilliant officer,
full of decision of character and knowledge of war. Too
many believed that had Washington followed more closely
Lee's advice the disasters which had fallen upon the cause
would have been averted. The British, too, thought that
they had captured what they termed the "American Pal-
ladium"— the embodiment of the military genius of the
rebellion, and they gloried greatly in the good fortune
which had placed such a leader in their hands.
As we look upon it now, his conduct shows that his loss
was really a gain to the service. His military life was full
of disobedience. He tried in secret to defame the character
of Washington, that he might supplant him in command.
His letters written at the very house of his capture show
that he was treacherous. One letter to General Gates, dated
December 1 3, 1 776, which, when he was captured, he was
about to give to Major James Wilkinson (Gates's aide-de-
camp), and which Wilkinson hastily thrust into his pocket
as he concealed himself, shows his bitter jealousy as well as
it depicts the state of his command. " Entre nous, a certain
great man is most damnably deficient — He has thrown me
into a situation where I have my choice of difficulties — if I
•stay in this Province I risk myself and Army and if I do not
stay the Province is lost for ever — I have neither guides.
Cavalry Medicines Money Shoes or Stockings — I must act
with the greatest circumspection — Tories are in my front
rear and on my flanks — the Mass of the People is strangely
contaminated — in short unless something which I do not
expect turns up We are lost — our Counsels have been weak
to the last degree." ^
his brother, John Augustine Washington, speaks of the capture of Lee
in thisiway : " It was by his own folly and imprudence (and without a
view to answer any good) he was taken." General Greene spoke of
his capture in unequivocal language, calling it a " strange infatuation,''
and General Lord Stirhng wrote that it was " one of Lee's eccentric
movements and only remarkable from its direction."
1 New York Hist. Soc. Collections, 1872, p. 348.
58 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
His overweening ambition, his bad judgment, his fickle
will and his treacherous heart ever urged him to act inde-
pendent of the commander-in-chief, both with his own troops
and with those which, by diverting General Gates's command,
he hoped soon to receive from the northern army. With
these troops he intended to attempt some brilliant feat which
would enable him, as he wrote to General Heath, to " recon-
quer the Jerseys," and then to be called upon to assume the
highest command in the army.^ His conduct on the bat-
tlefield of Monmouth, now so fully and clearly explained in
the late Dr. George H. Moore's " Treason of Charles Lee,"
proves him to have been a very traitor at heart. While in
captivity in New York, March 29, 1777, he endeavored to
betray America into the hands of her enemies. Of late
years a document has been found in England in Lee's hand-
writing, bearing the date just given and indorsed " Mr. Lee's
plan," which was intended to show the British how they
could most easily conquer America.^ Certain it is that had
he lived longer in military office, like another American
general he would have transferred his allegiance back to
the British crown.^
1 In the Journal of Elias Boudinot, commissary-general of prisoners
(afterward president of the Continental Congress), Proceedings of Hu-
guenot Society of America, vol. ii. p. 278, that distinguished patriot
refers to language used by Lee to him, in which he " immediately
began to urge the improbability of our troops, under such an ignorant
commander-in-chief, ever withstanding British grenadiers and light
infantry." And again, " that General Washington was not fit to com-
mand a sergeant's guard."
^ General Lee was a witty, eccentric, conceited soldier of fortune,
eager to espouse the cause of independence, rather more, it is to be
feared, because of its novelty and the opportunity it afforded for the
display of his brilliant talents, wide experience and military skill, than
for the love which he pretended to have for American freedom. He is
described by Mrs. Mercy Warren, the historian, as "a tall man, lank
and thin, with a huge nose, a satirical mouth and restless eyes, who sat
his horse as if he had often ridden at fox-hunts in England, and wore a
uniform with a cynical disregard of public opinion."
' The Treason of Charles Lee, Major-General, Second in Command in
the American Army of the Revolution, by George H. Moore, Librarian
GENERAL SULLIVAN SUCCEEDS LEE 59
Immediately after the capture of General Lee, the next
officer in rank, Major-General John Sullivan (who had been
exchanged after his capture at the battle of Long Island for
General Prescott ^), assumed command of Lee's division, and
in order to show the troops that they had still a competent
commander he rode along the lines and gave his orders in
person to advance, hastening with his force to Germantown,
from there to Pittstown, and then, to avoid the British
troops at Pennington, took the road to Phillipsburg. He
crossed the Delaware River to Easton December 15, and
thence marched to Bethlehem, reporting to General Wash-
ington, in a snowstorm, on the 20th, with about 2000 men
"much out of sorts and much in want of everything." The
next day the New England brigade. Colonel Daniel Hitch-
cock, was sent to Bristol to reinforce the brigade of Phila-
delphia militia stationed there under Colonel John Cad-
walader.
The division of Major-General Horatio Gates, seven regi-
of the New York Historical Society, i860, depicts him as "plain in his
person to a degree of ugliness ; careless even to impoliteness ; his
garb ordinary ; his voice rough ; his manners morose ; yet sensible,
learned, judicious and penetrating." In the Memoirs of General Lee,
written by Edward Langworthy, he is said to have been " of a genteel
make, and rather above the middle size ; his remarkable aquiline nose
rendered his face somewhat disagreeable." Sir Hugh Bunbury writes :
" In person he was tall and extremely thin ; his face ugly, with an aqui-
line nose of enormous proportion."
In the. Jou!-nal of a British Officer, Captain Thomas Harris (in after
years Lord Harris), we find this remark in reference to the capture of
this American general : " Lee behaved as cowardly in this transaction as
he had dishonorably in every other. After firing one or two shots from
the house he came out and entreated our troops to spare his life. Had
he behaved with proper spirit I should have pitied him and wished that
his energies had been exerted in a better cause. I could hardly refrain
from tears when I first saw him and thought of the miserable fate in
which his obstinacy had involved him."
1 Brigadier-General Richard Prescott had been captured November
17, 1775, and exchanged September 4, 1776, for General Sullivan.
General Prescott was again captured near Newport, Rhode Island, July
10, 1777, and exchanged April 21, 1778, for Major-General Charles Lee.
(iO THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ments in all, under the direct command of Brigadier-General
Benedict Arnold, arri\'ed at 13cthlehem the same day, De-
cember 20, having also crossed the river at Easton. Gates
had left his command at Sussex Court House, and with his
staff and escort had crossed the river a few miles above
Easton. But when he
reached Bethlehem, he
found both his own and
^m^ Sullivan's troops there.
M^^M *■ A The force of General
WB^^/^^B^i^ Gates consisted of but
"■^^^^^^^^^ 500 effective men, and
they had suffered greatly
in a severe snowstorm
which had detained them
on the road through Sus-
sex County, New Jersey,
in the valley between the
Walpack and the Kit-
tatinny ridges. General
Gates, after reporting
himself at headquarters,
was allowed to go to
I'hiladelphia on " sick
leave."
Three other regiments, under Brigadier-General Alex-
ander AfcDougall, stopped at Morristown, and were united
with about 700 New Jersey militia in charge of Colonel
Jacob 1^'ord, Jr., commanding the eastern battalion of Morris
County. These regiments consisted in all of about 520
officers cmd men, — the Third Massachusetts or Twenty-
fourth Continental infantry. Colonel John Greaton, 250 men ;
the Twenty-fifth Continental infantry, formerly commanded
by Colonel William Bond (who had died of fever August 31,
1776), 100 men, and the Fourth Hampshire County (Massa-
chusetts) regiment, Colonel Elisha Porter, 170 men. Briga-
dier-General William Maxwell, who had been in command of
-MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SULLLIVAN
CONCENTRATION AT MORRISTOWN 6i
the New Jersey Continental line at Ticonderoga (whose
term of service had expired), was placed by General Wash-
ington (December 20) in charge of this corps at Morristown,
with orders to harass the enemy, and, if possible, to prevent
the people from taking protection from the British author-
ities. He reached Morristown December 22, and assumed
command of all the Continental and militia forces there.
These troops in the brigade of General McDougall, and the
division which crossed the river under General Arnold,
were all sent by General Schuyler from the Northern army,
although they had but the month of December to serve in
the army. The fiery Wayne was not permitted to accom-
pany them, eager as he was to do so.
On Wednesday, December 11, the Continental Congress
made a resolve calling for a day of fasting and humilia-
tion, in view of the distressing condition of the American
cause.
Herewith is the text of this action in Congress : —
" The committee appointed to prepare a resolution for ap-
pointing a day of fasting and humiliation brought in a report
which was read and agreed to, as follows : —
" Whereas the war in which the United States are en-
gaged with Great Britain has not only been prolonged, but is
likely to be carried to the greatest extremity ; and whereas
it becomes all public bodies, as well as private persons, to
reverence the providence of God, and look up to him as
the supreme disposer of all events and the arbiter of the fate
of nations ; therefore
" Resolved, That it be recommended to all the United States
as soon as possible to appoint a day of solemn fasting and
humiliation ; to implore of Almighty God the forgiveness of
the many sins prevailing among all ranks, and to beg the
countenance and assistance of his providence in the prosecu-
tion of the present just and necessary war.
" The Congress do also in the most earnest manner re-
commend to all the members of the United States, and
particularly the officers civil and military under them, the
62 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
exercise of repentance and reformation ; and further, require
of them the strict observation of the articles of war, and par-
ticularly that part of the said articles which forbids profane
swearing and all immorality, of which all such officers are
desired to take notice.
" It is left to each State to issue out proclamations fixing
the day that appears most proper within its bounds."
The following instructions were issued by General Wash-
ington to Brigadier-Generals Lord Stirling, Mercer, Stephen
and De Fermoy : —
Head-Quarters, at Keith's,
14 December, 1776.
Dear Sir, — Lest the enemy should in some degree avail
themselves of the knowledge (for I do not doubt but they
are well informed of everything we do), I did not care to be
so particular in the general orders of this day, as I mean to
be in this letter to you. As much time, then, would be lost,
should the enemy attempt crossing the river at any pass
within your guard, in first sending you notice, and in the
troops to wait for orders what to do, I would advise you to
examine the whole river from the upper to the lower guard
of your district ; and, after forming an opinion of the most
probable crossing-places, let those be well watched, and
direct the regiments or companies most convenient to repair,
as they can be formed, immediately to the point of attack,
and give the enemy all the opposition they possibly can.
Everything in a manner depends upon the defence at the
water's edge. In like manner, one brigade is to support an-
other, without loss of time, or waiting for orders from me.
I would also have you fix upon some central spot convenient
to your brigade, but in the rear a little, and on some road
leading into the back road to Philadelphia, for your unneces-
sary baggage, wagons, and stores ; that, in case your oppo-
sition should prove ineffectual, these things may not fall
(into the enemy's hands), but be got off, and proceed over
Neshaminy Bridge towards Germantown, agreeably to the
determination of the board of officers the other day.
WANTED — A PATRIOT SPY 63
Let me entreat you to find out some person, who can be
engaged to cross the river as a spy, that we may, if possible,
obtain some knowledge of the enemy's situation, movements,
and intention. Particular inquiry should be made by the
person sent, if any preparations are making to cross the
river ; whether any boats are building and where ; whether
they are coming over land from Brunswick ; whether any
great collection of horses is made, and for what purpose.
Expense must not be spared in procuring such intelligence,
and it will readily be paid by me. We are in a neighbour-
hood of very disaffected people. Equal care therefore should
be taken, that one of these persons does not undertake the
business in order to betray us.
I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.
Go. Washington.!
' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 92.
VI
Scarcely a week had passed since Washington had
crossed the river, and so placed a barrier between his despond-
ent army and the foe, before he began to think of making
an aggressive movement. Major John Armstrong, the per-
sonal aide-de-camp of General Mercer, wrote a half century
after this event : " Two or three days after we had crossed
the Delaware there were several meetings between the adju-
tant-general and General Mercer, at which I was permitted
to be present ; the questions were discussed, whether the
propriety and practicability did not exist of carrying the out-
posts of the enemy and ought not to be attempted. On this
point no disagreement existed between the generals, and to
remove objections in other quarters it was determined they
should separately open the subject to the commander-in-
chief and to such officers as would probably compose his
council of war, if any should be called. I am sure the first
of these meetings was at least ten days before the attack on
Trenton was made."
We find the first notice of the future plans of the Amer-
ican chief in a letter to General Gates, dated December 14 :^
" If we can draw our forces together, I trust, under the
smiles of Providence, we may yet effect an important stroke,
or at least prevent General Howe from executing his plans."
And again on the same day he wrote to Governor Jon-
athan Trumbull, the patriotic executive of Connecticut, in
reference to the troops of Gates : " By coming on they may,
in conjunction with my present force, and that under Gen-
eral Lee, enable us to attempt a stroke upon the forces of
the enemy, who lie a good deal scattered, and to all appear-
ances in a state of security. A lucky blow in this quarter
' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 91.
RUMORS OF WASHINGTON'S DESIGN 65
would be fatal to them, and would most certainly rouse the
spirits of the people, which are quite sunk by our late mis-
fortunes." ^
He wrote also to Major-General William Heath on that
day : " If we can collect our force speedily I should hope
we may effect something of importance or at least give such
a turn to our affairs as to make them assume a more pleas-
ing aspect than they now have."
On the 2 1st day of December General Greene wrote the
following to Governor Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island : ^
" We are now on the west side of the Delaware ; our force
is small when collected together ; but small as it is, I hope
we shall give the enemy a stroke in a few days. Should
fortune favor the attack, perhaps it may put a stop to Gen-
eral Howe's progress."
Rumors of these plans, entirely unofficial, however, reached
Philadelphia, but it is supposed that they were scarcely cred-
ited by those who had heard of the condition of the army.
In Christopher Marshall's " Remembrances," under date of
December 1 8 we find this expression : " News that our army
intended to cross at Trenton into the Jerseys." ^
It was imperative that something be at least attempted,
or the union of the States would be pronounced a failure,
the Declaration of Independence counted an idle boast, and
the cause of liberty immediately abandoned. In Washing-
ton's letter to his brother (December 18) the situation is
well described : " If every nerve is not strained to recruit
the new army with all possible expedition, I think the game
is pretty nearly up, owing, in a great measure, to the insidious
arts of the enemy and disaffection of the colonies before
mentioned, but principally to the ruinous policy of short
enlistments, and placing too great a dependence on the mili-
^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 93.
^ Force's American Archives, sth series, vol. iii. p. 1342.
' Robert Morris also wrote to Washington, December 21 : "I have
been told to-day that you are preparing to cross into the Jerseys. I
hope it may be true."
66 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
tia, the evil consequences of which were foretold fifteen
months ago, with a spirit almost prophetic. . . . You can
form no idea of the perplexity of my situation. No man, I
believe, ever had a greater choice of difficulties, and less
means to extricate himself from them. However, under a
full persuasion of the justice of our cause, I cannot entertain
an idea that it will finally sink, though it may remain for
some time under a cloud." ^
The historian Bancroft in his great work remarks, in refer-
ence to the troubles with which General Washington had to
contend and the means at hand to relieve them : —
" The sharp tribulation which assayed his fortitude carried
with it a divine and an animating virtue. Hope and zeal
illuminated his grief. His emotions come to us across the
century like strains from an eternity which repairs all losses
and rights all wrongs ; in his untold sorrows his trust in
Providence kept up in his heart an under-song of wonderful
sweetness. The spirit of the Most High dwells among the
afflicted, rather than the prosperous ; and he who has never
broken his bread in tears knows not the heavenly powers.
The trials of Washington are the dark, solemn ground on
which the beautiful work of the country's salvation was
embroidered."
The situation at this time from the British point of view
is set forth in the report which General Howe made to Lord
Germain, colonial secretary of state, December 20, 1776.^
It describes in detail the rather dignified pursuit of the en-
emy, who is represented as being at the last gasp, although
it is admitted that the partial destruction of a bridge over
the Raritan impedes the British progress, and that as the
Americans had denuded the Delaware near Trenton of
boats, it was deemed wise to await the freezing over of the
river before attempting a movement into Pennsylvania.
Glancing for a moment at the Hessian force in Burlington
County, New Jersey, we find that (December 19) Colonel
' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 109.
2 Part ii. No. 16.
HESSIAN VIGILANCE 67
von Donop, accompanied by Colonel von Block, Lieutenant-
Colonel Sterling and a strong patrol, went as far as Mount
Holly for the purpose of getting a correct military idea of
the country. On his return to Bordentown the next day,
Colonel von Doriop received a letter from Colonel Rail, giv-
ing him the incidents of the previous day at the post of
Trenton,^ complaining of the exposed nature of his right
flank, and noting the activity of the American scouts.
On the following day General Grant wrote Colonel von
Donop a letter ^ in English, and as Lieutenant-Colonel Ster-
ling had not returned to Bordentown, Colonel von Donop
must have had difficulty in reading it. It gave routine news,
referred to the scarcity of forage, and the large detachment
which Colonel Rail sent to carry his letter to General Grant.
Before von Donop received this letter, however, he had
written General Grant a communication in French to the
effect that a contemplated attack upon General Putnam at
Cooper's Creek had been abandoned for reasons mentioned.^
The same day, December 21, Colonel von Donop heard
from Colonel von Block at Black Horse that the enemy had
been seen that day in the village of Mount Holly. He sent
an express rider to inform Colonel Rail of this fact, so that
if a simultaneous attack were designed by the American
troops on both posts, he need not be surprised.
Colonel von Donop did not leave Bordentown that day
personally to investigate the report. In the afternoon he
received a letter * from Rail, which informed him of the sin-
gular fact that he had sent a force of one hundred men to
take a single letter through to Princeton.^
Just before dark Colonel Rail sent another letter to his
immediate commanding officer, in which he pleaded for the
retention of one third of his command, and in this he suc-
ceeded.^
1 Part ii. No. 17. ^ Part ii. No. 18
3 Part ii. No. 19. ^ Part ii. No. 20.
5 It will be seen that Rail was criticised for this act by General
Grant.
8 Part ii. No. 21.
68 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Among the German documents at Marburg, Germany,
there appears a letter written in French, but which has no
indication of the writer, the recipient, or the place from which
it was written. It is evident, however, from the style and
the facts given, that it must have been written by Colonel von
Donop, probably on the road to Mount Holly, to Major-Gen-
eral Grant, and that it should have been dated December 21
or 22.^
In the mean time General Grant's messenger was hurrying
on to Trenton with a letter directly addressed, contrary to
military usage, to Colonel Rail, in which he speaks slight-
ingly of the American army, and depicts what he believes
to be their desperate condition.^
That Saturday afternoon was a busy day at Bordentown
as well as at Trenton. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterling sent
Colonel von Donop two letters within three hours of each
other.^ The one gives Colonel von Donop some informa-
tion, and the other the advice for which he had asked.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 20, 21 and
22, Colonel von Donop received much information from the
loyalists of Burlington County as to the condition of the
American army on the west bank of the Delaware River,
and the movements of a party which they erroneously sup-
posed was commanded by General Putnam and which was
in the lower portion of Burlington and old Gloucester coun-
ties. New Jersey. Some of these statements as made by
the Tories are still on file in the archives of Marburg in Ger-
many. It is interesting to note the style of this intelligence
and the combination of truth and error thus furnished.
Four of these documents have been copied and are given
herein.*
Captain Friedrich Heinrich Loray, of the Hessian chas-
seurs, who had been stationed above Bordentown in close
connection with Colonel Rail's picket at the drawbridge of
Crosswicks Creek, reported that he had strengthened the
' Part ii. No. 22. 2 Part ii. No. 23.
2 Part ii. No. 24. ■* Part ii. No. 25.
FEINT AT MOUNT HOLLY 69
guard at the bridge and would look out for the rear of Rail's
command.^
At four o'clock on Sunday morning, December 22, Colonel
von Donop started for Black Horse. When he reached that
village he was informed that the enemy had withdrawn
during the night and had left only a picket at the meeting
house on the north side of Mount Holly. This seems to
have satisfied him, for soon after the noon hour he left
Black Horse on his return to Bordentown. It was two
o'clock of the same afternoon, and he had just entered
his headquarters there, when he was startled by the alarm
given by the little three-pounder which he remembered
stood in front of " The Sun " inn at Black Horse. A few
moments afterward he heard the signal gun fired at Mans-
field Square by the von Linsingen battalion. Again, after
sending an express rider to Colonel Rail, he mounted his
horse for another ride to Black Horse. On arriving there
he found all the troops under arms, and he was informed
that soon after he had left the village in the morning some
four or five hundred rebels had made an attack on the picket
at Rancocas bridge and had driven away the sergeant and
twelve men of the Forty-second British regiment who
were stationed at a small house close to the bridge. Two
of the men of the regiment were badly wounded in this
encounter. On hearing of this attack Captain Ernst von
Eschwege and his grenadier company of the von Linsingen
battalion hastened to their rescue. This company also had
a soldier wounded, but they brought the affair to an end.
Colonel von Donop spent the night of December 22 at
the tavern at Black Horse, and the next morning he started
for Mount Holly. He also ordered the Forty-second British
regiment and the battalions von Block and von Linsingen
to .accompany him. On nearing the church on the road
to the village of Mount Holly, he descried a detachment of
American militia, and he directed a few shots to be fired at
them from the three-pounders. Colonel von Donop states
1 Part ii. No. 26.
70 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
that three of the enemy were either wounded or killed by
this firing, but he lost none of his men. The militia re-
treated in the direction of Moorestown. He then stationed
the Forty-second regiment and the von Block battalion in
Mount Holly for the purpose of gathering forage and stores.
Glancing again at Colonel Rail at Trenton, we find that
(December 22) General Leslie ordered a part of his com-
mand, the First light infantry battalion, to patrol as far as
Trenton.^
Colonel Rail immediately reported this movement to
Colonel von Donop. It seems that Rail could not resist
the temptation to indulge in a little sarcasm at the expense
of his British superior officer : —
Sir : '
General Leslie sent to-day the First Battalion of Light
Infantry to Trenton. He thought that a battalion of my
command had marched from here. As there were no more
attacks on this post I have sent the battalion back. A
letter from General Grant is enclosed. He has also written
me and what makes me pleased is that he knows the
strength of the enemy thirty miles off, better than we do
here. He writes me the enemy are naked, hungry and
very weak and that it is not necessary to place troops at
Maiden head. Rall.
Trenton 22nd of December 1776.
General Grant wrote an interesting letter to Colonel von
Donop, December 23. It is doubtful if the beer which he
promised was ever issued to the men.
Brunswick 23rd Dec. 1776.
Sir :
The heavy Artillery is at Amboy with your fourth Bat-
talion Grenadiers. Sir Wm. Erskine is gone to put them in
motion, he is to acquaint me when every thing is ready and
1 Part ii. No. 27.
KING GEORGE ORDERS SPRUCE BEER
71
you shall be informed what Day they march that you may
make a move to cover them.
We are all in a great Favour at home. His Majesty has
ordered Spruce Beer to be issued to the Troops without
any stoppage, if we cannot get spruce, we must contrive to
make small Beer, a Brewer here has undertaken to serve
BRIGADIER-GENER.'VL ALE.XANDER LESLIE
the Troops, at Ten shilling Currency for a Quarter Cask,
containing thirty four Gallons, that will amount nearly to a
penny Currency for a Quart to each man a Day, will you be
kind enough to inform me if you can get any Body to
undertake it upon the same terms.
I am anxious to get the Waggons I mentioned to you.
We cannot depend upon the navigation of the river rariton
and without Waggons from your District I shall not be able
to keep you and Gen. Leslie's Corps supplied.
72 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Be so good as to leave as much of the Country upon
your right as you can to Gen. Leslie as I have directed him
not to take any Forage in the country from Princeton to
this place.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedt, h'ble servant
James Grant.
VII
Leaving New Jersey and the cantonments of the Hessian
soldiery, and looking again at the American army in Bucks
County, Pennsylvania, it is well to give in full the text of
what is known as the "Pomroy letter." ^ Colonel Joseph
Reed, the adjutant-general of the Continental army, having
been sent to Bristol by General Washington on special
service, urged upon his chief the importance of an imme-
diate crossing of the river. By this time Washington had
left the house of William Keith, and had come down to
the river bank that he might procure earlier intelligence
and quickly consult with his subordinate officers. He dated
his letters of December 20 and the three days following,
"At Camp above Trenton Falls," and by this he evidently
meant the camp of General Lord Stirling at Beaumonts
near McKonkey's Ferry, and about ten miles above Trenton
Ferry. He did not return to Keith's house until Christmas.
As soon as Washington received the " Pomroy " letter
he sent for Reed to come to his headquarters, when the
intended movement on the Hessian outposts was fully
explained. On his return to Bristol Colonel Reed held
a consultation with Colonel Cadwalader, after which he
crossed the river at night with Lieutenant-Colonel John Cox
of the Philadelphia Associators to see Colonel Samuel
Grifhn. They found him quite ill. His expedition had
been only partially successful, as will hereafter appear. On
Reed's return to Bristol he received a letter ^ from General
Washington (probably written at Lord Stirling's quarters at
Beaumonts) giving full details of the proposed movement on
Trenton.
The plan stated in Colonel Reed's letter, and casually
1 Part ii. No. 28. 2 p^rt ii. No. 29.
74 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
alluded to in the first line of General Washington's com-
munication, of an attack by Colonel Cadwalader and 700 of
his men on the Hessian troops near Mount Holly was not
carried out. During the third week in December Major-
General Putnam sent Colonel Samuel Griffin with a small
command of about 600 militia and volunteers, including two
companies of Virginia troops, to make a movement against
the Hessian advance through the county of Gloucester and
into Burlington County, New Jersey. Colonel Griffin was a
deputy adjutant-general of the flying camp, and he had been
announced in general orders, December 14, 1776, as adju-
tant-general to the troops in and about Philadelphia. He
made his headquarters at Haddonfield, and then began some
slight demonstration on the outposts near Moorestown, a
few miles from Mount Holly, and applied to the American
force at Bristol for two or three hundred volunteers and two
pieces of artillery. About this time he was unfortunately
taken sick, and so inefficient was his command that the
expedition proved almost fruitless. However, as we have
already seen, it took Colonel von Donop and two of his regi-
ments away from his headquarters at Bordentown, and for
four days fixed his attention upon the little force in front of
him, thus diverting it from Trenton, where the real attack
was to be made.
From Joseph Galloway's " Letters to a Nobleman on the
Conduct of the War in the Middle Colonies," we quote the
following : —
" In order to draw Colonel de Donop from his post at
Bordentown, and to prevent his supporting Colonel Raile at
the time of the assault, he sent a corps of 450 militia, many
of whom were boys picked up in Philadelphia and the coun-
ties of Gloucester and Salem, to Mount Holly, with orders
not to fight, but fly as soon as the effect of the manoeuvre
had taken place. The plan succeeded. Colonel de Donop
marched against this insignificant part of the rebel force
with his whole corps of 2000 men (eighty left at Bordentown
excepted), down to Mount Holly, twelve miles from his post
WASHINGTON SEEKS TO SAVE BURLINGTON 75
and eighteen from Trenton, the post he ought to have been
at hand to support. The rebel corps immediately fled, and
dispersed on his approach ; and yet, instead of immediately
returning to Bordentown to support Colonel Raile, he re-
mained loitering two days in the neighbourhood of Burling-
ton, without having a single enemy to oppose."
An interesting incident may not inappropriately be re-
ferred to at this point in the history of the campaign. The
adjutant-general of the Continental army, by direction of
General Washington, made an effort to prevent the destruc-
tion of the town of Burlington, New Jersey, which if occu-
pied by the Hessian troops was in danger of suffering from
a bombardment by the American fleet.
On the 20th day of December, Colonel Joseph Reed
addressed a letter to Colonel von Donop from the quarters
of Colonel Cadwalader, the post commander in Bristol.
This letter, found among the German archives at Mar-
burg, Germany, and never before published, fully exonerates
Colonel Reed from the charge made by the historian Ban-
croft and others, of carrying on an illicit correspondence
with the enemy. Surely if Washington had been induced
to "make some propositions on the subject," it was right, it
was the duty of his chief staff officer to attempt to execute
his instructions. The letter is as follows : —
Bristol Dec. 20, 1776
Sir :
The peculiar situation of the Town of Burlington exposed
to hostilities from both parties has induced General Wash-
ington to make you some propositions on this subject. For
this Purpose I will tomorrow do myself the honour of wait-
ing on you at the time and Place you will please to appoint.
I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir
Your most obedient and very h'le servant
Jos: Reed
Adj. General of the Continental Army.
Colonel von Donop immediately replied that his situation
76 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
was such that it would not admit of his leaving his post at
present for the purpose of the interview. The truth is that
the heavy artillery not having arrived, the question did not
press itself strongly upon Colonel von Donop ; but on the
Tuesday following, thinking an interview with Colonel Reed
advisable, he wrote him this letter : —
Mount holly Dec 24th 1776
Sir :
In consequence of my Letter to you in answer to yours of
20th Inst, relative to the peculiar situation of the Town of
Burlington at present I am to inform you, if it is agreeable,
that I shall meet you at John Antrims about half way be-
twixt this place and Burlington to hear any proposition you
may have to make with regard to that place at 1 2 o'clock
tomorrow forenoon, two of my Chasseurs shall be ready to
attend you as a safe Guard at Burlington to the place ap-
pointed. — •
I am Sir —
Your most obed. & most humble serv.
Carl de Donop
Colonel
To Jos. Reed, Esq.
P. S. — To prevent any Doubt on your part of your safety
an Officer will accompany the two Chasseurs with a Flag to
your house in the City and you may bring any Officer with
you, you please. —
Colonel Reed was in Philadelphia on Christmas day, and
an express rider was sent for him. Colonel Cadwalader
thought it advisable to reply to the communication himself,
which he did in the following letter : —
Bristol, 25th Dec 1776. —
Sir:
As Col. Reed is not at this Post at present, I opened the
Letter sent here with a Flag, directed to him. There is no
other person here so fully acquainted with the Business he
COLONEL JOSEPH REED'S LOYALTY 77
proposed mentioning to you at the Interview he requested.
I expect he will return to-morrow morning to this Post, and
he will then request you to name an other Time and Place
which may be convenient to you. —
I am, Sir, with great respect
Your obed't humble servant
John Cadwalader
Colonel. —
P. S. — I did not receive the
Flag today till half past
ten A. M. —
Colonel Reed, although he returned to Bristol on Christ-
mas afternoon, did not resume the correspondence. He was
then too busy in aiding the attempt to cross the Delaware
River and stir up the cantonments of Colonel von Donop.
In the diary of the loyalist Margaret Morris of Burlington,
we find under date of December 26 a reference to this sub-
ject: "Very stormy: we fear Gen. Reed will not meet the
Count today."
This correspondence, although by direction of Washing-
ton— and therefore the subordinate officer is altogether free
from military criticism — has been made the occasion by sev-
eral writers of strongly expressed doubts of Reed's loyalty
to the American cause. The first attack was made by Dr.
Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia, under the signature of
"Brutus," in the "Independent Gazetteer," September 3,
1782. General Reed thought that his former comrade. Gen-
eral Cadwalader, was the author, and charged him with it in
a communication dated November i, 1782. General Cad-
walader replied early in the year 1783, as we find from a
singular letter ^ most adroitly written to him by a friend of
both parties. Colonel George Morgan, and dated April 17,
1783.2
1 Never published, but now in possession of the Hon. Garret D. W.
Vroom of Trenton, New Jersey.
^ General Cadwalader expected General Reed to challenge him, but
78 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
On the day before Christmas, Acting Quartermaster-Gen-
eral Gamble of the British army issued a circular to the
inhabitants of Hunterdon and Burlington counties. The
stores and forage which were so much needed for the British
troops in the cantons of Trenton and Bordentown, as well as
for General Grant's forces at Brunswick, do not seem to
have been forthcoming. The price list annexed to the cir-
cular is of interest as showing the cost of food and forage
at that period in the war.^
It was a dark hour in our country's history, a crisis which
had to be met with unflinching courage. The situation was
a grave one, and unless some decisive blow were struck,
regardless of the consequences of possible defeat, the cause
Reed, conscious of his own innocence, determined that this should come,
if at all, from General Cadwalader. In the year 1842 the Valley Forge
Letters -were published, followed in 1847 by a carefully prepared bio-
graphy of General Reed, written by his grandson, William B. Reed.
The controversy was renewed in 1856 in a pamphlet entitled Nuts for
Future Historians to Crack. In 1866 the Hon. George Bancroft pub-
lished the ninth volume of his history of the United States, in which
he distinctly charged General Reed with being untrue to the cause of
national independence. In 1867, in a monograph entitled yoj-^/^ Reed,
a Historical Essay, Mr. Bancroft asserted his belief that Reed had
accepted protection, under the proclamation of the brothers Howe,
from Colonel von Donop. Mr. William B. Reed replied to this severe
attack in an able argument. Mr. Bancroft followed with a lengthy
paper on the subject, and Mr. Reed closed the controversy with a strong
refutation of each point in the attack. Mr. Bancroft attempted to sus-
tain his opinion by quoting from the diary of Colonel von Donop of
December 21, 1776, wherein the Hessian commander refers to " Colonel
Reed, who lately received a Protection," etc., etc. In the year 1876 it
was discovered beyond the slightest doubt that the Colonel Reed who
did take " protection " from Colonel von Donop was Colonel Charles
Read of the Burlington County (New Jersey) militia, and not Colonel
Joseph Reed, Washington's adjutant-general. Mr. Bancroft acknow-
ledged the mistake he had made, and an account of this discovery was
published by the author of this- work in a monograph entitled The
Reed Controversy — Further Facts with Reference to the Character of
Joseph Reed, Adjutant-General on the Staff of George Washington.
Printed for private distribution, 2d edition, Trenton, 1885.
1 Part ii. No. 30.
CONFIDENCE IN WASHINCTON
79
of national freedom would be irretrievably lost. The over-
whelming adversity, the desperate straits which confronted
the young nation on every hand, were quite enough to dis-
hearten the boldest patriot. A general depression hung over
GEOKOE W.ASHINGTON
the country like a dark and foreboding cloud. Yet between
liberty and defeat stood a little army of desperate men
devoted to their chief, soldiers who still stood by him, who
still hoped that his master mind would devise some plan by
which he might snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It
was to Washington that all hearts turned in this hour of
misfortune and disaster, and he fully merited their trust and
8o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
confidence. Not for a moment did he entertain any idea of
abandoning the sacred cause. With calm dignity of manner
and an undaunted spirit he moved among his men encour-
aging them in their sufferings, and cheering them by the
hope of a favorable change in the near future. It is doubt-
ful if anywhere in history can be cited such an example of
the head of a dispirited force, of a chieftain deserted by a
Congress which was preparing to throw on him the entire
responsibility of the war, but who turned toward his troops
a cheerful countenance, and looked forward with confidence
to a brighter day.
During this period of depression General Washington was
busily engaged in procuring reinforcements for his little army,
and in this respect he was in a degree successful. The men
who had already joined him arid those who were marching
from different parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary-
land toward his camp were true men, thoroughly impressed
with the idea of patriotic duty, and clearly understanding
the value of victory won in that critical hour, and the price
which must be paid for defeat.^
Thomas Paine, the author of the tract called " Common
Sense," and who is thought to have been temporarily attached
to the staff of Maj or-General Greene as a volunteer aide-de-
camp during this campaign, wrote, while in the American
camp, that number of " The American Crisis " which made
it famous. In this stirring appeal, which was published in
the " Pennsylvania Journal," December 19, 1776, he expressed
the feeling then uppermost in every patriotic heart : " These
are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and
' Elkanah Watson, writing at this time at Plymouth, Massachusetts,
refers to this period of the struggle in these words : " We looked upon
the contest as near its close, and considered ourselves a vanquished
people. The young men present determined to emigrate and seek
some spot where liberty dwelt and where the arm of British tyranny
could not reach us. Major Thomas animated our desponding spirits
with the assurance that Washington was not dismayed, but evinced the
same serenity and confidence as ever. Upon him rested all our hopes."
— Men and Times of the Revolution, or Memoirs of Elkanah Watson,
p. 24.
COLONEL JOHN CADWALADER
8i
the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the ser-
vice of his country ; but he that stands it now, deserves the
thanks of man and woman." This address was ordered to
be read at the head of each regiment, and the effect of its
strong, patriotic sentences was apparent upon the spirits of
the army.
The commander-in-chief had divided his force into three
separate corps, one sta-
tioned at Bristol, another
at Trenton Ferry, and the
third and largest, which
included all the remain-
ing troops in Pennsylva-
nia, he posted for several
miles on the Delaware
River north of Yardley's
Ferry.
Colonel John Cadwala-
der, as the senior colo-
nel of the Philadeljjhia
battalions of Associators,
acting as a general officer,
commanded the division
from the Bordentown Fer-
ry to Dunk's Ferry, with
headquarters at Bristol. i
Colonel Cadwalader's division consisted of about 1800 men.^
1 He was a native of Philadelphia, and formerly had been the cap-
tain of the "Greens" or "The Silk Stocking Company," wliich was
composed of young men of high social position in that city. He was
an officer of polished manners and a bold, brave soldier. Twice he was
appointed a brigadier-general of the Continental army, — February 21,
1777, and September 10, 177S, — but he declined both commissions. He
was made a brigadier-general of the Pennsylvania militia April 5, 1777,
and so continued until the close of the war. Washington characterized
him as "a man of ability, a good disciplinarian, firm in his principles,
and of intrepid bravery." He distinguished himself on the German-
town and Monmouth battlefields.
- Part ii. No. 31.
COLONEL JOHN CADWALADER
82 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
General James Ewing commanded the division of Penn^
sylvania and New Jersey militia ^ which was posted along
the river from Yardley's P^erry to Bond's Ferry and the
ferry to Bordentown. His headquarters was at Colvin's
PATRICK CCILVIN S l''ERRY HOUSE
]i"erry House, which still stands opposite to what was then
called the Trenton Landing.-
Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson, commanding the
New Jersey militia, was with General Ewing in command of
' Part ii. No. 32.
- General Ewing was born at Lanca.ster, Pennsylvania, and entered
military life under (General Braddock in 1755. On the 4th of July
1776, he was made a brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia, and in
this campaign was in command of the Pennsylvania troops of the flying
camp. The identity of this officer has been strangely confused in his
tory. General Wilkinson, in his Mcjiwirs, calls him Irvin. Dr. Gordon
refers to him as Erwing. Botta spells his name Irwin; and Marshall
writes it Irvine.
GENERAL PHILEMON DICKINSON
S3
a small body of the soldiers of that State. They were all
posted at Yardley's Ferry and along the river bank for one
mile south of that place.*
General Washington took special command of the remain-
ing corps, selecting therefrom a body of about 2400 men
for the proposed expedition. The remainder he left to
BRIGADIER-GENERAL EHILEMON DICKINSON
guard the camp equipage at the several stations already
mentioned ^
' General Dickinson was one of the truest patriots of the Revolution.
Possessed of an ample fortune, he devoted his wealth, his time, and his •
talents to the glorious struggle. He distinguished himself in many
engagements, and especially at the battle of Monmouth. He was made
a major-general June 6, 1777. He was chosen a member of Congress
from the State of Delaware February 2, 1782, and died in Trenton,
New Jersey, February 4, 1S09.
2 General Washington's staff consisted of : Joseph Reed, colonel and
adjutant-general ; Thomas Mifflin, brigadier-general and quartermaster-
general ; Henry Kno.x, colonel and chief of artillery; Joseph Trumbull,
colonel and commissary-general; William Palfrey, lieutenant-colonel
and paymaster-general; George Baylor, lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-
84 THE r.ATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Washington called his general officers i together in council
at his heaclquartei-s at William Keith's house, (Hi Knowles's
Creek, a few miles tVom Newtown. The following officers
were present : Major-Generals John Sullivan and Nathanael
Greene ; Brigadier-Generals Lord Stirling, Roche de Fermoy,
LinUTKN'ANT-COLrjXEL SAMUEL B. WEDB
Hugh Mercer, Adam Stephen and Arthur St, Clair ; Colonels
Paul D. Sargent, John Stark, John Glover and Henry Knox.
camp: William Oravson, lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp ; Samuel
B. Webb. lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp; Richard Carey, lieuten-
ant-colonel and aide-de-camp; John Fitzgerald, lieutenant-colonel and
aide-de-camp (he was in commission as captairL Third Virginia Conti-
nental regiment, February 8, 177O, and must have been announced as
lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp in November, 1776); Robert H.
Harrison, lieutenant-colonel and military secretary; Tench Tilghman,
captain Penns"\ivania battalion of the flying camp, and acting as
assistant secretary and volunteer aide-de-camp; David Henly, lieu-
tenant-colonel of the Fifth Massachusetts regiment, assigned to tem-
porary duty with this staff.
' For biographical sketches of these officers see Part ii. No. 33.
NUMBER OF WASHINGTON'S ARMY 85
The Reverend Dr. Alexander Macwhorter, the patriotic pas-
tor of the Presbyterian Church of Newark, New Jersey,
who had followed the army on the retreat through that
State, was also present, and took part in the deliberations of
the council of war. At this meeting the plan of recrossing
the Delaware and making an attack upon the enemy's post
was discussed, and finally agreed upon. The crossing of the
river seemed to be the greatest difficulty ; but Colonel Glover
told General Washington not to be troubled about that, as
his boys would manage it. It is said that at one of these
meetings Colonel Stark, who, although not a brigade com-
mander, was an officer of great experience, gave his opinion
of the past conduct of the army and their present situation
in these pertinent words : " Your men have too long been
accustomed to place their dependence for safety upon spades
and pickaxes. If you ever expect to establish the independ-
ence of these States you must teach them to place depend-
ence upon their firearms and courage."
The inspection of the army, December 22, 1776, shows on
the rolls 679 officers and 10,804 enlisted men. From this
return 5319, not quite one half the force, must be taken for
men sick, wounded, on extra duty, or on furlough, which
leaves 6164 men present for duty. Add to these the four
regiments from the Northern army, which came with Major-
General Gates, estimated strength 500 men, and who were
then brigaded under General St. Clair, but who evidently,
and without apparent reason, were not included in this
inspection ; looo men belonging to the battalions of the Phila-
delphia Associators, and perhaps 400 of the New Jersey
militia, and a detachment of the Pennsylvania militia which
joined the army on Monday, December 23, and the result is
a force of 8000 soldiers, with say 6000 effective men, — the
number stated by Lord Stirling to the Hessian officers in
his custody after the battle of Trenton. A careful examina-
tion of the return as printed in Force's " American Archives,"
5th series, vol. iii. p. 1401, shows it to have been incorrectly
added in several instances, and we think the result is more
86 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
accurate as just stated.^ These troops were scattered along
thirty miles on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River,
and prepared for a dash upon the enemy's outposts.
The New England brigade at Bristol was poorly provided
with camp equipage and blankets, and had meagre stores of
any kind. The Philadelphia battalions, so near their homes,
were in good condition for a winter campaign. The detach-
ments of militia at Trenton Ferry were not furnished with
the necessities for encamping, marching, or fighting in an
inclement season ; but it is generally understood that they
were expected to serve only for a short period. The Conti-
nental regiments on the river above the ferry were greatly
in want of clothing and supplies. Many of the men were
barefooted, as the commander of the First Pennsylvania
rifle regiment said his organization certainly was, and Gen-
eral Washington was obliged to send men about the country
to beg and buy old clothing and blankets for his freezing
soldiers.
The prospects were gloomy indeed for the little army
which rallied around the standard of freedom. The right-
eous cause for which they had taken up arms seemed in this
decisive moment of the war about to suffer defeat, and
visions of new levies of taxes began to appear to the men,
while certain ardent officers caught fleeting glimpses of
sequestered lands and the hangman's rope.
1 A note in Sparks's Writings of Washington, vol. ii. p. 244, repeated
in a note in Ford's The Writings of George Washingtoii, vol. v. p. 130,
says that the return does not include Sullivan's division ; but surely the
brigades of Colonels Hitchcock, Glover and Sargent were part of Gen-
eral Lee's force, and composed the division which General Sullivan
brought to General Washington's army. The four regiments from the
Northern army are given as 1200 men; but General Gates, under or-
ders, left part of his force at Morristown, under Brigadier-General
McDougall, transferred afterward to the command of Brigadier-Gen-
eral Maxwell, and he had but 500 effective men when he reached the
main army. The Pennsylvania militia under Colonel Cadwalader at
Bristol is numbered at 1800 men, but they were only 1000 men; the
remaining 800 were the veteran troops of Colonel Hitchcock's brigade,
and are enumerated in the return.
ONE OF WASHINGTON'S SPIES 87
About this time Captain Ephraim Anderson, who belonged
to Colonel Israel Shreve's Second battalion, New Jersey
Continental line, with a small party of recruits for that battal-
ion, was doing himself and his men much credit by constant
scouting tours through Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
Dr. William Gordon, in his " History of the American
War," speaks of a spy, apparently a rather simple youth,
who was employed to go about among the soldiers in the
village of Trenton, where he soon learned the strength and
position of the Hessian forces. General de Fermoy received
the report of the spy at his post on the river bank, and he
dispatched a staff officer to communicate the facts to Gen-
eral Washington. On receiving this information the general
remarked, " Now is our time to clip their wings while they
are so spread."
By the aid of trusted officers of the militia of New Jersey,
and by intelligence obtained from the patriot farmers of
Hunterdon and Burlington counties, General Washington
soon became familiar with the position, size and condition
of the royal army.
But it is a well-established tradition that the most reliable
account of Colonel Rail's post at Trenton was given by
Washington's spy, John Honeyman of Griggstown, Somer-
set County. This man was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was
a soldier in the body-guard of General Wolfe when that offi-
cer fell at the storming of the Heights of Abraham. His
neighbors called Honeyman the " Tory traitor ; " yet he was
the trusted spy of the American chieftain. General Wash-
ington had met John Honeyman when in camp on the Hack-
ensack River in November, and the man had then agreed
,to serve his country, within the British lines if necessary,
by acting the part of a Tory, and by talking in favor of the
British cause. As a butcher and a dealer in cattle, he began
his trade with the English army, and at the same time ob-
served their position, numbers, and probable movements.
No one knew his real character but the commander-in-chief
whom he was serving. His wife was shielded from the
88 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
insult and injury which would otherwise have been offered by
those patriots who thought her husband a traitor, by a letter
which Washington had sent her. This letter was written
in the "American Camp, November 1776," and addressed
"To the good people of New Jersey and all others whom it
may concern." It was ordered that "the wife and children
of John Honeyman of Griggstown, the notorious Tory now
within the British lines and probably acting the part of a
spy," should be "protected from all harm and annoyance."
But this order was to furnish "no protection to Honey-
man himself." During the third week in December, John
Honeyman was in and around Trenton trying to procure
cattle from the farmers, and taking them into the village
for slaughter. Having thoroughly informed himself as to
the condition of the Hessian soldiery, he walked out, on the
afternoon of December 22, on the River road, carrying his
whip and a piece of rope in his hand, as if to hunt for cattle.
About three miles from Trenton, while trying to lead off a
cow he was seen by two American scouts, whom he had pre-
viously observed, and whose attention had been attracted to
him by the sharp crack of his cart whip. They captured him
after a struggle, and, binding him with his own rope to one of
their horses, went a few miles up the river, ferried him over,
and delivered their prize at the headquarters of the army.
He was taken to General Washington, who, after asking all
the officers to withdraw, directed the guard around his quar-
ters to shoot the prisoner if he tried to escape. A half
hour's conversation then took place between the patriot spy
and the American chief, after which Honeyman was placed
in a log-house prison, and a court-martial was ordered for
the morning. During the night, undoubtedly by some plan
of General Washington, the spy escaped, eluded pursuit,
recrossed the river to Trenton, and it is said told Colonel
Rail of his capture and escape, giving him a doleful account
of the condition of the American army. He then left Tren-
ton, and wandered off to Brunswick, so that he might not
be present at the capture of the village, lest he should be
MORE JERSEY PATRIOT SPIES 89
upbraided by the Hessians and lose his power of being use-
ful to the American cause. There appears to be no doubt
that the information given by him that winter night was
the direct cause of the movement on Trenton three days
afterward. He lived to be ninety-three years of age.^
We find by the minutes of the Council of Safety of New
Jersey, December 5, 1777,^ that John Honeyman was ordered
on that day to be committed to the " Trenton Gaol for High
Treason," and that on December 20, 1777, although thought
guUty of so heinous a crime he was allowed to enter into
recognizance to appear at the next general quarter sessions,
when he was released. His surety in this case was Jacob
Hyer, a patriot soldier then on duty in the quartermaster's
department of the Hunterdon County militia. John Honey-
man evidently had a diificult r61e to play in serving his coun-
try, for in June, 1778, he was again in trouble.^
In a letter of General Washington to Governor Living-
ston, dated Valley Forge, January 20, 1778, in reference to
three other Jersey spies who had been apprehended upon a
supposition that they were carrying on an illegal correspond-
ence with the enemy, he remarked : " You must be well
convinced that it is indispensably necessary to bear the
suspicion of being thought inimical ; and it is not in their
power to assert their innocence, because that would get
abroad and destroy the confidence which the enemy puts in
them."
The foolishly planned chain of cantonments and the
weakly guarded posts of the enemy gave the American
1 See article by the late Justice John Van Dyke of the New Jersey
Supreme Court, entitled " An Unwritten Account of a Spy of Washing-
ton," in Our Home, a monthly magazine published at Somerville, New
Jersey, October, 1873. Also copy of letter of Justice Van Dyke to
A. V. D. Honeyman, publisher of said magazine, dated January 6, 1874,
On file in the adjutant-general's office at Trenton. This letter gives the
authorities for the article just referred to.
2 Minutes of the Council of Safety of New Jersey, Jersey City, 1872,
pp. 169, 176.
8 Part ii. No. 35.
90 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON.
army the looked-for opportunity at least to attempt the re-
trieval of its ill fortunes and the rescue of the State now lost
to the authority of the people. General Washington was
full of anxiety for the fate of the cause, which, as he after-
wards said, " nothing but the infatuation of the enemy could
have saved." He hoped now in some way to compel them
to assume a less formidable shape, so as no longer to over-
awe the entire State and threaten the city of Philadelphia.!
At this time Trenton was a small village, and it derived
its principal importance from the fact that it was at the
head of sloop navigation at the falls of the Delaware River,
and from its being on the main postal and transportation
highway between New York and Philadelphia. Most of the
stage travel in those days was across one or the other of
the ferries at Trenton. Lieutenant Jacob Piel, the brigade
adjutant of Colonel Rail, says the village contained about
one hundred houses, and there appear to have been about
seventy houses north of the Assunpink Creek, and scarcely
thirty houses below the creek. At the time of the battle,
quite a number of these houses had been deserted by their
owners, and of course were quickly taken possession of by
the Hessians. Most of the houses in the town were situated
on the two main streets, then called King and Queen, but
now known as Warren and Broad streets. These two
streets, running nearly parallel, and almost north and south,
united at a point north of the village, and from this junc-
tion diverged to Pennington and to Maidenhead, now Law-
renceville. Between these two roads leading out from the
1 Lord Mahon in his History of England ^-ay^ that General Wash-
ington received a visit from General Benedict Arnold about this time,
and that Arnold suggested the surprise of the post of Trenton. This
statement is certainly incorrect, as Arnold did not reach Washington's
camp until December 20, and an attack on the enemy had been con-
sidered and written about by General Washington a week previous.
Moreover, General Washington sent General Arnold, the day after his
arrival, to command troops being raised in New England, which he
would hardly have done if the "surprise " had been of Arnold's sug-
gestion.
TRENTON IN 1776 91
same point was the lane to the Beakes estate, and this is
now called Princeton avenue. King street did not cross
the Assunpink Creek, but with a curve to the east at
Front street led into Queen street. There were two other
important streets in Trenton at that time. One, Front
street, began at Queen street, passed the lower end of
King street, and thence turned northward near the barracks
into the River road at what is now Willow street. The
other, then called Second, but now State street, and running
parallel to Front street, began at what is now the corner of
State and Willow streets, crossed both King and Queen
streets, and after passing the Presbyterian Church dwindled
into a country road leading through an apple orchard to
Samuel Henry's iron foundry and steel works on the creek.
The Assunpink Creek, doubtless much larger then than
now, was fordable at several places along the easterly side
of the town, and it emptied into the Delaware River just
below the falls. At the foot of Queen street a stone bridge
spanned the creek, and from there led to the Trenton Ferry,
to Crosswicks and Bordentown, to Allentown and Sand-
town and the Quaker bridge. On either side of the creek
there was rising ground, and on the south side considerable
woods. The road leading from the bridge to the ferry was
on the edge of what was then called the Bloomsbury Farm,
formerly the residence of Chief Justice William Trent, the
house being then temporarily occupied by Dr. William Bry-
ant, a practicing physician, and afterward by Colonel John
Cox of Philadelphia. This house is always referred to in
German records as the " Doctor House." As we have
stated, the town above the creek may be considered as
bounded by what we call to-day the Creek, Montgomery
street. Perry street and Willow street. All outside of these
bounds was then in the suburbs of the village. There was
a tavern on the Maidenhead road and there were several
houses on the Pennington road, a few houses on King
street north of the Enghsh Church, now St. Michael's
Episcopal Church, and a few fine residences on the River
92 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
RALL'S HEADQUARTERS
road, yet all these were then considered as on the outskirts
of the town. In the village were two or three prominent
taverns, a stone barracks built by the province of New
Jersey in the time of the French and Indian war, two frame
churches, — the Presbyterian and the Methodist, — the
English Church, of brick, the Friends' Meeting House, of
brick, and the stone jail, now a part of the Trenton Bank.
The entire village was considered a very open one, for the
houses were greatly scattered. ^
As has been stated, Colonel Rail had opened his head-
quarters in Trenton on the r4th day of December. His
own quarters were in a large frame house on the west side
of King street, nearly opposite the Enghsh Church. It
was then occupied by Stacy Potts, a wealthy gentleman, who
owned a large tannery near by, and a steel works on Petty's
Run, near the river. This house was opposite to what is
now Perry street, and the rectory of the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Trenton was subsequently erected on its site.
Colonel Rail was greatly pleased to be assigned the command
' For more minute description of the village, the houses and the
residents, see a pamphlet entitled Trenton One Hundred Years Ago^ by
the author of this work.
TRENTON"
NEW JERSEY
IN
1776
by
94 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of this important post so close to the enemy. He thought
that there he might gain new and still greater glory. When
the subject of making a cantonment at Trenton was first
considered, it was thought that to place a heavy picket there
would be the wisest course ; but Colonel Rail claimed that
his services around New York city entitled him to the com-
mand of a brigade, and General Howe yielded to him and
gave him verbal as well as written orders through Colonel
von Donop to assume command of the post. Even at this
time it was Colonel Rail's intention to wait until the river
froze and then to cross it and by a forced march attack and
capture the city of Philadelphia.
The Rail grenadier regiment was quartered near the cor-
ner of King and Second, now Warren and State streets.
-"4c>=_
POST-OFFICE, CORNER SECOND AND KING STREETS
They occupied the jail, now the Trenton Bank, the post-
office on the corner above, Francis Witt's City Tavern on
the southwest corner, Henry Drake's Bull Head Tavern on
Second street, the houses of William Pidgeon and Abraham
G. Claypoole on King street, and many other dwelling-houses
in the same locality. This regiment wore a dark blue uni-
form.
QUARTERS OF THE HESSIAN REGIMENTS 95
The von Lossberg fusilier regiment, which had been de-
tained a few days at EHzabeth Town, reached Trenton on
the morning of December 14, but the Rail and the von
Knyphausen regiments had arrived there December 12.
The von Lossberg regiment immediately went into quarters
on King street, the same street in which the Rail regiment
CITY TAVERN, CORNER SECOND AND KING STREETS
was Stationed, and there held the right wing of the canton-
ment. Some of the companies, however, were much scat-
tered. The main portion, consisting of the body, the von
Toos and the Scheffer companies, was lodged in the Eng-
lish Church and in the houses of Micajah How, on the east
side, of Colonel Isaac Smith, Thomas Barnes and Miss Re-
becca Coxe, on the west side of the street, and other smaller
buildings adjacent. One of the companies, commanded by
Captain von Altenbockum, was at Alexander Calhoun's house
and in his store on the Pennington road, just at the head of
the road to Beatty's Ferry, now Calhoun street. Another,
the von Hanstein company, was at Jonathan Richmond's
inn, just below the Assunpink bridge. Altogether this regi-
ment had the use of sixteen buildings. The men wore
bright red coats, resembling somewhat the British foot.
96 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
The von Knyphausen regiment was stationed at the corner
of Queen and Second streets and the vicinity. It occupied
the Presbyterian Church on Second street, the village school
adjacent, the houses of William and Ellet Tucker and Joseph
Milnor on the corners of Queen and Second streets, and the
houses of Thomas Tindall, John Bellerjeau, Thomas Ryall
and Joshua Newbold, one square north and one square south
of the present City Hall. The men of this regiment were
dressed in a plain black uniform, and presented a very sombre
appearance, as contrasted with the other soldiers of Rail's
brigade.
Each of the five companies in every Hessian regiment had
five or six houses assigned to it, so it is easily seen that had
it not been for the public buildings every private house in
the village would have been occupied by the Hessian troops.
The twenty British dragoons, members of the Sixteenth
regiment. Queen's light dragoons, a detachment of which, as
we have already seen, had captured Major-General Charles
Lee of the American army, used as their quarters the
Friends' Meeting House on Third street, now Hanover. This
building, which still stands, had been used July 5, 1776, as
the place of meeting of the provincial convention of New
Jersey, and soldiers stationed in the village, or passing
through Trenton from Pennsylvania to the army at Wood-
bridge and Amboy, had repeatedly taken possession of the
house as barracks. Both of these acts being inconsistent
with the religious principles of the Society of Friends, and
"wars and fightings " or conventions which led thereto being
their special abhorrence, they protested in the Chesterfield
monthly meeting against such abuse of their rights and
privileges. But the Hessians did not ask their permission,
and their wishes in the matter were not consulted.
The quarters of the fifty yagers, who dressed in green
with lapels of crimson, were in a small part of the barracks
which had been built during the French and Indian war, and
which were situated where the River road entered Front
street. Their duty was to protect the canton from the
HOW THE HESSIANS WERE POSTED
97
•OLD BARRACKS,' PRESENT APPEARANCE
direction of the River road. A large number of the yagers
were ahvays out at the picket post at General Philemon
Dickinson's country seat, about a half mile from the village,
and just before the battle fifty yagers were placed on duty
there, where they occupied the house, the servants' quarters
and the barns. A part of this house still stands and is now
the homestead of the Atterbury estate within the city limits.
The barracks referred to are also standing, although a por-
tion of them has been taken down for the purpose of extend-
ing Front street. In addition to the yagers, who occupied
them for a short time, these barracks furnished accommoda-
tion to the families of refugee Tories from Burlington and
Monmouth counties, which were seeking the protection of
the Hessian arms.
The detachments of artillery were quartered in the ]\Ieth-
odist Church on Queen street, nearly opposite Church alley,
and in the English Church on King street. Each of the three
regiments had two brass three-pounder guns, and during the
98 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
■first three or four days' occupancy of Trenton these" six
pieces were parked in the graveyard back of the English
Church. They were afterward placed in front of the guard-
house, which still stands. This guard-house, then owned by
Pontius Delare Stille, was the next house north of the church
and a few steps from Rail's headquarters. On account of
the narrowness of the street the guns were placed one -behind
the other in the middle of King street, and there they stood
when the attack on the town commenced. All the artillery-
men wore blue coats with crimson lapels and white border.
The brigade hospital was opened in the parsonage of the
Presbyterian Church, of which the Reverend Dr. Elihu
Spencer was pastor. This house was on the north side of
Third street, now Hanover, and was about one hundred feet
east of Queen street. During the few days of their stay at
the parsonage the Hessians did considerable damage to the
library, furniture and sermons of the pastor. The stable
connected with the parsonage, and the fences around the
parsonage lot and the burying-ground surrounding the church
were used for firewood. ^
' Hall's History of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton, New Jersey,
p. 266.
VIII
About this time Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Major
von Dechow asked Colonel Rail to send to New York for
more clothing for their regiments, for they both considered
that the men in their commands had not sufficient under-
wear to withstand the rigors of the approaching winter.
But Colonel Rail made light of this request, and remarked
that he would soon run barefoot over the ice on the river
and take the city of Philadelphia. Turning to Major von
Dechow, who had again urged the necessity for more cloth-
ing, he told him that if he did not care to share in the honors
which awaited them, he might immediately retire from the
post. But Scheffer and von Dechow were much depressed
over the result of this interview and the careless manner of
his reply to their request.
The next day Captain Reinhard Jacob Martin of the Hes-
sian engineers stopped at Trenton on his way to Borden-
town, and called during the day on Lieutenant-Colonel Schef-
fer. In the course of this visit Major von Hanstein and
Major von Dechow came to Scheffer's quarters, and joined
with him in representing the unsafe condition of Rail's bri-
gade. They all predicted to Captain Martin the ruin of
these three regiments unless some change were made, and
they expressed the desire to be relieved from the responsi-
bility of such a calamity. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer com-
plained that many of his men were without good shoes, and
that their clothing was not suitable for a severe winter.
Before leaving these officers, Captain Martin promised that
as soon as he had completed the business which called him
to Bordentown, he would see them again in Trenton on his
way to New York, and take a letter which they would join
in writing to Lieutenant-General Philip von Heister, the
100 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
commander of all the Hessian troops in America. This
letter was accordingly written, and a copy kept by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Scheffer, which document finally fell into
the hands of the Americans. When Captain Martin came
back to Trenton he took the letter, and promised to inform
General von Heister personally of all the particulars of the
situation as it appeared to him. He remained two days in
Trenton, because he feared to go forward on the road to
Princeton without an escort. However, he arrived in New
York on the afternoon of December 24, and sent the letter
to the old general that evening. On Christmas day he called
at the headquarters of General von Heister, and gave him
such impressions of the situation as he had obtained. But
although the general, who had received General Howe's
promise to relieve the regiments by the middle of January,
was disposed carefully to look after the preservation of the
troops under his command, it was then too late for him to
avert the impending disaster.
The duties of the Hessians in Trenton were varied and
severe. While it would have been proper and eminently
wise to have guarded all the crossings on the river, there
were not men enough in the command to be spared for this
duty. Many of the companies (Captain von Altenbockum's
company is mentioned in this connection in German re-
cords) were under arms three successive nights and then off
duty for one night. For over a week no man in the brigade
passed two consecutive nights without a call for some spe-
cial service. For some time it was a daily custom to call
for extra details of one hundred men from each regiment.
During the early occupation of the town it was ordered that
at four o'clock in the afternoon all the companies of each
regiment should turn out at the houses where their respec-
tive commandants were quartered, stack their arms, place a
sentinel over them, and that each man should then go to
his quarters under orders to remain dressed, with belts never
loosened and only leggings removed, until daylight. The men
could not stand this duty long, and they soon began to sicken
SEVERE DUTY OF THE HESSIANS
FOX CHASE TAVERN
and were taken one by one to the hospital. All the horses
belonging to the artillery had to be always in readiness to
be hitched to the light guns, and the harness was never re-
moved from them day or night while they were in Trenton.
Toward the last days of the Hessian occupation of the
village the duties were changed, and at evening parade a
regiment was put on duty for a night and a day. In this
way the von Lossberg regiment performed the duty on De-
cember 23, the von Knyphausen on December 24, the Rail
regiment on December 25, and of course the Rail regiment
was still the regiment " of the day," and was under arms
when the surprise occurred.
The picket stations of the Rail brigade were six in num-
ber,— on the Maidenhead, Pennington, and River roads, at
the Assunpink Creek bridge, on the road to Trenton Ferry,
and at the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek.
The principal picket of the Trenton cantonment was at
102 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the Fox Chase Tavern, kept by Mrs. Joseph Bond, "on the
Maidenhead road, now Brunswick avenue, and nearly oppo-
site to what is at the present time the head of Montgomery
street. It consisted of one commissioned officer, three
under officers, and about seventy men. This picket did
sentinel and watch duty in the town. A captain was always
at this post, on duty as inspector.
The Pennington road picket, comprising one corporal and
fifteen men, was posted at the house of Richard and Arthur
Howell, who were coopers by trade. This post was relieved
from time to time from the Maidenhead road picket.
The picket on the River road was at the country seat of
Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson of the New Jersey
militia, and was about half a mile from the barracks and
from ths village. General Dickinson, as we have stated, was
on the opposite side of the river with some of his militia,
and it was no doubt interesting for him to notice through
his field-glass the movements of his country's enemies as
they took possession of his hospitable mansion and its lovely
surroundings. It is said that on one occasion General Dick-
inson- saw the Hessians despoiling his wine vault, and the
temptation to send a shot among them was great ; but a
sergeant suggested to the general that they might retaliate
by burning his house. It may be remarked that this place
was purchased July 30, 1776. This investment was therefore
made between the dates of the Declaration of Independence
and the battle of Trenton, and it shows the confidence of
General Dickinson in the final result of the war when he
placed funds in a property which lay so near the track of
contending armies, and on the highway between two great
cities which were the objective points for British attack.
The picket occupied the homestead, the servants' quarters
and the barns, and the horse of one of the British dragoons,
which was fastened in one of the rooms, left there the im-
print of his shoe, still to be seen on its walls. This picket
was under the direct control of the yagers, and was consid-
ered fully equipped with a commissioned officer and fifty
THE HESSIAN PICKETS 103
men. The orders at this post were to withdraw if the
rebels fired across the river with cannon, and if the Amer-
icans attempted to cross they should try to prevent them,
and immediately report the fact to Colonel Rail's head-
quarters. They were required constantly to keep a sharp
lookout on the river, and to send patrols up the stream
from time to time. The picket was distributed in different
places about the grounds, — one post in the house, one in
the greenhouse, one in the vegetable garden down by the
river, one in a hut behind the barn, not a great way from
the house, and the fifth some little distance up the road.
This picket consisted of a sergeant and fifteen men. A
daily report was made from the picket post to Colonel Rail
direct, and patrols were sent out every night. Each morn-
ing three or four British dragoons came to the post and
examined the river above as far as Yardley's Ferry.
A sergeant and eighteen men constituted the picket at
the Assunpink Creek bridge. They had no special duties
except to observe who passed and repassed the bridge,
and to send a patrol to the " Doctor House " on the river
every half hour during each night. They kept a sentinel at
Major von Dechow's quarters, a square up Queen street
from the bridge, another on the north side of the bridge,
and a third at George Bright's bakery on the south end of
the bridge.
The picket at the old tavern on the Ferry road, for-
merly kept by Rensselaer Williams, was composed of one
commissioned officer, five non-commissioned officers and
twenty-two men. This post maintained a guard at Dr.
William Bryant's residence (the "Doctor House") and at
the Trenton Ferry, or what might better be called the boat-
landing belonging to Patrick Colvin.^ The guards posted
quite near to the river bank were forbidden to show them-
selves in the daytime, as whenever they did so in any num-
bers, the Americans fired at them from a battery erected
1 For advertisements in reference to this ferry, see At'chives of State
of New Jersey, 2d series, vol. i. pp. 96, 138, 154.
104 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
just opposite on the Pennsylvania side of the river. These
guards were always relieved after dark.
But the service at the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek,
four miles below Trenton, was the most unpleasant, because
the post was so far from the headquarters of the command.
It was established for the purpose of keeping open the
communication with Colonel von Donop, but it appears to
have protected Colonel von Donop rather more than Colo-
nel Rail, from whose command it was taken. It seems as
though the troops at Bordentown, two miles below, should
have taken charge of this picket post, but it fell to the lot
of Rail's brigade. It was made up of three commissioned
officers and one hundred men. This body of troops was
subdivided into four stations, — an officer and twenty-four
men posted a short distance from the drawbridge on the
road to Allentown, another officer and thirty men about
midway between Trenton and the drawbridge, one officer
and twenty-four men one mile north of the bridge, and the
rest of the force at the drawbridge itself. The senior officer
had orders to retire to Bordentown in case of attack. This
picket was relieved from Trenton about ten o'clock in the
morning every other day. On December 14 Colonel Rail
sent Captain Schimmelpfennig with the von Biesenrodt
company, and Captain Baum with the body company of the
von Knyphausen regiment, to the drawbridge with all their
baggage, ordering them to quarter themselves in the houses
there, and to keep as close together as possible, as this was a
section of the country where the feeling toward them was
not fully known. They had been there but a short time
when Colonel von Donop sent a yager to warn them to be
on the lookout, as a force of 700 rebels were reported to be
ranging around quite near. Colonel Rail did not relieve this
post until December 17, when they returned to Trenton.
The houses near the drawbridge were quite far apart and
surrounded with thick woods, which concealed them from
view. This frequently left the rear and the flanks of the
picket very unsafe.
AN IMPORTANT INCIDENT 105
The orders at the cantonment of Trenton were to relieve
the guards and sentinels at nine o'clock in the morning, and
the pickets at four o'clock in the afternoon. Lieutenant
Piel, the brigade adjutant, says that the parade took place
in the morning at eleven o'clock, and that the parole and
countersign were given out at four o'clock in the afternoon.
It was not the custom of Colonel Rail to visit these picket
stations. All the oflficers unite in saying that while they
had command he did not come near them at any time.
One of the most important and seemingly singular yet
picturesque displays made in Trenton during this period
was the march of a heavy patrol about half an hour before
daylight on December 19, under command of the staff
officer of the day, from the Fox Chase Tavern on the
Maidenhead road. This patrol went down Queen street to
Church alley, where it was joined by a detachment of artil-
lery with two cannon, and so marched over the Assunpink
Creek bridge to the " Doctor House " and Trenton Ferry.
This party was called the watch-guard, and the commanding
officer had orders not to attempt the capture of an American
detachment unless it appeared to be one hundred strong, and
then to do so without fail. It appears that the Americans
had alarmed the picket before daylight, December 18, and
had effected a landing with forty men under the protection
of the guns of the American battery opposite, and that they
had plundered and burned a house below the landing, so
that this early morning demonstration was deemed the
proper military movement. Colonel Rail told Captain Mar-
tin, who has been previously alluded to as having been de-
tained in Trenton for two days, that he did not desire to
interfere very much with these excursions of the rebels, as
it might occur that at some time Washington, whom he
would take great pleasure in capturing, would be among
them. Lieutenant - Colonel Scheffer thought these trips
across Trenton Ferry were part of a general plan of Wash-
ington to divert Colonel Rail's attention from the upper
ferries. He considered that too much care was given to
io6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Trenton Ferry, while Howell's Ferry and Johnson's Fefry,
although equally important, were neglected.
Before he left Trenton for Bordentown, December 14,
Colonel von Donop instructed Colonel Rail to put up forti-
fications on the Pennington road and at the Trenton Ferry,
and he left Captain Georg Heinrich Pauli, his engineer ofificer,
and Cornet Carl Levin von Heister, of the Hesse-Cassel body
dragoon regiment, to select the place.
The next day, in company with Colonel Rail, Lieutenant-
Colonel Scheffer and other officers. Captain Pauli went up
to the high ground where King and Queen streets join with
the Pennington and Maidenhead roads, and indicated the
place where a redoubt with flanking angles for cannon should
be placed.^ The party then rode down to the Trenton Ferry,
and selected for another small fortification an elevated spot
near the bridge over a little stream which flowed by Dr.
Bryant's house. It was thought that this would be an excel-
lent place to which to retreat, and which they might hold for
a time in case of a vigorous attack by a party of Americans
from the Pennsylvania side of the river. The records show
that Colonel Rail gave his approval, of both localities, and
was especially pleased with the one at the head of King and
Queen streets. At that time he must have really intended
erecting these redoubts, for he directed Lieutenant Engel-
hardt, of Lieutenant-Colonel Eitel's Hessian artillery regi-
ment, to see that some fascines were made for the purpose.
This was done, but they were never used. When Captain
Pauli left that afternoon for his station at Bordentown, he
told Colonel Rail that if he would send him word as soon as
he was ready to begin the work on the intrenchments, he
would come again to Trenton and superintend their erection.
Captain Pauli reported what he had said and done to Colonel
von Donop, but Colonel Rail never sent for him. When
Captain Martin passed through Trenton a second tirne on
his way to New York, he bore a message from Colonel
von Donop to Colonel Rail, urging upon him the necessity
^ The spot on which the Battle Monument now stands.
RALL'S EXTRAORDINARY CARELESSNESS 107
of immediately fortifying tiis position with intrenchments.
Colonel Rail told Captain Martin that he did not think it at
all necessary, as the rebels were such a miserable lot. In-
deed, every remark of the officer^was turned into ridicule. It
is to be supposed that Captain Martin repeated this conver-
sation to Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Major von Dechow
when he went to their quarters for the letter which he had
promised to take to General von Heister. The next day, in
company with Lieutenant Wiederhold of the von Knyphausen
regiment. Major von Dechow went to Rail's headquarters on
King street, and in the presence of Lieutenant Piel, Rail's
brigade adjutant, and Lieutenant ZoU, the adjutant of the
von Lossberg regiment, made another appeal to have the re-
doubts erected. Lieutenant Wiederhold, on his own behalf
and that of Lieutenant Fischer of the artillery detachment,
offered to do the work at the Trenton Ferry. Rail exclaimed,
when thus appealed to, " Lasst sie nur kommen ! Keine
Schanzen ! Mit dem Bajonet wollen wir an sie!" ("Let
them come ! We want no trenches ! We '11 at them with the
bayonet ! ") The major did not allow himself to be content
with this reply, but remonstrated : " Herr Oberst, es kostet
ja nichts ; hilft es nicht, so schadet es auch nichts ! "
(" Colonel, it costs nothing ; if it does not help, it can do no
harm ! ") His desire was, however, never gratified, and the
lives of both Rail and von Dechow paid the penalty of this
neglect.
It is very singular that while it appears that Colonel von
Donop was always anxious to receive intelligence, and had
men paid to procure it for him, Colonel Rail, who was much
nearer the main body of the American force, had absolutely
no reliable information concerning their movements. Lieu-
tenant Piel, his brigade adjutant, distinctly states under oath
that he never employed any spies to go into the American
camp. In this the Hessian commander was surely blamable.
Colonel Rail had a very poor opinion of the strength and
military skill of his foe, and said that they were " nothing
but a lot of farmers," of no account whatever, and that it
io8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
was of no possible use to make preparations for any attack
in force by them. So stubborn was he in this respect that
he would not listen to advice with any grace, but preferred
to do what seemed best to himself, acting on the impulse of
the moment, rather than judge which was the best of all the
different plans laid before him.
About this time he desired to have more troops in Tren-
ton, probably not that he feared an attack, but that he
wished to increase the importance of his command and
make a greater display in the village. On his applying to
Major-General Grant, his superior officer, at Bruns\vick, for
additional troops, or even for some men at Maidenhead to
keep open the communication with Princeton and Bruns-
wick, his opinion as to his safety was fully confirmed by that
officer's reply : " Tell the colonel he is safe ; I will undertake
to keep the peace in New Jersey with a corporal's guard."
It is thought that this answer went far to make Rail care-
less in the matter of fortifications or any other preparations
for the enemy, for he considered that if they were not dis-
turbed, they would be only too happy to remain quiet.
As late as Christmas day Major von Dechow called Colo-
nel Rail's attention to the baggage and the supplies of the
brigade, and urged that they be placed in some safe position
against any sudden attack. But the colonel somewhat in-
dignantly exclaimed : " The rebels will not come, but if they
do and can take me, they can have all the stores and the
baggage to my very last wagon. If they come, all they can
hope for is a good retreat." Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer of
the von Lossberg regiment also was filled with the greatest
anxiety, and' worried himself sick over his commander's reck-
less conduct.
For more than a week preceding Christmas the American
militia were hovering in little detachments around the posts
at Trenton and Princeton. Indeed, the road between the two
villages was at no time a secure march for British troops.
It may be mentioned here that on the 21st day of Decem-
ber, in expectation of a winter s sojourn in South Jersey, six
SKIRMISH AT JOHNSON'S FERRY 109
quartermasters of the brigades of von Donop and Rail were
sent to New York, under the protection of a force of eighty
Hessian soldiers, for the purpose of bringing on the balance
of the camp equipage and baggage of the two commands.
These officers were Quartermaster Heusser of the von Loss-
berg regiment. Quartermaster Miiller of the von Knyphausen
regiment. Quartermaster Unger of the von Minnigerode
regiment. Quartermaster Broste of the von Linsingen regi-
ment, Quartermaster Fitz of the Rail regiment, and Quarter-
master Wiederhold of the Hessian artillery. They went to
Brunswick, and then, avoiding the direct route to Perth
Amboy, they passed over the Raritan River to Staten Island
and so to New York.
On December 24 Colonel Rail ordered a heavy patrol to go
to Pennington, a little village eight miles distant from Trenton.
One detachment started in the morning under Major Johann
Jost Matthaus of Rail's own regiment, taking the direct road
to Pennington. The other, under Captain Adam Christoph
Steding of the von Lossberg regiment, went by the River
Road, and so up to Johnson's Ferry and across to Penning-
ton. Each column consisted of one hundred men. Lieu-
tenant von Grothausen and his fifty yagers formed one half
of Captain Steding's detachment. Colonel Rail himself,
with the twenty British dragoons, followed after Major Mat-
thaus on the Pennington road. The major did not find any
of the enemy on the road or at the village. Lieutenant von
Grothausen and his yagers marched in the advance of Cap-
tain Steding's force, and came across some thirty Americans
at Johnson's Ferry, who, as soon as they saw the yagers come
out of the woods, entered their boats, and rowed out into the
stream. The yagers fired, and they heard afterward that
one officer and two men had been wounded. The American
artillery fired four shots at the yagers from the Pennsylvania
shore. After this affair Captain Steding's men passed on to
Pennington, where Colonel Rail and Major Matthaus had
been waiting for them for two hours. The entire party then
returned to Trenton. On his way back Major Matthaus
no THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
rode by the side of Colonel Rail, and talked freely to him
about his situation at Trenton. He proposed to Rail to put
a detachment at Pennington, and send daily patrols to John-
son's Ferry to prevent surprise. But Colonel Rail rejected
the plan, asking him if he wanted to lose a detachment.
" Do you wish to go there yourself ? " he asked, and Major
Matthaus replied, " If I am ordered to go there, I will go and
do my duty."
During the week commencing December 22 there was
much gossip in Trenton concerning the movements of the
American army. One day a resident of Bucks County,
whose name the German records give as Mahl, told Colonel
Rail, in the presence of Lieutenant Pifel, that he would cer-
tainly be attacked at an early day. Rail answered, " Let
them come." The next day two deserters from the Amer-
ican army confirmed this intelligence to Colonel Rail, Major
Matthaus and Lieutenant Piel being present, and told him
that the Pennsylvania militia were gathering, and that the
army had orders to prepare four days' rations. Colonel Rail
did not believe it.
After the battle of Trenton, Major Matthaus confidently
asserted that he had reason to think that Colonel Rail had
issued letters of protection to people whom he had sup-
posed to be wealthy and influential in and about Trenton,
and that they had dined at his table, and he strongly sus-
pected that many of these people were American officers in
disguise, who had come to Rail only to get information as
to his position and condition.
On Monday morning, December 23, at eleven o'clock.
Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe of the von Lossberg
regiment met on King street Dr. William Bryant, the phy-
sician, who lived on the Bloomsbury Farm, and who was
seeking Colonel Rail. But Rail could not be found that
morning, and Dr. Bryant left Lieutenant Schwabe with the
promise that he would return later in the day. He did so,
and then told Colonel Rail that he had just heard from a
negro who had crossed the river that the rebels had drawn
RAI.L'S PERSISTENT OVERCONFIDENCE iii
rations for several days, and were about to attack Trenton.
" This is all idle! it is old woman's talk," impatiently an-
swered Colonel Rail. Rut the doctor, who was afraid of beinfj
DR. WILLI.-\M bRVANl
robbed and having his house burned, took the matter more
seriously.'
' Dr. Bryant was the son of Captain William Bryant of Perth
Amboy, New Jersey, on whose tombstone it is stated that he made fifty-
five voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. His daughter Mary, who was
noted for her great piety, married the Hon. William Peartree Smith of
Elizabeth Town, an earnest patriot, a member of the Council of Safety,
and a distinguished scholar. It is evident that the brothers-in-law Smith
and Bryant took very different sides in the great struggle for American
independence. — Rev. Dr. John Hall's History of the Presbyterian
Church in Trenton, Xew Jersey, p. 235.
IX
At this time Washington was making active preparations
for a simultaneous attack upon all the king's troops on the
Jersey side of the river. With his skeleton bands of faithful
and true soldiers, mere fragments of his own army and those
of Lee and Gates, reinforced by some militia who had yet to
face an enemy, he proposed as a desperate resort to throw
this frail body of men on the drilled soldiers of Hesse.
The gondolas and row-galleys which were under the com-
mand of Commodore Thomas Seymour, and which, during
the night of December 19, had been ordered down the Dela-
ware River, were directed to move up as far as Bordentown,
which they did in the midst of a fierce snowstorm on Mon-
day, December 23, and were then stationed along the river
between Bordentown and Burlington.
On the evening of December 24 Washington rode over
to the headquarters of Major-General Greene, at Samuel
Merrick's house, and took supper with him. At Greene's
request the family left the house in his charge that night,
and there appears to be no doubt that the final council of
war was held that evening and in that dwelling. Generals
Sullivan, Mercer, Lord Stirling, Colonel Knox and other
officers, with the Reverend Dr. Macwhorter of Newark, New
Jersey, were at the table.
During the course of the meal Lieutenant-Colonel Harri-
son and his brother (both military secretaries to the com-
mander-in-chief) were busily engaged in transferring the
business of the headquarters of the army from Mr. Keith's
house to Newtown. It is presumed that General Washing-
ton did not take possession of these new headquarters in
person on Christmas day.
The plan adopted at the council of war was substantially
THE PLAN OF THE ATTACK ON TRENTON 113
the same which had been discussed for some days past.
This scheme was to cross in three different places : that
Cadwalader's division attack the cantonments at Mount
Holly, Black Horse and Bordentown ; that Ewing's division
cross at Trenton Ferry, take position on the south side of
the Assunpink Creek, and, if possible, close all avenues of
escape for Rail's troops, and prevent any reinforcement from
von Donop ; and that General Washington with a large
detachment of the main army, about 2400 strong, make the
direct attack upon the garrison at Trenton. The style of
the campaign was to be changed from defensive to offensive,
and if any advantage was gained by this movement Wash-
ington proposed to follow it up by an active and aggressive
attack upon all the outposts of the enemy. With his own
immediate command and that of Ewing in possession of
Trenton, while Putnam and Cadwalader forced von Donop
out of his cantonments, the entire army would then rapidly
push on for the military stations at Princeton and Brunswick.
The night of Christmas was chosen for the crossing of the
Delaware River. All were familiar with the much honored
observance of the Christmas festival by the Germans, and
they relied greatly on the expectation that a too free use of
intoxicants on that day might to some extent disable the
effective force of the enemy and make the watch dull.
Early on Christmas morning Washington issued his order
for the march to Trenton in the following words : —
"Each brigade to be furnished with two good guides.
General Stephen's brigade to form the advance party, and
to have with them a detachment of the artillery without can-
non, provided with spikes and hammers to spike up the ene-
mies' cannon in case of necessity, or to bring them off if it
can be effected, the party to be provided with drag-ropes for
the purpose of dragging off the cannon. General Stephen
is to attack and force the enemy's guards and seize such
posts as may prevent them from forming in the streets, and
in case they are annoyed from the houses to set them on
fire. The brigades of Mercer and Lord Stirling, under the
ri4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
command of Major-General Greene, to support General Ste-
phen. This is the 2d division or left wing of the army and
to march by the way of the Pennington road.
" St. Clair's, Glover's, and Sargent's brigades, under Major-
General Sullivan, to march by the River Road. This is the
first division of the army, and to form the right wing. Lord
Stirling's brigade to form the reserve of the left wing, and
General St. Clair's brigade the reserve of the right wing.
These reserves to form a second line in conjunction, or a
second line to each division, as circumstances may require.
Each brigadier to make the colonels acquainted with the
posts of their respective regiments in the brigade, and the
major-generals will inform them of the posts of the brigades
in the line. Four pieces of artillery to march at the head
of each column ; three pieces at the head of the second
brigade of each division ; and two pieces with each of the
reserves. The troops to be assembled one mile back of
McKonkey's Ferry, and as soon as it begins to grow dark
the troops to be marched to McKonkey's Ferry, and embark
on board the boats in following order under the direction of
Colonel Knox.
" General Stephen's brigade, with the detachment of artil-
lerymen, to embark first ; General Mercer's next ; Lord Stir-
ling's next ; General Fermoy's next, who will march into the
rear of the second division and file off from the Pennington
to the Princeton road in such direction that he can with the
greatest ease and safety secure the passes between Prince-
ton and Trenton. The guides will be the best judges of
this. He is to take two pieces of artillery with him. St.
Clair's, Glover's, and Sargent's brigades to embark in order.
Immediately upon their debarkation, the whole to form and
march in subdivisions from the right. The commanding
officers of regiments to observe that the divisions be eqiial
and that proper officers be appointed to each. A profound
silence to be enjoined, and no man to quit his ranks on the
pain of death. Each brigadier to appoint flanking parties ;
the reserve brigades to appoint the rear-guards of the col-
FINAL ORDERS FOR THE ATTACK 115
umns ; the heads of the columns to be appointed to arrive
at Trenton at five o'clock.
" Captain Washington and Captain Flahaven, with a party
of forty men each, to march before the divisions and post
themselves on the road about three miles from Trenton, and
make prisoners of all going in or coming out of town.
" General Stephen will appoint a guard to form a chain of
sentries round the landing-place at a sufficient distance from
the river to permit the troops to form, this guard not to
suffer any person to go in or come out, but to detain all per-
sons who attempt either. This guard to join their brigade
when the troops are all over."
Immediately upon receipt of this order by the brigade
commanders, they began to make preparations to carry out
its provisions. Instructions were then given as to the posi-
tion in line and the part each organization was to take in
the demonstration on Trenton. A specimen of these de-
tails is the order to the commanding officer of the Fourth
Connecticut Continental regiment.^
The last of the correspondence between General Grant,
Colonel Rail, and Colonel von Donop, which appears among
the Hessian archives, prior to the surprise at Trenton, is an
interesting letter from Grant to von Donop : —
Brunswick 24th Dec. 1776
past eleven at night
Sir :
I have been favoured with your letter of the 21st which
I have transmitted to General Howe, your Intelligence from
the Country People was very circumstantial but be assured
there are no rebel Troops in the Jerseys, they send over
small parties from twenty to thirty men at a time and
Colonel Chambers ^ of Hunterdon has the command of sev-
enty or eighty near Howell's Ferry. The rebel army in
Pennsylvania consisted of 8000 men the 22nd instant which
1 Part ii. No. 36.
2 Colonel David Chambers, Third regiment, Hunterdon County, New
Jersey militia.
Ii6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
was posted at Philadelphia, Bristol, opposite to Trenton and
as far as Sherad's Ferry, their greatest force between Tren-
ton and Coryell's Ferry, the day I mention which was Sun-
day last, Sullivan, Gates, Arnold and Sterling were with
Washington at his Quarters. Mifflin was then in the back
part of Pennsylvania endeavouring to force the militia.
Washington has been informed that our Troops have marched
into Winter quarters and have been told that we are weak
at Trenton and princetown and Lord Stirling expressed a
wish to make an attack upon these two places. I don't
believe he will attempt .it, but be assured that my informa-
tion is undoubtedly true, so I need not advise you to be upon
your guard against an unexpected attack at Trenton. I
think I have got into a good line of intelligence which will
be of use to us all and I have the honour to be
Sir, your most obed't and most h'ble servant
James Grant.
General Leslie sent word to Colonel Rail on December
23 that General Howe had refused to place a detachment
at Maidenhead, as Rail desired, but that he would send a
patrol of twenty-five or thirty men to Trenton twice a week
if Colonel Rail would do the same to Princeton. This plan
seems to have been agreed upon, as General Leslie sent
the patrol to Trenton the next day. They also brought word
that they believed an attack on either Trenton or Princeton
was imminent.
In their statements concerning the affair at Trenton,
made after the battle, the Hessian officers unite in severely
blaming Colonel Rail for not designating any alarm places,
where each regiment should muster in case of an attack.
Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, however, had designated a
place by the English Church for that purpose, and as the
Rail regiment was the regiment " of the day," and so under
arms at the time of the surprise, it does not seem pertinent
that so much stress should be laid on this minor delinquency
of the commandant. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer blames
w /
V1 1
A GREAT ALARM RAISED 117
him for not designating a road by which they might re-
treat if attacked by a superior force ; but Colonel Rail was
an officer who, although well fitted for making an assault,
was by nature ill-suited to defense, and retreat and defeat
were matters to which he refused to give a thought, even
though the hostile party might be numerically overwhelm-
ing.
-"^As the American officers had anticipated, the Hessian
troops at Trenton, carelessly confident in their own military
strength, entered eagerly into the Christmas revelry as they
did at home, and all day and far into the night they con-
tinued their merrymaking, with some feasting and much
drinking with the people of the town.
"On Christmas morning it is said General Grant sent a
messenger to Colonel Rail, stating, although erroneously,
that a small detachment under General Lord Stirling was
hovering near him, and might make a demonstration on
the village at any time during the day. This admonition,
which would have put a more careful commander on strict
watch for a surprise, had little effect. The colonel rode
around the outskirts of the town, visiting some of the guards,
and returned quite late in the afternoon to his headquarters
on King street, the house of Stacy Potts. Here he started
a little game of checkers with his genial host. He was still
playing when a sound of firing was heard from the northwest
portion of the town. It was scarcely more than a single
volley, then a few scattering shots, and all was still ; but it
raised a great alarm in the village. This was between seven
and eight o'clock. The picket on the Pennington road had
been attacked by a party of Americans, which, they said,
consisted of forty or fifty men. They came out " in front of
the woods " on the road which led to Pennington on the side
toward Birmingham, and retired thence to Johnson's Ferry.
As has already been stated, the picket consisted of a corporal
and fifteen men. The non-commissioned officer in charge
was Corporal William Hartung of the body company of the
von Lossberg regiment (who was born in Elbingerod, on the
Ii8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Hartz Mountains in Hanover. He was twenty-six years of
age, and had spent one year in tiie Hanover cavalry and three
years in the von Lossberg regiment. He was accounted a
good and rehable soldier. Seeing that the numbers of the
enemy were strong, and six of his men being wounded,
though none killed. Corporal Hartung and the nine men
remaining fell back, leading and carrying their wounded
comrades, to Captain von Altenbockum's company, which
was quartered about a gunshot from the picket post.^
As soon as Captain von Altenbockum heard the firing he
assembled his company in front of his quarters, and sent
one half of them toward the picket station, under command
of Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm. Shortly afterward
the captain himself followed with the rest of his company.
Meeting Corporal Hartung, he gave him eight of his own
men and sent him hastily back to search the woods for
a short distance about the picket post. When Hartung
reached the post he was joined by six yagers, who had
hastened across the fields from the Dickinson house on the
River road to find out what had happened. These twenty-
four men made a careful patrol around the picket station,
but the enemy were not to be found. About this time
Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer, the inspector of the guard,
hurriedly came up to the picket with a party of Hessian
infantry in charge of Ensign Friedrich Franz Grabe of the
von Lossberg regiment, probably from the principal picket
at the Fox Chase Tavern on the Maidenhead road. After a
brief consultation with Captain von Altenbockum, he sent
out Ensign Johann Georg Schroeder of the Rail regiment
with thirty men to go still farther on the road and endeavor
to find the hostile party.
In the meantime the town was in an uproar. The von
Lossberg regiment had gathered at their company quarters
under arms. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer being ill, his com-
' The names of two of the wounded men were : Fusilier Ciriacus
Wagner, von Borch company, and fusilier Wetter, body company,
both von Knyphausen regiment.
THE HESSIAN ALARM 119
mand did not muster at this time as a regiment. The Rail
regiment formed in front of the English Church, and with
Colonel Rail at its head marched up to the high ground at
the junction of the Pennington and Maidenhead roads, where
it awaited further orders. The von Knyphausen regiment
on the lower part of Queen street, and the von Hanstein
company of the von Lossberg regiment, on the south side
of the bridge, also gathered at their quarters. Major von
Hanstein and Major von Dechow left their regiments in
charge of the next in rank, and hastened up King street
after the Rail regiment to find out the cause of the firing.
When they came up to Colonel Rail, Major von Hanstein
remained with him, but Major von Dechow urged his horse
to the Pennington road picket. There he met Lieutenant-
Colonel Brethauer and his men and Captain von Alten-
bockum and his company. An order had already been sent
out by the lieutenant-colonel to recall Ensign Schroeder,
who soon appeared with his patrol and told the officers that
he had been about two miles up the road, but that the search
had been unsuccessful. Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold of
the von Knyphausen regiment with ten men reinforced the
picket post at Howell's house, increasing its strength to one
commissioned officer, one non - commissioned officer, and
nineteen men. The records give the names of five of this
reinforcing party as fusiliers Bicker, Rupp, Schmelz, Stein-
brecker and Zugreis, all of the von Knyphausen regiment.
Captain von Altenbockum and Lieutenant Kimm and
their company then returned to their quarters, where the
guns were stacked, the men staying together all night in
the two houses near the captain's quarters belonging to
John Chambers and Warrell Cottnam. Leaving Lieutenant
Kimm in charge of his men. Captain von Altenbockum
walked down the Pennington road with Lieutenant-Colonel
Brethauer and Major von Dechow until they met Colonel
Rail and his regiment at the head of King street. Here
he related the story of the attack on the picket. Lieuten-
ant Johannes Engelhardt of the artillery was near Colonel
120 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Rail when Captain von Altenbockum gave his report, and
he afterward stated that the former acknowledged that Gen-
eral Grant had warned him that a party was wandering near
his cantonment ; he also said he thought that they were only
a few farmers collected for the purpose of annoying him, and
that he was confident he could whip them all with his regi-
ment alone. Major von Dechow, however, was deeply con-
cerned about the matter, and, according to the statement of
Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso of the von Knyphausen
regiment, who was with him at the time, urged upon Colonel
Rail the propriety of immediately sending out a heavy patrol
to all the ferries and up the roads. But he was answered
that it would be time enough in the morning. When he
left Colonel Rail, Major von Dechow gave free vent to his
f eehngs to the young lieutenant, and said he feared the colo-
nel would get them all in trouble. Major von Dechow put
sentinels in front of every house which his regiment occupied,
and ordered all his men to remain therein that night ready
for an alarm. The other regiments also were dismissed to
their quarters.
Glad to be once more indoors and sheltered from the
storm, the men gathered around their fires and returned to
their drunken revels. No preparation was made for another
attack, and no baggage of any kind was collected. Lieu-
tenant Jacob Piel, Colonel Rail's adjutant, who saw him at
ten o'clock in the evening, says he issued no special orders
for the night. Lieutenant Wiederhold, who was then in
command of the picket on the Pennington road, states the
situation clearly : " A vigilant officer would have given
orders to reconnoitre all the roads up the river, and the
ferries, either to find all quiet or to find the enemy, and not
to come back until the fact was thoroughly established."
The manoeuvre of this little scouting party, a demonstra-
tion which might have proved disastrous to General Wash-
ington's plans for the next day, would certainly have made a
prudent officer very careful to keep his own head clear and
his troops well in hand, especially as he knew that the foe
A DARING SCOUTING PARTY 121
was always in sight just over the river ; yet this very move-
ment seems to have removed all further apprehension from
Colonel Rail's mind.
The attacking party consisted of about thirty men of
Stephen's brigade. History differs as to who had command
LIEUTEN'ANT-COLOXEL ABRAHAM HUNT
of this little force. In some cases it is given to Captain
William Washington, but he was not in Stephen's brigade.
There is more reason to believe that it was the company
commanded by Captain Richard Clough Anderson of Colo-
nel Charles Scott's regiment, Fifth Virginia Continental line.
The subaltern officers of this company were John Ander-
son, first lieutenant ; William Bentley, second lieutenant ;
122 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Robert Tompkins, ensign. It seems that the party was
scouting through Hunterdon County, without General Wash-
ington's permission, and as a mere adventure drove in the
picket, wounded six men, seized their firelocks and ammu-
nition, and hastened away to join their regiment, which to
their surprise was then crossing the river into the Jerseys.^
It is said that General Stephen was censured by General
Washington for allowing this roving party to be in New
Jersey at that time, but afterward, when the commander-in-
chief found that, so far from injuring his project, the little
affair had given Colonel Rail the impression that the attack
which General Grant had predicted had been made, and had
failed, his reproof was changed to praise for the brave ex-
ploit.
After this incident was over, and his troops dismissed. Colo-
nel Rail did not return to his own quarters and his unfin-
ished game with Friend Potts, but dropped in, flushed with
his fancied success, on a more convivial party, whiling away
the hours of Christmas night in Abraham Hunt's parlor, on
the northwest corner of King and Second streets.^
1 Part ii. No. 49.
- Abraham Hunt was the rich merchant of the village, and its post-
master. He has been called a non-committal man. Patriots, it is said,
feared that he was not ahogether true to the cause, for they knew that
their country's enemies ofttimes partook of his bounty. He has fre-
quently been spoken of in history as a Tory, but it is never asserted that
he took any active part against his country. On the contrary, at this
very time he held the commission of Heutenant-colonel of Colonel Isaac
Smith's First regiment, Hunterdon County militia, and the state records
do not show any stain upon his honor as an officer and a soldier. It
has never been stated that he ever claimed protection from the British.
His property does not appear to have been confiscated, which would
have been done if he had been a Tory, and he certainly was in the full
enjoyment of it to the date of his death, long after the close of the war.
He also retained his oiifice as postmaster of the village under the
national government for many years. His home was a place of good
cheer for every guest, and in after years he married that most patriotic
lady. Miss Mary Dagworthy, who was so busy during the war in aid-
ing the sick and wounded soldiers of the American army, and who
strewed flowers in Washington's pathway at the Assunpink bridge, as
A FATEFUL SUl'l'ER PARTY
123
The supper party at Abraham Hunt's house, no matter
what the host's sentiments, had an important effect upon the
ensuing events. Can it have been after all that he was not
a\'erse to seeing the Hessian commander utterly unable to
perform his military duties ? Certain it is that he was a
A):raham hunt's house
most acti\'e though perhaps unconscious agent in bringing
disaster and defeat to the British arms. Tradition says that
he journeyed toward New \'ork to assume tlie duties of president of
the United States. The Hon. William S. Yard of Trenton, New Jer-
sey, a descendant of Benjamin Yard, who was an iron-worker and gun-
smith in Trenton in 1776. has in his possession the following receipt:
" Received, Trenton, July 4th, 1776, of Abram Hunt, one of the Com-
missioners for the county of Hunterdon, fifty-one pounds for twelve
muskets; August 19th received fifty-five pounds thirteen shillings and
si.xpence for fourteen muskets: 21 Aug. received twenty-four pounds
seven shillings and si.xpence for thirteen muskets, and July 15th, 1777,
received one pound and fourteen shillings for seventeen scabbards
delivered last Summer. Benjamin Yard." If Abraham Hunt as one of
the commissioners disbursed government funds for the repair of arms
July 4, 1776. would he also have been allowed to remain in the same
office and do the same work July 15, 1777, if he had shown himself a
loj'alist in December, 1776 ?
LIEUTENANT PIEL'S MAP
Plan of an engagement between six thousand Americans, with fourteen
cannon and two howitzers, under command of General Washington,
and a brigade of Hessians under command of Colonel Rail at Tren-
ton on the 26th day of December, 1776.
EXPLANATION.
A. Trenton.
B. Picket of i officer and 24 men.
C. The 7 picket posts placed on each side of it, of which No. i was
the right wing, and had connection with the left wing of the captain's
picket ; the one marked No. 7 was the left wing, and had connection
with the yager picket.
D. Route made by the patrol of the officers' picket, and which always
turned to the left to the yager picket, and thence uptown to the captain's
post, and from there back through the chain of sentinels.
E. The left wing post of the captain's picket.
F. The right wing post of the yager picket.
G. Captain von Altenbockum's company of the von Lossberg regi-
ment, which formed in front of the captain's quarters while the pickets
were engaged with the enemy, and which, when they fell back, moved
towards the right wing, and joined with that in the charge.
H. Picket of i captain, i non-commissioned officer and 75 men.
I. Picket of I officer and 50 yagers who retreated at once across the
bridge.
K. Command of I officer and 30 men who fell back upon von
Donop's corps.
L. Place where the regiments formed and received their orders.
M. Place where the regiments tried to rally after they had left the
city, and where Colonel Rail with his own and the von Lossberg regi-
ment made an attack upon the abandoned city, in order to save the
baggage, but was repulsed and driven back to N. ; and there were made
prisoners of war. The regiment von Knyphausen, which was to have
covered the flanks, had likewise to fall back, and tried to gain the bridge.
This, however, they could not reach because of the loss of time occa-
sioned in trying to recover the von Lossberg guns that had become
stuck in the swamp, and during this time the enemy pressed forward,
and captured the regiment at O.
P. Von Lossberg cannon in the swamp.
Q. Von Knyphausen cannon which did not reach the regiment dur-
ing the battle.
R. Rail cannon that were dismounted at the beginning of the en-
gagement.
S. Attack of the provincials from the woods.
T. Junction and formation of provincials in line of battle before the
city.
U.. Stirling's brigade, which pursued the von Knyphausen regiment.
[St. Clair's, not Stirling's, brigade pursued the von Knyphausen regi-
ment.]
W. Last movement of the Americans.
X. American guns and howitzers.
Y. Place where General Washington took position at the beginning
of the fight in order to direct the battle.
i 1
(.too »'^ <i' a ^f •-/
?„
'\A\j., .". ,'. A c^ i, ^- ^^^ ,-'' ,''\ ;-•-- '^'% "'^. f
,'A\ ,, J- <i'' ^'•=' «■' a'" o^ ^*» ^'' » 9 '
° „'- Jo ""o , ' " ,
4 ^"ll
\\\\\\V': ,'/
IJEUTENANT PIEL'S MAP
THE UNHEEDED WARNING 125
the merriment continued all the night, and when it was
nearly dawn poor Rail was still busy with his cards and
wine.
During the night a Tory farmer from Bucks County, Penn-
sylvania, whose name the German records give as Wall, pos-
sibly the same loyalist called Mahl, who had visited Colonel
Rail a few days before, came into the town in great haste,
and, not finding Rail at his own headquarters, rapped at
Abraham Hunt's door, and asked for the Hessian colonel.
The negro waiter was unwilling to have the jolly party dis-
turbed even at that hour, and he refused to admit him.
Hurriedly writing a few lines, giving Colonel Rail the move-
ments of the American army, the farmer sent it in by the
servant, and left the door with a clear conscience, feeling
that he had done his duty as a loyal subject to the English
king. But Rail, who was in no condition to trouble himself
with the contents of a note perhaps addressed quite care-
lessly, put it into his vest pocket without a thought that his
life must pay the penalty for this apparently trivial act. And
the shuffling of the cards went on, dealing out golden mo-
ments of his life.^
On examining the map herein inserted, a copy of the ori-
ginal on file in the king's state archives at Marburg, Ger-
many, and which was prepared by Lieutenant Jacob Piel of
the von Lossberg regiment, brigade adjutant to Colonel Rail,
the picket posts of the Hessian force about Trenton can be
1 Frank Forester has given us a vivid pen picture of this roistering
party : —
" Soldiers, spread the Christmas feast ;
Soldiers, fill the bumper fair ;
Pass the bottle, pile the hearth,
Cutting cold the wintry air !
Let the toast our country be,
From whatever country we !
Sons of German Fatherland,
Britons ever bond and free.
Comrades, troll the jolly stave,
Pass the bottle, fear no wrong !
For the rebel hosts are weak,
And the wintry river strong I "
J'Wr^
J-
jey'Tl^^WlZ-CL-'-plA-e/H'
LIEUTENANT WIEDERHOLD'S MAP
^•^>^'^
f^^:
^ ai
"""""V "'''
--ai
^i.e
I KI)
:^
<ss.
l^
jm
%
ii'liii' f
:ii
\^-
rr,t
rniy.-
ift-
^J^"-
I "■"'"■"ip- *•*'•"",
k\\#/S'
'>- <«3
■^^g^t- J"^'
1 '> "
A.
■1.'
n"l iflll""!,,,
,^:^
,|.l„,l,|W«l'«l|V>l|
<>?
"r
"1 Ouici J^
IU'//.,.."""""^'.«,...-.,«
-«"'■%.,
e-.
\. T V^' XJf'^rvrruyry
"f ^
CM
Nl\Mt
,^' T"i""u;
J '"^i
'4 ,„,n''
»ta'W„
.A M ^HlBiW
t i- 3l 1."
i 0
*!'a
f|
:^
'<^}UuJ
X 2_
. -^ ,u
,V '//>
LIEUTENANT FISCHER^S MAP
LIEUTENANT WIEDERHOLD'S MAP
The affair at Trenton which occurred December 26, 1776, between one
corps of rebels of six thousand men under command of General
Washington and one brigade of Hessians under command of Colonel
Rail.
EXPLANATION.
A. Trenton.
B. Picket of i officer and 24 men.
C. Captain von Altenbockum's company of the von Lossberg regi-
ment, which was quartered in this neighborhood, and which was charged
by the enemy while doing picket duty.
D. Picket of i captain, i non-commissioned officer and 75 men.
E. I officer and 50 yagers who retreated over the bridge at once.
F. Command of i officer and 30 men who retired to von Donop's
corps.
G. Place of original formation of the regiments.
H. Place where the regiments stood after leaving the city, and where
Rail intended to make an attack on the city with his own and the von
Lossberg regiments, but failed to do it.
1. Place of repulse and capture of the regiments; in the meantime
the von Knyphausen regiment was to have covered the flank.
K. Where the von Knyphausen regiment, which sought to hold pos-
session of the bridge, had the misfortune to have the von Lossberg
cannon, which were with them, stick in the morass, and in the work
necessary to get them out, lost the opportunity of taking the bridge,
which was now too strongly guarded, and they were compelled to sur-
render.
L. Von Lossberg cannon.
M. Von Knyphausen cannon which during the affair did not reach
their regiment.
N. Rail cannon which were silenced at the beginning of the fight.
O. Attack of the rebels from the woods.
P. Advance and surrounding of the city by the same force.
Q. Two battalions of the same force which pressed on toward the
von Knyphausen regiment.
R. Last manoeuvre and attack of the same force.
S. Rebel cannon.
T. Place where General Washington stood and gave his orders.
SOME HESSIAN MAPS 127
readily ti'aced.^ Another map of the same general character
was prepared by Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold '■' of the
von Knyphausen regiment, the ofificer who commanded the
Pennington road picket on Christmas night ; and a third,
differing slightly from the other two, was made by Lieuten-
ant Friedrich Fischer ^ of the Hessian artillery. All of these
maps will be of interest to those who are familiar with the
streets of Trenton as they are to-day, and their authenticity
is proven by the fairly accurate position of the English
Church, the Presbyterian Church, the barracks, and the As-
sunpink Creek.*
Still another map of the same general character may
be found in the " Collections of the New York Historical
Society " for the year 1882, facing page 200. This map was
"copied in the month of January, 1781, in North America
and on York Island," by Lieutenant Carl van Kraft of the
Hessian regiment von Bose. As this officer was not at the
battle of Trenton, it has been thought unnecessary to insert
herein a copy of his map.
On Christmas night the Rail regiment was the regiment
" dn jour," the regiment to remain on duty and under arms
for twenty-four hours or until the parade at eleven o'clock
on the morning of December 26. The men of this regiment
were not allowed to take off any portion of their uniform
clothing at night, and were only permitted to unbutton their
leggings and lay aside their cartouches.
Again looking across the river at the American army, we
refer to the last hours before the actual crossing of the Del-
aware River. General Washington dispatched an express
rider to the hospital at Bethlehem to summon Dr. Shippen
and his assistants to join the army at once. He evidently
anticipated a severe conflict. Some of the regiments which
had been assigned to take part in the attack on Trenton
began to march at about two o'clock in the afternoon of
1 See p. 124. ^ See p. 126. ^ See p. 128.
* For personnel of outposts of Trenton, December 24, 1776, see Part
ii. No. SS-
LIEUTENANT FISCHER'S MAP
Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776, between American Provincial
troops under the command of General Washington, and three regi-
ments of Hessians under the command of Colonel Rail, where a part
of the latter force was compelled to surrender as prisoners of war.
EXPLANATION.
A. Advance of the provincial troops from John's [the American
force did not cross at Johnson's, but at McKonkey's] Ferry in two
columns.
B. Advance on picket a and Captain von Altenbockum's company b.
C. Attack on Trenton after the retreat of the picket and Captain von
Altenbockum's company, and also the captain's picket c, to Trenton.
D. March of the provincial troops in battalion formation.
E. March of the Hessian regiments after leaving Trenton.
F. Attack of the von Lossberg and Rail regiments on Trenton.
G. Provincial troops guarding the bridge.
H. Retreat of the von Knyphausen regiment at the time of the attack
on the von Lossberg and Rail regiments.
J. Surrender of the von Lossberg and Rail regiments.
K. Attack on J by the provincial troops.
L. Attack on H after the surrender of the von Lossberg and Rail
regiments.
M. Provincial artillery.
N. Rail cannon which were at once silenced.
R. Von Knyphausen cannon.
S. Von Lossberg cannon.
T. Commands which retreated to Burlington.
(Note. This map, in some particulars the best of the series, has one
error. There was no church near the creek, in the line of march of
the von Knyphausen regiment, near K.)
PREPARING TO CROSS THE DELAWARE 129
Christmas day, and by three o'clock all of the troops ordered
on this expedition were in motion toward the river. General
Washington gave orders that the watch of every officer
should be set by his own. Speaking of his men on that day,
he said, " Many of our poor soldiers are quite barefoot and
ill-clad," and Major Wilkinson tells us in his "Memoirs"^
that their " route was easily traced, as there was a little snow
on the ground, which was tinged here and there with blood
from the feet of the men who wore broken shoes." Each
man was provided with three days' cooked rations and forty
rounds of ammunition, and the troops were therefore ready
to push on and follow up any advantage that they might
gain, if such a course were deemed prudent.
It was confidently expected that all the infantry, and a
few companies of cavalry and artillery, with eighteen cannon
and howitzers, might be ferried over by midnight, and so
have the five hours until daybreak in which to march to
Trenton. The Durham boat was the ordinary means of trans-
porting merchandise on the Delaware River, and of even
sending iron ore from Oxford Furnace, in old Sussex County,
New Jersey, to the market at Philadelphia during the forty
years before and after the beginning of this century.^ A
number of these boats had been carefully collected by
men employed by Colonel Humpton of the Pennsylvania
Continental line. For the last ten days Captain Jacob Gear-
hart, Captain Daniel Bray and Captain Thomas Jones, all
officers of the Second regiment, Hunterdon County, New
1 Vol. i. p. 127.
2 These boats were like large canoes, some thirty or forty feet long,
usually painted blaclc, pointed at each end, and manned by four or five
boatmen. A steering oar adjustable at either end gave employment to
one man on the down stream trip, which was from Robeson's Ferry
wharf near the Furnace to the city of Philadelphia. This was a two
days' journey, but it took at least five days of hard, pole pushing by
four men to get it back again to the ferry wharf, loaded as it was with
provisions for men living near the upper waters of the Delaware. In
revolutionary days there were about forty of this kind of craft on the
river.
I 30
THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Jersey militia, had been busily employed in gathering all
the boats of every kind on the upper waters of the Delaware
and Lehigh ri\'ers, and hiding them, with those previously
collected, behind the thick woods on Malta Island, close to
the west bank and at the mouth of Knowles's Creek, where
the)' were entirely hidden from the Jersey shore. These
boats had been kept under careful guard, and were now
brought down some two miles to McKonkey's Ferry, the
selected place for the crossing.^
All day Monday and Tuesday the Delaware River was
clear of ice, but before noon on Wednesday, the 25th, it was
full of floating cakes of ice,
not very thick, however,
from some of its upper
branches, which had been
frozen by the intense cold
of December 20. The cur-
rent was swift and danger-
ous, and the weather cheer-
less and cold.
As soon as it became
dark, the troops came down
to the river bank, ready to
pass over. General Wash-
ington, who was on horse-
back, eagerly watched the
boats, as they iiushed off one by (jne freighted with men
who were to strike a desperate blow for the liberty of their
country, or receive a crushing defeat from their hireling
foes. Some deep, all-pervading spirit of patriotism must
have burned in the breasts of these men to have made them
underszo the sufferings of that awful night. Their devotion
M.\JfiR i.l..sLK.\L H<JK.\riu GATES
' An affidavit of John Clifford on file in the War Department, Wash-
ington, D. C, states that he assisted Captain Bray in gathering twenty-
five boats, and that the party met at Baptisttown. Hunterdon County,
New Jersey, about three miles from the Delaware River, to make their
plans for that object.
GENERAL GATES SHIRKS
■31
in that hour to an ahnost hopeless cause appears now to the
student of history as subhme. It was with some impatience
tliat Washington read a few hnes from General Gates, who
had reported himself sick, but, as his aide, Major Wilkinson,
confessed, was even then on his way to Congress at Balti-
more to intrigue in his own favor and against his chief, in-
stead of having assumed the command at Bristol. General
Washington had entreated him to take charge of this post,
saying, " if you could only stay there two or three days, I
MUXUMEXT AT TA^'I.ORSN'I LI.H, PENNSYLVAN I A ^
should be glad," but the entreaty was of no avail. General
Gates had evidently lost some of his faith in the cause, and
was willing to absent himself from the post of duty, of dan-
ger, and of honor.
1 This monument bears the foUowint; inscription: •' Near this spot
Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas niglit, 1776, the eve
of the battle of Trenton."
132 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Before crossing the ri\-er, General Washington wrote to
Colonel Cadwalader at Bristol : —
McKonkey's Ferky 25th Decemf 1776
Six o'clock p. M.
Dear Sir :
Notwithstanding the discouraging Accounts I have re-
ceived from Col. Reed of what might be expected from the
C)perations below, I am determined, as the Night is favour-
criLoNEL John glover
able, to cross the Ri\-er and make the attack upon Trenton
in the Morning, If you can do nothing real, at least create as
great a diversion as possible.
I am Sir
Yr. most ob' Serv'
Go Washixgton.
Cor. Cadwalader '
' From original in possession of Charles E. Cadwalader of Philadel-
]"ihi.-i. Pennsylvania.
A BITTER NIGHT ON THE RIVER
'33
JOHN RUSSELL, I'RIVATE IN COLONEL GLO\'EK S REGIMENT
The jagged ice floated swiftl}' by, and struck the boats so
severely that they could be handled only with the greatest
difficulty. About eleven o'clock a severe storm of mingled
snow and hail set in, and with the high wind rendered it a
dark, cold and dismal night. Thomas Rodney writes : " It
was as severe a night as I ever saw. The frost was sharp,
the current difficult to stem, the ice increasing, the wind
high, and at ele\'en it began to snow. It was only with the
greatest care and labor that the horses and the artillery
could be ferried over the river." Had not Colonel John
134 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Glover's splendid regiment of seafaring men from Marble-
head, Massachusetts, lent a willing and skillful hand, as he
had promised they would, the expedition would no doubt
have failed. These sailors and fishermen, armed with rifles,
clad in blue round-jackets and trousers with large leather
buttons attached, were then, as they had been in New York
harbor early in the morning of August 30, when the retreat
was made from Long Island, the men on whom all relied to
see the army safely landed.^
Soon after Stephen's brigade had reached the left bank
of the river, and had formed a chain of sentries around the
landing-place, Washington dismounted, and with his lieuten-
ants around him crossed to the Jersey shore. This scene has
been immortalized by the famous picture of Emanuel Leutze,
so full of vigor and animation, but so faulty, so very inaccu-
rate in detail. Captain John Blunt of Portsmouth, who had
sailed in and out of all the harbors on the coast between
1 From Lorenzo Sabine's report on the fisheries we take the follow-
ing extract of a speech made by General Knox in the legislature of
Massachusetts, and in which the conduct of these men is faithfully de-
picted : " Sir ! I wish the members of this body knew the people of
Marblehead as well as I do. I could wish they had stood on the banks
of the Delaware river in 1776 in tliat bitter night when the Commander-
in-Chief had drawn up his little army to cross it, and had seen the
powerful current bearing onward the floating masses of ice, which
threatened destruction to whosoever should venture upon its bosom.
I wish that when this occurrence threatened to defeat the enterprise
they could have heard that distinguished warriour demand, ' Who will
lead us on ? ' and seen the men of Marblehead and Marblehead alone,
stand forward to lead the army along the perilous path to unfading
glories and honours in the achievements of Trenton. There, Sir, went
the fishermen of Marblehead, alike at home upon land or water, alike
ardent, patriotic and unflinching whenever they unfurled the flag of the
country." Alexander Graydon, in his Memoirs, refers to this regiment
in the following words : " There was an appearance of discipline in this
corps : the officers seemed to have mixed with the world and to under-
stand what belonged to their stations. Though deficient, perhaps, in
polish, it possessed an apparent aptitude for the purpose of its institu-
tion and gave a confidence that myriads of its meek and lowly brethren
were incompetent to inspire."
I2.l'< THE RATTLKS OF TRENTON AND FRENCETON
Hill 'Ml iMWWiWt'pi'WBW
^ .c^ /-X ' '''MIX — . ^ ^ \ %'
THE CONTINENTAL AKM\' CROSSING THE DELAWARE
Bro7iZi' Tablet oh the 7r€Hto7! Batth: Jfonniiwiit
Portsmouth and Philadelphia, and who was familiar with
the na\'igation of the Delaware River, was very active and
conspicuous in guiding the boats so preciously freighted.
Lieutenant Ciithbert of Captain Moulder's battery of Phil-
adelphia also ably assisted him.-'
Colonel Kno.\, the artillerist, stood on the river bank,
repeating General Washington's orders as long as they re-
mained on the I-'ennsylvania shore, and amid all the storm
and darkness his powerful voice rang out, directing the move-
' Captain Blunt was a .shipma.ster, born in New Castle, New Hamp-
shire; and in April, 1775, when about forty years of age, he commanded
the schooner Cornucopia, which sailed from Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire, lor Alexandria, Virginia, and continued to trade during the rest
of that year with other ports in Virginia and on the Delaware River,
After the return of his vessel to Portsmouth in the spring of 1776 it is
thought that he attached himself to Colonel (Clover's marine regiment,
about the time when the colonel was the agent for the Continental
armed vessels, of wdiich Portsmouth. Marblehead and New Castle fur-
nished a considerable number. He came from the same section of
New Hampshire as General Sullivan, and no doubt that officer knew
the value of his services at this critical hour.
WASHINGTON'S STENTORIAN SPOKESMAN
137
ments of the boats. It is difficult to estimate the important
service which he thus ga\'e toward the success of the enter-
prise.^
All the officers with General Washington were gloomy and
despondent, as they crossed the river, but he for once in-
dulged in a little pleasantry at the expense of Colonel Knox,
HOUSE AT WASHINGTON S C KOSSING
which greatly amused that officer, and put the rest of the
officers in the best of humor when the story was told them.
After crossing the river, and before his horse had reached
him, General Washington, seated on a box once used as a
beehive, was silent, undisturbed, his mind filled with anxious
thought, with high resolve, with desperate earnestness, and,
^ We find that Samuel Breck. in his Recolhttions, uses these words,
when speaking of Colonel Knox: "His voice was a deep bass and re-
sounded through the camp, when exercising the artillery of which he was
general, in tones of audil^le command. When on the left bank of the
Delaware, as represented in Sully's historical picture of the passage of
that river on Christmas day, preparatory to the attack on Trenton, his
stentorian voice was heard above the crash of ice which filled the river
with floating cakes and very much embarrassed the boats that were
conveving the army."
138 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
it has been said, with a clear determination to win a victory
or die in the attempt. ^
It was expected that before midnight the force would be
over the river, not a thousand feet wide at that place ; but for
nine weary hours they toiled and struggled resolutely with
the floating ice cakes, and it was after three o'clock before
the last man reached the shore of New Jersey.^
1 In a work entitled TIu History of the British Empire from the
Year 176^ to the End of lySj, edited " by a society of Gentlemen, Phila-
delphia, 1798," we find the doubtful statement that' before the attack
General Washington animated his men by this speech : " My friends,
it is not only the liberty of America that depends on your valour and
firmness, but what ought to be much more dear to you than your lives,
your honour! Think of the infamy which will attend you through life,
not only here, but through the whole world, if the campaign closes with-
out some instance that the courage with which you stand to your arms is
equal to the justice of the cause which ought to animate your bosoms.
For my own part, I will not survive a defeat, if that defeat arises from
any inattention to your safety. Wipe out the stains which have been
thrown upon your reputations by seeking an honourable death ; and
give credit to me, that it will be the only means of meeting victory, life
and honour."
2 Tradition gives us the names of some of the prominent men of
Hopewell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, who did good ser-
vice on that eventful night. Among these were Major Joseph PhilKps,
a detachment of whose First regiment, Hunterdon County militia, under
command of Colonel Isaac Smith, had joined the army when they passed
through Trenton ; the adjutant of the regiment, Elias Phillips ; John
Phillips, afterward a captain in the regiment; Captain John Mott, for-
merly of the same organization, but then recruiting for the New Jersey
Continental line ; Phihp Phillips, who afterward became a captain and
then major of the regiment ; John Muirheid, John Guild, Henry Sim-
mons and William Green, of Captain Henry Phillips's company; Amos
Scudder, afterward an ensign ; Ephraim Woolsey, Stephen Burroughs,
Edon Burroughs, Joseph Inslee, Uriah Slack and David Lanning, of
Captain John Mott's old company of the First regiment of Hunterdon
County miUtia, and James Slack of Makefield Township, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania, who was a boatman on the river.
Some of these men helped at the crossing, and all marched with the
army to Trenton, some as guides, and others, in plain farmers' clothes, as
scouts, going well in advance to spy out the state of the picket-guard.
One of these patriots, David Lanning, a miller, had but a few days
THE MARCH TOWARD TRENTON
139
It was almost four o'clock on Thursday morning when the
army was formed for its march from the Eight Mile or
McKonkey's Ferry to Trenton ; but at last, when the chain
of sentries placed by General Stephen around the landing-
place had been called in, the order was given to "shoulder
your iirelocks," the weary tramp in cold and sleet com-
menced, and
" Our gallant troops, with bayonets fix'd,
To Trenton marched away."
Instructions had been given to the men to march quietly,
keep in good order in
the ranks, give prompt
obedience to their offi-
cers, and to bear in mind
the emphatic password,
" Victory or Death."
Although still dark, it
was feared that the loyal-
ists in the vicinity would
betray them. We have
seen that these fears were
well founded, but the offi- V ■
cious labors of the Tory
farmer were of no avail.
It was a cold and
cheerless morning. The
ground was still covered
with snow, and at times
a storm of hail annoyed
them ; the wind was east-northeast, and this made the storm
AMOS SCUDDER
before been taken prisoner by a Hessian party and confined in Trenton
at the house on Tucker's corner, the southwest corner of Queen and
Second streets; but he had escaped, and on Christmas morning, after
being concealed in the very house which Colonel Rail had made his
headquarters, he had assumed the character of an old woodman, with an
axe on his shoulder, and had passed from the house beyond the guards
and so up the river to give efficient aid to the patriot cause.
I40 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
beat, at least during a part of the march, rather more on the
backs than in the faces of the men. The slippery condition
of the road retarded their progress very much, and the want
of proper clothing made their condition pitiable indeed.
The army marched in column from the river to the Bear
Tavern, a distance of about a mile, and then, moving silently
past the quiet farmhouses and through
forests of hickory and black oak on the
River road, they came to Birmingham,
somewhat more than three miles from
the tavern. The general officers fre-
quently spoke to their men, and urged
them to retrieve the disasters on Lontr
Island and at Forts Washington and Lee,
and the sorrowful retreat through New
Jersey.
Before they reached Birmingham, Cap-
tain John Mott, a gallant officer, who
had come from the Northern army with
Maxwell and St. Clair to recrtnt men for
the new establishment of the New Jersey
Continental line, but who had volunteered
to guide the troops on a road on which
he himself lived, being armed with a fu-
see, and walking in advance of the line,
found that his priming powder was damp,
although he had covered it with his hand-
kerchief. He mentioned the fact to Gen-
eral Sullivan, who, finding that all the
arms were in more or less the same con-
dition, called out, " Well, boys, we must
fight them with the bayonet ! "
When this mishap was announced to General Washington,
he sent a similar reply by his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Samuel B. Webb, " Then tell the general to use the
bayonet and penetrate into the town ; for the town must be
taken and I am resolved to take it." The spirited and em-
/ ' '"/*«<
iLX < .\KkIEIJ bV
.AM<J,S -SCUDDEK
WITH BAYONETS FTX'D "
141
.MONUMENT AT W'ASI IIN(;t<)N's CROSSINT. NEW JERbEV
phatic nature of these instructions gave new courage to tlie
troops ; they fixed their bayonets without an order, and
pressed eagerly on in tlie march.
At Birmingham, without dismounting from the chestnut
sorrel horse which he rode that day, General Washington
stopped for a moment, and partook of the hospitality of Ben-
jamin Moore, while the column was halted, and the men
made a hasty meal. When the order was given to march,
142 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
a large number of the soldiers were found asleep by the road-
side, and it was with diificulty that they could be aroused.
The column was then broken into two divisions, which
marched toward Trenton in different directions. Major-
General Sullivan's first division, the right wing of the army,
consisted of the brigades of Brigadier-General St. Clair, Colo-
nel Glover and Colonel Sargent, with the batteries of Cap-
tains Neil, riugg, Moulder and Sargent. This force went
by the lower or River road. Major-General Greene's second
EE.\R T.WERN, 1.\C0B'S CREEK, MERCER COUNTY
division, the left wing of the army, consisted of the brigades
of Brigadier-Generals Stephen, Mercer, Lord Stirling and
de Fermoy, with Captain Morris's Philadelphia troop of light
horse, and the batteries of Captains Forrest, Bauman and
Hamilton. General Washington accompanied this division,
which took the Scotch road, leading into the old road from
the village of Pennington to Trenton.
^ PRESS ON, PRESS ON, BOYS!
143
The distance from Birmingham to Trenton by either route
was nearly equal, being between four and five miles, with
perhaps a little advantage for General Sullivan's division on
the River road.
When each column had proceeded about one half of the
required distance, the first signs of daylight began to appear,
MAJiJR-r.ENEKAL NATHANAIiL GREENE
and the plan of a surprise in the darkness was necessarily
abandoned. To retreat at this late hour was to draw upon
them the Hessian force in strength ; but General Washing-
ton, as he rode along, seemed wrapped in thought, and ever
and anon called to his men, " Press on, press on, boys ! "
144 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
On the Scotch road General Greene's division was joined
by Captain Washington's company, which had been engaged
in picking up men approaching or coming from the village,
and the column then entered the Pennington road about a
mile beyond the village. As soon as the town was descried,
it is said that General Washington waved his sword, and ex-
claimed, " There, my brave fellows, are the enemies of your
country. Remember now what you are about to fight for."
In his heart each man responded to the appeal of his chief-
tain, and at this critical moment the cause of liberty nerved
his arm, and inspired him with firmness and courage as he
grasped his firelock. ^
^ In his Surprise of Trenton, Frank Forester, from whose works we
have already quoted, has graphically described the situation : —
" Yet his fate was on the cast —
Life and fame and country all.
Sterner game was never played :
Death or Freedom — win or fall !
Fall he — and his country's hope
Sets, a sun no more to rise !
Win he — and her dawning light
Yet may fill the unfathom'd skies !
Fall he — and his name must wane,
Rebel chief of rebel band ;
\\'in he — it shall live forever,
Father of his native land ! "
X
We will now glance for a moment at Trenton just before
the attack. At four o'clock in the morning, December 26,
Lieutenant Fischer of the artillery, as was his custom, ordered
the horses to be attached to two of the brass guns in front
of the quarters of the watch-guard on King street, and
directed bombardiers Geschwine and Schwindder to report
to Colonel Rail that they were ready to make the early
morning patrol to the "Doctor House,'' near the Trenton
landing. Colonel Rail was asleep, but his adjutant, Lieu-
tenant Piel, told them to go to Major von Dechow's quarters
and get his orders, as he was the field officer on duty. This
they did, but presently returned to Lieutenant Fischer with
Major von Dechow's reply that the duty would be omitted for
that morning. The horses were then unhitched and placed
in stables. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer afterward testified
that he was uncertain whether Major von Dechow acted by
Colonel Rail's orders or not. Had the artillery detachment
made this early morning parade, they might have noticed
the excitement incident to the attempt of General Ewing's
force to cross the river, and it might have created an alarm
in Trenton's village.
It had been the custom of the yagers at the Dickinson
house to make early morning patrols with twenty or thirty
men, and usually a few English light horse, as far as John-
son's Ferry, about four miles above Trenton. Only a few
days previous Lieutenant von Grothausen had made this
march and had encountered, as he said, one hundred and
fifty Americans, had killed one of their horses and captured
one of the men. The only semblance of a patrol on Decem-
ber 26 was made about five o'clock in the morning by three
yagers, who went as far up the river as the house of Captain
146 THK BATTLKS OF TREXTON AND PRINCETON
K H_ H A K D
John Mutt of the New Jersey Continental line, — the "rebel
eaptain's house," as the German records call it, now on
ground owned by the New Jersey Hospital for the Insane,
on the west bank of the water power. They returned with
the report that they had not seen any of the enemy. An
hour latei^ and a march a mile farther would probably have
changed the condition of affairs in Trenton at eight o'clock,
and Washington would have found a foe ready to receive
him. I'^very night this picket at the Dickinson house was
reinforced by six or nine additional guards, but these men
were always withdrawn at si.\ o'clock. In case of an alarm
the entire picket was directed to fall back to Colonel Rail's
quarters in the village and await further orders.
At about a quarter of eight o'clock the advance party of
the Americans came in sight of the Hessian picket post on
the Pennington road. This post was at the house of Richard
Howell and his son Arthur, both coopers by trade. The
Germans called it an alarm-house, and when the guard occu-
pied the building it was their custom to stack their arms at
the door and leave a few sentinels in charge of them.
THE AMERICAN ADVANCE DETECTED 147
It will be remembered that on the previous night Lieuten-
ant Wiederhold had strengthened this picket with nine men,
and that on his arrival his rank had placed him in command
of the party. From his diary it appears that he had posted
seven sentinels in the best possible positions against sur-
prise, and during the night had sent out patrol after patrol
to guard himself against an attack. His night posts had evi-
dently been withdrawn, and he says that his day patrol had
reported all quiet. Just at this moment he stepped out of
the house, and through the edge of the woods saw the enemy
approaching. His men, as he subsequently acknowledged,
had not been sufficiently alert, but he made instant prepara-
tion for what he at first thought to be a stray party of the
Americans. It seemed to him there were about sixty men
in sight, most of them being about two hundred yards away.
Lieutenant Wiederhold' s sentinels challenged the American
party, and David Lanning, the miller, before mentioned, being
in the advance, answered the challenge, and unequivocally
declared himself a friend to Washington. The guards then
came running from the house, shouting " Der Feind ! Der
Feind ! heraus ! heraus ! " ("The enemy ! The enemy ! Turn
out ! Turn out ! ")
The Americans fired three times at the picket ; but Lieu-
tenant Wiederhold, thinking that they were still too far away,
waited until they approached nearer, and then gave them a
volley. The picket then began immediately to retire on their
left, not by the roadway, but more across the fields toward
Colonel Rail's quarters. They had not retreated far in this
direction before they observed an American battalion and
then three regiments coming in on their right, and cutting
them off. This was General Mercer's brigade of Conti-
nentals. Seeing this unexpected force, the picket hastily ran
toward Captain Ernst Eber von Altenbockum's quarters, the
house of Alexander Calhoun, at the head of the street now
called by his name. Captain von Altenbockum's company
was by this time under arms and on the road, and Lieutenant
Wiederhold and his men placed themselves immediately on
mS the battles of TRENTON AND PRINCETON
von Altenbockum's right wing, and prepared to make a stand
against the a])proaching foe. They had barely time to fire
a voile)- ; the)- were nearly surrounded, and were obliged to
retreat ver)- hurriedl}-.
Then some of the main picket on the Maidenhead road,
commandetl 1))' I^nsign Grabe of the von Lossberg regi-
ment. Captain j-jrubach of the Rail regiment also accompany-
ing them, hurried acrnss the open meadows toward Captain
von Altenbockum's quaitei^s for the purpose of giving effi-
cient aid in this emei-genc\- ; but they were still fi\'e hundred
paces froui Alexander Calhoiui's house when they found
Arj-:xANriKR ';a(.hoi:n's house
that both the picket and the company were falling back on
them in much haste. According to instructions previously
given, the brigade of General Stephen had charged with
great spirit up<m the retreating outpost, determined to push
so rapidly into the village as to leave the Hessians, if pos-
sible, no time to form.
A HESSIAN PICKET DRIVEN IN
149
. i^/i *
V'-^.
BLAIK MCCLEN.\C1-{AN. I'Rr\'ATE PKILAIJELPJI I A THOnp OF LIi:HT HORSE
In the retreat down the Pennington road Captain von
Altenlooclcuin lost his Heutenant and one of his company,
botli killed before the}' had gone fifty paces from their qnar-
ters. A sergeant and se\"eral enlisted men were severely
wounded before they reached the junction of the roads, just
north of the village. Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm of
the von Lossberg regiment, who fell thus early in the en-
gagement, was a fine officer but eighteen )X'ars of age. The
rush of the Americans placed them in possession of the
dying man, who lay by the wayside. The kindly heart of
150 THE ISATTLES OF TRENTOX AND PRINCETON
the honest soldier, Captain Samuel Morris, commander of
the Philadeli")hia ti'oop of light horse, was touched at his sad
fate, and he would fain have attempted to relieve in some
wa\- the sufferings of his fallen foe. But this was no time
* hs^,
if-/*
CAPTAIN SAMUEL MORRIS
for sympathy. The sharp order of General Greene recalled
him to his duty, and the American column pushed on.
It was nearly eight o'clock when General Greene's division
forced the upper picket station, and three minutes later Gen-
eral Sullivan's troops, which had previously made a brief
halt at the cross-road leading to Howell's Ferry for the pur-
pose of allowing the division on the upper road to gain time,
struck the yager picket, consisting of one officer and iifty
men, at " The Hermitage," the residence of General Phile-
mon Dickinson, on the River road, just on the outskirts of
Trenton.
Marching in advance of General Sullivan's column. Cap-
tain John Flahaven, a gallant and ambitious officer of the
ONWARD RUSH OF THE AMERICANS
[51
First battalion, New Jersey Continental line, with a detach-
ment of forty recruits for the new establishment, first came
upon this picket station, and drove it in. Colonel Glover's
brigade following up in pursuit of the retreating guards.
As soon as Lieutenant F"riedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen
of the Hessian yagers heard the firing on the Pennington
road, and even before he saw the Americans coming out of
the woods on the west side of Colonel Lambert Cadwalader's
plantati(jn, he called Sergeant Georg Wilhelm Hassell and
twelve of the guard to arms, and began to run toward the
Pennington road alarm-house. Corporal Franz Bauer, the
other non-commissioned officer, and the rest of the party in
great haste posted themselves behind trees and fences to
await developments. At the same time ten cannon-shots
''THE HERMIT.\GE," GENERAL PHILEMUN DICKINSON'S HOUSE
were fired at them from General Dickinson's forces on the
west bank of the Delaware, but without doing them any
harm.
Lieutenant von Grothausen and his detachment had not
proceeded a thousand feet across the fields toward the as-
saulted post on the Pennington road before they heard firing
152 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
on their left, and saw another column of troops hastening
in a direct line for their own alarm-house at the Dickinson
homestead. It was apparent to the lieutenant that he must
instantly retrace his steps and look after his yagers. This
he did, bearing, however, toward the town and the river. In
this way he was soon joined by Corporal Bauer and the rest
of the command, who had left their knapsacks in the house,
and were now hurriedly going toward the barracks. By this
time, as they said, " the Americans were thick in their front."
Coming near the old French and Indian war barracks on
Front street, and receiving a few reinforcements, they
opened fire on the Continentals. One volley was all they
could give, for the foe was on them ; and as the guns of the
yagers had no bayonets, the detachment retreated precipi-
tately through Front street toward the Queen street bridge
over the Assunpink Creek. Even at this moment they saw
the American forces in the town, and knew that in a few
minutes more they would be cut off from all communication
with Colonel Rail's headquarters. They tried to ford the
creek at King street, and some succeeded, but most of them
ran on toward the bridge, which was still open. In the mean-
time they had received no orders from Colonel Rail. In this
race one yager was captured, though none were killed or
wounded, and the rest of the picket escaped.
Both of the Hessian picket parties exerted themselves as
much as was possible under the circumstances, but of course
they could do but little against such an overwhelming force.
As they fell back into the town, they fired from every point
where the slightest shelter could be found, but were quickly
driven "pell-mell," as Colonel Knox said, by the rapid push
of the Americans, who seemed to vie with each other in their
efforts to be in the advance. There appears to be no doubt
that the pickets on both roads at first supposed that these
attacks were made by the little scouting party of the previ-
ous day, and that they had simply returned to make another
demonstration on the Hessian post.
We left Captain von Altenbockum and his company. Lieu-
CONFUSION 01'^ rUE HKSSIANS
153
THE BARRACKS. AT THE TIME OF T'HE HATTl.E OF TRENTiJN
tenant Wiederhold and his picket, and Captain ]:)rubach and
Ensign Grabe and tlieir men of the main guard on the
lower part of the Pennington road near King street, still
trying to elude the eager pursuit of the American forces.
When they reached the head of King and Queen streets.
Captain von Altenbockimi and his men retired by Oueen
street ; but the rest of the soldiers with Wiederhold and
Brubach passed down Kmg street in the direction of Colo-
nel Rail's quarters. In this way the latter party was forced
U) go int(j the gardens between the tw(j streets just north of
Church alley, and so into Oueen street, to escape the direct
fire which opened upon them on the roadway.
It has been stated that Lieutenant Jacob Piel of the \'on
Lossberg regiment. Colonel Rail's brigade adjutant, had been
awakened soon after five o'clock, and had directed the artil-
lerymen of the grand patrol of the " Doctor House " to go
t" Major von Dechow for orders. It seems that he did not
go to sleep again, for he was the first officer in the village to
hear the firing on the Pennington road. His quarters were
in the house of Miss Rebecca Co.xe, the ne.xt house south of
Colonel Rail's quarters on King street. Before si.x o'clock
in the morning he was in Rail's room, but found him sleep-
154 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ing heavily. He called again about seven o'clock, but his
commander was still asleep. When the firing was heard, he
fan across the street to the headquarters watch-guard house,
and started Lieutenant Johann Heinrich Sternickel, who was
on duty there with thirty men of the guard, and ten others
who had come out of their quarters on King street to learn
what was the matter, up King street to aid, if possible, the
picket post which was attacked. Then Lieutenant Piel
knocked loudly at Colonel Rail's door, and soon Rail looked
out from an upper window in his night-clothes, and called
out to Piel, "What is the matter.''" Lieutenant Piel asked
him if he had not heard the firing. Without answering this
question Colonel Rail said, " I will be out in a minute," and
in truth it did not take him long to reach the street. Before
HEADQUARTERS GUARD-HOUSE, CORNER WARREN AND PERRY STREETS
he had stepped out into the roadway, the American shot and
shell were being fired down the street.
Lieutenant Piel called also to his comrade, Lieutenant
Hermann Zoll, adjutant of his own regiment, who quartered
with him in the Coxe house, and Zoll was soon across the
street and in the English Church, hurrying into the street
RALLYING TO REPEL THE AMERICANS
155
the artiller)'mcn and the Scheffer company of his own regi-
ment, and bringing out the five regimental colors which were
kept in the church. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, although
he had been quite ill for five days, "got out of a sick bed to
fight," and was soon on duty. He sent Lieutenant Zoll to
THE I'L.VCE WHHRli THli .ARTILLERY oLENliU 0.\ THE. HESSI.VN TROOPS,
.'\PRE.ARED IN REVOLUTIONARY D.\YS
Colonel Rail, asking where he wished the von Lossberg regi-
ment to be formed. Rail was just then mounting his horse,
and he told Lieutenant Zoll to have them form on Church
alley back of the poplar-trees, and with his hand he pointed
to the place in the graveyard behind the English Church.
They formed there, facing toward the north and the ap-
proaching enemy. Colonel Rail then turned to ride a short
distance down King street to where the Rail regiment had
been quartered, and was now effecting a formation.
This regiment, as will be remembered, was the regiment
"of the day," and so, as- was to be expected, at least one
half of the command was instantly under arms without any
156 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
direct orders from Colonel Rail. At that time Lieutenant-
Colonel Balthasar Brethauer was in command of the regi-
ment. They formed on King street, facing east, with cen-
tre in front of Pinkerton's alley, now East Hanover street.
As soon as one of the battahons of the regiment was
completed the)' immediately started up King street, and
were soon joined by Colonel Rail, who was riding down
to meet them. Already the shot from the American bat-
teries was flying down the street and breaking into their
ranks. They had just taken their flags from Colonel Rail's
quarters and had advanced but a few steps beyond the
house when they were greeted by a strong fire on their left
flank from General Mercer's brigade, coming in from the
rear of Potts's tannery, and some sharp musketry fire from
the rear of William Tindall's and William Smith's property
on Queen street. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer's
horse was shot from under him, and he went back to his
quarters to get another one, leaving Major Johann Jost
Matthaus in command. Brethauer had been quite ill for
several days and was too weak to walk. It does not appear
that he took any further part in the fight. Lieutenant
Sternickel's watch-guard could be seen just ahead of the
Rail regiment, but the artillery fire from the head of the
street soon scattered the guard, the lieutenant received
a grievous wound, and the men ran over toward Queen
street.
At this moment Major Matthaus called out to Lieutenant
Johannes Engelhardt to go ahead with the two cannon
which had been stationed in front 'of the watch-guard house.
The horses were already hitched, and Colonel Rail cried
out in German to the commander of this section of the
battery : " My God, Lieutenant Engelhardt, the picket is
already coming in ! Push your cannon ahead ! " And the
drivers shouted as the horses plunged forward. But they
did not go far, not over one hundred and fifty feet, on the
north side of the bridge over the little stream now called
Petty's Run, when the destructive fire of the artillery at the
HKSSIAN CANNONADING
•57
head of the street
reached them, and
they were greatly
annoyed by marks-
men behind the
fences which encir-
cled Potts's tanyard.
When he left the
church Lieutenant
Engelhardt had with
him his bombardier,
Westerburg, and sev-
enteen men, but e\'en
in this short time he
lost several valuable
soldiers. He took
charge of one of the
Rail guns, and Wes-
terburg of the other.
The\- immediatel)'
fired six shots from
each cannon, but be-
fore this had been
accomplished eight of
the detachment were
killed or wounded,
leaving only six effec-
tive men with one
gun and four with the
other. Artillerist
Poland and artillerist
Rieman were very
badly wounded. Ar-
tillerist Heutzemann
was also wounded,
and he afterward died
of his wounds a pris-
TRENTON BATTLE MONUMENT
158 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
oner of war. Two men who had been detached from the
Rail regiment for duty with the artillery and two men from
the von Lossberg regiment received dangerous wounds.
Three of the horses on one gun and two on the other had
fallen with fatal inj uries. With the force then available the
guns could not be taken off the street. Lieutenant Engel-
hardt sent back to Colonel Rail for protection, and called out
to Major Matthaus that he must be sustained or he would
lose his guns. Matthaus promised that he would furnish
support. Then Engelhardt ordered Westerburg to put
grapeshot in his gun, and the thirteenth shot was fired at
the enemy on the other side of the tanyard.
In the mean time Colonel Rail had sent down to hurry
the rest of the Rail regiment on the advance while he rode
to the corner of Church alley and King street to look after
the von Lossberg regiment. Many soldiers of the Rail regi-
ment had already gone down King street and through Front
street to escape at the bridge. At this moment word was
brought him that the von Knyphausen regiment was fully
formed on the lower part of Queen street and awaited
orders.
As soon as the American column reached the place where
King and Queen streets intersect, at the north portion of
the town, their artillery was placed in position to rake the
two principal streets of the village. Colonel Knox, under
General Washington's orders, brought up four pieces of the
six-gun battery of Captain Thomas Forrest, with the second
company of the Pennsylvania State artillery battalion, and
gave them the range down Queen street. Captain Alex-
ander Hamilton's ^ New York State company of artillery,
' The gallant Hamilton, not yet of age, with his young company,
formerly known as the Provincial Company of Artillery of New York,
was a model of discipline, and promptly answered the order to prepare
for action. The personal appearance of the young artillerist at this
time is fully described in the account given by Mrs. Catherine V. R.
Cochrane, his sister-in-law, the youngest daughter of General Schuyler :
" A small, lithe figure, instinct with life ; erect and steady in gait ;
a military presence without the intolerable accuracy of a martinet, and
THE TRENTON BATTLE MONUMENT 159
then with the reserve, was also ordered up with its two guns
to this, the highest point in the town, and from here they
opened fire down King street.^
Surrounded by his staff and by his escort, the Philadelphia
troop of light horse, General Washington took his position
on the high ground on what is now Princeton avenue, op-
posite Fountain avenue, formerly on the road leading to
Nathan Beakes's plantation. This spot is now the northwest
corner of a lot belonging to John S. Chambers, Esq. From
this advantageous position he was able to overlook the town
and direct the movements of his troops. The few scattered
dwellings were but little hindrance to his quick perception of
his own position and his keen observation of the movements
his general address was graceful and nervous, indicating the beauty,
energy and activity of his mind. A bright, ruddy complexion ; hght-
colored hair ; a mouth infinite in expression, its sweet smile being most
observable and most spoken of ; eyes lustrous with deep meaning and
reflection, or glancing with quick canny pleasantry, and the whole coun-
tenance decidedly Scottish in form and expression."
1 The Trenton Battle Monument Association has erected in Trenton,
New Jersey, a great memorial column to commemorate the victory
gained by the Continental troops over the army of Great Britain in the
war for independence. It stands at the junction of five streets, and on
the exact spot where the American artillery opened on the Hessian foe.
The monument is from a design prepared by John H. Duncan of New
York city, and the style of the column is that known as Roman-Doric.
The shaft is of white granite from the granite works at Hallowell,
Maine. The entire structure is one hundred and fifty feet in height,
and is surmounted by a bronze statue of General Washington, by Wil-
liam R. O'Donovan of New York city. On the base of the monument
are three tablets, sculptured by Thomas Eakins of Philadelphia and
Karl H. Niehaus of New York city, depicting the Continental army
crossing the Delaware River, the opening of the fight, and the sur-
render of the Hessians. The fourth side of the base contains the
memorial inscription. At the doorway of the monument are two bronze
statues, one of private John Russell of Colonel John Glover's Conti-
nental regiment from Marblehead, Massachusetts, and the other of
private Blair McClenachan of the Philadelphia troop of light horse.
This monument, the outcome of many years of effort by the associa-
tion, will be found worthy alike of the event it commemorates and of
the progress the country has made in the arts.
lf,o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
and subsequent consternation of the Hessian foe. There
is a tradition in Trenton, which cann(jt now be verified, that
at this spot a bullet struck the chestnut sorrel horse on
which General Washington rode that clay, and so disabled
the animal that another had to be procured for the general,
the wounded horse being left in the \-illage for treatment.
It has been stated that the von I^ossberg regiment formed
L;R(j.\ZE MAIUE n!" t.LNHKAI- WASHINGTriN UN TOP
(IF TRENT'iN HATTLE M(JNUMENT
in the graveyard back of the English Church. The von
Hanstein compan\' of that regiment, which had been quar-
tered on the south side of the Assunpink Creek, having
received orders from Captain Friedrich Wilhelm von Ben-
ning, came up on a run to the alley near King street, where
they took position on the left wing, next to the von Loos
A RALL liA'l'TALKIX 1)I<I\'KN ISACK
jL'MJ WHERJ^ WA^^HING tux RliiMAl.N' lilJ ])LKIi\i
TME BATTLh
company of their own regiment. Just at this moment Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Scheffer, who had received instructions from
Colonel Rail, ordered them out of the alley and up King-
street. They had not made forty steps before the body
company on the right wing received a heavy fire of shell
from Hamilton's battery at the head of the street. Falling
back to escape the fire, they faced the northeast and the
woods on the out.skirts of the town. Several of the men of
the regiment were badly wounded at this time.
The battalion of the Rail regiment which had advanced
up King street as far as the little bridge where the Hessian
cannon were being fired, delivered two volleys at the Amer-
icans and then fell back in much disorder, throwing the left
wing of the von Lossberg regiment nito great confusion.
The flags of the Rail regiment came into the possession
and protection of the von Hanstein company of the von
Lossbero- regiment. The picket of Lieutenant Wiederhold,
two of whom had been wounded, though none were killed
or captured, also fell back on the von Lossberg regiment.
Lieutenant Wiederhold was here accosted by Colonel Rail,
whom he told not to underrate the enemy, "for they are
iG2 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
very strong." Wiederhold and his men continued tlieir re-
treat down Queen street, and eventually joined the von
Knyphausen regiment before it left Second street for the
creek.
Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer instantly ordered his von
Lossberg regiment to wheel on the right, thus bringing
their front obliquely toward the woods, and their back to-
ward the town. Captain Adam Christoph Steding, with the
Scheffer company, one half of the von Hanstein company,
and part of the body company, then attempted to dislodge
some Americans who had come down in the advance on
Queen street, taken shelter behind some board fences, and
through the apertures were doing great damage as sharp-
shooters. This effort, however, was ineffectual.
As soon as the Rail battalion gave way, Lieutenant En-
gelhardt and his artillerists who were still uninjured dropped
their rammers, sponges and handspikes and took flight
across the gardens toward the corner of Church alley and
Queen street. They were powerless and panic-struck.
They had gone but forty steps from the "broken-down
house," as German records call it, of Richard Norris, a stay-
maker, on the west side of King street, when the Americans
had possession of the two Rail cannon. Lieutenant Engel-
hardt reported to Colonel Rail, whom he found near the
corner referred to, still mounted, sword in hand, and with
his men gathered around him in much confusion. He called
out, " Colonel Rail, there is yet time to save the cannon."
Receiving no answer, he again shouted out the same state-
ment. The colonel seemed greatly bewildered, for by this
time he heard the sharp reports of the rifles of General
Sullivan's men on his left, and he only said in German,
" Lord, Lord, what is it, what is it .'' " Lieutenant Gregorius
Salzmann, who was standing near Colonel Rail, repeated
Engelhardt's remark. The colonel replied, " Never mind,
we will soon have them back," and shouted, " Forward,
men, forward ! " but the men did not obey. Then Lieu-
tenant Engelhardt, bombardier Westerburg, bombardier
CUTTING OFF THE HESSIAN RETREAT 163
Ide and the rest of the detachment about them, went
throuijh the rear of the houses on King and Queen streets,
and beat their way toward the creek. A considerable num-
ber of the Rail regiment also ran away down Queen street.
Passing across Second street, the lieutenant told Major von
Dechow of the von Knyphauseu regiment of the loss of the
cannon, and as he pushed on, heard the reply, "Vov God's
sake, I understand ! " l^eceiving some shots from an ad-
vance party of Colonel Glover's men behind a red board
fence between the creek and the house (if the loyalist Major
John liarnes on the west side of Queen street, the)' escaped
over the stone bridge and thence to Bordcntown.
Glancing again at the Americans, we note that as soon as
f^Wt^ '*^*^**«ff
-V-
■\
t=^.
OPENING OF THE FIGHT
Bronze Table! ^'n the Treiifoit Bei/tle H/omnjieiit
Stephen's brigade, the advance of Greene's division, came
to the head of King street, it was dispatched up the liiams-
wick road to prevent the escape of the Hessians toward
Maidenhead. General de P'ermoy's brigade followed that of
General Stephen under orders to the same effect, and the
two brigades formed a strong double line, with their left
i(,4 THE ISATTLKS (3F TRENTON AND PRINCETON
on the Assunpink Creek, and tlius effectually prevented
any flight northward. Loi^d Stirling's brigade, heretofore
the reserve, was now about at the head of King street, and
the denioraliziiif;- effect of the ouns of the American bat-
AI'IAIX WILLIAIM WASHINGTON
teries being noticed, an instant charge was ordered. Colo-
nel Weedon's regiment of Stirling's brigade was in the
ad\'ance, and Cajitain William Washington of that regiment,
with his lieutenant, James Monroe, leading their men, made
a quick dash down tlie street, and, as we ha\'e already stated,
took the two brass three-pounder guns of the Rail regi-
ment. Both officers were W(.)unded in this exploit, the cap-
tain being injured in b(jth hands, and Monroe hit in the
shoulder by a ball, which cut an aitery. During the war
these officers continued to add new lustre to their names.^
1 Captain \Vasliina;ton, afterwards promoted colonel of a cavalry
regiment on the Continental establishment, was a soldier of great per-
sonal strength and commanding presence, although modest in demeanor.
At tlie battle of Cowpens lie distinguished himself ■• by a brilliant speci-
AN EFFECTIVE FUSILADE
,65
As Captain von Altenbockum's company retired down
Queen street, tlie shots from Captain Forrest's battery fol-
lowed fast after them. Hitherto the Hessian captain had
given his orders with much presence of mind, and by a
proper defense had, as he thought, kept the American col-
umn in check to some extent. At this instant he received a
severe wound in the head, fell to the ground, and was for a
time unconscious. Sergeant Christian Kyssell and fusiliers
Heinrich Baude and Heinrich Spier of his company were
killed by the same volley. Although Captain Brubach was
LIEUTENANT JAMl^S M<INK(IE
retiring with this company, Ensign Cjrabe, being the second
officer of von Altenbockum's company, took immediate com-
mand. At last the company came in line on the left wing
men of innate valor,'' as we are informed by the in.scription wliich Con-
gress ordered placed on a medal presented to liini. Lieutenant Monroe,
like his great chief, e.xclianged the duties of a soldier for those of tlie
President of a free repuljlic.
i66 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
and merged itself into the ranks of its own von Lossberg
regiment as this organization was moving away from the
village in a northeasterly direction toward the low ground
east of Queen street and the head of Dark lane. This
movement was by Colonel Rail's orders, and he accompanied,
it for some distance with such of the Rail regiment as had
not already escaped. On the march an officer of the von
Knyphausen regiment saluted Colonel Rail and received
orders from him to direct Major von Dechow and his regi-
ment to fall back, if hard pressed, toward the orchard.
Lieutenant Friedrich Fischer of the artillery, accompanied
by bombardier Conrad Volprecht and about fourteen, ma-
trosses, took two of the guns of the von Knyphausen regir
ment a short distance up Queen street, near the south line
of James Linn's property, for the purpose of opposing a
charge down Queen street, if one should be made. Vol-
precht was able to fire five shots at the foe, and Lieutenant
Fischer discharged the other gun three times. One cannon-
shot from Captain Forrest's Pennsylvania battery, before
General Mercer's charge was made, killed three of the horses
of the German artillery detachment. Then one of the guns
failed to go off, became useless, and the most reliable gunner
in the party was killed. This took scarcely ten minutes, and
the entire section, guns and men, came very near being sur-
rounded. Lieutenant Fischer fired one grapeshot from the
other gun, and then, his own horse having been shot from
under him, he hurried off with the cannon to join the Rail
and von Lossberg regiments, at that moment returning to
attack the town. Bombardier Volprecht, however, ran down
Queen street with some of the matrosses, and joined the
artillerymen with the von Lossberg guns, which were attached
to the von Knyphausen regiment.
The whole town was now in an uproar. The Americans
were pressing in on every side, deadly shots were being fired
from houses and cellars and from behind fences and trees,
and it was hard to bring the confused Hessian battalions up
to the work. General Sullivan's division was rapidly taking
A STIRRINc; WAR-CRY
167
p(i.ssession of the southern part of the town. It is said that
at this time the soldiers cried, "These are the times tliat
try men's souls," as they pursued the Hessian foe. If this
is correct, the stirring words of Thomas Paine were no doubt
instrimiental in bringing triumph to the American arms.
i_Al^TAI.\ Tlin.MAS l-(jRRh^i
Colonel John Stark's first New Hampshire regiment led
the right of St. Clair's brigade, and with Captain Moulder's
battery wheeled rapidly at Alexander Chambers's store, on
the corner of Second street and the River road, now the
corner of Willow and State streets, and as quickly pushed
eastward through Second street in the direction of the von
Knyphausen regiment, then marching toward them in front
of the Bull Head Tavern. "The dauntless Stark," says
i68 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Major Wilkinson, in his "Memoirs," "dealt death wherever he
found resistance, and broke down all opposition before him."
Captain Ebenezer Frye, a very corpulent officer of Stark's
regiment, Sergeant Ephraim Stevens and sixteen men of his
Derryfield company kept constantly at the front, and, it is
said, with his little ragged squad captured sixty Hessians,
who were first astonished at the sudden onset, and then still
more astounded that they had allowed themselves to be
taken by such an insignificant party.
The rest of the first division — Colonel Sargent's brigade
with Neil's battery, and Glover's brigade with Sargent's
Massachusetts battery attached, Major-General Sullivan in
person leading this column — marched to Front street, sent a
force to take possession of the barracks, and then, in the
quickest manner possible ran through Front street to Queen
street, hoping to cut off all escape at the bridge over the
Assunpink Creek. In this they were only partially success-
ful. Colonel Glover's brigade, having crossed the bridge,
immediately turned to the left and took position on the high
ground south of the creek.
We left the Rail and the von Lossberg regiments with-
drawing from the village on a low, level plot of ground which
we can locate without doubt as between what is now Mont-
gomery and Stockton streets, north of Perry street, and
commonly known as "The Swamp." The fragment of the
Rail regiment had by this time been reduced to some kind
of order by the exertions of Ensign Carl Wilhelm Klein-
schmidt, the adjutant of the regiment. He secured the
flags, which he again posted with the proper company in
charge of them. Major von Hanstein here asked Colonel
Rail what was the next thing to be done. At first it seemed
as though the colonel could not come to a decision. Von
Hanstein said again to Rail, "If you will not let us press
forward up this street, then we must retreat to the bridge ;
otherwise the whole affair will end disastrously.'' To this
Colonel Rail assented.
Then the two regiments, by direct command of Lieu-
RALL'S VAIN (.lALLANTKY
169
tenant-Colonel Scheffer, probably in accordance with Colonel
Rail's orders, wheeled about and faced the town, the von
Lossberg regiment being on the right of the line. hVom
his horse Colonel Rail made every effort to place these two
r.ENEKAL J<.)HN STARK
//; (In- Capital al IWishiaj^ton
organizations in readiness for a determined attempt to regain
the lost ground by making a direct attack on the village.
" Forward march ! " he cried, " and attack them with the bayo-
net." As they started again in "good order," so we are told
in the German records, the Rail regiment once more fell
into confusion from1:he effects of the sharp firing from the
adjacent houses and from Captain Forrest's battery. The
170 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
men were now continually falling with grievous wounds and
dying in the street, and the officers strenuously striving to pre-
serve intact the formation of these organizations. The band
of the brigade began to play for the encouragement of the
men, and in this way the two regiments at last came back to
Queen street below Church alley. They found, however,
that the houses at this point were full of the enemy, who
were shooting them down at every moment. About this
time Colonel Rail received a slight wound, which annoyed
him very much, and he said weakened him ; but it did not
in any way disable him, nor did he cease urging his soldiers
to continue the attack. He told Major von Hanstein that
he was wounded, but that he did not think it would amount
to much. Yet he was apparently getting weaker from the
loss of blood. The von Lossberg regiment had still igg
men in line, and retained some semblance of a fighting
organization.
The von Knyphausen regiment was all this time struggling
on Second street with St. Clair's Continental brigade. The
regiment had formed on Queen street above and below
Second street, the flags had been taken out of Major von
Dechow's quarters, and then for fifteen minutes they had
stood inactive waiting for orders. In the mean time Major
von Dechow had galloped down to the Assunpink Creek
bridge, and had directed Sergeant Johannes Mueller, who
was in charge of the guard, to hold out as long as possible, if
attacked, and if driven off to report to him. At last orders
came to the major from Colonel Rail, and the von Dechow
company. Lieutenant Nicholas Vaupell and Lieutenant Carl
Ludwig von Geyso in charge, was ordered to remain where
it was for the purpose of keeping open the passage to
the bridge. One half of the company faced north, and the
other half toward the west. The other, four companies of
the regiment. Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein and
his company on the right, then marched along Second street
as far as the intersection of King street. * Here they received
a severe fire from the Americans in front of Mr. Davies's
TH1-: AMERICANS' RESISTLESS AIJVANCK
17'
house, a building afterwards known as the "General Zebulon
Pike house," and they could see the American f()rce coming
down King street, e\'en then near Colonel Rail's headquar-
ters. The)' now retired back to Queen street, where they
were thrown into some confusion by the fugitives and strag-
glers from the Rail regiment, who had escaped through
Pinkerton's alley from King street or had run down with
Engelhardt's artillerymen from Church alley, and were seek-
ing to escape from the fight by way of the Queen street
bridge over the creek.
Some of the men of the Rail and von Possberg regiments
were doing all that the members of such a demoralized force
could do to dri\'e back the Americans who were pushing
through from Kina: street into C>ueen street. The smoke of
MR. DAVIES.^ HOU.SE, SECUNIJ .STREET
the battle was now enveloping the streets, and, with the
storm of sleet, rendered it difficult to discern friend from foe.
The Americans were before them, on their right flank, and
coming in behind them, and all this time but few of their
firelocks would go off. Captain Steding told his company to
chip their flints a little, but this had no effect, as the powder
in the pan was wet. As they again reached the place where
Church alley runs into Queen street, the flring became
172 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
more severe, and fourteen men of the von Lossberg regi-
ment were killed or wounded. Here Captain Johann Fried-
rich von Riess of this regiment was instantly killed. He
was a brave and gallant officer, and had been exerting him-
self in the most praiseworthy manner to urge his company
to make an effective resistance. Lieutenant Georg Christian
Kimm was also killed by the side of Captain vOn Riess.
A moment later Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe of the
same regiment received a severe wound through the thigh ;
and as he was being carried behind Isaac Yard's house, he
called out to Ensign Friedrich von Zengen to take command
of his company, and exhorted tbe men to fight bravely.
Colonel Rail was still on horseback, and, his force was
gathered around him. Captain Friedrich Wilhelm von Ben-
ning, who from the time the first shot had been fired on
the picket had been striving most gallantly to do his duty
in the von Lossberg regiment, was now instantly killed, and
his body lay in the street where he fell. Captain Adam
Christoph Steding, Lieutenant Wilhelm Christian Miiller,
Ensign Christian August von Hobe and some of the bravest
men of both regiments made a little stand, and fired at the
Americans in and through Church alley, desiring to delay
and, if possible, to prevent a retreat. The two regiments
were again much mixed up, although the men were appar-
ently fighting as hard as they could. Ensign von Hobe re-
ceived a spent ball in his leg, and he hobbled off to the frame
meeting house of the Methodists, on the corner of Queen
and Fourth streets, for protection from further injury. Lieu-
tenant Georg Hermann Zoll, the von Lossberg regimental
adjutant, also received a severe wound in his spine from a
bullet fired from a house by a keen-eyed rifleman, and he lay
in the street weltering in his blood. After the battle he was
paroled, but he remained in Trenton several months. So
the stand made by Captain Steding and his men, while it had
no effect on the Americans, had caused a loss of fifteen men
killed and wounded of his own little party.
Adjutant Jacob Piel here told Colonel Rail that he thought
THE HESSIAN COLONEL'S IRRESOHttION
w-
Mi-nuoDisr (.hur<:h, (.urnlk
they should retreat to the Assunpink Creek bridge, and Rail
sent him to see if they could get through. He went down
nearly to Major \'on Dechow's quarters, not far from the
corner of Queen and Second streets, and found that the
enemy had full possession of the bridge. As he approached
the American force, he mistook them in the storm for the
men of the von Knyphausen regiment, and he was within
thirty paces of them before he discovered his mistake. He
reported to Colonel Rail that it was then too late, and there-
fore no orders were issued by Rail to escape by this bridge.
The Hessian colonel was then shouting to his soldiers, " Alles
was meine Grenadiere sind, vorwarts ! " ("All who are my
grenadiers, forward ! ") But in \ain he urged them to ad-
vance. He was then apparently uncertain just what to do,
and as the valuable moments flew by, the Americans
pressed closer and closer on him. The galling fire of the
patriot army was doing great damage among the Hessian
174 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
troops. The bayonet, on which Rail had boastingly relied,
did not now prove effective, while the deadly lead was every
moment disposing of his fighting men. By this time two
cannon of Captain Joseph Moulder's second company of
artillery of Philadelphia Associators, attached to General
Sullivan's division, had opened up on Queen street from
the corner of Second street.
According to the statement of Ensign Grabe, an order
was then issued by Colonel Rail to retreat out Third and
Fourth streets toward the apple orchard. The command
had hardly been given before the colonel fell from his horse
with two fearful wounds in his side. This was directly in
front of the house of Isaac Yard, on the west side of Queen
street, about two hundred feet north of Pinkerton's alley,
now East Hanover street. Colonel Rail lay on the ground
for a few minutes, and then, leaning on two soldiers, he
walked with much pain out of the street and into the Meth-
odist Church, on Queen and Fourth streets. ■'
As he was painfully making his way toward the church.
Colonel Rail saw Lieutenant Zoll lying near a house, severely
wounded, and he asked him if he was injured. On receiving
an affirmative reply. Rail said, " I pity you." Zoll, however,
recovered, but Rail died.
The retreat through the two short streets eastward had
begun in much confusion, as Major Matthaus of the Rail
regiment, hurrying up to Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, at the
other end of the column, informed him that Colonel Rail
was badly wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer said that
the best thing to do now was to break through anywhere
and escape. Captain Steding and his men were still making
1 Some histories say that Major Frederick Frelinghuysen of the
New Jersey militia fired the shot which injured Colonel Rail. It is ex-
ceedingly doubtful if such an act could have been verified even at the
time, and Major Frelinghuysen, who was an officer on the staff of Gen-
eral Philemon Dickinson, commanding officer of the New Jersey militia,
is supposed to have been where his duty required him that day, — on
the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, endeavoring to cross with
the division of General Ewing.
A DISCONSOLATE COUNCIL OF WAR
'75
some futile efforts to keep the Americans in check, and the
retreat eastward had begun before he was aware of it. Lieu-
tenant Miiller called out to him, " The enemy are on us ! "
and it was with great difficulty that Captain Steding reached
the retreating regiments.
By this time Captain von Altenbockum, who had some-
what recovered from the shock of the bullet which had
struck his head, having mounted Colonel Rail's horse, rode
after his regiment toward the orchard. He was soon over-
taken, however, by an American officer, who carried him to
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SECOND STREET
what proved to be Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer's quarters.
Here that officer was found quite ill and being bled by a
Hessian surgeon.
As the two retreating regiments came near the orchard,
Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Majors von Hanstein and
Matthaus, the three remaining field officers, held a brief
council of war as to what was now to be done. They all
agreed that they must immediately make one desperate ef-
fort, and if possible break through in the direction of the
Brunswick road, or cross one of the upper fords of the As-
sunpink Creek, and try to reach Princeton. When they
came to the place in the orchard where this must be done, if
at all, they saw the brigades of General Stephen and General
176 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
de Fermoy, with two well-formed fronts and a number of can-
non, ready to receive them. Instantly these guns began to
play on the flanks of the two bewildered regiments. They
wavered, and fell back fifty paces within the orchard.
While all these events were taking place, quite a demoral-
ized party of stragglers from the Rail, von Lossberg and von
Knyphausen regiments tried to reach the Queen street
bridge, but were caught between the commands of General
St. Clair and Colonel Sargent, and were taken prisoners on
Queen street between Second and Front streets. They
surrendered in front of what is now Taylor Opera House,
and hence this is often erroneously called the place of sur-
render of the Hessian troops.
As Sullivan's division, still pursuing the main body of the
von Knyphausen regiment, came near the Presbyterian
Church on Second street, a vigorous resistance was made
for a few moments by the German troops. Here Major
Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow, the commander of the regi-
ment, was severely wounded in the left hip, and his horse
also being wounded, he was obliged to dismount. Then,
although suffering greatly, he took his adjutant's horse, and
Lieutenant Christian Sobbe having assisted him to mount,
the major continued with his regiment down the field and
on the edge of the apple orchard, bearing rather more to-
ward the creek than keeping to the road which led through
the orchard to Samuel Henry's iron-works. He was soon
compelled to dismount again, however, as riding made his
wound more painful. Another fine officer was wounded near
the church. Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso ; his wound
was only in the hand, but it caused him much pain. The
lieutenant also kept on with his company. All this time
not one gun in twenty would go off on account of the wet
weather.
The rush of the American brigade on Second street, with
the gallant Colonel Stark still leading the light infantry and
shouting as he drove the foe, made considerable uproar and
kept up the confusion in the town. The rally and stand of
THE HESSIANS DRIVEN AGAIN 177
the Hessians was soon over, and they were hurried into a
field on the edge of the orchard east of what is now Mont-
gomery street and just north of the Assunpink Creek.
As the von Knyphausen regiment was retreating to the
low ground of the creek, Captain Bernhard von Biesenrodt
came up to Major von Dechow and asked him if they should
not make an effort to reach the stone bridge. They were
then receiving some fire from Second street and some from
the vicinity of the bridge, but they were unaware of the
strength of the force at the latter place.
XI
Without having given any definite reply or new orders
to Captain von Biesenrodt, Major von Dechow, wlio had
been growing weaker and weaker, gave up the command
to him, as next senior officer, on the low ground near the
creek. Captain von Biesenrodt immediately formed the
regiment with front toward the town, and gave orders for
them to march by the left to the bridge, for he was deter-
mined to take it and effect an escape at any cost. He soon
found, however, that the narrow bridge was strongly guarded
and that the Americans had their artillery in position to
command it from the heights beyond. He then halted the
von Knyphausen regiment, wheeled them to the right, took
a path along the creek, and again sought the outskirts of the
orchard, with the intention of trying to ford the creek some-
where. They soon found themselves in a bad position, on
low, swampy ground, with a thickly wooded elevation in front
of them and a deep and broad creek in their rear. The von
Borck company was now on the right and the von Dechow
company on the left wings of the regiment.
The two von Lossberg cannon, which that day were with
the von Knyphausen regiment, here became stuck in the
marshy ground. Much valuable time was lost in trying to
extricate them from this morass, but all efforts were inef-
fectual, and at last the cannon were abandoned. While the
Hessians were struggling to recover the guns, the enemy
began to fire at them with shot and shell from Captain-
Lieutenant Winthrop Sargent's Massachusetts battery across
the creek on the high ground to the south.
Major von Dechow, who had been leaning against a fence
while these movements were taking place, now descried
Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein some fifteen
MAJOR VON DECHOW SURRENDERS 179
paces away and called to him. When that officer came up,
von Dechow told him to say to Captain von Biesenrodt that
he would better surrender, as it was quite evident to him
that the Rail and von Lossberg regiments were about to
do so. Captain von Lowenstein declared that he would not
as long as there were still two ways of escape open. " I
know," he continued, " that a few steps from where we are
it is shallow water in the creek, and we can ford it."
Major von Dechow replied : " I order you to tell Captain
von Biesenrodt what I have said to you." Then von Lowen-
stein walked over to Captain von Biesenrodt, gave him the
message, to which he received no response, and returned to
Major von Dechow. That officer was still leaning against
the fence when Captain von Lowenstein came to him and
reported Captain von Biesenrodt's indifference to his com-
mands. Major von Dechow then repeated them, and with
the aid of Corporal Kustner he hobbled along Sunderland's
alley, now East Front street, toward Queen street. The
corporal tied a white handkerchief on a spontoon, which
he held up as they went together in the direction of Joshua
Newbold's house, to give themselves up as prisoners. The
men of the von Knyphausen regiment were afterward much
aggrieved at this action of their commander, because, as
they said, by this he gave to the enemy the knowledge of
their position, which must have been much hidden by the
intervening woods at the time. The corner of Queen and
Front streets was then held by Colonel Sargent's brigade,
Major-General Sullivan being with them. Major von De-
chow must have surrendered and given up his sword to
General Sullivan as soon as he reached Queen street. A
strange incident is found in the German records at Mar-
burg, — that General Sullivan took from a Hessian officer
the knot of his sword and fastened it to his own. If this
really happened, this was the time and place of the occur-
rence, and Major von Dechow was the Hessian whose sword-
knot was fastened to the sword of the gallant Sullivan.
Captain von Biesenrodt then sent Captain von Lowen-
i8o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
stein, Staff-Captain Jacob Baum, Lieutenant Nicholas Vau-
pell, Corporal Heeland of the von Minnigerode company
and some few soldiers up the bank of the creek to find a
place where a crossing would be feasible. They worked
through the thick underbrush for some distance until they
heard a friendly voice call from the other side of the stream
that they were now at the best place for fording. Several
battalions of the Americans, the men of Colonel John
Glover's brigade, could then be seen on the heights lower
down the creek. Both Captain von Lowenstein and Lieu-
tenant Vaupell went down into the ice-cold water, sounding
its depth with their spontoons, and they soon determined
that the passage could be effected. Captain Barthold Hel-
frich von Schimmelpfennig, Lieutenant von Geyso and a
number of the men with them soon joined the first party
and told them that their regiment was really surrounded
and must soon surrender, and that they had determined to
take the risk of fording the creek, although the men then
trying it were up to their necks in the water and said that
the bottom was muddy.
All the servants and women attached to the several regi-
ments, with the exception of the few who had escaped over
the bridge at the first alarm, had gathered down by the
creek with some of the musicians, and a lot of the baggage of
the Hessian brigade. These men and women made a great
noise, attracted much attention and increased the panic and
disorder in the von Knyphausen regiment.
We left the Rail and von Lossberg regiments within the
orchard just east of the Friends' Meeting House on Third,
now East Hanover street. They could easily see the cor-
don of excited American soldiers which had encircled them,
confident of victory, and the line of guns which had formed
a semicircle before them. Captain Forrest's six-gun battery
had come down from the head of Queen street, and was
now ready to fire upon them. Behind these guns regiment
after regiment stood ready to execute the last order, which
certainly would have exterminated them. The American
TWO MORE RECIMENTS SURKENIJER
iSi
officers then called out to them to throw down their arms
and surrender or they would be shot down. Ensign Carl
Wilhelm Kleinschmidt, the adjutant of the Rail regiment,
had become slightly familiar with the English language, and
he interpreted this forcible expression to his comrades.
The American line was now within sixty feet of the two
German regiments. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer called out
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, THIRD STREET
to an American officer who was mounted in front of him,
that he believed they would have to surrender. An office)-,
apparently an aide to a general officer, so the German
records read, but more likely I^ieutenant-Colonel George
Baylor, one of General Washington's aides-de-camp, rode up
to the Hessian line, where he was met by Lieutenant-Colonel
Scheffer and Major von Hanstein, and after a few moments'
conversation they separated, and the two regiments surren-
dered. Then the ten standards were lowered, the arms
i82 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
grounded, and the officers placed their hats on the points
of their swords and held them up in token of submission.
Some of the soldiers, however, inwardly raging at this indig-
nity, broke the stocks of their guns against the ground,
others cut the straps of their cartridge pouches, and still
others, instead of placing, their guns in front of them on the
ground as they should have done, according to the custom
of war, threw them as far as they could into the woods.
General Lord Stirling, as the senior officer in the advance,
rode forward and received the swords of the officers who
had thus surrendered, and placed them in the custody of
Colonel Clement Biddle, deputy quartermaster-general.
Lieutenant-Colonel Baylor was at this time riding back
up Queen street as fast as his horse could carry him, to take
the good news to General Washington.
While these ceremonies were being performed, the von
Knyphausen regiment under Captain von Biesenrodt's orders
had sent out Lieutenant Werner von Ferry with a detach-
ment of skirmishers to the high ground in the direction of
the rear of William Roscoe's house and the Presbyterian
Church, to see if the enemy were approaching, and if possi-
ble to cover the regiment while a determined effort was
made to cross the creek. Then Captain von Biesenrodt,
again saying that he would not surrender, gave the order
for the regiment to go down to where Captain von Schim-
melpfennig and Captain Baum could be seen trying to wade
across the creek. By this time they could hear the shout-
ing of the Americans, and they knew full well that the other
two regiments had surrendered. Soon the Continental
troops pressed upon the Hessian skirmishers, and they were
obliged to retreat, as three cannon were turned upon them.
In the mean time Lieutenant Vaupell was well across the
creek. He had lost his footing several times, but had caught
a root of a tree with his spontoon, and so with much dif-
ficulty and clanger was now nearing the opposite shore. He
was followed by Captain von Schimmelpfennig and Captain
Baum and quite a number of their men, who had all selected
^'AIN EFFORTS TO ]':SCAI'E
1 ,83
different places at which to ford the stream. Fusileer Conrad
Muhling of the von Borck company came near drowning,
and was rescued with the greatest difficulty. Lieutenant
von Geyso, the wounded officer, left the \'on Knyphausen
regiment when he saw that its capture was ine\'itable, and
made his way across the creek. Three of his soldiers who
accompanied him were carried away by the current, and
drowned. Some few men wdio started to go througli the
chilling waters of the stream, and found it very deep, turned
about and rejoined their regiment.
While this attempt was being made, St. Clair's brigade
zf-
'^
h
f ;,
s*u
^
-idt '
>r
i >y.
i^-
c>r
'■^t^tf^^'
,^-
.SURRENDER OF THE J-IE.SS1.\NS
Bronze TaUet on llio Trenton. Baltic .Uonniiieiii
(the records in Germany erroneously refer to it as Stirling's
brigade) with Captain Moulder's two cannon were pressing
on toward the creek, and soon the)' faced the right flank of
the von Knyphausen regiment. Halting about forty paces
distant, they fired a volley at the regiment, but they aimed
too high for execution. An American officer, probably
Major James Wilkinson (afterward General Wilkinson), who
was General St. Clair's aide-de-camp that day, came forward
and tried to attract the attention of Captain von 13iesenrodt.
i84 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
The captain shouted to him to stop, or he would shoot
him. Lieutenant Wiederhold, the officer who commanded
the Pennington road picket, was then sent out to talk with
the American officer. On his return to the regiment,
Wiederhold told Captain von Biesenrodt that the officer
had said, in behalf of General St. Clair, that they must
surrender, as the other two regiments had done. Firing was
still heard while this interview was taking place, presumably
in an attempt to disable the men who were trying to escape
over the creek. Lieutenant Wiederhold returned to the
American officer, and reported that Captain von Biesenrodt
declined to surrender his command. The lieutenant was
then taken to General St. Claii", who insisted that there was
nothing further to do ; the bridge, the fords, the roads and
the passes were all in their hands, and further sacrifice
of life was useless. "Tell your commanding officer,'' he
added, "that if you do not surrender immediately, I will
blow you to pieces. Go and bring your commandant here,"
continued General St. Clair, and after a brief interval Cap-
tain von Biesenrodt approached. Lieutenant Wiederhold
accompanying him as interpreter. General St. Clair repeated
his severe and peremptory threat. Then Captain von Bies-
enrodt, by this time clearly seeing the perilous situation of
his regiment, asked that his officers might keep their swords
and baggage, and the under-officers their swords and knap-
sacks. This was granted, and General St. Clair and Captain
von Biesenrodt shook hands over the agreement. Lieutenant
Wiederhold, evidently in a doubting mood, asked if this pro-
mise would be carried out strictly, and again General St.
Clair stated it emphatically. The order was then given by
Captain von Biesenrodt to march up on the high ground to
the right, and there to surrender. For an hour the promise
given by General St. Clair was kept, but after that the offi-
cers were compelled to give up their swords, and the ser-
geants their swords and knapsacks. The next day, however,
all the officers were given back their swords by General
Washington's order. As the Hessian regiment threw down
•A GLORIOUS DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY'
185
their firelocks, the patriot troops tossed their hats in the air,
and a great shout resounded through the village, as the sur-
render was made, and the battle of Trenton closed.
General St. Clair immediately sent Major Wilkinson to
report the capture of the
von Knyphausen regiment
to General Sullivan, and
that officer directed him to
inform the commander-in-
chief. He came up to Gen-
eral Washington as the lat-
ter was riding down King
street, and Colonel Rail
was being carried into his
quarters. With some nat-
ural elation General Wash-
ington pressed the hand of
the boyish soldier, and said,
" This is a glorious day for
our country. Major Wilkin-
son." And truly it was a
toward retrieving the ill-fortune had been made, in a few mo-
ments a series of disasters had been changed to a glorious
victory, and the declaration of independence had been shown
to be a reality by the most brilliant action of the war.
General Sullivan and General Lord Stirling, who but a
few months before had become the prisoners of these same
Hessian troops, now had the satisfaction of capturing the
very soldiers who had taken them at the battle of Long
Island.
All this time the snow and rain was beating on the two
armies, but especially in the faces of the Hessians. During
their march from McKonkey's Ferry the Americans had
covered the firing-pans of their guns with some part of their
clothing, or kept them dry under their blankets. They were
therefore enabled to do effective work, whereas the Hessian
guns could not be discharged. Many of the Americans
MAJOR JAMES WILKINSON
glorious day. The first step
iS6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND IM^INCETON
were expert I'iflenien, and tlie)' had concealed themselves in
the honses, where their fii'earnis were preserved from the
wet weather ; and thus, somewhat screened from the fire of
the If essians, the}' had from the windows been able to inflict
considerable damau:e on the eneni)'.
So many Hessian officers had been killed (jr wounded that
the urbanizations had become great])' disarranged, and it was
liai'd for thrise who remahiecl to keep the men in the ranks
in an\' kind of military oi'der or discipline.
It woidd seem that the Americans exaffo-crated their force
l;Uli;ADII.I^-nENi:KAL LORD STrRLJN(
when they stated its numbers. Lieutenant-Colonel Schef-
fer testified that they told him that General Washington
had with him six general officers and Sooo men, with four-
teen six-pounders and two howitzers. This was correct
if the statement was meant to include his whole army on
both sides of the Delaware Ri\'er, but of course it is well
HOW LONG DID THE BATTLE LAST? 187
known that he did not bring 8000 men with him in the
attack which he made on Trenton.
Opinions differ as to the length of time taken for this
battle. In examining the German accounts of the sur-
prise, we find that Captain Steding and Lieutenant Schwabe
both thought that the attack had lasted one and k half
hours, Ensign Hendorff estimated the time as one and
three quarter hours, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, Major
von Hanstein, Captain von Altenbockum and Ensign von
Hobe were of the opinion that it lasted two hours. Cap-
tain von Altenbockum and Ensign Hendorff added to this
statement that the actual battle was from one half to three
quarters of an hour. We must then infer that from the
time when the picket on the Pennington road was attacked
to the time of the ceremony incident to the surrender of
the von Knyphausen regiment was between one and a half
and two hours. Lieutenant Piel, who, it will be remem-
bered, had been awake since five o'clock, said that it was
shortly after half past seven when the picket was fired on.
Lieutenant Miiller stated that it was between seven and
eight o'clock, and the opinion of Lieutenant Sobbe was that
it was eight o'clock. We must also infer that the actual
fighting, from the time the batteries opened at the head of
King and Queen streets, until General St. Clair's men had
fired their last shots at the Hessian skirmishers, was only
from thirty to forty-five minutes.
The Hessian soldiers did all that surprised and bewildered
men could do. Their irregular defense was entirely futile,
when opposed by the irresistible dash and impetuosity of the
patriot columns. General Washington says, "They did not
make any regular stand ; " and it is owing to the feeble show
of resistance and to the desperate charge of the Americans
that so few lives were lost in the engagement.
On account of the inability of Brigadier-General E wing's
division to cross the river at Trenton Ferry, a number of the
soldiers of Rail's brigade escaped and either joined Colonel
von Donop's command at Bordentown, or passed to the east
i88 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of the village of Trenton, and took the Quaker road, finally-
reporting to General Leslie at Princeton.^
After one of the battalions of the Rail regiment had be-
come demoralized, many of the men had sought safety in
flight down Queen street, while some ran down King street
and through Pinkerton's alley to Queen street, and some of
the other battalion of the Rail regiment pushed down King
street and through Front street ahead of the American col-
umn, and escaped over the Assunpink bridge. A few, a very
few, regaining courage, joined the von Knyphausen regiment.
Ensign Ludwig Klnen of the Rail regiment, a brother of
Lieutenant Ki'nen of the same organization, arrived in Tren-
ton with his company December 12, but had been too sick
to go on daily duty. A few days before the battle Colonel
Rail had sent him to Bordentown with some baggage, so he
was not made a prisoner, and may fairly be numbered among
those who were not captured.^
In reference to the von Knyphausen regiment, it may be
noted that Captain Baum, Captain von Schimmelpfennig
and Lieutenant Vaupell, with about fifty of the men of their
regiment, marched toward the drawbridge at Crosswicks
Creek as soon as they had forded the Assunpink Creek; but
hearing the yagers firing off their guns to see if they were
in order, and fearing that it was the Americans pursuing
them, they turned into the woods on the east, and for some
time were unable to find their way. At last, however, they
1 Mr. Bancroft, in his History of the United States, says that the
number was one hundred and si.xty-two (162) men; Von Eelking, in his
German Auxiliaries in the American War for Independence, ijjd to
1783, makes the number three hundred and ninety-eight (398) men ; and
Quartermaster Heusser of the von Lossberg regiment writes that it was
five (5) officers and one hundred and fifty (150) privates. The resuh
of my researches indicates that the number was thirteen (13) ofiicers
and three liundred and ninety-nine (399) enUsted men, in all four hun-
dred and twelve (412) soldiers. This number includes, of course, all the
men of Rail's brigade who were on duty at the two detachments on
picket duty south of the Assunpink Creek, whereas two of the estimates
above quoted undoubtedly do not include these outlying picket posts.
^ For names of those who escaped capture see Part ii. No. 56.
GENERAL HOWE HEARS THE NEWS 189
struck the Quaker road, and reached Princeton at about
eight o'clock at night. When he ai-rived there, Captain
Schimmelpfennig was very ill and was taken to the hos-
pital. The weary fugitives told General Leslie the story of
the fight, which was the first news he had received of this
blow to the British cause. The enhsted men were retained
there ; but General Leslie sent Captain Baum with two dra-
goons to General Grant at Brunswick to inform him of the
details of the disaster, and General Grant passed him on to
General Erskine at Amboy, from which place he was dis-
patched with the news of the surrender to General Howe
at New York city. In the early part of the fight Field
Preacher Wilhelm Bauer of the von Knyphausen regiment
carefully and with great prudence passed over the bridge
and hurried down the old road to Bordentown. Lieutenant
von Geyso of the von Knyphausen regiment, who had forded
the creek, safely reached Bordentown, and' reported the facts
of the surprise to Lieutenant-Colonel von Minnigerode.
At the yager picket post of one officer and fifty men at
General Dickinson's house on the River road, all escaped
save one, who was captured. Lieutenant Friedrich Wilhelm
von Grothausen was severely censured for running away
without making much of a fight, but only a week later he
met his fate not far from the bridge over which he and his
men had escaped during the surprise at Trenton.
The twenty British dragoons, a detachment of the Six-
teenth regiment of the Queen's light dragoons, did not
tarry in the town long after the engagement opened. In no
pubhshed history of the fight and in no manuscript records
can the slightest mention be found of any effort of these
men to repel the hostile army.
The guard at the Assunpink bridge, nineteen soldiers,
after doing their duty for a short time, though without firing
a shot, left their post and joined the fugitives. One soldier,
however, who was posted in front of Major von Dechow's
quarters was killed. Sergeant Mueller says that before they
left, the light horse, the artillerymen, the yagers, whom the
iQo THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
sergeant upbraided for running too fast, some of the musi-
cians, the surgeons, and some of the women had passed over
the bridge in the order named. Then, he says, he retired.
The picket at Trenton Landing — one officer, and twenty-
seven men — after enduring a vigorous sheUing from the
Pennsylvania shore, one of their number being wounded, and
having learned also of the capture of their comrades in the
town, moved off on the main road to Bordentown just as
twelve boat-loads, so the German records say, of American
soldiers reached the Jersey shore at the landing, and began
to form back of the "Doctor House." This picket reported
at the drawbridge to Captain Boking of the Rail regiment.
The picket at the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek of
course took no part in the engagement, and escaped capture.
They were accordingly not counted by Mr. Bancroft in his
statement, nor were they included in that of Quartermaster
Heusser ; but belonging as they did to the Rail brigade, they
should be added to the number of those who were not taken
prisoners of war. As already stated, the picket was com-
posed of four officers and eighty-two men. Lieutenant von
Romrodt and his men, who were stationed half way between
Trenton and the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek, heard
the firing incident to the battle. The firing of the cannon
could not, however, be heard at the drawbridge, as Lieuten-
ant Hille of the von Lossberg regiment averred, because of
the wind being in the opposite direction. They received
the news about ten o'clock from fugitives who came there,
some with arms, but most of them without their guns. As
soon as the report of the disaster reached him, the com-
mandant at this picket post sent the news to Lieutenant-
Colonel von Minnigerode, who commanded at Bordentown.
He instantly dispatched to the aid of the picket a grenadier
company, commanded by Captain Wilmowsky, and in a few
minutes the whole of the von Minnigerode battalion followed.
They remained at the drawbridge about two hours, and then
the entire force received orders from Colonel von Donop to
march to Bordentown for the night.
ESCAl'E, OR SURRKNDEK?
191
Some historians, referring to this time, make the state-
ment that after the attack had commenced an attemjit was
made by some of tlie German soldiers to harness up Irorses
for the purpose of carrying off their ill-gotten spoils. There
is no doubt that the Hessian soldiery at Trenton, foremost
in rapine and plunder as they had been on their march
through New Jersey, were well supplied with articles which
the)- did not care to lea\'e in the hands of the Americans.
Howe\'er, they did not go over the bridge with any loaded
wagons, if we are to believe the German records, which give
with great precision the kind and condition of men wlio
\V.-\.Sl-il.\ini IN .\N[J GREtNfc. L.ALLIN
.N1-:L K.ALi
escaped. In 1780 Joseph Galloway, the loyalist, in his " Let-
ters Written to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War in
the Middle Colonies," says : " It is a fact, that Colonel Raille,
although he had sufficient notice of the enem}-'s approach,
could not form his men, who, more attentive to the safety of
their plunder than their duty, and engaged in putting horses
192 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
to and loading their waggons, became deaf to all orders. In
this state they were surrounded and taken."
The Hessian commander was grievously wounded. Poor
Rail, the brave and dashing colonel, given to military display,
fond of the parade, proud of his well-drilled and disciplined
soldiers as they marched daily on the streets of Trenton, —
this courageous officer had now to die. Death alone could
rid him of the heavy responsibility and the measure of dis-
grace which rested on him. Soon after the surrender he
was placed on a bench in the Methodist Church on Queen
street, and carried through Church alley to his own head-
quarters on King street. The house of Stacy Potts had
been in the thickest of the battle, and showed the effects of
shell and of bullet. A pane of glass through which a bullet
passed remains to this day a relic of the fight. In disrobing
the wounded commander, the note of Wall, the Bucks County
Tory, came to light, and Rail, when he understood its con-
tents, simply remarked, "Hatte ich dies zu Herrn Hunt gele-
sen, so ware ich jezt nicht hier." ("If I had read this at
Mr. Hunt's I would not be here.")
During the morning General Washington and General
Greene called at the house of Mr. Potts, and with the aid of
an interpreter held a brief conversation with Colonel Rail,
and took his parole of honor.^ Rail begged General Wash-
ington for kind treatment to his men, and his petition was
readily granted. General Washington also spoke a few
words of consolation to the dying soldier. Colonel Rail
lingered in pain during the night, and died on the evening
of December 27. The German documents say that he was
buried in the Presbyterian churchyard on Second street (now
State street), but his is now an unknown grave. It must
have been in ground since covered by the present church
edifice. When, in 1838, the excavation was made for the
foundation of the church, a large number of buttons from
^ A large painting of this scene was executed many years ago, and is
now in possession of one of the descendants of Stacy Potts, Joseph P.
Lloyd, Esq., of Orange, New Jersey.
RALL'S EPITAPH 193
Hessian uniforms were found. Lieutenant Kitnen of Rail's
regiment wrote this epitaph, which was never placed above
him: "Hier liegt der Oberst Rail, mit ihm ist alles all!"
(" Here lies Colonel Rail, with him all is over ! ")
XII
The loss of the American army in this affair was very
small, being, as General Washington reported, two officers
and two privates wounded. The officers referred to were
Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe,
who were injured in the charge on the enemy's guns on
King street, and one of the privates wounded was young
Robert James Livingston, of the Hunterdon County militia,
afterward an ensign in the Fifth Virginia regiment, and
who had matriculated at Princeton College and joined the
force as a volunteer. On being wounded, he was cared
for by Miss Rebecca Coxe, who lived opposite the English
Church on King street. Some histories tell us that, in addi-
tion to these four wounded soldiers, two officers were killed
and two frozen to death. This statement cannot now be
officially confirmed.
It will always seem strange to the student of this battle
that no greater damage was inflicted on the Americans by
these German veterans, while the Hessian troops suffered
so severely in proportion to their numbers and the short
duration of the fight. As we look at the facts to-day, it
seems remarkable ; but the German records give us the
Hessian loss, and General Washington reported the casualties
of his patriot band. We can only attempt to account for it
by the fact that the Germans made no real stand, that a
number of their guns failed, and that the surprise was so
sudden and the onset so persistently followed up that they
could not make their fire effective. Even with this endeavor
to explain the situation, we still wonder at the difference
between the casualty lists.
The Rail regiment had on duty with the brigade 1 1 offi-
cers and 512 men. Eighty-seven of these men were either
THE HESSIAN LOSSES 195
on guard or on picket that day. Those actually in the fight
during the few moments before the surrender were Major
Matthaus, Captain Brubach, Lieutenant Salzmann, Ensign
Fleck and Ensign Schroeder, — 5 oificers and 425 enlisted
men.
The von Lossberg regiment had 16 officers and 467 en-
listed men in service at the beginning of the fight.
The von Knyphausen regiment began the battle with
12 officers and 429 men on duty with the command.
Counting Colonel Rail as killed, the Rail regiment had i
officer and 12 men killed, and i officer and 10 men wounded;
the von Lossberg regiment had 3 officers and 4 men killed,
and 4 officers and 5 5 men wounded ; the von Knyphausen
regiment, counting Major von Dechow as killed, had i officer
and I man killed, i officer and 1 3 men wounded. The artil-
lery detachment had 8 men wounded ; but as these were
assigned for duty with the artillery detachments and really
belonged to the_ infantry regiments, they are included in the
losses previously given.
The casualties in the brigade were therefore 5 officers
killed and 6 officers wounded, 17 men killed and 78 men
wounded, a total of 106 killed and wounded, as appears by
the official records. Twenty-four of these soldiers — and
some of the severely wounded must, of course, have died
very soon — were all buried, so tradition tells us, in one
place in the Presbyterian churchyard. If this is correct,
their common grave must have been in ground now covered
by the First Presbyterian Church.
In reference to the number of prisoners taken at Trenton
by the American army, the return of Sir George Osborn,
muster-master-general of the British army, states that the
loss was 700. This number is manifestly incorrect.
General Howe made a return to the British government
of the loss at Trenton, including killed, wounded and pris-
oners, as I colonel, 2 lieutenant-colonels, 3 majors, 4 captains,
8 lieutenants, 12 ensigns, 2 surgeons, 92 sergeants, 20 drum-
mers, 9 musicians, 25 officers' servants, 740 rank and file.
Total, 918.
196 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
General Washington made a return to the Continental
Congress, and appended it to his report of the battle, written
December 27, 1776. There is no doubt that General Howe
copied the statement of casualties in his report to the king
from that of General Washington,^ as the figures exactly
correspond.
The official list of prisoners as made out by the command-
ing officers of the three Hessian regiments and the lieutenant
of artillery on the 5th day of January, 1777, while the officers
were still in Philadelphia, shows a total force of 868 officers
and men. 2
Taking the total number of officers and men killed,
wounded and captured to have been 918 soldiers, as it was
given by General Washington and appropriated by General
Howe, and comparing this statement with the number of
prisoners which the Hessian officers themselves acknow-
ledged had been captured, that is 868 soldiers, we find that
22 were killed, 28 of the wounded were left on parole in
Trenton, and that of the 868 prisoners of war who were
taken over the Delaware River on December 26, 56 had in
some way been wounded.^
We are given a fair idea of the kind of men in the rank
and file of the prisoners by their several trades. We find
among them 82 weavers, 49 tailors, 38 shoemakers, 16
smiths, 15 carpenters, 15 wagon-makers, 12 masons, 10 join-
ers, 9 butchers, 7 plasterers, 7 stocking-weavers, 6 bakers, 6
millers, etc. This list was prepared in Lancaster, Pennsyl-
vania, January 10, 1777, and contains the occupations of 315
of the 830 soldiers in that city at that date.
Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rail was born in June, 1725, and
when quite a young man entered on the study of a military
life. During the Seven Years' War he gained considerable
experience in his profession under the Duke of Brunswick,
' For Washington's return see Part ii. No. 57.
^ For these statements see Part ii. No. 58.
' For roster of ofificers of Rail's brigade, with biographical sketches,
see Part ii. No. 59.
SKETCH OF COLONEL KALL
197
and he served for glory as a \'olunteer under Orloff against
the Turks. In 1764 he is recorded in the Hessian State
and Court Calendar as lieutenant-colonel in the garrison regi-
ment Stein. In the following year, and until the year 1771,
he held the same position in the garrison regiment Held-
ring. In 1772 the name of the grenadier regiment Muller
was changed to the grenadier regiment Rail, and he was
COLONEI. lOHANN GOTTLIEB RALL
appointed its colonel and commandant. As such he landed
in America, at New Utrecht, Long Island, August 25, 1776,
with Lieutenant-General de Heister's first division of Hes-
sian troops. Two days afterward he took part in the battle
of Long Island. He fought well at Fort Washington
November 16, 1776, and was then placed in charge of
198 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the brigade which was afterward assigned to the post at
Trenton.
The character of Colonel Rail has been variously and
often erroneously described by historical writers. Prefer-
ring the delineations of his traits made by German critics,
and especially by the late Dr. Friedrich Kapp, the learned
and accomplished biographer of General De Kalb and
General Steuben, we must speak of the Hessian colonel as
liberal, hospitable and generous. As commander of a bat-
talion he displayed undoubted courage, and he performed
acts of great bravery at Long Island, White Plains and Fort
Washington. As a soldier he was terribly in earnest, and
few officers displayed greater military skill in battle. He
always personally sought the most perilous post in the mo-
ment of attack. His British comrades admired him greatly
and called him the " Hessian lion." To the Americans he
was terror personified. Yet with all these commendable
characteri|fetics he lacked a cool temper, sound judgment and
a habit of quick resolve. His deficiency in these respects,
while it n)ight not deter him from properly executing orders
given him, certainly rendered him unfit for holding a "general
officer's cpmmand. Always successful heretofore in every
trust confided to him, despising as he did the American
force and Underestimating its valor, he neglected the sim-
plest precautions to prevent surprise.
Captain Friedrich Ernst von Miinchhausen, General
Howe's adjutant, says of Colonel Rail that if he had not lost
his life in this battle he would certainly have lost his head.
Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold, a rather self-sufiScient
ofificer who had commanded the Pennington road picket on
that eventful morning, gives in his journal a severe and per-
haps unjust and prejudiced account of the man : —
" He (Rail himself) believed the name of Rail more perfect
and redoubtable than all the works of Vauban and Cohorn,
and that no rebel would dare to encounter it. A fit man
truly to command a corps ! and still more to defend a
place lying so near an enemy having a hundred times his
BALL'S FONDNESS FOR DISPLAY 199
advantages. Everything with him was done heedlessly
and without forecast." . . . "There was more bustle than
business at the post. The men were harassed with watches,
detachments and pickets without purpose and without end.
The cannon must be drawn forth every day from their
proper places and paraded about the town seemingly only to
make a stir and uproar." . . . "Whether his men when off
duty were well or ill clad, whether they kept their muskets
clean and bright and their ammunition in good order was
of little moment to the colonel, he never inquired about
it ; but the music ! that was the thing ! the hautboys — he
never could have enough of them. The watch-guard was
at no great distance from his quarters and the music could
not linger there long enough. There was a church close
by surrounded with a picket fence and a gate in front !
The officer on guard must march round and round it, with
his men and musicians, looking like a Roman Catholic pro-
cession, wanting only the cross and the banner and chant-
ing choristers to lead. He followed the parade every time
on releasing the guards in order to hear the music. The
guards were released at two o'clock and the pickets at four
o'clock. All officers and non-commissioned officers had to
be on duty at that time so as to make a grand headquarters.
The cannon instead of being out at the head of the streets
where they could be of use, were in front of his quarters
and two of them had to be paraded to the lower part of the
town every morning and back again so as to make all the
display possible. He gave himself all the pleasure he could
up to a late hour at night, and then going to bed slept until
nine o'clock in the morning. When we came at ten o'clock
for parade to his quarters we had many times to wait a half
hour, because he had not finished his usual bath."
In his interesting journal Quartermaster Heusser of the
von Lossberg regiment makes these remarks on the char-
acter of Colonel Rail and his conduct in the fight : —
" Our commander was too proud to retreat a step before
such an enemy as the Americans. He did not suppose the
200 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
rebels would wager a battle with him. If General Howe
had judged him accurately he would never have trusted him
with such an important post. He was a born soldier but
never a commanding general. Although he had deservedly
won the greatest honor at Fort Washington, where he fol-
lowed the orders of a great general, he lost all his praise and
all his glory at Trenton, where he was in command himself.
He had the necessary courage to attempt the most daring
acts, but he lacked the cool presence of mind absolutely
essential in the event of a surprise. He was full of activity
and very lively in his nature, one thought quickly crowded
out another and he did not come to any fixed resolve. He
was to be esteemed as a generous and a hospitable man,
polite to every one, kind to his subordinates and to his ser-
vants. Devotedly fond of music, he was agreeable in all
social gatherings."
In a statement dated at Homberg, in Hesse, September
1 6, 1787, General von Heister's son. Cornet Carl Levin von
Heister, attached to the Hesse-Cassel body dragoon regi-
ment, and at the time of the battle acting as adjutant to
Colonel von Donop, speaks of Colonel Rail as "A very brave
man, who had shown his spirit and courage on every occa-
sion where he had been directed to attack an enemy. His
experiences in German wars, his life in Turkey, where he
went as a volunteer in the Russian army, did not fit him in
any way to defend a post. His success at White Plains and
at Fort Knyphausen made him proud, and he thought his
name and the name of his brigade would serve as a strong
protection of the post at Trenton. He never thought the
rebels would dare to attack him, and this made him careless
in preparations for defense."
The only Hessian writer who fails to blame Colonel Rail
is Captain Johann Ewald of the corps of yagers. He
throws the responsibility on his own chief, Colonel von
Donop : " He was not able to tell a sham attack from a real
one and foolishly took his force out of supporting distance
of Rail's command. As Colonel Rail lost his life in the
A WORD FOR COLONEL RALL ^oi
fight, and was therefore unable to defend himself in person,
the blame will forever rest on him. His memory has been
cursed by German and English soldiers, many of whom
were not fit to carry his sword." Captain Ewald concedes
that perhaps Colonel Rail did wrong in allowing the enemy
to get so near to him, and that the oi^cers at the picket
post should have been alert enough to have discovered the
Americans in time. " If," he continues, " Colonel Rail had
not been wounded, his three regiments of brave men would
have disputed every foot of the land, but when he was shot
there was not an officer who had the courage to take up the
half-lost battle."
At the time of the surrender many of the Hessians hid in
the houses of their Tory friends, but most of them were
finally secured and carried off as prisoners of war. In this
way the number of men captured was increased. On De-
cember 29 General Washington reported a few more pris-
oners, among them a lieutenant-colonel and a deputy adju-
tant-general, — no doubt included in the lists heretofore
given, — and he stated that the prisoners now numbered
about 1000.
In addition to capturing some of the best troops of the
Hessian mercenaries, the American troops took six double
fortified brass three-pounders, three ammunition wagons,
four wagons full of baggage, 40 horses, about 1000 arms
and accoutrements, 12 drums and 15 army colors. Two of
these cannon were used by the Americans at the battle of
Brandywine, September 11, 1777, where they were captured
by the British forces.
On page 28 of the second volume of Max von Eelking's
work, " The German Allies in the American Revolutionary
War," Hanover, 1863, the statement is made, referring to
the battle of Stono Ferry, South Carolina, June 20, 1779,
that "the guns and flags taken from the Hessians at Tren-
ton were recovered at that place." This is given on the
authority of a manuscript diary of non-commissioned officer
Reuber of the Rail regiment. In a footnote von Eelking
202 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
says that Reuber twice mentions this fact, and he adds that
the guns were immediately turned over to the regiment von
Trumbach, but the flags were retained until the Hessian
troops returned to Cassel. Von Eelking also adds that
there is no explanation as to how the guns were placed on
the vessel, probably meaning the Rattlesnake, an American
man-of-war which had been disabled by the guns attached
to the regiment von Wissenback and the fire of the Six-
teenth regiment of British grenadiers. He speaks of this
action as a "rare capture."
The accuracy of this statement is somewhat doubtful. As
has been noted, two of the cannon were retaken at Brandy-
wine, and there is only a possibility that the remaining four
may have been placed on the man-of-war captured in the
South Carolina waters. It is not to be supposed for one
moment that the Hessian standards also were taken to
South Carolina, for what object would have been gained by
such a disposition of them .'' One standard, if not all, cer-
tainly passed into the possession of the Continental Congress,
and that one was burned in the fire in the museum at Alex-
andria, Virginia.
In the letter of William Ellery, delegate in Congress from
Rhode Island, dated Baltimore, December 31, 1776, and
written to Governor Nicholas Cooke of that State, we find a
description of one of the Hessian silken standards which
had just been hung in the room where Congress was in
session. 1
1 " In the centre of a green field of about four or five feet is a decorated
gilded circle, which incloses a lion rampant, with a dagger in his right
paw and this motto in the upper part of it, Nescit Pericula ; the crest
is a crown, with a globe and cross upon it ; in the corner are gilded
decorated circles and globes and crosses on their tops and in the middle
F. S. in cyphers ; a broad blaze extends from the corners to the piece
in the centre and three small blazes are placed in the field, one in the
middle of the side next the staff, one in the opposite side and one in
the middle on the lower side or bottom."
The motto here given, Nescit Pericula, a contempt of danger, was
certainly ill-suited to the retreating and vanquished Hessians, and it
THE HESSIAN STANDARDS
203
It may be of interest to add an extract from the history
of the fusilier regiment von Lossberg, as taken from the
records of Hesse-Cassel, which refers to the capture of Tren-
ton. As Lieutenant Piel, the brigade adjutant, uses simi-
lar language in his diary now on file in the same office of
records, it is quite probable that he wrote the report of the
THE VON LOSSBERG REGIMENTAL FLAG
fight for Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, the senior officer sur-
viving. It is scarcely necessary to draw special attention
to its greatly exaggerated statement of General Washing-
brought forth this amusing doggerel in one of the papers of the day,
X!a& Freeman's Journal oi February 11, 1777: —
I
" The man who submits without striking a blow,
May be said, in a sense, no danger to know,
I pray then what harm, by the humble submission
At Trenton was done to the standard of Hessian ? "
Another of the standards taken was the beautiful flag of the von
Lossberg regiment. It was of white silk and about four feet square,
the embroidery and letters being worked in gold silk. On one side was
a crown, a monogram E C T S A and the letters M L B 'i 775, and on
the other side an eagle with an olive branch, and the motto, scarcely
less inappropriate than the other. Pro principe et patria — for prince
and country.
It will be noticed that some of the returns report three colors as
captured, others four standards, and still others fifteen colors. It is
difficult to reconcile these statements. We can only infer that in the
first-named return rnention is made simply of the three regimental
flags, in the second the artillery flag is added, and in the third report
the little company guidons are also included in the number.
204 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ton's force. All Hessian accounts seem to make the Amer-
ican attacking party at least 7000 men. This is the number
stated in the German biography of General von Ochs.
" On December 24, 1776, Rail's brigade occupied the
town of Trenton on the Delaware River. The enemy was
on the other side of this river and as he had boats and we
had not, they could cross and disturb us at every hour. On
the evening of the 25th, at dark, they attacked our outposts,
but retired at once having wounded six of our men. On the
morning of the 26th between seven and eight o'clock, we
were regularly attacked by a corps of six to seven thousand
men under General Washington. Our outposts were soon
forced to retire, and we had scarcely time to take up arms,
while we lost many men in consequence of the fire of small
arms and cannon in the town. We were surrounded from
all sides, but we defended ourselves for fully two hours until
the regiment von Knyphausen was cut off from us. Our
muskets could not fire any more on account of the rain and
snow, and the rebels fired on us from within the houses.
Nothing therefore was left to us but to surrender as pris-
oners of war. The regiment von Lossberg lost in this affair
seventy men killed and wounded. Among the first were
Captains von Riess and von Benning and Lieutenant Kimm,
while Captain von Altenbockum and Lieutenants Schwabe
and Zoll were among the wounded. Our whole disaster
was entirely due to Colonel Rail. He did not think it pos-
sible that the rebels would ever dare to attack us, and thus
he neglected all preparations against any attack. I must
confess that we thought too slightly of the rebels, who thus
far had never been able to resist us. Our Brigadier was too
proud to withdraw one inch before such an enemy, otherwise
we would have had no other remedy left to us but,a retreat.
Colonel Rail was mortally wounded and died the next even-
ing, happy that he was not bound to survive his honor.
If General Howe had judged this officer correctly he would
hardly have trusted him with so important a post as that of
Trenton. Colonel Rail was a good soldier but a bad Gen-
ANOTHER ESTIMATE OF COLONEL RALL 205
eral. This officer, who at the capture of Fort Washington
had won the highest honor because he fought under a good
General, lost all his reputation at Trenton where he himself
was general. He had great courage and undertook the most
daring enterprises but he lacked the cool presence of mind
l__^_
B
ESfl
1
■j
1
^^M
1
W'^ /' '"■
1
1
w^^B^^Bt
^Ri;
w
^
H^^^^^^H
l W
Hi^B
N#
'
^BI^^^^^HnP^^r^^
- ^^~^B
■'
I^HhB^^^^ "''^
iCm
M^'k
H^M^^>ifr;
m \m
1
, -
^
i
/ --
«*--«
1
;
«1
m
hHI
^
W^B^^^SSr
Si
^K^V
%,
I^^H
H
^K^^mF
- ' "^P
s|
m
^H
1
/F^Lj.
^^^^■j sSt'
1
\
H
1
>lom:l hiii\kv k>^ox
which on such occasions as the attack at Trenton are
wanted. His vivacity was too great. One idea supplanted
another in his mind and therefore he was unable to arrive at
a fixed determination. As a private gentleman he deserves
the highest respect. He was generous, liberal and hospita-
ble towards all, dignified with his superiors, but kind to his
inferiors. To his servants he was more a friend than a
2o6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
master. He was exceedingly fond of music and a very
agreeable companion."
It may be mentioned here in reference to the conduct
of the American troops in the battle, as stated in a letter
written by Captain William Hull of the Seventh Connecticut
Continental regiment, that " General Washington highly
congratulated the men the next day in General Or,ders, &
with pleasure observed that he had been in many actions
before, but always perceived some misbehaviour in some
individuals, but in that action he saw none."
As the British were in strength at Princeton and at Bor-
dentown, it was deemed prudent that the Americans should
return to their former posts on the west bank of the Dela-
ware River. This course was agreed upon at a council of
officers, though General Greene and Colonel Knox dissented
and urged a following up the surprise by a rapid pursuit of
the foe. It was thought, however, that the prisoners, artil-
lery, horses, stores, arms and ammunition which had been
captured would be much safer on the other side of the river
and the officers generally did not care to risk the posses-
sion of the trophies of their victory.
In a fragmentary narrative of the movements of the
American army at this time. Colonel Joseph Reed, General
Washington's adjutant-general, notes the following as the
reasons assigned by some of the general officers as to why
they should and why they should not recross the Delaware
River with the fruits of their successful expedition.
" I. That the Enemy was in force both above & below,
viz. at Princeton & Bordentown — for at that Time it was
not known, that a great Part of the Enemy's Force was
gone down to Mount Hollow 25 Miles below Trenton.
" 2. There were great Quantities of Spirituous Liquours
at Trenton of which the Soldiers drank too freely to admit
of Discipline or Defence in Case of Attack.
" 3. The Stroke being brilliant & successful it was not
prudent or politick even to risque the Chance of losing the
Advantages to be derived from it.
VICTORS AND VANQUISHED 207
" On the Other Hand it was argued that Successes & bril-
liant strokes ought to be pursued — that History shewed
how much depended upon improving such Advantages — &
that a Pannick being once given no one could ascertain the
beneficial Consequences which might be derived from it if it
was push'd to all its Consequences. However the former
Opinion prevailed."
Accordingly after paroling all the wounded Hessians,
whom they were obliged to leave in the village, and having
rested and refreshed themselves, the victorious army took
up their line of march soon after midday and journeyed for
nine miles back over the old River road to the place where
their boats still remained under guard. A few of the offi-
cers and men were carried over the Trenton Ferry, Beatty's
Ferry and Johnson's Ferry, but most of the army returned
to Pennsylvania by McKonkey's Ferry.
General Lord Stirling was ordered with his brigade to
guard the prisoners and secure their safety. The disagree-
able weather of the previous night still continued ; but few
complaints were heard from the victors, who had borne the
beating storm of hail and rain for fully twenty-four hours.
Far worse were the feelings of the sad and dismayed Hes-
sians as they commenced their weary march from the plea-
sant village and its holiday revels, going as captives on their
cheerless journey along the slippery roadway.
When the column arrived at the ferry landing, the pris-
oners were taken over first, with only a sufficient guard, and
on the Pennsylvania shore they awaited the arrival of the
American army. The crossing was difficult and danger-
ous. It is noted that one boat filled with German officers
came near being swamped by the icy current, and after
, drifting down the stream for nearly two miles, the offi-
cers at last jumped into the river and waded about two
hundred feet through the angry waters, and so reached the
shore.
Tradition says that three soldiers were frozen during this
passage over the river, a fact not surprising when we remem-
2o8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ber the scanty condition of their clothing. Captain Morris's
troop of Philadelphia light horse remained on the New Jersey
side, patrolling the roads until after dark, when they crossed
the river, and at daylight on the next morning reported at
headquarters. The whole detachment of infantry and artil-
lery, many of them having marched fully thirty miles, had
now returned to their former camps, barracks and quarters.
It is said that the next day more than looo men were
reported unfit for duty.
Captain William Hull, at the time of the battle acting as
a field officer of Colonel Webb's Seventh Connecticut Conti-
nental regiment, says in his account of his revolutionary ser-
vices that on returning to his quarters he had a large dish
of hasty pudding prepared for him, and that while eating it
he fell from the chair with weariness, and awoke in the morn-
ing with the spoon still in his hand.
The headquarters of the army was now established in
John Harris's old yellow house, west of Neshaminy Creek,
near Newtown. This village was five miles west of the
Delaware River and five miles southwest of McKonkey's
Ferry, now Taylorsville. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert H.
Harrison, General Washington's military secretary, had
remained at Newtown in charge of the records and papers
of the commander-in-chief. " The old secretary," as he was
called, was greatly trusted by his chief, and it is said of him
that he was " one in whom every man had confidence and by
whom no man was deceived."
On the night of December 26 the Hessian officers were
confined in the ferry house at the landing at Johnson's
Ferry, but the enlisted men were immediately marched to
Newtown. The officers said they spent the night "very
miserably without anything to eat or drink," and the next
day they were taken to the Brick Tavern at Newtown.
They found then that their men had been confined in the
Presbyterian Church and the Bucks County jail in that vil-
lage.
On December 28 General Lord Stirling took Lieutenant-
COURTESIES TO THE CAPTURED
209
Colonels Scheffer and Brethauer, Majors Matthaus and \on
Hanstein, Lieutenant Wiederhold and a few other officers,
to call on General Washington. The commander-in-chief
received them kindly and desired the foui- field officers to
A
'\
,LM L
\^\
FLAG OF THE PHILADFLI'HIA TROOP OF LIGHT HORSH
dine with him, which they did. The rest of the part)' dined
at General Lord Stirling's quarters. It appears that Lord
Stirling treated all the captured officers with cordiality, as a
return for courtesies shown him by German officers, and
especially by General von Heister, when he was a prisoner
of war after the battle of Long Island.
While these officers were in General Lord Stirling's quar-
ters a singular incident occurred, which is gra])hically de-
scribed in Adjutant Piel's journal. It seems that a tall,
210 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
sour-visaged man, whom they supposed to be the German
Lutheran pastor of the village, entered the room where they
were, and, addressing the Hessian officers in their own lan-
guage, urged upon them the justice of the war from the
American point of view. He told them that he was a native
of Hanover, abused the Elector thereof, and denounced
George HI. At last, disgusted, as they said, with his tittle-
tattle, they told him that they had not been sent to America
to find out which party was right, but to fight for the king.
Lord Stirling soon saw that this discourse was not pleasant
to the captured officers, and he abruptly interfered and
stopped the controversy.
Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold of the von Knyphausen
regiment gives us a rather amusing account of his interview
with General Washington. The presumption of this subal-
tern officer is decidedly refreshing. He speaks of the
American chief as a fine, polite man, very reserved, with
limited conversational powers, of medium size, good figure
and cunning features. He also said that General Washing-
ton somewhat resembled one of their own officers. Captain
Bernhard von Biesenrodt of the von Knyphausen regiment,
then a prisoner of war. It appears from the young lieu-
tenant's statement that General Washington praised his
conduct at the alarm-house, saying that he was glad to meet
such a brave officer, and took note of his name and rank,
listening to his criticisms of wherein the Hessian officers
had acted wisely and wherein they had not, and commenting
favorably upon Wiederhold's plan as to the way he would
have fought the battle. It seems highly improbable that
this conversation, of so personal a character, should have
taken place in the presence of such experienced officers as
Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Lieutenant-Colonel Bret-
hauer. During this interview Lieutenant Wiederhold asked
General Washington's permission to return to Trenton and
procure some of his uniform and underclothing. This was
granted, and he gave his parole of honor to return, went to
Trenton on the afternoon of December 29, and returned the
ANOTHER CRITICISM OF RALL 211
next day to Newtown. He was successful in regaining his
trunk, which was in Major von Dechow's quarters, the house
in which the major had died. Wiederhold says that the
good lady of the house had carefully taken care of his cloth-
ing.i
As though he were a veteran of European wars, he sums
up his opinion with the sage reflection that "experience
has sufficiently demonstrated that where a surprise has really
taken place the commander must first recover his own equa-
nimity before he can get his men out of a panic, and that
after this is done and the soldiers have seen that the danger
is not as great as it seemed at first, they can soon be used
as effectively as ever." He concludes with the statement
that " Colonel Rail's action at the time was more foolhardy
than brave, and that in such a case confusion ends in weak-
ness in the moment of surprise. For this reason the three
battalions were captured, and the soldierly reputation of
many good names was dishonored."
The Hessian prisoners at Newtown signed a parole of
honor, which was in the following words : —
1 The criticisms of this young soldier on the battle of Trenton, and
probably the very points which, if we are to believe his statement, he
presumed to discuss with General Washington, were : —
'• I. That Colonel Rail cannot be excused for allowing the enemy to
cross the river so near to his post, in such force, with a river so nearly
frozen that it took sixteen hours to effect a passage and then to be
attacked in garrison and this without his certain knowledge, although
he had been warned several times.
"2. That Colonel Rail is further inexcusable in that the attack of
the night before on the picket-guard was notice enough, that he did not
then send out strong patrols to all the ferries and into all the woods to
search for the enemy, and that he failed to have the supplies and bag-
gage of the army in condition to relieve himself quickly of these impedi-
ments if necessary.
"3. That he did not have his men all called in and stationed above
the bridge over the creek in good position to await the movement of
the enemy.
"4. That even though he had neglected all these precautions he did
not concentrate his entire force when the surprise was really made and
push across the bridge while such a movement was yet possible."
212 THE 1;ATTU-:.S of TREXTON and PRINCETON
"We, tlie SubscrilitTS, Hessian Officers, made Prisoners
of War b)' the American Arm}' under command of his Excel-
lency, deneral Washington, at Trenton, on the 26th inst.,
Ix-ing allowetl ( )ur Libert)', under such Restrictions as to
place as nia\' be from time to time a]ipointed, do give Our
I'ai'ole of IIoiKiur, that we will remain at tlie jjlace and
within the limits appninted for us b)' his Excellency, the
General, the Honourable Congress, Council of Safety, or
Conmiissai'v of Prisoners of War, IV-aceably beha\'ing oiu'-
sel\"es and b\' no \va)' Send or gi\'e Intelligence to the ]3ritish
or Hessian i\rni)- or speak oi- do anything disrespectful or
Injui-iiius to the American States while we remain J'risonei's
of War, We will also restrain nur Ser\"ants and Attendants
who are allowed to remain with us, as far as in oiu' power,
to the same contlitions. Newtown, December 30th 1776."
_-^" ni^n
0/"' ' )Jt- lUJi '^'■
■fj] "jj- ^.. 5^^. ' '^i :£
■a,u ,
-/.<
■■■'i
^'jf-i'ti:
-/ </■ 7;;,A
II
sk;xatii^i;s mj- hkssian oi-fi' i{ks mx the parole
General Washington very kindly allowed the prisoners to
retain all of their jiersonal baggage without examination.
This undoubtedly produced a good effect.
Immediately after the parole was given by the Hessian
"lO TRIUMPHE" 213
officers, they started for Philadelphia in five canvas-covered
wagons driven by Pennsylvania farmers, and reached that
city soon after eleven o'clock in the morning. They were
all taken to the inn known as the " Indian Queen," and in
the evening were furnished with " a grand supper, with
plenty of wine and punch at the expense of Congress." The
enlisted men also marched from Newtown at an early hour
on December 30, under a heavy guard commanded by
Colonel George Weedon of the Third Virginia Continental
regiment. He had with him as guard his own regiment, a
detachment of the First Pennsylvania rifle battalion com-
manded by Captain Lewis Farmer, and another detachment
commanded by Captain John Murray. The men spent the
night of December 30 at the village of Four Lands End,
now called Attleborough. The next morning they passed
through Frankfort and Kensington, and reached Philadelphia
just before evening.
The prisoners, followed by the captured arms and banners,
were all paraded through the streets of Philadelphia, where
the whole populace was out to see them. This exhibition of
triumph was no doubt for the purpose of encouraging the
people and showing them that the dreaded Hessian could
be captured by the undisciplined force of America.
In Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia," an "elderly gentle-
man " gives an account of this display : —
" I well remember seeing the Hessian prisoners which had
been taken at Trenton. I stood on the porch of Pember-
ton's house in Chestnut above Third street. They marched
up the street past the State House, where Congress sat.
They made a long line — all fine, hearty looking men and
well clad, with large knapsacks, spatterdashes on legs, their
looks were satisfied. On each side, in a single file, were
their guards, mostly in light summer dress, and some with-
out shoes, but stepping light and cheerful."
In his diary one of the Hessian soldiers also describes the
scene : —
" Large and small, old and young stood there seeing what
2r4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
kind of people we were. When we came before them they
gazed very closely at us. The old women screamed fearfully
and wanted, to choke us because we had come to America
to deprive them of their liberty. Some however, notwith-
standing the spite, brought us liquor and bread, but were
not allowed to let us have them by these old women. The
American troops who guarded us had orders from Washing-
ton to march us all over the city, so that all should see us,
but the people pressed on us so greatly as nearly to break
the guard over us."
The effect of this triumphal display upon the citizens of
Philadelphia was wonderful. Despondency was turned to
joy; and the rejoicing of the patriots knew no bounds.
The prisoners were confined in the city barracks, which
had been prepared for them in compliance with a character-
istic order of General Putnam : " You are immedatly to
remove your men out of the Barrok to make room for the
hashon Prisoners."
On New Year's day the German officers were taken in a
body to call on General Putnam, who received them hospit-
ably. On the 6th day of January they left Philadelphia for
Baltimore, where Congress was then in session. All the
captured commissioned officers of Rail's brigade were in this
party, and about as many non-commissioned officers, in all
about fifty soldiers. Captain Farmer being still in command
of the guard. On the evening of January 14 he quartered
his prisoners in Baltimore, and the next morning turned
them over to the custody of the Board of War. Congress
ordered the officers to be taken to Dumfries in Prince William
County, Virginia, some twenty-five miles below Alexandria,
and four miles from the mouth of the Quantico River, on
the lower Potomac River. They left Baltimore January 18,
under charge of Lieutenant John Lindenburger of the
Pennsylvania state regiment of artillery, and on January 24
reached Dumfries, a wooden vUlage of about forty houses.
There they remained until September 4, 1777, when they
were sent to Winchester, Virginia, and during the same
DISPOSAL OF THE PRISONERS 215
month 300 of the enhsted men of the Hessian contingent
arrived in the same village to be quartered there. The offi-
cers were sent on December 13 to Fredericksburg, Virginia,
and there, from their own account, they had a singularly
pleasant time for prisoners of war. In the spring of 1778
those who had been formally exchanged were sent to Phila-
delphia, then in the hands of the British, arriving there on
April 20. Two officers, however, were not in the cartel of
exchange. These were Ensign Carl Wilhelm Kleinschmidt
of the Rail regiment and Ensign Carl Friedrich Fuhrer of
the von Knyphausen regiment. Both of these officers joined
the American army, and the portrait of each one was fixed
to a gallows as a deserter by the British troops in New York
city, October i, 1781.^ Ensign Kleinschmidt was the same
officer who killed his comrade, Captain von der Sippe, in a
duel on board the vessel which brought them to America.
The enlisted men were marched from Philadelphia, January
2, 1777, toward Lancaster, and were afterward scattered in
different places in the western counties of Pennsylvania and
in some parts of Virginia. The band of nine musicians which
had so charmed the dead Colonel Rail were kept in Philadel-
phia, and it is said that they took part in the fourth of July
celebration in that city in the year 1777.
From a sergeant's return of the prisoners at Lancaster,
printed in the "Pennsylvania Archives," second series, vol. i.
p. 435, we find 39 men of the artillery, 266 men of the Rail
regiment, 234 men of the von Lossberg regiment, 291 men
of the von Knyphausen regiment ; in all 830 men, and a few
women and children.
In March, 1777, a selection was made from these prisoners
of thirty men, who were sent to Mount Hope, Morris County,
New Jersey, and placed in the service of John Jacob Faesch,
who owned the great forge and foundry at that place. Mr.
Faesch was himself a native of Hesse-Cassel, and had come
to America in the employ of the London Company in 1766.
1 See von Krafft's "Journal," New Yo^k Historical Society Collec-
tions, 1882, p. 59.
2i6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
In 1776 he was engaged in making cannon and shot for the
American army under contract with Congress. The govern-
ment furnished him with arms to guard his countrymen, then
prisoners of war, and he made them useful in casting cannon-
balls for the patriots.
Some of these Hessian prisoners never again took up
arms against the infant republic. Not a few escaped from
their captors and settled on the farm lands of Pennsylvania
and Virginia. These had to be paid for as " missing " by
the English government. Many of them, pleased with the
new country, returned to Pennsylvania when the war was
over, and joined the many large and flourishing settlements
of Germans in that commonwealth.
XIII
On the day after the battle of Trenton General Washing-
ton wrote his official report of the surprise at Trenton, and
sent it to the Continental Congress at Baltimore : —
Head Quarters, Newtown
27 December 1776
Sir:
I have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success
of an enterprise which I had formed against a detachment of
the enemy lying in Trenton, and which was executed yester-
day morning. The evening of the 25th I ordered the troops
intended for this service to parade back of McKonkey's Ferry,
that they might begin to pass as soon as it grew dark, im-
agining we should be able to throw them all over, with the
necessary artillery, by twelve o'clock, and that we might
easily arrive at Trenton by five in the morning, the distance
being about nine miles. But the quantity of ice, made that
night, impeded the passage of the boats so much, that it was
three o'clock before the artillery could all be got over ; and
near four before the troops took up their line of march.
This made me despair of surprising the town, as I well knew
we could not reach it before the day was fairly broke. But
as I was certain there was no making a retreat without being
discovered and harassed on_repj^ssing_the river, I determined
to push on at all events. | I formed my detachment into two
"Tlndsions, one to march by the lower or river road the other
by the upper or Pennington road. As the divisions had
nearly the same distance to march, L ordered each of them,
immediately upon forcing the out-guards to push directly
into the town, that they might charge the enemy before they
had-limeio form.
The upper division arrived at the enemy's advanced post
2i8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
exactly at eight o'clock ; and in three minutes after, I found,
from the fire on the lower road, that the division had also
got up. The out-guards made but small opposition, though,
for their numbers, they behaved very well, keeping up a con-
stant retreating fire from behind houses. We presently saw
their main body formed ; but, from their motions, they seemed
undetermined how to act. Being hard pressed by our troops,
who had already got possession of their artillery, they at-
tempted to file off by a road on their right, leading to Prince-
ton. But, perceiving their intention, I threw a body of troops
in their way, which immediately checked them. Finding
from our disposition, that they were surrounded and that
they must inevitably be cut to pieces if they made any fur-
ther resistance, they agreed to lay down their arms. The
number that submitted in this manner was twenty-three offi-
cers and eight hundred and eighty-six men. Colonel Rahl,
the commanding officer, and seven others, were found
wounded in the town. I do not exactly know how many
were killed ; but I fancy not above twenty „ox tjiirty, asjhey
never made any regular stand. Our loss is very trifling
indeed, — only two officers and one or two privates wounded.
I find that the detachment of the enemy consisted of the
three Hessian regiments of Anspach, Kniphausen and Rahl,
amounting to about fifteen hundred men, and a troop of
British light-horse ; but, immediately upon the beginning of
the attack, all those, who were not killed or taken, pushed
directly down the road towards Bordentown. These would
likewise have fallen into our hands, could my plan have been
completely carried into execution. General Ewing was to
have crossed before day at Trenton Ferry, and taken pos-
session of the bridge leading out of town ; but the quantity
of ice was so great, that, though he did every thing in his
power to effect it, he could not get over. This difficulty
also hindered General Cadwalader from crossing with the
Pennsylvania militia from Bristol. He got part of his foot
over ; but, finding it impossible to embark his artillery, he
was obliged to desist. I am fully confident, that, could the
WASHINGTON'S REPORT 219
troops under Generals Ewing and Cadwalader have passed
the river, I should have been able with their assistance to
drive the enemy from all their posts below Trenton. But
the numbers I had with me being inferior to theirs below
me and a strong battalion of light infantry being at Princeton
above me, I thought it most prudent to return the same
evening with the prisoners and the artillery we had taken.
We found no stores of any consequence in the town.
In justice to the officers and men, I must add, that their
• behaviour upon this occasion reflects the highest honor upon
them. The difficulty of passing the river in a very severe
night, and their march through a violent storm of snow and
hail, did not in the least abate their ardor ; but, when they
came to the charge, 'each seemed to vie with the other in
pressing forward and were I 'to give a preference to any
particular^corps, I should do great injustice to^the others.
Colonel Baylor, my first aide-de-camp, will have the honor
of delivering this to you ; and from him you may be made
acquainted with many other particulars. His spirited be-
haviour upon every occasion requires me to recommend him
to your particular notice.
I have the honor to be, &c.
Go. Washington.
Brigadier-General Lord Stirling also wrote to his brother-
in-law. Governor William Livingston of New Jersey.^
General Howe informed Lord George Germain of the dis-
aster at Trenton in a letter dated New York, December 29,
1776, and from which the following extract is taken : —
My Lord :
On the 25th instant, in the evening, a party of the enemy
attacked an out-guard from the post of Trenton, where Colo-
nel Rail commanded with three battalions of Hessians, fifty
chasseurs and twenty light dragoons, having with them six
field-pieces, which party was beaten back.
1 Part ii. No. 60.
220 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
On the succeeding morning at six o'clock the rebels ap-
peared in force with cannon, evidently intending to attack
the post. Colonel Rail, having received intelligence of their
design, had the troops under arms and detached his own
regiment to support an advanced picket ; this picket being
forced, and falling back upon the regiment, threw it into
some disorder, which occasioned them to retire upon the
other battalions no advantage being taken of this, they re-
covered themselves and the whole formed in front of the
village. The rebels, without advancing, cannonaded them
in this situation and Colonel Rail moved forward to attack
them, with the regiments of Lossberg and Rail ; in which
attack Colonel Rail was wounded and the regiments were
made prisoners. The rebels then advanced to the regiment
of Knyphausen and also made that corps prisoners. Some
few officers and about two hundred men of the brigade,
retreated to Colonel Donop's corps at Bordentown, six miles
distant. Several officers were wounded and about forty men
killed and wounded. This misfortune seems to have pro-
ceeded from Colonel Rail's quitting his post and advancing
to the attack, instead of defending the village. The rebels
recrossed the river Delaware immediately, with the prison-
ers and cannon they had taken
I have the honor to be, &c.
W. Howe.
It will be noticed that General Howe, either because of
his lack of reliable information or from his desire to divert
the attention of his king from the primary cause of the dis-
aster, his own foolish chain of cantonments, misrepresents
Colonel Rail as quitting his post, forming in front of the
village, and advancing to the attack. The truth of the
matter is that Colonel Rail left his bed to join his men in
the town, and rallied them at his headquarters to resist the
terrible onset of the American column.
On the last day of the year the Council of Safety of Penn-
sylvania issued in Philadelphia an address to the people of
JOY OF CONGRESS 221
that State,! announcing the arrival of the Hessian prisoners,
and commending them to the friendly care of the people.
In reference to the affair at Trenton and the part which
the Hessians took therein, a jeii d'esprit"^ appears in the
" Correspondance secrete et inedite," and is no doubt cor-
rectly attributed to Dr. Benjamin Franklin. The text given
is from Bigelow's life of Franklin. It is in the form of a
letter from the Count de Schaumburg to the Baron Hohen-
dorf, commanding the Hessian troops in America, and is
dated at Rome, Italy, February 18, 1777. It is a neat satire
on the traffic of these petty princes in the blood of their
subjects.^
Early on the morning of Friday, December 27, Washington
dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel George Baylor of his staff to
the President of the Continental Congress at Baltimore,
with his letter of that date, already given, and the Hessian
captured flags. The news was received by Congress with
joy, and by a vote on the morning of the New Year Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Baylor was presented with a horse, properly
caparisoned, in token of their appreciation of his service and
of the cheering report which he had brought.
General Washington also sent Colonel John Chester of
Colonel Sargent's brigade, on December 27, to take the
good news to General Heath, with instructions for him to
forward the same to the New England governors. Colonel
Chester reported to General Heath at Peekskill, December
30, and the news which he brought gave great encourage-
ment to the Northern army.
This glorious victory, following close upon so many dis-
heartening defeats, had a wonderful effect upon the Ameri-
can people. Washington's manoeuvre, executed in so spirited
a manner and in such a desperate condition of affairs, com-
manded the admiration of all the people, reflected great
1 Part ii. No. 61. ^ Part ii. No. 62.
3 See note on the battle of Trenton in Rosengarten's translation of
Von Eelking's work on the German Allied Troops in the North Amer-
ican War of Independence, p. 274.
222 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
credit on the undrilled soldiery, brought recruits to the army,
gave new vigor to an almost hopeless cause, and strength-
ened the patriotism of Congress and the nation. It encour-
aged the delegates in Congress to resolve that the cause
must be maintained at all hazards, no matter what the sacri-
fice. From that hour it seemed as though the people them-
selves determined to be as free as their representatives had
before declared that they were "and of right ought to be."
The British generals were no longer considered models of
military science, the Hessian hirelings, with their unknown
tongue, rough manners and pillaging propensities, could now
be conquered, and were no longer so thoroughly dreaded.
The prestige which they had heretofore enjoyed was gone,
and this to them was far worse than the actual loss of
men.
The astonishment of General Howe and Lord Cornwallis
at this display of activity cannot be described. They had
felt confident that the war was about at an end, and they
could with difficulty understand how a forlorn, ill-clad, poorly
fed party of men, — a force, too, on the very eve of dissolu-
tion on account of the expiration of term of service, — a mob
which for weeks had been running away from their invincible
army, could so soon turn, and, with a valor unprecedented,
accomplish such an enterprise upon the very flower of their
army. This stroke was so unexpected, so unaccountable,
that they were badly disconcerted, and could only look about,
as is usual, for some one else on whom to throw the blame.
Poor Rail, powerless now to speak in his own defense, fell
under the ban of their displeasure. They blamed him be-
cause he had not fortified his position. General Howe said :
" If he had obeyed the orders I sent to him for the erecting
of redoubts, I am confident his post would not have been
taken."
The British soldiers, mortified at this terrible defeat, said
the Hessians had acted like cowards ; but they forgot their
splendid fighting on the banks of the Hudson a few weeks
previous, and they overlooked the fact that the British dra-
CHAGRIN OF THE BRITISH 223
goons stationed in Trenton ran away at the beginning of
the fight.
Governor William Tryon of New York wrote to Lord
George Germain, December 31, 1776: "The Rebels carry-
ing off the Hessian Brigade under Colonel Rail at Trenton
has given me more real chagrin than any other circumstance
of this war ! the moment was critical and I believe the Rebel
Chiefs were conscious that if some stroke was not struck
that would give life to their sinking cause, they should not
raise another army."
The mortification of the rulers and the people of Great
Britain was profound. It was with difficulty that they could
be persuaded that any portion of the British army could be
captured by the undisciplined yeomanry of America. The
letter of General Howe to Lord Germain of January 20,
1777, did not relieve this deep despondency, but caused the
colonial secretary to ask for the embodiment of 20,000 addi-
tional new troops. 1
The Tory Joseph Galloway, once speaker of the House of
Assembly of Pennsylvania, when examined before the British
House of Commons in 1779, testified that if General Sir
.William Howe had pursued General Washington across the
Delaware, scattered the remains of his army, and taken up
his quarters at Philadelphia, the Congress would not have
been able to raise another army of any consequence, not
5000 men, so as to take the field at the usual time of opening
the campaign, and that the success of the rebels in defeating
and making prisoners of the Hessians at Trenton had a
mischievous effect on the British service, removed that panic
with which the new states of the middle colonies were struck,
revived their spirits and the spirits of the disaffected and
induced a number of the militia to turn out who otherwise
would not have done so, and contributed in a great measure
to the raising of the army which General Washington com-
manded in the next campaign.
In alluding to this subject General Cornwallis remarked :
1 Partii. No. 118.
224 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
" The misfortune at Trenton was owing entirely to the impru-
dence and negligence of the commanding officer. On all
other occasions the troops ever have behaved and I dare say
ever will behave with the greatest courage and intrepidity.
The behavior on the attack on Fort Washington of this
very brigade of Colonel Rhall's was the admiration of the
whole army."
It was useless, however, for Lord Cornwallis to censure
his dead subordinate when the folly was in the first place
clearly his own. His succession of cantonments along the
shore of the Delaware River was little less than a blunder
as a military movement, for it allowed the very opportunity,
invited the very demonstration of which General Washington
so promptly took advantage.
Lord Germain's remark has passed into history : " All our
hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at Trenton." ^
Sir Henry Clinton comments on the condition of affairs in
New Jersey in this language : —
"There were who thought (and who were not silent) that
a chain a cross Jersey might be dangerous. General Howe
wrote to General Clinton thus a few days before the misfor-
tune ! I have been prevailed upon to run a chain a cross
Jersey ! the links are rather too far asunder ! General Grant
was principally to blame ! he should have visited his posts,
given his orders, and seen they had been obeyed. I am
clear it would have been better if Sir W. Howe had not
taken a chain across Jersey ! but General Grant is answer-
able for every thing else."
In reference to the loss of the Hessians at Trenton, Gen-
eral Cornwallis, when he was being examined at the bar of
the House of Commons, May 6, 1779, " declared that it had
been necessary for the general to extend his chain of canton-
ments to that distance, that he had himself indeed advised
it, and that the fatal accident that afterward happened was
not in human prudence to foresee, and therefore not to be
guarded against."
1 Part ii. No. 117.
BRITISH CENSURES OF RALL 225
We have taken the following from the narrative of General
Howe : " Where could the Hessian troops have been better
employed than in the defense of a post. In the last war the
Hessian troops were esteemed not unequal to any troops in
King Ferdinand's army, two of these very battalions had
served in Germany with great credit, and the whole brigade
under Colonel Rail's command had given a recent proof of
their bravery at the attack of Fort Knyphausen." Search-
ing for a living man to censure, Howe selected Lieutenant-
General Leopold Philipp von Heister, because he had urged
the appointment of Colonel Rail to the command of that
Hessian brigade. General von Heister was recalled by the
Landgrave of Hesse, evidently in disgrace, left America June
22, 1777, and died at Cassel, November 19, 1777, at the age
of sixty-one years.
The records at Marburg tell us that on the day after the
surprise. General Grant wrote from Brunswick : " I did not
think that all the rebels in America would have taken that
brigade prisoners."
Major Stephen Kemble, General Howe's deputy adjutant-
general, uses this language in his " Observations " on the
affair at Trenton, as found in his journal, and published
in the New York Historical Society Collections, 1883, p.
105 : "Why Post so small Detachments as to be in danger
of Insult,' as happened in Rail's Affair, upon the Frontiers
of your Line of Communication, or why put Hessians at the
advanced Posts, particularly the Man at Trent own, who was
Noisy, but not sullen, unacquainted with the Language and
a Drunkard .'' " ,
The day after the battle of Trenton Colonel von Donop
wrote to his superior officer, Lieutenant-General von Knyp-
hausen, giving him some idea of his movements prior to
December 26, and such m-eagre information of the fight as
had been received by him up to the hour of writing.^
General Grant also wrote to Colonel von Donop,^ and the
letters of the two officers must have crossed one another, as
1 Part ii. No. 63. ^ Part ii. No. 64.
226 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the express riders took the same road ! They are inter-
changes of vain regrets over the disaster to the British arms.
In the German archives we find a letter, written in French
by Lord George Germain, colonial secretary of state of King
George III., to General von Heister. The following is a
good translation of this important document : —
White Hall 3rd of March 1777.
Sir :
I have the honour to receive your letter of January 5th,
the news wherein I have given to the King. His Majesty
had already heard of the misfortune which happened to the
brigade of troops of his most Serene Highness, but was igno-
rant of some of the particulars. One of the circumstances
of this Affair your letter gives him in detail. The King
regrets extremely the loss of the brave officers who have
suffered on this occasion fighting in his service and His
Majesty has learned with sorrow that the officer who com-
manded this force and to whom this misfortune is to be
attributed has lost his life by his rashness. It is to be hoped
that the dangerous practice of underestimating the enemy
may make a lasting impression on the rest of the army. As
His Majesty has the greatest confidence in their courage
and fidelity he does not doubt but that when the occasion
presents itself they will try to wipe out this disgrace by
their zeal and by their valor.
I have the honour to be, with great
esteem, distinguished Sir, your
very humble and very obedient
servant —
Geo. Germain.
There also appears in the records at Marburg, Germany,
an official report of General von . Heister to the Prince of
Hesse, giving him the unwelcome news of the capture of
Rail's brigade. The writing of this report and its receipt
must have caused sorrow and chagrin to both of these men.^
1 Part ii. No. 65.
WRATH OF THE HESSIAN PRINCES 227
A letter from the Earl of Suffolk, secretary of state for
foreign affairs, to General von Heister, written in French, is
also in the archives of Germany, and is worth reading.^
Among the military papers on file in the state archives at
Marburg are the letters received by the Hessian general
officers in America. The following carefully translated ex-
tracts from letters of William, Count of Hesse-Hanau and
son of Frederick II., Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, will be
found of interest : —
To Lieutenant-General von Knyphausen.
Cassel, April 7, 1777.
I am accustomed to hold the honor of my troops so high
that nothing worse could have happened to me than to re-
ceive the information that my three regiments had in an
unlucky moment lost their well-earned reputation. Nothing
but an utter disregard of all drill and discipline could have
caused this disgrace. I find it necessary to have a personal
interview with Lieutenant-General von Heister and as the
climate of the country does not seem to agree with his health
I therefore write him to come here for a time and to trans-
fer the command of my troops in America to the lieutenant-
general commanding ; and I sincerely hope that he, feeling
as I do the grievous shock at such disgraceful conduct, will
see the indispensable necessity of expunging it and that he
will not rest until my troops by a great series of brave acts
obliterate the memory of this unlucky affair. The death of
.Colonel Rail has taken him away from my wrath which he
so well deserved in allowing himself in so inexcusable a way
to be surprised. They also are without excuse who after
Colonel Rail had been mortally wounded consented to sur-
render themselves in such a shameful manner instead of
making an effort to break through and fight their way out as
is always expected of good soldiers when they cannot any
longer hold the position. The number of men who suc-
ceeded in escaping plainly shows what the rest could have
> Part ii. No. 66.
22S THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
done if the officers remaining had done their duty and not
put aside the obligations they were under to me, to the
honour of my troops and to their own reputation. The full
particulars of this shameful act are not known to me at
present but nothing has as yet come to my knowledge which
atones for this disgrace. I therefore order the lieutenant-
general to examine all the officers on their return and report
to me the exact state of the affair. I am compelled to make
an example of the guilty party, and I will state in advance
that these regiments will never receive any flags again, un-
less they capture from the enemy as many as they have lost
in such a disgraceful manner. . . .
Greater than my joy at the honorable conduct of my
troops on their arrival in America is now my surprise and
indignation on reading the report of the unlucky affair at
Trenton in the lieutenant-general's report of the 5th day of
January. The loss of such well-organized regiments, with
their flags and their cannon is not only an everlasting re-
proach to my troops but I must believe according to the
report of the affair which has come to my knowledge that
these organizations did not regard their duty nor their own
honour which up to that time they had guarded so well. I
reserve still my decision until I am more fully informed of
all the circumstances of this disgraceful affair, which could
only have taken place by an utter disregard and neglect of
all discipline and all existing orders. Colonel Rail was not
a senior in rank on the army list and the lieutenant-general
should not have intrusted him with a brigade but have taken
the oldest colonel, even if he had to take him from a regi-
ment on Staten Island or on Long Island.
Other letters from the Hessian prince are given else-
where. ^
It appears that General Knyphausen entered on this in-
vestigation ordered by his sovereign and prosecuted it from
time to time during the whole of the year 1777. At the
1 Part ii. No. 67.
HESSIAN COURT OF INQUIRY 229
beginning of the next year he wrote a report and dispatched
it to Cassel, but during the spring and summer following
continued, as directed, the examination of the officers and
men whenever they were released from captivity. In an-
swer to General Knyphausen's opinion, Frederick II., Land-
grave of Hesse-Cassel, wrote him April 23, 1779.^
As soon as the exchange of the captured officers began,
in the spring of 1778, and the liberated prisoners returned
to the British army in Philadelphia a court was instituted to
examine into the cause of the surprise at Trenton and to
determine who was to blame for the disaster. Colonel Carl
Uphraim von Gozen of the von Donop regiment, afterward
of the regiment Prinz Carl, Major Ludwig Friedrich von
Stamfurth of the regiment du Corps and Captain Ludwig
Maive von Mallet of the von Linsingen battalion constituted
the court. From time to time all the ofificers of the Rail
brigade who were then living and who had not gone over to
the American army testified before this court as to their
knowledge of the affair.
The first meeting of the court was held in Philadelphia
April 13, 1778, and continued there April 14, 18, 21, 22, 28,
May I and 2. Then Justin Heinrich Motz, upper auditor,
prepared. May 4, 1778, a description of the surprise at Tren-
ton " as far as I can understand it from the investigation
documents." The court continued to convene May 7, 8, 9,
II, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22. After a march through
the Jerseys and the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, it
reconvened at Horn's Hook, near Haarlem, New York, in the
camp of the regiment von Donop, and continued August 4,
5,6, 7, 10, 12, 13 and 17. On August 18 it met at John's
House, New York, on August 24 at Lieutenant-Colonel
Scheffer's quarters, on August 29 again at Horn's Hook and
at the Morris House on September 23, 1778. The result of
all this investigation was attested by Justin Heinrich Motz,
upper auditor, and sent to the Prince of Hesse, September
23, 1778, officially signed and with the Hessian auditorial
seal affixed.
1 Part ii. No. 68.
230 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
On December 22, 1778, a Hessian official at Cassel, Wa-
german by name, made a digest of all the reports, state-
ments and conclusions for the benefit of the Prince of Hesse.
The investigation dragged along during the years 1780
and 1 78 1, and on December 13, 1781, Auditor Johann Jacob
Lotheisen gave to the Landgrave of Hesse an estimate of
the killed and wounded of the Rail brigade.^
On January 5, 1782, a court-martial was again organized,
and all the officers who took part in the affair at Trenton
were again examined or had their former testimony read to
them, they assenting to it.
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Scheffer of the von Lossberg
regiment was unable to be present before this court, and
he sent a letter to them, v/hich communication is herewith
given, as well as the proceedings of the court relative to
their action in the matter.^
This court was in session for a week, and at the end of that
time, January 11, 1782, the officers of each of the different
ranks represented were called upon for their opinions as to
the cause of the disaster at Trenton. It is very interesting
to read the different views of the matter, from those of the
young ensigns, up through the different grades, each officer
having had longer experience in the service, until we learn
what the veteran colonels had to say of the cause of the
defeat. 3
On the 15th day of April, 1782, a special commission
which had been ordered by the Prince of Hesse to convene
at Cassel to review all the minutes of the courts, the testi-
mony there given and the opinions expressed, addressed to
the prince a communication in which a final summing up of
the whole case was attempted.* The war being then virtu-
ally over, this was the last action taken in the matter. Dur-
ing all these years the regiments of von Lossberg and von
Knyphausen had not been allowed to carry new company
and regimental colors. In 1777 the name of the grenadier
1 Part ii. No. 69. 2 p^rt ii. No. 70.
3 Part ii. No. 71. •* Part ii. No. 72.
IF GENERAL EWING HAD CROSSED? 231
regiment Rail had been changed to the grenadier regiment
Woellwarth, in 1778 to the regiment von Trumbach, and in
1779 to the regiment d'Angelelli.
The "War Commission" confirmed the "verdict" of the
court of inquiry, that " Colonel Rail and Major von Dechow
in many respects acted culpably and laid the foundation for
the bad fate of the brigade."
To many it has always been a matter of regret that the
general plan of the surprise and attack could not have been
fully carried out. General Ewing, as we have seen, found it
impossible to get his troops across the river, on account of
the drifting ice. Yet to some this failure appears provi-
dential. If he had crossed during the night, according to
orders, he must have kept his men entirely concealed from
daylight until eight o'clock, although within easy sight of
the barracks on Front street and within twenty minutes'
walk of the guard of the Hessian force at the Assunpink
bridge and the quarters of the von Knyphausen regiment in
the square beyond. In addition to this there was a picket
at Trenton Landing and an outpost at Dr. Bryant's house, on
the river, from both of which places the crossing of General
Ewing's men would have been plainly visible. If, however,
he had succeeded in crossing, and had not been seen until
eight o'clock, he certainly could have prevented the escape
across the creek of many of the fugitives of Rail's brigade
and have rendered important aid in the movements of the
patriot army. On the other hand, had he been seen cross-
ing the river, had he failed to surprise the out-guard at the
landing, or had a single man of his command exposed himself
to view before eight o'clock m the morning Rail's veterans
would have picked up the little party of militia before break-
fast, the Hessian regiments would not have been so thor-
oughly surprised, and the American army must have fought
a terrible battle with perhaps a different result.
Although all history speaks of this intended crossing as at
Trenton Ferry, it certainly appears reasonable that Bond's
Ferry, two miles down the river, must have been the place
232 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
selected for the crossing, for at that place a sudden bend in
the river, there less than 300 yards wide, and the high
grounds, now the Riverview Cemetery, between Bond's
Ferry and Trenton, would have somewhat concealed the
passage of Ewing's division from all but the picket at Tren-
ton Landing.
With what varied emotions the detachments of Generals
Ewing and Dickinson must have listened to the firing, seen
the rush of the attacking party of General Sullivan, as they
swept the yager outpost from General Dickinson's own man-
sion on the river bank, and watched the race of the victors
through the lower streets of the village, and they unable
to aid their comrades or share in the glories of the first real
conquest of the war!
Colonel Cadwalader also attempted to pass his division
over the river, but was obliged to abandon the design. The
floating ice above Bristol prevented a crossing, and he deter-
mined to try Dunk's Ferry, a few miles below the town.
Near this place the Third battalion of Philadelphia Asso-
ciators had been encamped for thirteen days, and had erected
some redoubts. The battalion was now in command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel John Ni.xon, the same who on July 8 read
and proclaimed the Declaration of Independence in Philadel-
phia for the first time. Soon after dark five large bateaux
and three scows were ready at the ferry, and all the troops
in Bristol marched there about eight o'clock in the evening
of December 25. These troops were supplied with two days'
cooked rations, but the Continentals were suffering greatly
from want of shoes, stockings and clothing. On the march
to the ferry the militia were on the right, and the New Eng-
land brigade on the left of the column. Colonel Timothy
Matlock, in command of the Philadelphia rifle battalion, led the
advance of the brigade of Pennsylvania militia. The Kent
County Delaware militia under Captain Thomas Rodney, and
a battalion of four companies of militia from Philadelphia,
Captain George Henry senior ofificer in command, embarked
first, that they might cover the landing of the two brigades
WERE THESE ATTEMPTS MERELY FEINTS? 233
on the New Jersey shore. Both of these organizations suc-
ceeded in crossing the river. About nine o'cloclc the First
Philadelphia battalion of Associators started over the ferry,
closely followed by the Third battalion, and an attempt was
made to land two six-pounder brass fieldpieces. But the
tides, which they evidently had forgotten, affect the river
below the falls of the Delaware at Trenton, and nearly 300
feet of thick ice which had just found a lodgment be-
tween the boats and the Jersey shore rendered their task
futile. The wind was blowing a gale, and the night was
dark and very cold. It was found impossible to transport
the guns over the ice, and it was hazardous to proceed with-
out them. A single file of Colonel Glover's regiment of
military mariners would have given them the proper time for
crossing, and shown the way in which it could most easily
be accomplished. Just before morning, after an all-night
task in which Major Jehu Eyre, the noted shipwright of
Philadelphia, labored with great assiduity, and although
600 men had crossed, the troops all returned by order
to the former post at Bristol, and Colonel Cadwalader was
again in possession of his headquarters, at the tavern of
Charles Bessonett, on the river bank. Had this entire divi-
sion succeeded in crossing, all of the British and Hessian
troops would doubtless have been driven from their canton-
ments in Burlington County, and General Washington would
have instantly secured for his army a firm hold upon a con-
siderable portion of the State.
Referring in his diary to the attempts of the divisions of
General Ewing and Colonel Cadwalader ^ to cross the river
into New Jersey, Captain Thomas Rodney says : " I am
inclined to think that General Washington meant these only
as feints, for if our generals had been in earnest, we could
have taken Burlington with the light troops alone."
Colonel Joseph Reed, Washington's adjutant-general, and
Major Joseph Cowperthwaite of the First Philadelphia bat-
talion of Associators, after crossing with the first detachment
1 Part ii. No. 73.
234 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of the army at Dunk's Ferry, remained on the New Jersey
side of the Delaware River. They concealed themselves in
Dr. Bowes Reed's residence in Burlington, and through his
brother's agency Colonel Reed managed to send out some
spies to Mount Holly during Christmas night to ascertain
the condition of the Hessian advance guard. They found
the guard asleep in their quarters, not expecting attack and
apparently regardless of it ; indeed, in the same situation as
their comrades at Trenton. After obtaining this important
information, the two officers returned unseen from Burling-
ton, and at daylight landed at Bristol.
As soon as he heard of the disaster at Trenton, Colonel
von Donop, the hitherto cautious officer, who had just made
the foolish and fruitless pursuit of Colonel Griffin's command,
which had decoyed him to Mount Holly, went to Black Horse
and thence to AUentown. He deemed it important, as he
said, to keep the way open to Princeton, and thought it best
to retire before an enemy approached. He then sent Cap-
tain Thomas Gamble, the acting quartermaster-general, to
Princeton to inform General Leslie of the direful news he
had received, and how he proposed to act. He had then but
nine cartridges for each of his cannon, and his ammunition
for firelocks was very small.
He also sent an order to Lieutenant-Colonel von Minni-
gerode, in command at Bordentown, to vacate that place and
join him immediately. This order the lieutenant-colonel re-
ceived at midnight, December 26. Early in the morning of
December 27 his men despoiled the library of Francis Hop-
kinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, com-
mitted other injuries to the place and the people, and then
left the village in great haste. In this way all the outposts
in the advance toward Philadelphia were abandoned. The
Hessians left twenty sick and wounded men in Bordentown
for the patriots to care for and some provisions and forage
which they were unable to carry away for want of wagons.
All the fugitives of Rail's brigade, reported at this time as
292 men, including the picket force at Crosswicks bridge.
GENERAL LESLIE'S ALARM 235
accompanied Lieutenant-Colonel von Minnigerode to Allen-
town.
It may be mentioned here that Captain Heinrich Ludwig
Boking, the ranking officer of the Rail regiment, was placed
in charge of all the escaped men of this brigade until just
before they arrived in Princeton, when he was superseded
by Captain Alexander von Wilmowsky, formerly of the regi-
ment von Bose, who commanded them until, marching by
way of Amboy, they arrived in New York city.
The following order issued by General Howe appears to
have reference to the men who escaped to Bordentown and
Princeton on December 26 : —
Head Quarters New York Jan ist 1777
The Remains of Col. Rail's Brigade being under Orders
for New York the Deputy Quarter Master General will pro-
vide Vessels to receive them, at Amboy, where they are to
Embark, and the Barrack-Master of New York will prepare
Barracks to receive them. . . .
During the afternoon of Friday, December 27, General
Leslie, then in command at Princeton, wrote to Colonel von
Donop, expressing his regrets for the disaster at Trenton. ^
In this letter General Leslie desired Colonel von Donop
to remain at Allentown, but subsequently he must have be-
come alarmed at the situation of affairs, and have spent a
wakeful night. No doubt exaggerated accounts of the affair
at Trenton and of the condition of Washington's army were
hourly coming to his notice. At all events it seems that at
two o'clock he wrote to Colonel von Donop, and at daylight
an express rider took another letter to the Hessian com-
mander.^
Colonel von Donop answered General Leslie's letters im-
mediately. His reply, singular to relate, is written in French
instead of German : —
1 Part ii. No. 74.
2 For these letters see Part ii. No. 75.
236 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Sir :
I was fortunate in receiving your communication of this
morning at eight o'cloclc and I will set all in motion, although
the news of yesterday from Trenton does not inform me
about the 1400 men which according to your information
have marched toward Pennington to join the Jersey Troops
at Rocky Hill.
DONOP
Colonel
Allextown 28th Dec 1776.
Will you have the kindness to advise me whether I ought
in marching to join you with all my force or whether I ought
to stop some on the way or post some of them here.
General Grant, the British commanding officer at Bruns-
wick, sent an express to General Howe at New York, desir-
ing instructions as to where he should place Colonel von
Donop's force, but in the mean time he wrote to von Donop,
giving him orders as to what he should do until plans for the
future should be settled. ^
At eight o'clock on- the morning of December 28 a re-
port reached Colonel von Donop that 1400 rebels had
landed in Trenton, marched to Pennington and thence to
Rocky Hill, where they had united with a large body of New
Jersey militia for the purpose of making an attack. on Prince-
ton. Colonel von Donop sent his baggage to Cranbeny
under a guard of 100 grenadiers commanded by Captain
Johann Friedrich von Stein, whom he instructed to wait
there for orders, and then, taking the direct road, he_
marched with all his force toward Princeton. "Scarcely was
his column in motion when he received General Grant's let-
ter, ordering him to go into garrison at Princeton. Two
hours afterward he received another letter from General
Grant, brought by Lieutenant Patrick Henry, adjutant of
Lieutenant-Colonel Elisha Lawrence's First battalion of New
Jersey volunteers, loyalists, of Brigadier-General Courtlandt
Skinner's command.^
1 Part ii. No. 76. 2 p^^t ii. No. 77.
VON DONOP MARCHES TO PRINCETON 237
General Leslie was ordered to send toward Trenton a
patrol and guard of light infantry to obtain news and to
cover somewhat the march of von Donop's force to Prince-
ton. He was also directed that on the arrival of this column
he should place some of the British troops at Kingston and
at Six Mile Run, and station the second brigade of the
British line and the Forty-second regiment of foot at Rocky
Hill, and let them throw out pickets towards Pluckemin.
As soon as von Donop arrived at Princeton, he reported
the fact to his superior officer, General Grant, at Brunswick,
and touched upon the condition of matters there. ^
1 Part ii. No. 78.
XIV
Colonel von Donop's force arrived in Princeton at two
o'clock in the afternoon of December 28, and immediately
went into quarters to take the place of Leslie's brigade of
the British line. The von Minnigerode battalion succeeded
in finding houses for their occupancy in the town, the Forty-
second regiment quartered toward Stony Brook on the road
to Maidenhead, the yagers in houses north of Princeton on
the road to Kingston, and the von Linsingen and Block
battalions, with the men of the Rail brigade, remained in
Kingston. Even then there were ,not sufficient houses in
which to quarter von Donop's entire command, and the first
night some 400 men were obliged to camp out in the open
fields. An order was sent to Captain von Stein at Cran-
berry to bring the baggage on to Princeton. He reported
in Princeton on the night of December 29.
General Leslie did not relish the idea of leaving his plea-
sant quarters in Princeton, and he tried in every way to
delay his own departure, hoping that some change might be
made in the orders and he be allowed to retain the chief
command in the town.
During the night of December 28 additional reports
reached Princeton of the movements of American troops in
New Jersey. The Forty-second regiment was then sent
towards Maidenhead, where the light infantry was stationed,
and the von Linsingen regiment took its place at Stony
Brook and toward Eight Mile Run. At the slightest alarm
Colonel Block at Kingston was to march his men to the
high ground around the college at Princeton. The yagers
were directed to form a rear-guard. The baggage of von
Donop's division was kept packed that it might be quickly
sent on to Brunswick if necessary.
A BELATED CROSSING 239
Colonel von Donop then ordered two small redoubts to be
erected on the south side of Princeton village, and made
other preparations for the anticipated attack on his post.
On the 29th of December another rumor reached him of
the approach of General Washington's army. The next day
strong patrols were sent out from Maidenhead toward Pen-
nington, but they could not discover any traces of the Amer-
icans. About nine o'clock in the morning the Hessians
captured an officer of the "rebel army " who evidently was
trying to discover the position and condition of the British
forces.
Referring again to the movements of the American army,
we remark that Colonel Cadwalader had heard the firing at
Trenton early in the morning of December 26, but had sup-
posed it was from guns on the west bank of the river. He
did not think Washington's column could have succeeded
in crossing the river with their cannon when he had been
unable to do so. About eleven o'clock, however, he received
from General Ewing the intelligence of the crossing of Gen-
eral Washington's army and of the suprise of the Hessians
which General Ewing' s force had just witnessed. He im-
mediately gave orders that the troops should rest that day
and be ready to cross early on the morning of December 27.
During the day supplies of clothing reached Bristol from
Philadelphia, and the New England brigade, which was " in
want of shoes, stockings and breeches," was soon in a better
condition. About ten o'clock on Friday, leaving their camp
equipage behind with a small party under command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel William Coates of the First battalion Phila-
delphia Associators, the division began to cross the river at
Minnick's Ferry, about a mile above Bristol. ^ As on Christ-
mas night, the light troops covered the landing, and the
crossing was completed just before three o'clock in the
afternoon. It was then that Colonel Cadwalader first learned
1 This ferry was called after its owner. Christian Minnick. In the
year 1795 it was changed to Bloomsdale Ferry. The ferry landing in
Pennsylvania is now on property owned by D. Landreth & Sons.
240 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of the retreat of Colonel von Donop's force from Borden-
town and Mount Holly. The full account of the victory at
Trenton was also communicated to him, with the perplexing
statement that the army had returned to its former encamp-
ment in Pennsylvania. He was now greatly embarrassed to
know how to proceed, ignorant as he was of the future plans
of the commander-in-chief. A council of his officers was
held, and while some urged a return to Pennsylvania, others
thought that the new troops should be immediately allowed
to face the enemy, as they desired, and to share if possible
in the results of the victory won by their comrades. It was
at last determined to repair to Burlington. This plan was
carried out with great caution and much delay caused by
a circuitous march of some miles to avoid the Assiscunk
Creek, a navigable stream. Later it was discovered that it
would have been quite as easy to ha\'e gone to Bordentown
as to Burlington, which latter movement might almost be
called a retreat before a flying foe.
The march from the ferry landing to Burlington was made
with the rifle battalion in single file on the right and then
the light infantry in double rank. The artillery followed,
and behind them came the main body of the troops in
platoons. In this way Burlington was reached about nine
o'clock in the evening. No enemy was found in the village,
and all in the immediate vicinity were in great consternation.
Early on the morning of December 27, General Washing-
ton wrote an account of the surprise at Trenton and sent
it to Colonel Cadwalader, who received it that evening.^
From Burlington Colonel Cadwalader wrote the follow-
ing letter to General Washington. It was commenced in
the morning, but not finished until the afternoon, when he
received the commander-in-chief's letter : —
' Part ii. No. 79.
NO ENEMY TO BE FOUND 241
Burlington 27th December 1776
10 o'clock.
Sir :
As I did not hear from you this morning and being pre-
pared to embark, I concluded you was still on this side and
therefore embarked and landed about 1 500 men about two
miles above Bristol. After a considerable number were
landed, I had information from the paymaster of Colonel
Hitchcock's Brigade, that you had crossed over from Tren-
ton. This defeated the scheme of joining your army. We
were much embarrassed which way to proceed. I thought
it most prudent to retreat, but Colonel Reed was of opinion
that we might safely proceed to Burlington and recom-
mended it warmly, lest it should have a bad effect on the
militia, who were twice disappointed. The landing in open
daylight must have alarmed the enemy and we might have
been cut off by all his force collected to this place. We had
intelligence immediately afterwards that the enemy had left
the Black Horse and Mount Holly ! upon this we deter-
mined to proceed to Burlington. Colonel Reed and two
other officers went on from one post to another, 'till they
came to Bordentown, where they found the coast clear.
Colonel Reed and Colonel Coxe are now there and we shall
march at four to-morrow morning for that place.
This information has induced me to proceed, though not
quite conformable to your orders which I received on the
march this afternoon. If you should think proper to cross
over, it may be easily effected at the place where we passed ;
a pursuit would keep up the panic. They went off with
great precipitation and pressed all the wagons in their reach.
I am told many of them are gone to South Amboy. If we
can drive them from West Jersey, the success will raise an
army next spring and establish the credit of the Continental
money to support it. I shall write to you to-morrow, I hope
from Trenton.
I am, Sir, your most obedient, very humble servant
John Cadwalader.
242 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
P. S. — I have two six-pounders, brass and two three-
pounders, iron.
Colonel Cadwalader immediately sent out scouts and
adopted such a course as the information gained might war-
rant. Adjutant-General Joseph Reed, with Lieutenant-
Colonel John Cox and Major Joseph Cowperthwaite, went
toward Bordentown in search of the Hessian pickets, but of
course found their posts deserted. Passing through Borden-
town, where the Hessians had left their stores and their
sick and wounded. Colonel Reed rode on to Trenton, which
he entered long before daylight on Saturday, December 28.
He found that village deserted by both armies, and the
inhabitants in ,a state of fearful anxiety, not knowing what
new movement was about to be made on the town. The
condition of affairs there was immediately communicated
to General Washington by Colonel Reed, who respectfully
urged him to come over to the Jerseys and follow up his
success.
Colonel Cadwalader's entire command, joined by the ma-
rines from the armed boats on the Delaware River com-
manded by Major Samuel Nicholas, Captains Isaac Craig,
Thomas Read, William Shippin and William Brown, left
Burlington about nine o'clock, the light troops having left
just after daylight, and they all reached Bordentown at two
o'clock on the afternoon of December 29, having marched
on the River road by way of Crooked Billet and White
Hill. The whole country had been pillaged ; no grain nor
hay nor live stock was to be found in all the day's march.
The American advance troops entered the village of Bor-
dentown with great caution. It was known that the main
body of the British army had deserted the town, but it was
understood that their light horse were near and ready to
make an attack at any moment. However, the town was
gradually surrounded, pickets were thrown out on all the
roads, and after an hour had elapsed the Americans took
possession of the village. A small hospital, very dirty, and
WASJJINGTON GIVEN SUPREME POWER 243
containing a few sick and wounded Hessians, was the only
evidence of the former occupation by the German troops.
Soon after the arrival of the Americans in Bordentown,
a party of lOO riflemen, 100 light infantry and 100 active
young men, picked from the militia, was sent toward Cross-
wicks and on the Old York road to harass the rear of Colo-
nel von Donop's column, which rumor said was moving
slowly, being encumbered with much plunder and baggage.
On December 29 the advance detachment were reinforced
by another strong body of militia, and they pressed on
through Allentown as far as Cranberry. They did not suc-
ceed in reaching the main body of Colonel von Donop's
corps, but overtook only the straggling parties. At Cran-
berry they received orders to return, and that same night
marched back as far as Allentown. A few prisoners were
made by these detachments on reconnoissance, a German
officer was killed and a standard of the Bernberg company
of bne of the Hessian regiments was captured. This stand-
ard is still preserved.
Glancing for a moment at Congress, then in session at
Baltimore, we find that on December 27 they resolved to
invest the commander-in-chief with extraordinary powers,
and, as it was asserted at the time, with the office of " Dic-
tator" of the United States. This was done before the
tidings of the victory af Trenton reached them, on account
of the urgent state of public affairs, their distance from the
theatre of war, and the immediate necessity for a vigorous
reinforcement of the army. The text of their proceedings
is as follows : —
"This Congress, having maturely considered the present
crisis, and having perfect reliance on the wisdom, vigour and
uprightness of general Washington, do hereby
" Resolve, That general Washington shall be and he is
hereby vested with full, ample and complete powers to raise
and collect together, in the most speedy and effectual man-
ner, from any or all of these United States, sixteen battalions
of infantry in addition to those voted by Congress ; to
244 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
appoint officers for the said battalions of infantry ; to raise,
officer and equip 3000 light horse ; three regiments of artil-
lery and a corps of engineers and to establish their pay ; to
apply to any of the states for such aid of the militia as he
shall judge necessary ; to form such magazines of provisions
and in such places as he shall think proper ; to displace and
appoint all officers under the rank of brigadier-general and to
fill up all vacancies in every other department in the Ameri-
can armies ; to take, wherever he may be, whatever he may
want for the use of the army, if the inhabitants will not sell
it, allowing a reasonable price for the same ; to arrest and
confine persons who refuse to take the Continental Currency
or are otherwise disaffected to the American cause ; and
return to the States, of which they are citizens, their names,
and the nature of their offences, together with the witnesses
to prove them : That the foregoing powers be vested in gen-
eral Washington, for and during the term of six months from
the date hereof, unless sooner determined by Congress."
In the letter transmitting the resolve of Congress to Gen-
eral Washington, this passage occurs : " Happy it is for this
country, that the General of their forces can safely be
entrusted with the most unlimited power, and neither per-
sonal security, liberty nor property be in the least degree
endangered thereby."
General Washington wrote to the president of Congress in
reference to this mark of the confidence reposed in him : —
"I begjeave to assure them, that all my faculties shall be
employed to direct properly the powers they have been
pleased to vest me with, and to advance those objects, and
only those, which gave rise to this honourable mark of dis-
tinction. If my exertions should not be attended with the
desired success, I trust the failure will be imputed to the
true cause, the peculiarly distressed situation of our affairs
and the difficulties I have to combat, rather than to a want
of zeal for my country, and the closest attention to her inter-
est, to promote which has ever been my study." ^
^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 139.
WASHINGTON'S SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY 245
The same day, January i, 1777, he wrote to the Commit-
tee of Congress, Messrs. Clymer, Morris and Walton, who
had transmitted the resolve of Congress to him : " I find
they have done me the honour to intrust me with powers, in
my military capacity of the highest nature and almost unlim-
ited in extent. Instead of thinking myself freed from all
civil obligations, by this mark of confidence, I shall constantly
bear in mind, that as the sword was the last resort for the
preservation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first thing
laid aside, when those liberties are firmly established." ^
These resolutions gave General Washington all the au-
thority necessary to recruit and reorganize his command in
his own way, and then to sustain it in the field. It also gave
him the power, so much needed before, to organize engineer
regiments and recruit the cavalry and artillery arms to an
efficient standard. It gave him the opportunity to enlist
men for a long term of service instead of for a few weeks or
months, as heretofore ; to embody troops into a permanent
force instead of enlisting them in a temporary army ; to
reform the two weak points of the American army — short
enlistments and the depending on the rallying of an undisci-
plined militia in the moment of peril.
In reference to the condition of the American army at
this time, Burke remarks in his " History of Virginia : "
" Like other arts, the art of war requires an apprenticeship
and the protracted duration of most contests between mod-
ern governments necessitates symmetry and continuity of
warlike measures, persevering and patient constancy, me-
chanical rather than impulsive courage, all which are scarcely
compatible with short enlistments."
As soon as Washington received the letter of his adjutant-
general from Trenton, having obtained some reinforcements
to that part of the army under his immediate command, he
resolved to return to New Jersey ; and General Greene
immediately crossed the river at Trenton Ferry with 300
^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 143.
246 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
men, and took possession of the village of Trenton. Before
moving, the commander-in-chief sent a report to Congress. ^
On Monday morning, December 30, General Washington
crossed the river at McKonkey's Ferry, in advance of the
main body of his troops, and hurried on to Trenton. During
the day the army made the passage of the Delaware River
at Johnson's Ferry, Howell's Ferry, Beatty's Ferry and
Trenton Ferry, the boats having been brought down from
Malta Island. To secure the ferries and guard the sur-
rounding country against any surprise by strolling parties of
British, General Washington left in Pennsylvania a small
command, with headquarters at Newtown, under General
Lord Stirling, who had been afflicted with rheumatism since
the affair at Trenton. All that day and the most of the day
following, the army was engaged in transpprting baggage,
provisions and artillery, including the six captured cannon,
across the Delaware River. Captain Forrest's artillery com-
pany were unable to move " for want of shoes and watch-
coats." The floating ice was still a constant and annoying
hindrance. The weather, however, was rather mild, and
this, with the remains of the snow and hail storm of the pre-
vious week, rendered the roads exceedingly muddy.
On arriving at Trenton, the general established his head-
quarters at the house of Major John Barnes, a loyahst, who
was at that time a field officer of the First battalion. New
Jersey volunteers, of General Courtlandt Skinner's Tory
brigade. This house was on Queen street, near the Assun-
pink Creek bridge, and Washington remained there until the
morning of the 2d of January, when he had his baggage
moved to Jonathan Richmond's tavern, on the south side of
the bridge.
To return to the British army and its movements. We
have seen that a detachment of General Leslie's command
made a reconnoissance toward Pennington. On their way
there they passed out of the Scotch road, and endeavored
to procure some intelligence of the whereabouts of General
1 Part ii. No. 80.
CORNWALLIS IS ASTOUNDED
247
Washington and his army from the inmates of Benjamin
Clarke's house at Birmingham. Failing to find any trace of
the American army, they at last became convinced that all
the rumors of movements to Pennington and Rocky Hill
were false.
General Cornwallis, who was at this time in New York,
packing his mihtary chest for a trip to England, and filling
his notebook for the ear of the king with memoranda of the
MAJOR JOHN BARNES'S HOUSE
triumph of his army in the Jerseys, was suddenly aroused
from his self-complacency by the news of the terrible disaster
at Trenton. General Howe immediately ordered him back
to his command, and directed that all his troops should be
massed for an immediate advance.
The commander of the British post at Brunswick, Major-
General Grant, marched with his force to Princeton on the
first day of January, leaving only about 600 men to guard
the stores in Brunswick. These were in charge of Brigadier-
General Edward Mathew. General Grant reached Prince-
ton at noon that same day.
/
248 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
General Cornwallis joined General Grant on the evening
of January i with a considerable body of well-disciplined
soldiers, — the flower of the army in America. That night
Lord Cornwallis took possession, as his headquarters, of
" Morven," the residence of Richard Stockton, a signer of
the Declaration of Independence. The outposts of the
British were then at Eight Mile Run, about three and one
half miles south of Princeton. ^
On Thursday morning, January 2, Cornwallis, now in full
command of an army of nearly 8000 men, having sent all his
baggage back to Brunswick, started on his march to Tren-
ton. Slow and wearisome was the tramp and difficult the
task of hauling the guns over the muddy roadway.
The Fourth brigade of the British hne, — Grant's bri-
gade, but now under command of its senior officer, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Mawhood, Seventeenth foot, — with three
regiments and three troops of light dragoons, in all about
1200 men, with two pieces of artillery, was left in Prince-
ton as a rear-guard, but was ordered to march to Trenton
on the morning of January 3. In addition to this brigade
there were some soldiers who had been on extra duty in and
around New York, and who came to Princeton during the
day, under orders to rejoin their respective organizations.
The second brigade, under command of General Leslie
(formerly colonel Sixty-fourth foot, and an aide-de-camp to
the king, but now acting as a brigadier-general in America),
was ordered by Cornwallis to remain at Maidenhead, now
Lawrenceville. At least 5500 men continued on the march
to take part in the anticipated fight in Trenton. The royal
artillery had with them at this time four light twelve-
pounders, fourteen six-pounders, eight three-pounders and
two five and a half inch howitzers.^
' For composition of British forces in New Jersey at this time, see
Part ii. No. 81.
^ The following is the roster of the officers of the regiments left at
Princeton ; —
The Seventeenth regiment had for its colonel Lieutenant-General the
ANOTHER CONFLICT IMl'ENDINt;
-A<)
MOR\'EN. HONORABLE RICHARD STCJCKTONS HOUSE
While he was gathering together his troops for the con-
flict which appeared so certain and so near at hand, General
Washington tried in every way to ascertain the strength and
disposition of the forces of the enemy. His brave adjutant-
general, Colonel Joseph Reed, again did the cause good service.
On December 30, accompanied by two officers. Second Lieu-
tenant James Budden and Cornet John Dunlap, Sergeant
Hon. Robert ;\Ionckton. it.s commandinij; officer; lieutenant-colonel,
Charles Mawhood ; and its major. Turner von Straubenzee. The captains
of companies were Francis Tew, William John Darby. Perkins MaLCra.
Robert Clayton, William Brereton, C.eorge Philip Hooke, ^\'illiam
.Scott, John McPherson, Hon. William Leslie and Thomas Welch.
The Fortieth regiment had for its honorary colonel Major-General
.Sir Robert Hamilton, baronet, its lieutenant-colonel Thomas Mu.sgrave,
and its major Samuel Bradstreet. Its captains were James Duffe, James
Wemys.s, William i\Iontgomery, John Graves Simcoe, Williams Wolfe,
William Bamford, FIdward F2vre, John M. Adlam. and Robert Atostvn.
The Fiftv-hfth regiment was General James Grant's own regiment,
and was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Meadows, and its
major was Cornelius Cuyler. The captains were John Luke, John C,il-
lan, Garrett Fisher, Henry Downing, John Taylor Trevor, John McLach-
lan, Decimus Reynolds, William Sutherland and Michael Hamerton.
250 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Thomas Leiper, Corporals William Pollard and James Hunter,
and Privates Samuel Caldwell, George Campbell, John Don-'
naldson, Samuel Howell, Jr., John Lardner, Thomas Peters,
Benjamin Randolph, all of Captain Samuel Morris's Phila-
delphia troop of light horse. Colonel Reed endeavored to
reconnoitre the position of the enemy. General Washington
was anxious to know the strength of the British force and
the probable direction of their intended attack. The party
of thirteen rode within three miles of Princeton, but on ac-
count of the guards were unable to get nearer to the village.
They then attempted to go around it and get in at the rear
of the army, but in this also they found some difficulty.
Having obtained all the information possible, they started to
return to Trenton. As they were riding along the Quaker
road, they observed some soldiers, apparently unarmed, pass-
ing between a barn and a dwelling-house. This house the
light horse party surrounded, and they secured twelve Brit-
ish dragoons, who had been engaged in foraging, and had
left their loaded arms within the house. The sergeant of
the troop alone escaped, and he reported that he had fought
his way through fifty horsemen. Besides the British sol-
diers taken prisoners, a commissary was also captured, with
his entire wagon train. From these prisoners they obtained
a good account of the numbers and condition of the British
army, and the rumor that they were about to move upon the
American force at Trenton was confirmed. A part of the
dwelling-house referred to as the scene of this little exploit
is still standing, and is now occupied by Mr. John Tindall
Flock. It is in the township of West Windsor, Mercer
County, about three miles from Princeton and a half mile
southeast of the village of Clarksville.
As soon as Washington was advised of the movements of
the British troops, he took position on the high ridge which
runs along the south bank of the Assunpink Creek. In the
mean time orders had been sent to Cadwalader (who on De-
cember 25, 1776, had been made a general officer of the
MOVEMENTS OF CADWALADER 251
Pennsylvania militia ^ by the Council of Safety, and was then
at Crosswicks, about eight miles distant from Trenton) to
join the main army with his full command. In the councils
of the commander-in-chief, General Washington and his offi-
cers had discussed the advisability of ordering Cadwalader
to make a rapid detour by the road to Cranberry and attack
the small garrison at Brunswick, recapture Major-General
Charles Lee, and carry off all the military and commissary
stores which General Mathews's force were guarding there.
On the night of December 30 General Cadwalader re-
ceived information that Brunswick had but a guard of 250
men, and a body of light troops started out to attack them
should the report be true. On the next day they made a
forced march to Cranberry, and then began to gather horses
to enable them to execute the affair quickly. In the mean
time spies who had been in Brunswick reported that the
guard there had been reinforced by 1500 men, and this of
necessity rendered the design impracticable. Accordingly,
in the darkness and through deep mud the troops wearily
plodded back to Allentown.
In this critical time General Washington made another
appeal to the New Jersey militia. He sent out a body of
influential men to gather in the state forces. This commit-
tee consisted of Colonel John Neilson, Second regiment of
Middlesex County ; Major John Taylor, Fourth regiment of
Hunterdon County; Major John Van Emburgh, Second
regiment of Middlesex County, and Major Frederick Fre-
linghuysen, brigade major, staff of General Dickinson.
General Washington also issued the following " call to
arms : '•
"' General Washington addressed him as Colonel Cadwalader on De-
cember 23, 1776, and expressed a wish that he should be made a brig-
adier, and in a letter to the President of the Continental Congress, De-
cember 27, he refers to him as General Cadwalader. But he seems
from the Pennsylvania Archives not to have been commissioned as
such until April 5, 1777, as heretofore stated.
2 Original in possession of William R. Weeks of Newark, New
Jersey.
^ '--.'^
^
^1
■■■-■■ > ■
1 I
Tv .^i
1 ..
r
e
f \
Ik
*
'II
I
i^
XV
General Thomas Mifflin had been wonderfully suc-
cessful in obtaining recruits for the army from the neighbor-
ing counties, under the instructions to him by Congress on
December lo, " by all the means in his power to rouse and
bring them in to the defense of Philadelphia." On the 27th
day of December he sent 500 men from Philadelphia across
the Bristol ferry to Burlington. The next day 300 more
were sent over at the same place, and on December 29
General MifHin followed in person with 800 soldiers, assum-
ing command of these troops, with headquarters at Borden-
town.i
This force was chiefly composed of farmers, mechanics
and men in mercantile pursuits, — men who knew nothing
of war, of the dangers of battle, the weary march, and the
exposure in sleeping on the frozen ground without tents or
blankets. Yet it is probable that no stancher patriots ever
enrolled themselves than those who are here enumerated,
who left their homes in this crisis to do battle for the free-
dom of their country.
On December 28 Captain Thomas Procter's battery left
Philadelphia with two fieldpieces, and joined the army on
the following day. Colonel James Penrose was left in com-
mand of the post at Burlington. The entire body of new
troops then marched up the River road to Bordentown. On
the first day of January they were ordered to join the main
army at Trenton.
On December 29 General Cadwalader left Bordentown
about two o'clock in the afternoon, and marched his column,
now about 2100 men, to Crosswicks, arriving there at dusk.
1 For General Mifflin's orders and return of these troops see Part ii.
No. 82.
254 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Having posted his command in and near the meeting house
there, he communicated with the commander-in-chief, and
awaited further orders.^
On the first day of January General Cadwalader was
directed to join General Washington's army at Trenton.
He marched his force along the White Horse road, crossing
Doctor's Creek and the Sand Hills, and, being joined by
General Mifflin's division at the White Horse Tavern, the
whole column moved on to Trenton.
It was not until eleven o'clock on the morning of Janu-
ary 2, however, that the whole of the additional force, about
3600 men, could be concentrated on the banks of the Assun-
pink Creek. Some time had been required to gather in the
picket-guards and the scouting parties which had been sent
out toward Allentown, Cranberry and Princeton. It had
rained during the night, and the roads were muddy and
travel greatly hindered.
Still more embarrassing than the apparent paucity of
numbers and the inexperience of recruits was the fact that
a large number of the old soldiers of the Continental army,
especially those from the Eastern States, had completed
their term of service on the last . day of the year, and were
about to march homeward, almost "to the music of the
enemy's cannon."
General Knox, whom Congress had promoted on the day
after the attack on Trenton, addressed the troops December
31, and urged them to remain for a few days longer. Gen-
eral Thomas MifHin also came up from Bordentown to speak
to the soldiers. John Howard of Colonel Lippitt's regiment
describes him on this occasion as "mounted on a noble-
looking horse and clothed in an overcoat made up of a large
rose blanket and a large fur cap on his head." In this rather
unmilitary garb he urged the old troops with the most patri-
otic appeals to stand by the cause of independence. Gen-
eral Washington told the men that so far they had served
with great fidelity, and he frankly admitted that they had a
1 Part ii. No. 83.
THE TIME-EXPIRED MEN REMAIN
255
FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE AT CROSSWICKS
right to their discharge, but begged them to look at the posi-
tion in which they would place the cause "of liberty if they
now left for their homes. He alluded to the victory they
had achieved a few days previous, and showed them how all
this would be naught if they did not attempt to check the
advance of the foe.
General Mifflin also had been to Crosswicks, and in com-
pany with General Cadwalader he made an appeal to Colo-
nel Hitchcock's New England brigade to uphold the cause
of national freedom until the campaign was over. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel William Henshaw said to his Massachusetts
men : " At present this is our business, let us not forsake it.
It is you and I, brave boys, who are banded together in one
common cause. We scorn the thought of flying from it."
They consented. The time of the First and Second Rhode
Island regiments expired with the year, but the Third regi-
ment had still eighteen days to serve. The appeals to their
patriotism and sense of right prevailed, and they, too, re-
mained.
256 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
In these addresses General Mifflin made some promises
with reference to captured property that were never fulfilled.
Whether or not these pledges really affected them, it is dif-
ficult to say ; but the request for at least six weeks more of
service and an offer of a bounty of ten dollars, the same
which Pennsylvania had already given her militia, caused some
1400 of the old Continental troops to poise their firelocks as
a sign that they consented to the agreement. On the first
day of January the eminent financier Robert Morris of Phil-
adelphia sent " His Excellency General Washington" ^50,000
which he had collected from his friends in Philadelphia on
his own credit or had taken from his private purse. This
amount was in addition to the sum of hard money, " four
hundred and ten Spanish dollars, two crowns, ten shillings
and sixpence in English coin and a French half crown,"
which he had forwarded to General Washington a few days
previous. The last installment was sent with a characteristic
letter congratulating General Washington on the affair at
Trenton, and adding, " If further occasional supplies of
money are necessary, you may depend on my exertions
either in a public or private capacity. The year seventeen
seventy-six is over and I am heartily glad of it and hope you
nor America will be plagued with such another." In this
way when the military chest was empty and the emergency
was pressing, this noble patriot exerted himself, and always
with success, to contribute to the support of the army.
The new and old troops which gathered on the bank of
the Assunpink Creek may be stated as about 5000 effective
men, although a large proportion of them were almost with-
out discipline and had yet to learn the first duty of the
soldier. The old troops were but relics of many regiments
depleted by long marches and much suffering. The splendid
Delaware regiment of Colonel Haslet, which had entered
the service 800 strong, was now reduced to about 100 men.
General Smallwood's Maryland troops, which had left the
State with over 1000 rifles, numbered but 150 men fit for
duty. This gallant organization, which had commanded the
I'KEi'ARING FOR A NEW ATTACK
257
admiration of Philadelphians, when in July, 1776, they had
passed through that city, a splendid body of soldiers, had lost
::50 men at the battle of Long Island, and was now but a
mere fragment of a regiment. Nevertheless General Knox
says that e\'en at this time they were " in high spirits," but
he qualifies the remark with " but in want of rum and cloth-
ing."
It does not appear that up to this time any more cavalry
ROBERT IvlOliKIS
had joined the army, but the artiller}' was increased by the
six guns which had been captured from Colonel Rail's bri-
gade and another battery of two guns organized in Phila-
delphia.^
^ This company of Pennsylvania artillery wa.s accompanied by Major
Thomas Procter, First Lieutenant Hercules Courtney commanding.
258 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
As soon as General Washington had procured definite
information of the strength and position of the enemy, he
sent out, under Brigadier-General de Fermoy, a detachment
consisting of his own brigade, Colonel Edward Hand's Penn-
sylvania riflemen and Colonel Hausegger's German bat-
talion, with Colonel Charles Scott's Virginia Continental
regiment and two guns of Captain Thomas Forrest's battery,
to harass the enemy in every possible way, and to dispute
their advance as much as they were able, that the impending
battle might be postponed for at least twenty-four hours.
The Americans posted themselves at Five Mile Run, a short
distance south of the village of Maidenhead, with pickets up
to the town. The British outpost, as we have stated, was
at Eight Mile Run, about a mile north of Maidenhead.
This was the state of affairs on the old Princeton road at
the close of New Year's day.^
During the night it rained heavily, and in the morning
the roads were in a dreadful condition. According to orders
the British army, having been divided into three columns,
commenced the advance from Princeton before daylight on
the morning of Thursday, January 2, with a detachment of
British light infantry and Hessian yagers at their head.
One of these yagers was killed by the American pickets
while he was attempting to capture Elias Hunt, a farmer in
that neighborhood. This Hessian was buried in the woods
on the farm of Colonel Joseph Phillips, opposite the Presby-
terian Church. Local tradition avers that for many years
the ghost of the dead man was seen in that wood, and the
negroes of the neighborhood carefully avoided the place
after dark.
First Lieutenant Worsley Fames, Second Lieutenant Charles Turnbull,
— four officers and forty-eight enlisted men present. First Lieutenant
Courtney had been detached from Captain Forrest's company, in which
First Lieutenant Fames took his place. Lieutenant Courtney was soon
after made captain, and Major Procter was commissioned colonel of the
Pennsylvania artillery regiment.
1 For Washington's letter to Congress see Part ii. No. 84.
THE r.RlTISH ADVANCE CHECKED
259
About this time the
commandants of regi-
ments on the ach'ance
hnes of the American
arm\-, finding that Gen-
eral de Fermoy had re-
turned to Trenton in a
very questionable man-
ner, determined to re-
sist the advance of the
king's troops without
further orders. About
ten o'clock the first
alarm gun was fired by
the American videttes.
Colonel Hand, with his
splendid regiment of ri-
flemen, Captain Henr}-
Miller of his command
being in charge of the
skirmish line, conducted the retreat to Trenton. Every
place which would even for a few moments give shelter from
which to take a steady aim was taken advantage of, and
e\'ery part of the road was disj:)uted in all possible ways.
On one occasion so stubborn a stand was made by the Amer-
icans that a check was produced on the British advance.
They actually fell back and the jDatriots carefull}- pressed
tow'ard them. At last, howe\'er, the American detachment
w-as driven to the woods running along the south bank of
the Shabbakonk Creek, and here a severe skirmish com-
menced about one o'clock, and a deadly fire was made upon
the British forces, throwing them into considerable confu-
sion.
For a long time this conflict was maintained with great
vigor, and the battalions of von Linsingen and Block, a part
of Colonel von Donop's original command, were actually
drawn up in order of battle, expecting then and there to
COLONEL KOW.AJiD H.V.ND
2f<o THK liATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
enter upon the general engagement which they anticipated.
For fully three houi's the gallant little American force, some-
what ])riitected by the dense woods, harassed the redcoats
and continuall)- thinned their ranks with musketry and artil-
ler\-. Right well did they can-y out the plan of General
W'ashmgton to consume the entnx- day, if possible, in skir-
mishing, and so retard the enemy's advance toward Trenton.
The weather was ver\' mild, the roads were in wretched con-
.\1N HliNKV MILL
dition, and it was difficult for the liritish troops, except those
in light marching order, to make much progress through
the hea\"y nnid.
At the northern part of the town some little earthworks
had been hastily thrown up at a ravine which led clown to
the Assunpink Creek, and behind them four guns had been
placed. Here agam the retreating Americans made another
post of resistance, and the Virginia troops distinguished
THE AMERICANS RETREAT 261
themselves, as the Pennsylvania riflemen had done for sev-
eral hours previous. It was now nearly four o'clock in the
afternoon, and General Washington rode up with General
Knox to encourage the troops to make as vigorous a defense
as possible. General Greene also came up with a reinforce-
ment, and he immediately assumed command of the entire
force at this point. Captain William Hull of the Seventh
Connecticut Continental regiment was now in charge of the
skirmishers.
General Washington was well pleased with the all-day
running fight, and begged the little party not to yield until
compelled to. A battery of British artillery was soon after
brought into position and made every effort to dislodge the
American advance force. Nearly an hour was consumed
before the patriot band, unable any longer to sustain them-
selves, began again to yield the ground and retreat down
the Brunswick road into the village, having captured some
twenty-five or thirty men during the day.
In this way the last determined stand beyond the town
was taken, and as the Americans began to retreat, the ad-
vance party of the British, about 1500 men, again com-
menced their march in strong column, the main army being
still a considerable distance in the rear. The advance en-
tered Trenton at the head of King and Queen streets, at
the same place where the guns of Captains Forrest and
Hamilton had opened fire on Rail's brigade on the previous
Thursday. On their way down Queen street the fire from
behind houses was continuous and galling. When they
reached Tucker's corner, where Queen street is crossed by
Second street, they first began to receive the shots from
the batteries of the main American army posted on the high
ground on the south side of the Assunpink Creek.
General Washington had drawn up his army in line of
battle for nearly three miles along the bank of this stream,
which he called Mill Creek, with the left on the Delaware
River, and had thrown up a series of small earthworks on
the ridge and across the road below the Queen street bridge.
;ENERAL WASHINGTON AT THE BRIDGE (J\ER THE ASbUNlTNK CREEK 1
CAPTURE OF COLONEL HAUSEGGER 263
Back of this line of battle he placed a second line consisting
of his reserve troops.
General Mercer and his brigade were at Phillips Ford,
fully two miles above the bridge at Trenton and on the
extreme right of the army. Below him was General Cad-
walader's command, stationed in an open field opposite Sam-
uel Henry's mill, somewhat over a mile from the bridge,
while General St. Clair's brigade, with the battery of Captain-
Lieutenant Sargent, was posted on the high bank just east
of the bridge across the creek.
The advance guard of Cornwallis's army pressed on down
Queen street, still driving the Americans slowly before them,
and killing some, until they arrived at the narrow stone bridge
which spanned with but one arch the Assunpink Creek. This
was the same bridge over which a part of Rail's brigade had
escaped the previous week.
The commanding officer of the German battalion of Gen-
eral de Fermoy's brigade, Colonel Nicholas Hausegger, was
taken prisoner on Queen street before the Americans came
to the bridge. The capture was made in so suspicious a
manner that Colonel Hausegger' s devotion to the cause of
liberty has ever since been doubted. In his " Memoirs,"
Captain Alexander Graydon of Colonel John Shee's bat-
1 Colonel Trumbull painted this picture in Philadelphia in 1792, and
it is now in the art gallery of Yale University. The artist says of this
painting : " I undertook it con aniore (as the commission was unlimited),
meaning to give his military character in the most sublime moment of
its exertion, the evening previous to the battle of Princeton, when, view-
ing the vast superiority of his approaching enemy and the impossibility
of again crossing the Delaware or retreating down the river, he con-
ceives the plan of returning by a night march into the country from
which he had just been driven, thus cutting off the enemy's communica-
tion and destroying his depot of stores and provisions at Brunswick. I
told the President my object : he entered into it warmly, and, as the
work advanced, we talked of the scene, its dangers, its almost despera-
tion. He looked the scene again and I happily transferred to the can-
vas the lofty expression of his animated countenance, the high resolve
to conquer or to perish. The result was, in my own opinion, eminently
successful and the general was satisfied."
264 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
talion of Pennsylvania militia, who was a prisoner in New
York city, thus refers to this man : —
" He was a German, or rather a man of no country or any
country ; a citizen of the world, a soldier of fortune, and a
true mercenary. Thinking that our cause was going down
rapidly, he saw no reason for adhering any longer to it ; but
came over to the enemy in the season of our extreme adver-
sity, though he did not reach us until after the affairs at
Trenton and Princeton. Not liking the name of a deserter,
he called himself a prisoner, but certainly, if he was one, he
had much better terms than we had."
Besides the column of British troops on Queen street, a
body of men marched down King street in great haste, ex-
pecting to prevent the passage over the bridge. They opened
fire along Front street, but failed to prevent the Americans
crossing the creek. Here the detachment of skirmishers
which all day long had hovered before and around the enemy,
hastily, although with difficulty, crowded through the passage
at the bridge, scarce sixteen feet wide. Colonel Hitchcock's
New England brigade protected these weary men as they
filed across the bridge and took their places with the main
army. General Washington himself was on horseback at one
end of the bridge, overlooking the scene, and by his personal
exposure inspired his men with courage and confidence.
It was then after five o'clock and rapidly growing dark.
The British line, however, pressed on to the bridge, while
for about ten minutes the two guns of Captain Moulder's
battery, of Captain Forrest's four-pounders, and of the naval
guns in charge of Captain Read, with the musketry of some
of the infantry ranged on rising ground on either side of the
bridge, kept rattling into their ranks with uncertain aim. By
the light made by the firing it could be seen that the advance
of the king's troops, entirely unaware of the force now before
them, had pressed on until they were within range of the
American guns. They made three fruitless efforts to reach
and cross the bridge, but found further pursuit checked, and
were unable to endure the concentrated fire. The effect of
THE AMERICANS HOLD THE BRIDGE 265
this fire upon them is extremely uncertain and doubtless will
never be correctly ascertained, as no mention of loss is made
in any British official reports. It can hardly have been very
destructive to life, although several statements of eye-wit-
nesses made the carnage severe, when we take into account
how small a number of men marching in single column could
have occupied the space at this point, that this was the ad-
vance party only, and that the darkness certainly made the
firing very inaccurate.
In his interesting work on " The Hessians and the other
German Auxiliaries of Great Britain in the Revolutionary
War," Edward J. Lowell gives the Hessian loss during the
fighting of January 2 as four killed and eleven wounded,
principally men of Colonel von Donop's brigade. One of
the soldiers mortally wounded had been the commanding
officer of the yager picket post on the River road on the
morning after Christmas, and had escaped early in that fight.
In one of the phases of the skirmish on the Shabbakonk
Creek six American riflemen of Hand's regiment jumped out
from behind a bush, with guns in one hand, and motioned
and called to the Hessian soldiers, as though about to desert
to them. Lieutenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen,
with some others, although cautioned by Captain Ewald, ran
out about fifty steps to receive the surrender, when he was
deliberately shot in the breast. He died a few days after-
ward in Princeton.
The loss of the American army was small. No return
seems to have been made of the casualties. A brief list has
been compiled. ^
1 Private John Goebel, Captain John D. Woelpper's company, Ger-
man battalion, killed. Private Jacob Bottamer, Captain Peter Boyer's
company, German battalion, badly wounded. Private George Filsin,
Captain William Wilson's company, First Pennsylvania Continental
regiment, severely wounded in left leg. Private Wender Fortney, Ger-
man battalion, wounded. There is a tradition among the descendants
of Captain Richard Clough Anderson, Fifth Virginia Continental regi-
ment, the ofBcer who made the little attack on the Pennington road
picket at Trenton on Christmas night (p. 121, ante\ that he was also
266 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
By some writers this affair is called " The second battle
of Trenton ; " by others " The battle of the Assunpink,"
while students of the revolutionary period sometimes allude
to it as "the cannonade at Trenton."
General Washington, in his official report, the text of which
is hereafter given, uses the following language in reference to
the action of the enemy in the village : " After some skir-
mishing the head of their column reached Trenton about four
o'clock, whilst their rear was as far back as Maidenhead.
They attempted to pass Sampink Creek, which runs through
Trenton, at different places, but, finding the fords guarded,
they halted and kindled their fires. We were drawn up on
the other side of the creek. In this situation we remained
till dark, cannonading the enemy, and receiving the fire of
their fieldpieces, which did us little damage." ^
While this was taking place. Colonel Hitchcock, with his
Continental brigade of Cadwalader's division, had taken posi-
tion in a field on the Bloomsbury farm between the bridge
and the river, and had thrown up a temporary breastwork.
It was in time, fortunately, for a determined party, princi-
pally of Hessians, attempted to cross the creek at a good
fording-place, probably near where the Warren street bridge
now is, but the brave New England Continentals sent a rain
of lead on the attacking party, and they quickly abandoned
the project.
At this place on the bank of the creek a clergyman was
cruelly murdered. The Rev. John Rosbrugh, pastor of
wounded in this fight. Captain William Moseley, Seventh Virginia
Continental regiment, wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel B. Webb,
aide-de-camp to General Washington, wounded.
1 General Knox wrote to his wife : " The enemy pushed our small
party through the town with vigour, though not with much loss. Their
retreat over the bridge was thoroughly secured by the artillery. After
they had retired over the bridge, they advanced within reach of our
cannon, who saluted them with great vociferation and some execution."
Captain Thomas Rodney of Delaware says :" We kept possession of
the bridge altho' the enemy attempted several times to carry it but were
repulsed each time with great slaughter."
HOW CHAPLAIN ROSIiRUGII WAS KILLED 267
THE BRAKES HCH'SE, STILL STANLJING
the Allen's Township Presbyterian Church, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania, and chaplain of the Third battalion (jf
Northampton County militia, had been taking an early sup-
per at the Blazing Star Tavern kept by P'rancis Witt on the
corner opposite to Abraham Hunt's store, when the British
ran quickly down King street. The patriot chaplain, who
was of ScotchJrish jDarentage, and sixt)--three years of age,
rushed from the inn on hearing the alarm, but found that his
horse had alread}' been stolen. He then endeavored to reach
the American lines at the bridge, trailing in this, he next
tried the ford, to which we have just alluded, where he was
caught by a party of Hessians. Here, while praying for his
captors, he was bay(jneted seventeen times and cut on the
head with many sabre slashes. His body was stripped of its
clothing, robbed of watch and gold. The I^ritish officer in
command of the j^art)' boasted of the deed in the ta\"ern a
few hours later. General Courtlandt Skinner, who com-
manded the New Jersey volunteers in the royal army, highly
applauded the perpetrator of the act.
It was now nearly six o'clock and cjuite dark, and further
attempts to cross the creek were abandoned until the main
268 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
body should arrive in the village or until morning should
enable them to see the force they were expected to vanquish.
The American artillery, however, still kept up a deter-
mined fire, throwing shot into the town from the high ground
on the south side of the creek, which commanded the village.
This was returned by the British light batteries, although
without effect. It is said that balls struck the building on
Ellet Tucker's corner, and that other cannon-shots tore away
part of the wall of the jail, now the Trenton Bank. This
cannonade was kept up at intervals during the early part of
the evening. As General Knox writes, "a few shells we
now and then chucked into the town to prevent them enjoy-
ing their new quarters securely." Most of the British, how-
ever, had withdrawn to the high ground on the Beakes farm,
at the upper part of the village, out of the range of these
missiles, although during the evening the streets were
thronged with crowds of redcoats.
It will always appear singular that the invaders did not
attempt to cross the creek at some of the many fording-
places on the east of the town, such as at Henry's Mill or
Phillips Ford, the one a mile, the other two miles above the
mill-dam at the bridge. It was impossible for General
Washington to protect the whole stream, and had the British
forced the American right and driven them toward Trenton
Ferry and the river, nothing could have saved the entire
army. A determined advance along the line and a half
hour's fight would have decided the battle. The American
army would have been well-nigh annihilated, and with it the
fate of America and the hopes of freemen.
When General Cornwallis reached the town, he held a
brief Qonsuhation with his general officers, and Sir William
Erskine, Baronet, colonel and aide-de-camp to the king, but
acting as the quartermaster-general of the army in New
Jersey, suggested that perhaps the " old fox " might escape
in the night. "If Washington is the general I take him
to be, his army will not be found there in the morning."
Major-General Grant agreed with Cornwallis that the Amer-
ANOTHER CRISIS AT HAND 269
icans were without means of retreat. They thought they
had General Washington's army safe enough ; their troops
were very weary, and they could without difficulty "bag
him " on the morrow and capture his whole army. The
British forces then built their fires, and settled themselves
for a quiet night, with the expectation of a fight at an early
hour on the next day.
Orders were immediately sent out to call the troops at
Princeton and Maidenhead to join the army at Trenton as
early as possible on the next morning. General Cornwallis
failed, however, to send out strong scouting parties that
night, as he should have done, to ascertain the exact position
of the foe, and to establish proper picket lines on his exposed
flank. It was said by Colonel von Donop that he advised
the commanding general to send a party across the creek
into the woods on the American right wing to prevent an
attack being made on the British left flank. Fortunate,
indeed, for General Washington's subsequent plans that
Cornwallis did not follow the advice of von Donop.
Another of those fearful crises in the fate of America had
arrived, a time similar to the day when the troops of the
flying camp had abandoned the army at Brunswick ; or to
those moments of suspense as the night was passing away
and the day was near at hand while the army was still cross-
ing the river for the surprise at Trenton ; or that critical
time but forty-eight hours previous, when the term of service
of a large part of the Continental line had expired. It was
now almost impossible to retreat across the river with so
large and disciplined an army close upon them. To leave
the bluff of the Assunpink Creek and fall back to Borden-
town, and so southward toward Philadelphia, would be certain
annihilation ; to attack the enemy on the morrow and to risk
the fortune of a battle was but to court defeat from troops
superior in numbers and better skilled in the art of war ;
to remain in their earthworks until morning was to invite
destruction or an early surrender. The American army was
apparently in a cul-de-sac.
:7o
THE BATTLES OF TRENTOX AND PRINCETON
This was the situation when General Washington called a
council of war at Alexander Douglass's house/ at that time
Brigadier-General St. Clair's headc|uarters. Washington had
been obliged to abandon his own quarters, at the tavern of
Jonathan Richmond, much nearer to the bridge, because it
was within the range of the enemy's cannon. At quarter-
master Douglass's hijuse all his brigade commanders gathered,
and freely discussed the alternative of attack or retreat :
whether to fight their troops, many of whom were raw and
THE DOUGLASS HOUSJi
inexperienced, against the powerful column so near them,
or to fall ra]iidly down the Delaware Ri\-er, and take the
chances of crossing into Pennsylvania. At last a plan less
hazardous than flight or battle was suggested : to draw off
^ On o;round now occupied hv the German Lutheran Church on
Greene .street. The DougLass house has been removed, and is now
Xo. 47S Centre street, Trenton.
15Y THE LEFT FLANK TO LRL\CETON 271
the army at midnight, and by a raj^id maixh around the left
tiank ut the enemy, avoiding the post at Maidenhead held liy
Cieneral Leslie, strike the British rear-guard at Princeton,
some twelve miles from the grand army of the enemy, and,
if possible, attack the post and capture the stores at Bruns-
wick. This movement, it was thought, would avoid the
:_>^l/v* - "
JmXATHAX
:iimijnli .s
appearance of retreat, and would not injuriously affect the
spirits of the troops.
This flank movement of the American army was a brilliant
conception of the commander-in-chief. It is stated in some
histories that it was suggested by General Mercer, while
other writers have placed it to the credit of General St.
Clair. Because the council was held in St. Clair's cpiarters
is no reason for his biographer appropriating the result of
these dehberations as the fruit of his great forethought and
military genius. Neither General Mercer nor General St.
Clair was, it is to be supposed, especially familiar with this
roundabout route. It is much more reasonable to attribute
the suggestion to General Dickinson, who was a resident of
27:
THE IIATTLES (IF TREXTON AND PRIN'CETON
I l'-i~. ENhKAL ART hi: I-;
Trenton, or to Colonel Joseph ]veed, who was a graduate of
Princeton Colk-ge and whose birthplace was Trenton. Colo-
nel Reed, as we have seen, had just performed a brave little
exploit near I^rinceton, with some men of the Philadelphia
truop (if light horse, and in going and returning he must
of necessit)' have jjassed over some jjortion of this very road.
His report to the commander-in-chief, on whose staff he
serA-ed, must ha\-e gi\'en General Washington all the neces-
sary information as to this circuitous route to Princeton. It
is certain that the gix-at chieftain knew what he was about,
and did not deliberately juit himself in a trap that day, and
■A PROVIDENTIAL CHANGE Of^ WEATHER
-73
the
then despairingly ask his general officers to get hinr out of
it. Nor can it be supposed that tieneral Washington left it
until cle\-en o'clock at night before he at least thought of
what orders he must gi\'e six hours thereafter.^
While the council of war, which he had called at
Douglass house, was still in session,
there occurred, as Washington said,
"a pro\'idential change of weather,"
The mildness which had so retarded
the march of Lord Cornwallis's force
that day was suddenly succeeded by
a cold northwest wind which froze
the ground in a few hours. Here,
then, was an opportunity to march an
army over hard roads and move the
forty guns, which could hardly have
been accomplished over a muddy
route.
It is said that during the evening
Patrick Lamb, who lived near the
Quaker bridge over the Assunpink
Creek, and possibly kept the tavern there, Ezekiel Ander-
son, who Ih-ed in a direct line somewhat more than a mile
northeast of the bridge (the house is now occupied by Wil-
liam S. Morris), and Elias Phillips of Maidenhead were
called into the council room, where, being well accjuainted
1 This subject I have discussed at some length in a paper entitled
"The Princeton Surprise," published in The Magazine of Ainerican
History. August, 1SS2. The opinion there expressed is fully confirmed
by a letter written by private John Lardner of the Philadelphia troop
of light horse to Captain John R. C. Smith, then commandant of the
troop. This letter is dated July 31, 1S24, and is now on file in the
archives of that organization. It is elsewhere given in full. If privates
John Lardner, George Campbell and James Caldwell were posted on
this road near the Quaker bridge on the evening of January i, 1777, to
give notice of the movements of the British forces, of course Colonel
Reed, as adjutant-general of the army, was aware of the fact, and knew
the direction of the road, as did General Washington. (For letter see
Part ii. No. 89.)
CHAIR USED BY W.ASHINGTO>f
-AT THE COUNCIL OF WAR
274 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
with the road which General Washington desired to take,
they were intrusted with the duty of guiding the army.
As soon as the plan of operations was decided, the order
was issued, and in the darkness the troops began quietly to
make ready for the flank movement. On the high ground
by the creek a number of camp-fires were burning, and these
were carefully replenished with cedar rails, the neighboring
fences furnishing the fuel. A strong fatigue party was
directed to throw up additional earthworks by the old mill
and to strengthen those at the lower ford, in order, if pos-
sible, to keep the enemy under the delusion that the men
were still there preparing for the battle in the morning. The
noise of the tools, the voices of the fatigue parties, the axe-
blows, and the throwing up of the frozen earth could be dis-
tinctly heard by the British pickets only one hundred and
fifty yards distant. The lines of camp-fires could also be
seen burning fiercely, the very flame concealing everything
beyond ; and the guards at the bridge and the upper fords,
being greatly strengthened, kept pacing to and fro until
near morning.
Soon after midnight three of the heaviest pieces of ord-
nance and all the baggage and stores of the army not spe-
cially needed were sent to Burlington by way of Bordentown,
under a strong guard commanded by General Stephen.
They reached Burlington about noon on January 3. On
January 8 this wagon-train was ordered to proceed to Mor-
ristown, and the following day it passed through Trenton,
reaching Morristown January 12, guarded by detachments
of the militia of Cumberland and Chester counties, Pennsyl-
vania, and of New Castle, Delaware. The Philadelphia bat-
talions of Associators, under a very injudicious order, had
packed their blankets with their baggage, which for ten days
caused them much unnecessary suffering. Instructions
were also sent to General Putnam to co-operate.^
At the last moment Washington gave orders to keep up
the fires until morning, when the fatigue party left in charge
1 Part ii. No. 86.
THE NIGHT MARCH TO PRINCETON 275
of them, with those at work or on guard at the bridge and
the fords above and below it, in all about 400 men, should
push on as quickly as possible to join their marching regi-
ments.
Some of the American officers, who had retired to farm-
houses somewhat to the rear, to enjoy a much needed rest,
knew nothing of this movement, and the next day had some
difficulty in reaching their commands after the battle of
Princeton.
An advance party, under command of Major Isaac Sher-
man of Connecticut, of the Twenty-sixth regiment, Conti-
nental foot, a Massachusetts regiment, led the American
column, and Brigadier-General Hugh Mercer and his brigade
followed closely behind them. The main army started for
Princeton about one o'clock in the morning of January 3 by
way of the Sand Town road. General St. Clair's brigade,
with two six-pounders, followed Mercer's command, and
General Washington and his staff accompanied them.
With the greatest care and with death-like silence, the
army moved back by small detachments from the warm fires
on the banks of the creek. The orders were given in a
low tone. The rims of the wheels of the gun carriages were
wrapped in old cloths, that no sound might betray their night
movement to the British guards. The army passed on the
left flank of the British, marching by way of the Sand Town
road, or very near what is now called Hamilton avenue,
leading out of Trenton as far as Pond Run. From this
point the route led toward the little village of four or five
log housed, then called Sand Town. Most accounts of this
flank movement tell us that the column passed through
this little village ; the cross-road by which the village was
avoided having long since been closed up, it is quite natural
that historians were led into this error. A short distance
west of what is now known as the residence of the late
Charles V. Meade, General Washington's army left the Sand
Town road, and marched over to the crossing on Miry or
Muddy Run, leaving Sand Town several hundred yards to
2-r, THE 1:!ATTLKS OF TRKNTOX AND PRINCETON
:>UAKER ivIEETING (IL>L^E, .sTmN\ liK(^i.)K
the right. 1^'or nearly forty years after this cross-road was
used In' the American army, it was in daily use ; but since
then, like many other old roads not formally surveyed and
deeded to the use of the public, it has been closed up by the
owners of the land.^
The road led tlirough heavy woods ; but here and there
the trees had been cut, and the stumps interfered with
travel. As John Rowland, one of the soldiers of Captain
IJa\'id Dexter's company of Colonel Christopher Lippitt's
Rhode island State )-egiment, in his "Spirit of 1776," says,
"these trees stopped the mox'ement of some of the guns, and
caused many a fall and se\'ere biaiise to some of the over-
■ Mrs. Elizabeth Mui;he.s, now decea.sed, who hved on the Quaker
bridge road, Mr. William 11. West and Mr. William C. Vannest, aged
people of the t()wnship, fully x'erily the existence of this road and cer-
tify to the tradition, common among the people wlien the\- were voung,
that this cross-road was used by Washington and his army on their
midnight march to Princeton.
A \VEARY WAY
277
weary, sleepy soldiers." This road came to an end near
what is now the mill-pond, and the army then marched on
in the road leading north from Sand Town to the ( Hiaker
bridge. The Aluddy Run was crossed just west of the mill
that now stands on the bank of this stream, and the march
of the army continued through a large tract of land then
called " The Barrens," covered with oaks of stunted growth.
j\Iuch of this land is to-clay in an excellent state <if culti\'a-
tion. The "Bear Swamp" lay just to the west of "The
Barrens," and its soil is now \'er)' much what its name im-
plies. After passing through the wood tract, the I'oad
merged into the Quaker road, a highway used by the Friends
in traveling between Crosswicks and Stony Brook Meeting
House. A short distance be)-ond the junction of the two
roads, the army crossed Quaker bridge at the same place
where that bridge now crosses the upper waters of the
Assunpink Creek, l^eyond this bridge the road was much
INTERIOR OF OUAKEI^ MEET1,\0 JIOUSE, STONY BROOK
27S THE BATTLES OF TREXTON AXD PRINCETON
as it is tn-(Ui)", though perhaps not so straight, and over it
the patriot army marcliecl toward Stony Brook. Wlien they
at last reached this place, some two miles tVom the village
of I'rincetnii, it was about da\-]ight, and General Mercer's
brigade, at that time marching in files, without flankers,
passed along a stiip of woods near the (j]d Quaker Meeting
House, still standing, and thence alor^g the upper bank of
aDGE 0\'ER STOX^' BROOK
tlie creek toward the Strmy ISrook bridge. It was General
IMeixer's intention innnediately to seciu'e this stone bridge
at Worth's (now liruere's) mill, so that if Lord CornwaUis
pursued them he miglit be detained thei'e for some time.
General Sulli\"an with three brigades was ordered to take a
road somewhat to the right and southeast of the woods, that
the}- might enter Princeton on the east side of the ^-illage,
b)- a ]jath oi' wood road at that time little used and \-ery
different from the road of to-day.
Before dawn on this cold, frosty morning of January 3,
1777, two regiments of the P'ourth brigade, the Seventeenth
and the Pdfty-fifth regiments of the ]-5ritish line, refreshed
bv the slumber of the night and the mornino- meal, left
Princeton, according to orders given the previous night, to
c
CO
^
6
^
r-
0)
E
i
CD
c
03
CN
c
=3
CO
T3
c
o
e
c
"TJ
o
C)
a.
O
0
O
"e
rtS
el
o
I?-
■^ -D
X
Q- i^ "O
en — , c
O ^ t
Z 5 H-
z o
>, «
o
Q- o
28o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
unite with General Leslie at Maidenhead, and then push on to
the main army of Lord Cornwallis. The Fortieth regiment
of this brigade had been ordered to remain in Princeton to
guard the stores. The Seventeenth regiment and a part of
the Fifty-fifth regiment had crossed the Stony Brook bridge,
and were passing over Millett's Hill, having taken the old
road to Trenton. The remainder of the, Fifty-fifth regiment
was following only a short distance behind.
General Mercer's troops this day consisted virtually of the
same regiments he had commanded in the streets of Tren-
ton the week previous, with some of the men of Lord Stir-
ling's brigade added thereto. His force was about 350 cold,
hungry and weary men, and it was followed by General
Cadwalader's brigade of Philadelphia Associators. As they
came out of the woods and marched quickly toward the
bridge, they were seen from the hill near Cochran's house
by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Mawhood of his majesty's
Seventeenth regiment of foot, the acting brigade commander.
Colonel Mawhood rode that day a small brown pony, and two
favorite spaniels bounded about in front of him. Without
any idea of the army so near him, after sending out two
mounted officers to reconnoitre he faced about his own regi-
ment, somewhat more than 300 men, and, joined by a small
party of the Fifty-fifth regiment, under Captain John Taylor
Trevor, and a troop of the Sixteenth regiment of light dra-
goons, commanded by Captain Thomas Trewren, quickly
ran down the hill, recrossed the bridge, and made a bold
dash for an orchard on a piece of rising ground and the pro-
tection which would be afforded by a hedge fence and some
farm buildings east of the present turnpike and near William
Clark's house.
Seeing this movement) the American advance party under
General Mercer, who was mounted on horseback, with Colo-
nel Haslet on foot and his Delaware men on the right, tried
the same thing. They rushed through a gate into a thick
orchard, reached the coveted position first, and, finding the
enemy, in about equal numbers, forming in line of battle with
A RACE FOR l'(.)SITION
2S1
two cannon in an open field just outside the orchard, instantly
discharged a voile)' at them. The firing was Cjuickly returned
b)' the l-Sritish, who were only about one hundred and twcnt)'
feet distant, and without a moment's dela)- they jnrshed raj)-
iilly forward on a charge. Cajitain Daniel Neil of New Jer-
"-'-"'%,
«m,m»
\ '
JSmM
m j^<^
JM
^^^^
V** ,
•^
^^
A
-— i
^ "■" "r''\ ^ ' ■
se\', commanding the eastern company of artiller)', brought
two of his guns into position, and threw some shot into the
ranks of the enemy's right wing, where it did great execu-
tion. Still the ba)'onets of the British and their terrible
charge could not be withstood by the Americans, who had
only their old rifles and muskets, few of which had the bayo-
net. It was difficult, indeed, for these men to stand their
282 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ground against British foot armed with the weapon for close
quarters, and knowing well how to use it. After firing three
volleys within five minutes, — and Major Wilkinson says the
smoke from these discharges rose "in one beautiful cloud," —
the line of General Mercer's brigade abandoned its position,
broke and ran in utter confusion. Captain Neil here lost
his battery and his life. Colonel John Haslet of the Dela-
ware Continental regiment was mortally wounded, a bullet
entering his brain. General Mercer had his splendid gray
horse shot from under him, a bullet injuring its foreleg; but
although on foot, he immediately endeavored to rally his
men. This he found impossible to accomplish.
At this moment General Mercer, standing about fifty yards
from the barn of Joseph Clark, was struck with the breech
of a musket, which injured him severely. A surtout over-
coat concealing his rank, the British thought they had taken
General Washington, and called out for the "rebel general"
to surrender. With reckless courage, being somewhat indig-
nant at being called a rebel, he tried to strike his assailants
with his sword, but was overwhelmed, beaten down and
pierced with seven bayonet wounds in his body, in addition
to the two wounds on his head. Then, as he feigned death,
the British left him. He fell at the moment of defeat, but
five minutes later he heard the welcome shout of his victori-
ous comrades.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood and his men pursued the
disorganized brigade to the top of a ridge near William
Clark's house. Here he espied General Washington, who
had heard the firing, hurrying up on the left to the aid of
Mercer's men, with Hitchcock's New England brigade and
Cadwalader's Philadelphia battalions of Associators, which
were the troops nearest to the scene of action.
Just beyond a strip of woods General Washington, who
up to this time had remained with General St. Clair's bri-
gade of Sullivan's division, noticed the disorderly rout of
Mercer's brigade and the eager pursuit by the enemy to the
crest of the hill. Without a moment's hesitation he exposed
WASHINGTOX'S DARIN(;
2,S3
himself to a terrible fire in tlie very front of his men, and
urged them to hold their ground steadily. It was a difficult
task for the new troops, but the New England Continentals
WOUNDING OF GENERAL MEKCER
maintained their position well, and the bra\'e but feeble Colo-
nel Hitehcock spoke cheering words to the Pennsylvania
men near him. The commander-in-chief then tried to rally
Mercer's shattered force once more, and this he effected in
a measure. The division of General Mifflin now came into
2S4 THE ];ATTLE.S of TREXTOX and I'RIXCETOX
positirin on the riL;iit "f Cadwaladcr's troops, and an ad\'ance
was (irdcrcd along the line. Colonel Hand's regiment of
riflemen also made a demonstration against Mawhood's left,
and being followed qnickly b}- the brigade of General St.
Clair, they snceeeded in dri\ingback the J'dfty-frfth regiment,
whieli was endeax'Oidng to join the small ])Ortion of that regi-
ment fighting ^\-ith the Seventeenth foot.
Captain Josejih Aloulder's battery, stationed at the right
of Thomas Clark's hijuse, now tlie residence of Henrv I{.
Male, again did good ser\-ice. For some reason the liritisb
artillery was badly ser\'ed, failing to get the range of this
new opposing force, and every time firing over their heads.
;e.\ek.\l .mekcek s sword
Captain ^.loulder's youthful gunners, however, made every
shot tell as they mowed down the ranks ni the redcoats.
The king's troops stopped for a moment in their hot chase
of the fugiti\"es as they noticed the colimm near them, and
Cc)lonel Mawhood quickly reformed his men, took post by a
fence near the farm buildings, and then made a dash fur
Moulder's batter\-, Captain William Scott of the Seventeenth
regiment of foot leading the assault. Caj)tain John Fleming,
commanding the First \'irginia regiment, called out, as he
tried to get his men into ]"iosition, " Gentlemen, dress the line
bef(jre }'oa make ready," and the British troopjs replied, with
curses, "We will dress you." Although Captain Fleming
received his death wound, the attemijt failed, and, staggered
by the shower of grapeshot, the hhatish were themselves
dri\-en back with much slaughter. The coui'age shown by
the British compelled General Washington's admiration, as
he noticed how they f(jught. The tire of the Americans was
so sharp that a general officer, writing fr(.>m Trenton, Janu-
THE BRITISH RETREAT 28J
ary 9,- says that " the British screamed as if so many devils
had got hold of them." With a shout the Americans pushed
rapidly forward in order of battle. It was now Colonel Maw-
hood's turn to retreat. He quickly turned his column, found
his brigade broken, and fell back, abandoning his guns to the
patriots, as the troop of the Queen's light horse endeavored
to cover his retreat.
XVI
The Continental army pursued and routed the enemy
completely, killing large numbers, taking many prisoners,
and collecting a large amount of baggage which had been
dropped in their flight. The greater part of the Seventeenth
regiment, chased by the Philadelphia troop of light horse,
fled toward Maidenhead, or went up the brook and across
the fields in the direction of Pennington, while the Fifty-
fifth regiment ran back toward Princeton, where the Fortieth
regiment was stationed. In this fine " fox chase," as Wash-
ington called it, some fifty English soldiers were captured
and later carried into Pennsylvania, where they were placed
in charge of General Lord Stirling. The battle was really
over ; a fight of scarcely fifteen minutes, but terribly severe
in its results.
The sight of the great chieftain placing himself in such
peril between the two armies at the turning point of the con-
flict lent new courage to the weary troops, and they promptly
came up to the work. This voluntary exposure seemed
dreadful to Washington's gallant aide, Lieutenant-Colonel
John Fitzgerald, who, expecting every moment to see a bul-
let pierce the heart of his commander, endeavored to avoid
the appalling sight. A moment later the shout which greeted
Washington's brave act, the heavy firing and the eager ad-
vance of the men startled the worried aide-de-camp, and he
looked up but to see the general coming forth uninjured
from the smoke of battle and to hear himself calmly addressed
in an order, "Bring up the troops. Colonel Fitzgerald; the
day is our own 1 "
An officer of the Continental line, writing from Morristown
a few days after this gallant but hazardous exploit, used these
words, " Our army love the general very much, but they have
I I
CORNWALLIS FINDS HIS FOE MISSING
2S7
THOMAS OLDEN'S HOUSE
one thing; ag;ainst him, which is the Httle care he takes of
himself in any action." ^
Immediately after the iight General Washington dis-
patched a strong detachment, under Major John Kelly of
Colonel James Potter's battalion of Northumberland County,
Pennsylvania, militia, to break down the Stony Brook bridge,
in order to delay the advance of the British army.
In the fog of the early morning of January 3 Lord Corn-
wallis was suddenly aroused to receive the unpleasant in-
formation that the entire American army had stolen away
from the bank of the Assunpink Creek. Bitterly did he
lament the way in which he had been so completely out-
generaled by the American chieftain, and he was over-
1 The diary (now in mv posses.sion) of Tliomas Olden, wlio lived in
the house now the lodge of Drumthwacket, states that (General Wash-
ington, riding up to his door, directed several of the wounded Ijritish
regulars to be cared for by his family. The diary also says that twenty
wounded men Avere carried into William Clark's house, and several
more, with the gallant Mercer, to Thomas Clark's house. At least si.xty
wounded soldiers were placed in wagons and taken into the village of
Princeton.
288 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
whelmed with mortification at the loss of what appeared to
him an opportunity of destroying the rebel horde.
The camp-fires were still smouldering, but the foe had dis-
appeared by the very mode suggested at the council of waf
the night before. Lord Cornwallis thought of the seventy
thousand pounds in the money-chest and the great amount
MAP OF PRINCETON BATTLEFIELD
of Stores at Brunswick, and he quickly divined General Wash-
ington's intention. Hastily forming his troops, he commenced
a forced march toward Princeton, hurrying on, as General
Knox writes, " in a most infernal sweat — running, puffing
and blowing and swearing at being so outwitted." About
eight o'clock he heard the booming of the guns before him,
and General Sir William Erskine quickly interpreted the
meaning of those reports of distant artillery, as they reached
his ear on that sharp winter morning.
It was the advance guard of this army, that part of the
rear-guard of the previous day, under General Leslie's com-
mand, which, looking down from a hill a short distance to
the south, saw the Americans under Major Kelly demolish-
ing the Stony Brook bridge. Already they had made such
progress that it would have been impossible for the army
to have crossed over it. The redcoats were ordered to ford
THE BRITISH POSITION AT PRINCETON
2S(-
the stream, which they quickly did, and with icy clothes
pressed on toward Princeton. The gallant major, who had
tarried too long in destroying the bridge, tell from a broken
log into the stream, but, although covered with wet and
frozen clothing, he yet secured an armed scout of the
British army, and brought him safel)' into the American
lines.
While these events were taking place, the P'ifty-fifth regi-
ment, joining the Fortieth regiment, which had mustered on
the college grounds, endeavt)red to hold a position on the
' S 3 3 5 ■? B I S
« J SJL^ 8 T S I B
9 i* H fT S 1 1^ n a H
8 5
8 » H 5 a 1 5 S 8 J*3 J B
S jj a S B 1 9 8 S S a M B
444!^ S_R_SJ iJ^ijLt4fil9JLl ILUlILl^^ -^
nass.au h.all .at the ti.me <if the IJ.\TTL£
north side of a ravine just (jn the outskirts of the village, on
what was then Richard Stockton's farm. Up to this time
the Fortieth regiment had taken no part in the engagement,
as they were not included in the marching order for Trenton,
although they had been apprised of the conflict at the Stony
Brook bridge by a messenger from Colonel Mawhood. Before
290 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
these two regiments had fully arranged themselves in order
of battle, the right wing of the Americans, General Sullivan
in command, with the brigade of Colonel Sargent in the ad-
vance, dashed fiercely upon them, and soon scattered them.
A part of the Fortieth regiment still remained in their stone
barracks within the walls of Nassau Hall. Captain Hamil-
ton's light battery was then run up on the campus, and a
warning six-pound shot was sent into the building. Tradi-
tion says the ball entered the front of the chapel, now the
Geological Museum, and singular to relate passed through
the head of the portrait of King George the Second. The
frame of this picture is still in the college museum, and now
contains a portrait of Washington, painted by the elder Peale,
by order of the authorities of the college. The battery must
have fired a second time, as Major James Wilkinson says in
his "Memoirs" that a ball struck the college building, and
rebounding nearly killed the horse on which he was riding.
The impression made by this shot is still to be seen on the
walls of Old Nassau.
A party of Americans commanded by Captain James
Moore of the First regiment, Middlesex County, New Jersey,
militia, then entered the college, which by this time was
surrounded with troops ; and the British therein, 194 in
number, including several wounded dragoons, quickly gave
themselves up prisoners of war.
The remainder of the Fifty-fifth and Fortieth regiments,
about 200 in number, finding that they were beaten at
every point and that further resistance was useless, as the
Americans were closely pursuing them, abandoning two six-
pounders, all the horses thereto being killed, and the axle
broken of one of the carriages, retreated northward by the
king's highway, or, as General Howe reported, "retired by
way of Hillsborough to Brunswick," and there joined the
Forty-sixth British regiment in quarters. On the way thither
about fifty more of the British were captured by the victo-
rious Americans.
The vanguard of Lord Cornwallis's army was pressing
WASHINGTON'S TROPHIES OF VICTORY
291
into one end of the village about noon as the left of General
Washington's column passed northward out of sight of
Princeton. The redcoats were destined to have still another
check to their eager march. An iron thirty-two-pounder had
ENSIGN ANTHONV MORRIS
been mounted on the arrow-head-shaped earthworks, which
Colonel von Donop's men had thrown up, on ground lately
owned by the Reverend Dr. John Miller. This gun General
Washington could not carry away for want of horses ; and as
the British column approached, some straggling soldier fired
it off. This halted the advance for some time until they
could throw out their skirmishers and ascertain the number
and disposition of the opposing force. A full hour was
lost by this movement, and when after reconnoitring they
reached the earthworks, they found the place deserted. By
that time General Washington was far away with the tro-
phies of his second victory.
292 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
The loss of the American army in this battle was about
forty killed and wounded, including several valuable officers.
Besides the mortal wounds received by Brigadier-General
Hugh Mercer and the deaths on the battlefield of Colonel
John Haslet,! Captain John Fleming and Captain Daniel
Neil, we may add the names of Captain William Shippin,
Lieutenant Bartholomew Yeates and Ensign Anthony Mor-
ris, Jr., — seven officers killed. Second Lieutenant John
Read, Fourth regiment, Virginia Continental line, was se-
verely wounded, and died January 25, 1777.^
The British loss in the battle of Princeton was about 400
kihed, wounded and prisoners, one fourth of whom were
left dead upon the field. Fourteen officers and 216 men in
arms, with some dismounted troopers and stragglers from
various regiments, fell into the hands of the Americans.
Among the officers captured was Lieutenant Ernst Friedrich
Wilhelm von Donop of the Hessian yagers, adjutant of Colo-
nel von Donop's corps. He was found sick in Princeton.
Captain Robert Mostyn and Lieutenant Frederick Desagu-
1 For biographical sketches of these ofEcers see Part ii. No. 97.
2 But few records can be given of the casualties among the en-
listed men of the American army. This much is known : Sergeant
George Buyer, First Pennsylvania regiment, wounded in the shoulder.
Sergeant Michael Welsh, of Captain Harman Stout's company, Tenth
Pennsylvania regiment, severely wounded in the left knee. Private
Anthony Dache, Philadelphia battalion of Associators, wounded in the
thigh. Private Benjamin Schlaugh, First Pennsylvania regiment, badly
wounded and leg amputated. Private John Downs, Philadelphia bat-
talion of Associators, wounded in the leg. Private Patrick Lusk of
Captain John Murray's company, Colonel Samuel Miles, Pennsylvania
rifle regiment, wounded, in'the right wrist. Private Isaiah Beaumont,
Twentieth regiment. Continental foot, Colonel John Durkee, wounded
in arm.
Major John Armstrong, aide-de-camp to General Mercer, wounded ;
Major WilUam Smith Livingston, aide-de-camp to General Greene,
wounded ; Major Lewis Morris, Jr., aide-de-camp to General Sullivan,
wounded; Second Lieutenant John Read, Fourth Virginia Continental
regiment, wounded, and died January 25, 1777 ; First Lieutenant Dudley
Tyler, Sixth Massachusetts Continental regiment, wounded.
CrENERAL HOWE'S REPORT
293
liers were killed and Captain John IMcPherson and Captain
the Hon. William Leslie fatally wounded. ^
General Howe sent the following report of the battle to
Lord George Germain, colonial secretary of state : " —
New York January 5 1777
Mv Lord :
fn consequence of the advantage gained by the enemy at
Trenton on the 26th of last month and the necessity of an
ZAPTAIN LESLIES GKA\'E
alteration in the cantonments, Lord Cornwallis deferring
his going to England by this opportunity, went from thence
to Jersey on the ist inst. and reached Prince Town that
night, to which place General Grant had advanced with a
body of troops from Brunswick and Hillsborough, upon
1 For biographical slcetches of these officers see Part ii. No. 98.
2 For return of casualties see Part ii. No. 99.
294
THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
HOUSE IN WHICH GENERAL MERCER DIED
gaining intelligence that the enemy on receiving reinforce-
ments from Virginia, Maryland and from the Militia of
Pennsylvania had repassed the Delaware into Jersey. On
the 2d Lord Cornwallis having received accounts of the
rebel arm)' being posted at Trenton, advanced thither, leav-
ing the 4th brigade under the command of Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Mawhood at Prince Town and the 2d brigade with Brig-
adier-General Leslie at Maidenhead. On the approach of
the Piitish troops the enemy's forward posts were drawn
back upon their army, which was formed in a strong position,
behind a creek running through Trenton. During the night
of the 2d the enemy quitted this situation and marching up
by Allen's Town and from thence to Prince Town fell in on
the morning of the 3d with the 17th and 55th Regiments on
their march to join Brigadier-General Leslie at Maidenhead.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood not being apprehensive of the
enemy's strength, attacked and beat back the troops that
first presented themsel\-es to him, but finding them at length
THE BRITISH LOSSES
295
very superior to him in numbers lie pushed forward with the
17th Regiment and joined Brigadier-General Lcshe. The
55th Regiment retired by the way of Hillsborough to Bruns-
wick and the enemy proceeding immediately to Prince Town,
the 40th Regulars also retired to Brunswick. The loss on
this occasion to his Majesty's troops is seventeen killed and
nearly two hundred wounded and missing. Captain Leslie
of the i/th was among the few killed and for further particu-
lars I beg leave to refer your Lordship to the enclosed re-
turn. Captain Phillips of the 35th Grenadiers, returning
from hence to join his Company was on this day beset, be-
tween Brunswick and Prince Town by some lurking villains
who murdered him in a most barbarous manner, which is a
mode of war the enemy seem, from several late instances to
have adopted with a degree of barbarity that savages could
not exceed. It has not yet come to my knowledge how
much the enemy has suffered, but it is certain there were
^^
ss
T
^^^
^^"jim
m
^
M
^^^^^^^H
] '
Sb
SB
^^^H
' ^H
1 ,.,mfi^i
J^
m|
H|
sp
6ai
S
SS
;■
^WMII,l,l illljill^j
■---
I4
H|
iii
■
■
^^^^^^^^^■^j/^S^'' '.''"^ ■'■
1
I
ROOM IN WHICH GENERAL MERCER DIED
296 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
many killed and wounded and among the former a General
Mercer from Virginia. The bravery and conduct of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Mawhood and the behaviour of the regiments
under his command, particularly the 17th are highly com-
mended by Lord CornwaUis. His Lordship finding the
enemy had made this movement and having heard the fire
made by Colonel Mawhood's attack, returned immediately
from Trenton ; but the enemy being some hours march in
front, and keeping this advantage by an immediate departure
from Prince Town, retreated by King's Town, breaking down
the bridge behind them and crossed the Millstone River
at a bridge under Rocky Hill, to throw themselves into a
strong country. Lord CornwaUis seeing it would not an-
swer any purpose to continue his pursuit, returned with his
whole force to Brunswick and the troops upon the right
being assembled at Elizabeth Town. Major General Vaughn
held that command.
I have the honour to be &c.
W. Howe.
General Howe also issued a general order commending
Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood and his command.^
General Mercer, suffering intensely with the cold and
his terrible wounds, was carried off the field of battle by his
aide, Major John Armstrong, formerly attached to the staff
of Major-General Gates. He was taken to Thomas Clark's
house, which is still standing, and the Quakeress Sarah Clark,
her sister Hannah Clark and a faithful negro woman care-
fully attended to poor General Mercer. Dr. Moses Scott,
at this time surgeon of the Second regiment, Middlesex
County, New Jersey, militia, afterward hospital physician and
surgeon Continental army, had examined General Mercer's
wounds as he lay upon the field. After being conveyed to
the house referred to, the noise of the British as they crossed
at Stony Brook reached his ears, and he peremptorily or-
dered the reluctant Armstrong, the son of his old commander
^ Part ii. No. 100.
THE DEATH OF GENERAL MERCER 297
in the Indian campaigns, to leave him and follow the patriot
army, which needed the services of every man. When the
British came into the house, they gave Mercer his parole and
left him. Soon after two good neighbors, Thomas Olden
and Samuel Worth, came in to assist the Quaker family in
taking care of the wounded general. On the 4th of Janu-
ary General Washington, hearing that he was still alive,
and not killed as reported, sent under flag of truce Dr. Rush
and Captain George Lewis, who commanded a detachment
of light horse at his own headquarters, with a communication
to Lord Cornwallis asking permission for them to remain
and attend to Mercer. It was granted, and January 7 the
doctor reported him much better, saying that he expected
his speedy recovery. A surgeon on Lord Cornwallis's staff
agreed that he did not think the wounds dangerous, but Gen-
eral Mercer, who was by profession a physician, called the
attention of Captain Lewis to a bayonet wound, the smallest
one, under his right arm, which he said would surely cause
his death. And so it resulted. His wounds must have bled
profusely, for the blood passed through the bed and stained
the floor, where the marks can be seen even to this day.
He lingered on in much pain until the morning of Sunday,
January 12, and then expired in the arms of his devoted
companion. Captain Lewis. His remains were taken to Phil-
adelphia and buried in Christ Churchyard January 16, 1777.
The funeral was attended by " The Council of Safety, Mem-
bers of Assembly, Gentlemen' of the Army and a number of
the most respectable inhabitants of the City." On Novem-
ber 26, 1840, he was reint erred in Laurel Hill Cemetery,
Philadelphia, with military honors.^
As General Washington passed out of Princeton, he ex-
pressed his gratification to Colonel Daniel Hitchcock at the
noble conduct of himself and his brigade. Colonel Hitch-
cock had behaved most gallantly in this his last effort for
the cause of his country. Educated at Yale College, grad-
uating in the Class of 1761, receiving his degree of Master
1 For notes on General Mercer, see Part ii. No. loi.
298 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of Arts from both Yale College and Brown University in
1 77 1, he was " an accomplished gentleman " and a " fine offi-
cer," as his soldiers said, as well as a true born son of liberty.
He went into the army with the first Rhode Island contin-
gent, called "the army of observation," at the beginning of
the war, and at this time was acting as a brigadier-general
of what was familiarly known as the New England brigade.
Speaking of the affair at the Assunpink bridge at Trenton
and the battle of Princeton, the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush
wrote to Richard Henry Lee, the Virginia statesman, January
6, 1777 : " Much credit is due to a brigade of New England
men commanded by Col. Hitchcock in both actions ; they
sustained a heavy fire from musketry and artillery for a long
time without moving ; they are entitled to a great share of
the honour acquired by our arms at Princetown." The good
sword of Colonel Hitchcock won him great honor, and his
disposition made him beloved by his soldiers, and admired by
all who knew him. He was a fine scholar, of refined taste
and elegant manners, in fact, a finished gentleman. Con-
sumption was even then rapidly bringing his life to a close,
and when he reached Morristown he was called upon to die.
On January 10, 1777, he made a brief nuncupative will, the
full text of which is given in Cowell's "Spirit of 1776 in
Rhode Island." He died January 13, and was buried with
military honors on the afternoon of the 14th of January in
the churchyard of the Presbyterian Church, Reverend Dr.
Timothy Johnes, at Morristown, — ground which became the
last resting-place of many patriots.
In addition to the prisoners taken by the American army
at the battle of Princeton, they also secured two brass six-
pounders, a large amount of ammunition, a quantity of mili-
tary stores, and some clothing and camp equipage loaded in
wagons. A large amount of forage which had been gathered
there by the British army was destroyed because the victors
could not transport it. General Miffiin also recaptured some
seven wagon-loads of stores which the British had plundered
from the citizens of Princeton and were endeavoring to carry
off with them.
A HOT I'URSUIT
2cjg
After remaining in Princeton about two hours and douig
full justice to the breakfast prepared for the officers of the
Fortieth regiment, at their headquarters, Tusculum, the resi-
dence of President Witherspoon, and after paroling fifty-six
DR. BENIAMIN RUSH
wounded and sick British soldiers whom he was obliged to
lea\'e there, General Washington followed after the two regi-
ments of flying redcoats until they passed the village of
Kingston, Captain Moulder's battery covering the rear of the
patriot army. Captain Moulder was instructed to fire at the
advance guard of the British army, if necessary, until the last
moment, then spike his guns and run rapidly to join the main
30O THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
army. His men obeyed the first part of the order, but when
the critical moment arrived, instead of leaving the cannon
which had done such good service that day, they pulled them
away with them with the aid of ropes. A troop of British
cavalry followed them some distance, but were checked in
their pursuit by seeing Captain Morris's Philadelphia troop of
light horse forming on the road to cover the retreat of the
gunners and to sustain the expected attack. The British
thereupon faced about and returned to Lord Cornwalhs's
army.
General Washington ordered the destruction of the bridge
over the Millstone Creek, which was immediately accom-
plished. Without dismounting he then held a council of
war with his general officers as to their future movements.
Some advised marching toward Coryell's Ferry, and recross-
ing the Delaware River. It was soon very prudently decided,
however, that they should abandon the prize at Brunswick,
and, turning short to the left by Rocky Hill, march by
Somerset Court House and Pluckemin toward Morristown.
For two nights and a day they had had no sleep, and many
of them had carried their arms without intermission for nearly
forty hours on the march and in battle. To forego, then,
the capture of Brunswick was unfortunate ; but when they
reflected that Lord Cornwallis had troops which had enjoyed
rest at Maidenhead and Trenton the previous night, while
many of the Americans were constantly falling asleep by the
roadside, regardless of the proximity of the enemy or of the
intense cold, and that the longed-for military chest was full
eighteen miles away, they concluded that it was dangerous to
venture the loss of their prisoners and trophies by attempt-
ing a task in which they might possibly fail. General Wash-
ington declared that if he had had but 800 fresh troops, he
could have made a forced march, destroyed their stores and
magazines, taken their money-chest, and possibly have put
an end to the war.i
About eleven o'clock in the evening the last of the army
^ For Washington's OfBcial Report to Congress see Part ii. No. 102,
COLD BEDS FOR THE WEARY \'ICTORS
JOHN \'AN DORHN'S HOUSE
arrived at Somerset Court House, now Millstone, Somerset
County, placed their prisoners in the county jail, and quickly
disposed themselves for the night, some of the men actually
sleeping on the frozen ground, without a blanket, in the field
on which the manse of the Ref(jrmed Church of Rfillstone
now stands. General Washington and his staff were quar-
tered at the house of John Van Doren, some little distance
south of the town. This house is still standing.
The British general was too an.xiijus as to the fate of
Brunswick and the line of communication with New York to
follow General Washington and his army far into the hill
country ; and not knowing whether the American genei'al had
sent a force to capture his stores, he pushed rapidl)' forward
on the king's highway, paying no attention to the weary
American army.
In this condition of affairs a striking event occurred be-
tween a number of British soldiers and a ca\'alry detachment
of the New Jersey State troops. The affair, as related in
302 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
a recent work,^ a book full of stirring revolutionary facts, is
historically correct.
" Another interesting incident was the arrival in camp of
the gallant Captain John Stryker's troop of Somerset horse,
laden with spoils from the enemy. Cornwallis in his hurried
march toward New Brunswick was so unfortunate as to dis-
able a number of his baggage-wagons. He left them at the
side of the road in charge of a quartermaster with a guard of
two hundred men. Captain Stryker, though having with
him but twenty troopers, resolved upon the capture of these
stores. In the darkness of night he distributed his small
force in a circle, completely surrounding the camp. The
guard were suddenly astounded by a volley of musket-shots
and the whistling of bullets, while from under the black arches
of the bordering trees came loud and repeated shouts as if
from a countless host. Demoralized by recent defeats the
men incontinently fled, thinking that they had been attacked
by a large force of the Americans. Their fright was not so
much caused by the roar of musketry as by the unearthly
yells of the lusty troopers which so suddenly broke the still-
ness of the night. Captain Stryker was not long in so repair-
ing the wagons that they could be hauled to a place of safety ;
he lost no time in making his way to Washington's camp
with his treasures. The joy of the troops was unbounded
when it was discovered that the wagons contained woolen
clothing, of which the men stood in sore need."
The patriotic bard of the revolutionary period, Philip Fre-
nau, said of this hasty march of the British army with its
Hessian allies : —
" From dire Cesarae ! forced, these slaves of Kings
Quick, let them take their way on eagle's wings ;
To thy strong posts, Manhattan's isle, repair,
To meet the vengeance that awaits them there ! "
' The Story of an Old Farm, or Life in New fersey in the Eight-
eenth Century, by Andrew D. Mellick, Jr., Somerville, New Jersey,,
1889, p. 387.
XVII
Lord Cornwallis reached Brunswick about six o'clock
in the morning of January 4, and found the post command-
ant, Brigadier-General Edward Mathew, greatly excited.
General Mathew had with him the First and Second battal-
ions of the British guards, and the Forty-sixth regiment of
British foot, which had reached him only the previous day.
During the night of January 3, soldiers had come in with
exaggerated reports of the fight, a sick captain of the Forty-
ninth regiment having been the first to communicate the
unwelcome intelligence. The captive American General
Charles Lee had been already dispatched across the Raritan
River, and General Mathew had gathered up his supplies in
readiness for a retreat, preparing to make only such a de-
fense as would enable him to escape with the army treasure.
General Washington and his army left Somerset Court
House on January 4, and, marching over the hills, halted for
two days at Pluckemin,^ in order to rest his men and to
allow nearly 1000 weary stragglers to overtake them. On
January 6 he left Pluckemin and marched into the highlands
of Morris County. He established the headquarters of the
army, January 7, 1777, at Morristown, in the old Freeman
Tavern on the northwest side of the public square, then kept
by Captain Jacob Arnold. The troops, after a few days
spent in tents on the slopes of the Lowantica valley, built
substantial huts for their use during the rest of the winter
about a quarter of a mile south of what is now Madison,
then called Bottle Hill, on the main road to Morristown.
Securely protected in this cantonment, the recruiting and
reorganizing of the army for the spring campaign began,
under the powers which had been conferred upon General
^ See Washington to Putnam, Part ii. No. 103.
304 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Washington by the Continental Congress. The army re-
mained there until May 28, 1777.
Horace Walpole wrote to Sir Horace Mann concerning
this march from Trenton to Morristown : " Washington the
dictator has shown himself both a Fabius and a Camillas.
His march through our lines is allowed to have been a pro-
digy of generalship."
This closed the winter campaign of I'/'jS-iy'/y. Philadel-
phia had been saved the ravages of the Hessian hordes, and
the Hessians themselves had been compelled to march as
captives through its streets ; the British had been driven out
of the State, except at the posts of Brunswick and Amboy,
and an army complete in all its appointments had been com-
pelled to assume the defensive. In the most gloomy period
of the war the great commander by " two lucky strokes "
had saved the cause of the Revolution. This was the " Good
news from the Jerseys " which animated every patriot in the
land.
Let us seek a solution to the question how soon Colonels
Rail and von Donop would have placed their troops on the
west bank of the Delaware River had General Washington
abandoned the project of crossing the river on Christmas
night. As has been said, the weather changed on the night
of January 2, 1777, and became intensely cold. This cold
continued, for we are told that the men marching toward
Morristown on January 4 and 5 suffered greatly from it.
We quote the following from the diary of Margaret Morris
of Burlington: "January 9th, weather very cold, the river
filled with ice and we expect it will be strong enough to
walk over in a day or two." "January nth weather very
cold and the river quite shut." "January 15th the hearse
with General Mercer's body was conveyed over the river on
the ice." It is clear, then, that if General Washington had
postponed crossing over the river in boats for just seventeen
days, the Hessian troops would have walked over on the
"bridge of ice," for which they had waited, and a few hours
thereafter the city of Philadelphia would have been in the
i \
THE TURN OF THE TIDE OF WAR 305
possession and subject to the pillage of the German merce-
nary troops. A delay of less than three weeks by General
Washington, in order to reanimate his demoralized force,
would have endangered the fate of the union of the States.
The effect upon the people of New Jersey and indeed
upon the entire nation can hardly be described. To have
taken a demoralized, retreating and well-nigh disbanded army
and to have crossed and recrossed a large river four times
in wintry weather, performed such brilliant and daring ex-
ploits and inflicted a succession of such effective blows
upon a splendid army seemed well-nigh incredible. The
entire winter campaign had exhibited great generalship in the
commander-in-chief and had proved that he possessed such
a knowledge of military science that he was able promptly
to foresee the exact moment when the stroke must fall,
and to risk everything in the stern exigency. The friends
of the young republic in and out of Congress took new
heart and made vigorous efforts to strengthen the power of
the great commander. The New Jersey militia, which for
three months had been to some extent subdued by the pre-
sence and power of the king's troops, now seemed imbued
with new vigor, and began rapidly to enroll and fit them-
selves for the soldier's life and duties. For the rest of the
winter the militia collected information and tracked out
foraging detachments of British and captured them. The
cruelty and violence of the Hessian hirelings aroused a desire
for revenge, and few opportunities were lost when the foe
left their well-guarded stations. The tide of war, formerly
so strongly against the patriot cause, now began to turn, and
with the ebb carried away from New Jersey soil the defeated
royal army of Great Britain. The people, heretofore panic-
stricken, were now convinced that the dreaded Hessians
and the British redcoats could be vanquished by their own
untrained but determined soldiers. They believed a f\nal
victory was near at hand, and that these successes were the
dawn of a bright morning for the young republic. They
were persuaded the great generals whose military genius and
3o6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
experience had been highly lauded could be outgeneraled
by their Washington and could be beaten in detail by the
division of the young New Hampshire attorney, the battal-
ions of the Rhode Island blacksmith, or the guns directed
by the bookseller of Boston.
Never was Washington more popular than at this moment
of victory. The coniidence of the ofificers who gathered
around him, and whom he had learned to appreciate as com-
panions in a common danger, was strengthened. The whole
country looked to him as the sure champion of a free gov-
ernment. He felt strong enough to demand that those
" who had accepted the British protection should withdraw
within the enemy's lines or take the oath of allegiance to
the United States of America." ^
Washington's own opinion of his success can be best de-
scribed in the vigorous order sent Major-General Benjamin
Lincoln, at Peekskill on the Hudson, and dated January 7,
1777: "Move down your troops towards New York, draw
the attention of the enemy to that quarter, and if they do
not throw a considerable body back again, you may in all
probability carry the city, or at least blockade them in it. I
have only to beg of you to be as expeditious as possible in
moving forward, for the sooner a panic-struck enemy is fol-
lowed the better. If we can oblige them to evacuate Jersey
we must drive them to the utmost distress." ^
The late Dr. Benson J. Lossing, in his sketch of Wash-
ington's mother, says : " When the cheering news of the
victories of Trenton and Princeton reached Fredericksburg,
several of her friends congratulated her upon the brilliant
achievements of her son. She simply replied, ' George seems
to have deserved well of his country ; ' and when some of
them read paragraphs of letters they had received, in which
the skill and bravery of Washington were applauded, she
said, ' Gentlemen, here is too much flattery ; still, George
' Part ii. No. 113.
2 For other comments on the battle of Princeton, see Part ii. Nos.
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, no, III, 112, 114, 115, 116.
"THOSE WONDERFUL DAYS IN NEW JERSEY" 307
will not forget the lessons I have taught him — he will not
forget himself, though he is an object of so much praise.' "
True it is that that period of trial, those long days of disas-
ter and retreat, those hours of acute suffering as the forlorn,
dejected troops fled from the great harbor on the seaboard
to the bank of the icy river, were but lessons given to the
despondent patriots by Him who was so soon to nerve their
hearts to noble exploits, to steady their eye along the old
firelocks, and strengthen the arm that held the bayonet, that
in the end they might give utterance to the shouts of well-
earned victory.
Surely nowhere in the life struggle of any nation can be
shown such a rapid contrast from almost total defeat to
brilliant victory as appears in this simple compilation of
facts which has come down to us bearing the unmistakable
marks of truth through the century of our existence as a
nation — the retreat through the Jerseys, and the battles of
Trenton and Princeton, or what has been well called, " those
wonderful days in New Jersey."
PART II
No. I. American Army in the Campaign, 1776-1777.
Brigadier-General Lord Stirling's Brigade (lOOO officers and men).
Colonel George Weedon's Third regiment, Virginia Continental
infantry.
Colonel John Haslet's Delaware regiment, Continental infantry.
Colonel Isaac Reade's First regiment, Virginia Continental
infantry.
Major Ennion Williams's First Pennsylvania rifle regiment.
Brigadier-General Adam Stephen^ s Brigade {600 officers and meii).
Colonel Thomas Elliott's Fourth regiment, Virginia Continental
infantry.
Colonel Charles Scott's Fifth regiment, Virginia Continental in-
fantry.
Colonel Mordecai Buckner's Sixth regiment, Virginia Continental
infantry.
Colonel Edward Hand's Brigade (600 officers and men).
Colonel Edward Hand's First regiment. Continental foot — Penn-
sylvania rifle regiment.
Colonel Henry Haller's Berks County militia, Pennsylvania flying
camp.
Colonel James Cunningham's Lancaster County militia, Penn-
sylvania flying camp.
Brigadier-Getieral James Swing's Brigade (600 officers and men).
Colonel William Montgomery's regiment, Pennsylvania militia,
flying camp.
Colonel Frederick Watts's regiment, Pennsylvania militia, flying
camp.
Colonel Richard McAllister's regiment, Pennsylvania militia, fly-
ing camp.
THE AMERICAN ARMY 309
Colonel Jacob Klotz's regiment, Pennsylvania militia, flying camp.
Colonel James Moore's regiment, Pennsylvania militia, flying
camp.
Brigadier-General A^athaniel Heard's Brigade (800 officers and me/i).
Colonel Philip Van Cortland's regiment. New Jersey militia.
Colonel David Forman's regiment, New Jersey militia.
Colonel Ephraim Martin's regiment. New Jersey militia.
Colonel Joseph Phillips's regiment, New Jersey militia.
Colonel Silas Newcomb's regiment. New Jersey militia.
Brigadier-General Rezin Beall's Brigade {1200 officers and meji).
Colonel Charles G. Griffith's First battalion, Maryland militia,
flying camp.
Colonel Josiah C. Hall's Second battalion, Maryland militia, fly-
ing camp.
Colonel Thomas Ewing's Third battalion, Maryland militia, flying
camp.
Colonel William Richardson's Fourth battalion, Maryland militia,
flying camp.
Captain Sebastian Bauman's New York company of Continental
artillery.
Captain-Lieutenant Winthrop Sargent's Massachusetts company
of Continental artillery.
Captain Alexander Hamilton's New York State company of artil-
lery.
Detachment of Colonel Elisha Sheldon's Second regiment light
dragoons.
Brigadier- General Hugh Mercer's Brigade (joo officers and meti)}
Colonel John Durkee's Twentieth regiment. Continental foot —
Connecticut.
Colonel Philip Burr Bradley's battalion, Connecticut State troops.
Colonel Israel Hutchinson's Twenty-seventh regiment, Conti-
nental foot — Massachusetts.
Lieutenant- Colonel Francis Ware's First Maryland regiment. Con-
tinental infantry.
Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant Moses Rawlins, Maryland rifle
battalion volunteers.
1 On the march he was also joined, as has been said, by this brigade.
310 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 2. \\'ashington's Orders.
TO COLOXEL HUMPTON.
Brunswig, December ist, 1776
Sir: —
You are to proceed to the two ferries near Trenton and to see
all the boats there put in the best order, with a sufficiency of oars
and poles and at the same time to collect all the additional boats
you can from both above and below and have them brought to
these Ferries and secured for the purpose of camping over the
Troops and Baggage in the most expeditious manner ; and for
this purpose you will get every assistance in the power of the
Quarter Master General and any person in his department. You
will particularly attend to the Durham Boats which are very
proper for this purpose. The Baggage of the army should be got
over the river as soon as possible and put in some convenient
place a little back of it.
I am, Sir, Y'r most ob't serv't
Go. Washington,
TO COLONEL CADWALADER.
Headquarters, Falls of Delaware, nth December 1776
Sir: —
From the movements of the enemy downwards, I think it highly
necessary that the Post at Dunk's Ferry should be guarded. I
therefore desire that one of the Battalions of your Brigade may
immediately march and take post at that place. If it is agreeable
to you, I would choose the 3d Battalion under the command of
Lt-Colonel Nixon. The other two Battalions should be under
orders to march at a moments warning. I expect the pleasure of
your company at dinner, but if you cannot come, as soon after as
convenient.
I am Sir, Yo. most Obt. Svt.
Go. Washington.
Col. Cadwalader
Endorsed thereon was the following instruction: "The Bat-
talion that goes down should be provided with two field pieces,
with artillerymen and ammunition in proportion."
WASHINGTON'S PRELIMINARY ORDERS
311
TO COLONEL CADWALADER.
You are to post your Brigade at and near Bristol. Colonel
Nixon's Regiment to continue where it is at Dunk's Ferry — but
if you find from reconnoitering the ground, or from any move-
ments of the enemy, that any other disposition is necessary,
you '11 make it accordingly without waiting to hear from me, but
to acquaint me with the alterations and the reasons for it as soon
as possible. You 'I establish the necessary guards and throw up
some little Redoubts at Dunk's Ferry and the different passes in
the Nesh amine.
Pay particular attention to Dunk's Ferry, as its' not improbable
something may be attempted there. Spare no pains or expense
to get intelligence of the enemy's motions and intentions. Any
promises made, or sums advanced, shall be fully complied with
and discharged. Keep proper Patrols going from guard to guard.
Every piece of intelligence you obtain worthy notice, send it for-
ward by express. If the enemy attempt a landing on this side,
you '1 give them all the opposition in your power. Should they
land between Trenton Falls and Bordentown Ferry or any where
above Bristol, and you find your force quite unequal to their force
give them what opposition you can at Neshamine ferry and fords.
In a word you are to give them all the opposition you can with-
out hazzarding the loss of your Brigade. Keep a good guard
over such boats as are not scuttled or rendered unfit for use.
Keep a good lookout for spies, and endeavor to magnify your
number as much as possible. Let the troops always have three
days' provisions cookt before hand. Indeavor to keep your
Troops as much together as possible, night and day, that they
may be ever in readiness to march upon the shortest notice.
You '1 consult with the Commodore of the Gallics, and indeavor
to form such an arrangement as will most effectually guard the
river. To your discretion and prudence I submit any further
regulations and recommend the greatest degree of vigilence.
If you should find yourself unable to defend the passes of the
Neshamine, or the enemy should rout you from your post, you
are to repair to the strong ground, near Germantown, unless you
have orders from me or some other general officer to the con-
trary.
312 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Be particularly attentive to the roads and vessels and suffer no
person to pass over to the Jerseys without a permit.
Given at Head Quarters, Trenton Falls the 12th day of Decem-
ber, 1776.
Go. Washington.
to colonel ewing.
Sir : —
Your brigade is to guard the river Delaware from the ferry
opposite to Bordentown till you come within two miles or there-
abouts of Yardley's Mill to which General Dickinson's command
will extend.
About one hundred or a hundred and fifty men will, I should
think be sufficient at the post opposite to Borden Town. The
principal part of your force should be as convenient as possible
to the fort above Hoop's Mill in order that if a passage should
be attempted at that place you may give the earliest and most
spirited opposition ; the success of which depending upon good
intelligence and the vigilance of your guards and sentries will
induce you to use every means in your power to procure the first
and every endeavor to enforce and encourage the latter.
Between Borden Town and the mill and from the mill to the
extent of your line above you are to have intermediate guards
and sentries who are to be as attentive as possible in discovering
and informing you of every movement of the enemy, constant
patrols are also to pass. In a word so much depends upon watch-
fulness that you cannot possibly be too much upon your guard.
As the fort from the Jersey shore leads on to the upper end of
the island adjoining the mill you are to throw up a breast-work
for musketry near the landing-place and secure your communica-
tion with it. Besides this work another on the height on this
side for a field piece or two should be erected. Be particularly
careful of your field-pieces and do not suffer them to be left if
their is a possibility of avoiding it.
You are, as I before said to give every possible opposition to
the enemy particularly at crossing the river ; but if you should be
overpowered and obliged to retreat join that part of the troops
under my immediate command, or the other under Colonel Cad-
walader ; in the latter case the best stand possible is to be made
at Neshamine Ferry bridge and fords ; but if you are unable to
hold these then seize the strong grounds in the neighborhood of
WASHINGTON'S ORDERS 313
German Town unless you receive orders to the contrary from me
or some other your superior officer.
Spare no pains nor cost to gain information of the enemy's
movements and designs. Whatever sums you pay to obtain this
end I will cheerfully refund. Every piece of information worthy
of communication transmit to me without loss of time. A part
of Colonel Hart's battalion I have ordered to join your brigade.
Keep your troops always supplied with three day's provisions and
prevent them from straggling that they may be ready at a mo-
ment's warning to oppose the enemy in their passage of the river.
Be particularly attentive to the boats and other vessels and sufEer
no person to pass over to the Jersey shore without a permit.
Given at Head Quarters at Trenton Falls this 12 th day of De-
cember 1776.
Go. Washington.
to gexeral dickinson.
Sir: —
You will post your troops at Yardley's Ferry or somewhere near
it. Find out the fording place there and have a redoubt thrown
up immediately. You and General Ewing must divide the ground
between Trenton Falls and your post, and establish the proper
guards and patroles to watch the enemy's motions. You will
spare no pains or expense to obtain intelligence. All promises
made or moneys advanced shall be fully complied with and dis-
charged. Every piece of intelligence worthy notice you obtain
forward it to me by express. See the troops always have three
days' provisions cooked beforehand and keep them together as
much as possible night and day that they may be in readiness in
the shortest notice to make head against the enemy. Should
they attempt to land on this side you will give them all the op-
position in your power. Should you be routed from your post
you are to repair to the strong grounds at German-Town unless
you can possibly join the upper or lower division of the Army
which if practicable you are to do. Be particularly attentive to
the boats and other vessels and sufEer no person to pass over to
the Jersey shore without a permit.
Given at Head-Quarters at Trenton Falls this 12th day of De-
cember 1776.
Go. Washington.
314 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 3. Proclamation of the Howes.
By Richard Howe of the Kingdom of Ireland and William
Howe, Esq., General of his Majesty's Forces in America, the
King's Commissioners for restoring peace to his Majesty's Col-
onies and Plantations in North America, &c.
Proclamation.
Whereas, by our Declarations of the 14th of July and igth of
September last, in pursuance of his Majesty's most gracious in-
tentions towards his subjects in the Colonies or Provinces of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
and Georgia, all persons speedily returning to their just allegiance
were promised a free and general pardon and were invited to
accept not only the blessings of peace, but a secure enjoyment of
their liberties and properties, upon the true principles of the Con-
stitution : And, whereas, notwithstanding the said declaration,
and the example of many who have availed themselves of the
assurances therein made, several bodies of armed men, in open
contempt of his Majesty's proffered clemency, do still continue
their opposition to the establishment of legal government and
peace : and divers other ill-disposed persons pursuing their own
ambitious purposes in the exercise of a lawless influence and
power, are using fresh endeavours, by various arts and misrepre-
sentations, to alienate the confidence and affection of his Ma-
jesty's subjects : to defeat every plan of reconciliation, and to
prolong the unnatural war between Great Britain and her Col-
onies : Now, in order to the more effectual accomplishment of
his Majesty's most gracious intentions, and the speedy restora-
tion of the publick tranquillity : and duly considering the expe-
diency of limiting the time within which such pardon as afore-
said shall be granted, and of specifying the terms upon which
only the same shall and may be obtained : We do, in his Majes-
ty's name, and by virtue of the powers committed to us, hereby
charge and command all persons whatsoever, who are assembled
together in arms against his Majesty's government, to disband
themselves and return to their dwellings, there to remain in a
THE HOWES' OFFER OF PARDON 315
peaceable and quiet manner : and we also charge and command
all such other persons as are assembled together under the name
of General or Provincial Congresses, Committees, Conventions,
or other associations, by whatever name or names known and
distinguished, or who, under the colour of any authority from any
such Congress, Committee, Convention and other association,
take upon themselves to issue or execute any orders for levying
money, raising troops, fitting out armed ships and vessels, im-
prisoning, or otherwise molesting his Majesty's subjects, to desist
and cease from all such treasonable actings and doings, and to
relinquish all such usurped power and authority, so that peace
may be restored, a speedy remission of past offences quiet the
apprehensions of the guilty, and all the inhabitants of the said
Colonies be enabled to reap the benefit of his Majesty's paternal
goodness in the preservation of their property, the restoration of
their commerce and the security of their most valuable rights,
under the just and moderate authority of the Crown and Parlia-
ment of Great Britain : And we do hereby declare, and make
known to all men, that every person who within sixty days from
the day of the date hereof, sliall appear before the Governour, or
Lieutenant Governour, or Commander-in-Chief, in any of his
Majesty's Colonies or Provinces aforesaid, or before the General
or Commanding Officer of his Majesty's forces in America or any
other officer in his Majesty's service having the command of any
detachment or parties of his Majesty's forces there, or before the
Admiral or Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's fleets, or any
other officer commanding any of his Majesty's ships of war, or
any armed vessel in his Majesty's service, within any of the ports,
havens, creeks, or upon the coasts of America, and shall claim
the benefit of this Proclamation, and at the same time testify his
obedience to the laws, by subscribing a declaration in the words
following : " I, A. B. do promise and declare, that I will remain
in a peaceable obedience to his Majesty, and will not take up
arms, nor encourage others to take up arms, in opposition to his
authority " shall and may obtain a full and free pardon of all
treasons and misprisions of treasons, by him heretofore committed
or done, and of all forfeitures, attainders, and penalties for the
same : and upon producing to us, or to either of us, a certificate
of such his appearance and declaration, shall and may have and
3i6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
receive such pardon made and passed to him in due form. Given
at New York, this thirtieth day of November, 1776.
Howe
W. Howe
By command of their Excellencies :
Henry Strachey.
No. 4. Hessian Field Officers.
Grenadier Regiment Rail.
Colonel, Johann Gottlieb Rail.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Balthasar Brethauer.
Major, Johann Jost Matthaus.
Fusilier Regiment von Lossberg
(sometimes called Alt von Lossberg; called after Lieuten ant-
General Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg).
Lieutenant-Colonel, Francis Scheffer.
Major, Ludwig August von Hanstein.
Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen
(called after Lieutenant-General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, com-
mander of the Second division of the Landgraflich Hessischen
corps in America).
Major, Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow.
Lieutenant Friedrich Fischer commanded the six-gun battery of
artillery, two guns being assigned to each regiment, and
Lieutenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen commanded the
detachment of Hessian yagers.
No. 5. General Howe to Colonel von Donop.
Head Quarters Trenton 13th Dec. 1776.
Sir: —
You are to command the troops to be cantoned at Trenton,
Bordentown and Burlington to report and receive Orders from
Major-General Grant at Brunswick and to communicate with
Brigadier-General Leslie at Princetown.
The Brigade of Railee, fifty yagers and twenty Dragoons to be
stationed at Trenton with six hessian three pounders. The Dra-
goons to be relieved once a week from Princetown.
GENERAL HOWE'S ORDERS TO DONOP 317
Three Battalions of hessian Grenadiers and a Detachment of
Yagers, with six hessian three pounders and if you please two
British eighteen pounders, to take post at Bordentown.
A Bat. of hess. Gren and 42 d Regt. with two hessian three
pounders and four british eighteen pounders, with two six and
two three pounders, to form the Garrison of Burlington ; you
will fix such other posts as shall appear to be necessary to secure
the communication of your cantonment.
Order the Farmers to give the exact Lists of their Cattle, Grain
and forage, out of which you will please to form magazines for
subsisting the Troops, for which Capt. Gamble Assistant De. Qr.
master General will give receipts, who is to remain under your
orders during the winter and whatever is expended will be paid
by the Commissary-General, who will of course take care that the
Issues do not exceed the Rations allowed to the Troops. The
Troops to supply themselves with Firewood and candles for
which they will receive an allowance from the Barrackmaster
General, who will in like manner make an allowance for Barrack-
Utensils if they are not delivered. Axes, Wedges and Cross Cut
Saws shal be sent from Brunswick.
Any quantity of Salt provision or flour, exceeding what may be
thought necessary for the use of a private family is to be consid-
ered as a Rebel Store, be seized for the Crown and issued to the
Troops as a saving to the public.
Rum and salt shall be sent immediately for the Troops under
your command, but if a quantity of both or of either can be found
in your Neighborhood, acquaint Major-General Grant of it im-
mediately to save the trouble and expense of Carriage.
Be so good as to reduce the Number of your officers horses as
much as you can, and dismiss as many of the Waggons, belong-
ing to the different Regiments as possible.
You can secure Waggons in the country in case of a March
and can hire them occasionally when you have use for them by
giving receipts for the number of days they are employed for
which the farmer will be paid by the Quartermaster General.
W. Howe.
3i8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 6. COLONEU VON DONOP TO COLONEL RaLL.
Trenton, 14th day of December 1776.
Sir: —
As I have the honour to receive my brother's brigade under
my orders in going into winterquarters, I send you herewith the
orders received from the commanding general with the request
that you publish them to your brigade and cause them to be
obeyed.
I. Good order must prevail at all the quarters. Fire and lights
must be carefully looked after, because all consequences result-
ant therefrom would be of great loss to the force.
II. Immediately after going into quarters an exact list must be
sent me at Bordentown, where my quarters will be during the
winter, what amount of rations each regiment needs every day,
also what the artillery needs and how long the present supply
will last. My brother should know that the Commanding-Gen-
eral desires all officers to dispense with all horses not absolutely
needed and that passes must be furnished to all owners or their
servants who supply waggons for baggage.
III. The Commanding-General requires of me a report every
fourteen days of everything in my command, so my brother will
see that I have a report from him of all his officers according to
the usual form every fourteen days. The rest of the military
plans so far as relate to the safety of the post I leave to my bro-
ther's own judgment. I will come here in a few days and look at
the position and make arrangements according to our views of
the subject. Meanwhile I beg my brother to guard the two
bridges over the creeks on the left bank of his position one called
the Creek bridge and the other the Crosswicks draw bridge by
which our communications with each other will be kept up.
DONOP.
• No. 7. Colonel von Donop to General Leslie.
Bordentown i6th day December 1776
Sir : —
In accordance with the orders of His Excellency, the General-
in-Chief I am instructed to communicate with you from time to
time. You know without doubt already that I have been assigned
to Trenton, Bordentown and Burlington for winter quarters, with
DONOP TO LESLIE 319
that of Colonel Rail and the 42d British Regiment. On the 14th
inst. I commenced the march to this place leaving the brigade of
Rail with twenty dragoons and fifty yagers at Trenton. I made
a post at Bordentown with the two batteries of von Linsingen
and von Minnigerode, pushing the 42d Regiment with the bat-
talion of von Block on to Black Horse. I am waiting with im-
patience the arrival of the Grenadier Battalion Koehler which will
bring with them six eighteen pounders, after which I will take
possession of Burlington, where there are according to reports
eight or ten gondolas. We will see what resistance they will make
to our heavy artillery. Two boats had anchored on the river two
miles above me. I have taken the two six pounders of the 42d
regiment and I was constructing two batteries to place them in
when the boats hastily left their anchorage last evening. Some
one informed me yesterday that a party of rebels were behind me
pillaging the loyalists and not being able to pass Black Horse they
marched to Mount Holly and Moorestown to join General Put-
nam, who must be between Hoppin's and Cooper's Creek with
3000 men. I sent out a detachment of 100 men who will push on
to Mount Holly to find out the truth of all reports and to recon-
noitre the country on that side. The bearer of this letter is one
of my Quarter Masters whom I send to New York with some
wagons and to get money and clothing for my men. I beg you,
Sir, to furnish an escort to New Brunswick.
I have the honor to be. Sir, Yours etc.
DONOP.
To General Leslie, Princeton.
P. S. The patrol above mentioned has just returned not hav-
ing seen anything of the enemy. Near the bridge between Mount
Holly and Moorestown they found a quantity of cannon ball, iron
etc., which they threw into the water. According to the opinion
of the inhabitants. General Putnam must be at Cooper's Creek
with 4000 men and must be busy in transporting stores. You
know better than I if the news is true that Wasrfiington has
crossed the Delaware at Vessel's Ferry with a large corps to join
the corps of Lee.
320 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 8. Colonel von Donop to General Grant.
BoRDENTOWN, 1 6th of Dec. 1776.
Sir :
Hearing that the heavy artillery is coming I have posted my-
self here with the battalions von Linsingen and von Minnige-
rode, having ordered the 4.26. Regiment and the von Block
Battalion to Black Horse and its neighborhood. From there the
chasseurs will make a patrol to Mount Holly and Burlington. It
will soon appear what resistance these marauders will make when
the six heavy pieces of artillery are discharged at them, for they
will destroy all before them. For this purpose I have had the
regiment of Colonel Sterling and the battalion von Block to make
eight hundred fascines and I will send them along with the artil-
lery so that I can construct a battery in one night. Two vessels
have gone up above me and have anchored a little less than two
miles above here. I am now engaged in making two batteries
here from which to attack them. For this work I have taken the
two six pounders of Lieutenant Colonel Sterling's regiment until
two eighteen pounders arrive to take their place. People have
warned me that there is a rebel party of 300 mounted men wan-
dering around here and pillaging the tories and, because they
cannot pass Black Horse, they will return by Mount Holly and
Moorestown, passing between Hoppin's and Cooper's Creeks
where General Putnam is said to have placed an effective force
of 3000 men. I will detach today to oppose them 200 men with
a few horse which will push toward Mount Holly and get the
exact truth of this report. They will reconnoitre the country on
this side. I am not very well and but for that I would go myself.
Yesterday Major Nichols of the enemy brought here two English
officers to exchange for those Captain Sims had taken to Bristol.
The Major will be led back today to Burlington by an officer and
a mounted man. He is a good looking man, and very enthusi-
astic for their cause. He pleased me very much in what he said
about the arrival of our other Hessian troops and he appeared
greatly disturbed and curious concerning our operations this
winter. He seemed more desirous for permanent public good
than for immediate peace. Colonel Rail according to his report
has made some changes in his post, which in my opinion are wise
HOW THE DELAWARE WAS CROSSED 321
and I will go tomorrow to see his plans. Mr. Kemble ' seems to
be a well bred man and takes all possible trouble to carry out
the orders of the General-in-Chief and I hope that all others who
are under my command will do the same for me. I pray you to
commend me to his good graces.
And to believe me, with much esteem, Sir,
Your most humble and most ob't ser't,
C. DoNOP.
P. S. As the houses here are built very poorly and as the
greater part of the inhabitants have carried away their beds it
will be necessary for the men to lie on straw beds upon the
ground, otherwise they will perish with the cold.
No. 9. Extract from a Letter to a Gentleman in Con-
necticut.
(Dated Headquarters Trenton Falls, December 12, 1776.)
My last to you was by Captain • , of the 5th instant from
Trenton. I was then in hopes my next would have acquainted
you we were advancing on the enemy. My reason for presuming
this was a speedy arrival of General Lee with his division of the
Array. Our enemy knowing how far he was in the rear, and our
weak situation, made a forced march to come up with us, and
were within two miles of Princetown, when Lord Stirling began
his retreat with two brigades. Boats from every quarter were
collected, and our stores, together with the troops remaining at
Trenton, were immediately conveyed over the Delaware. On
Sunday morning having everything over we crossed the Dela-
ware and took our quarters about half a mile from the river.
About eleven o'clock the enemy came marching down with all the
pomp of war, in great expectation of getting boats and immedi-
ately pursuing ; but of this we took proper care by destroying
every boat, shallop &c we could lay our hands on. They made
forced marches up and down the river in pursuit of boats but in
vain. This is Thursday ; the enemy are much scattered, some
in Trenton directly opposite from that on their left to Borden-
town and Burlington on the river banks. The enemy are at least
twelve thousand strong, determined for Philadelphia for which
1 Major Samuel Kemble, deputy adjutant-general of General Howe.
322 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
purpose they are transporting flat-bottom boats from Brunswick
to Trenton by land.
No. 10. Colonel Joseph Reed to General Washington.
December I2, 1776.
Dear Sir —
The gentlemen of the Light Horse who went into the Jerseys
have returned safe. They proceeded into the country 'till they
met an intelligent person directly from Trenton, who informed
them that General Howe was then with the main body of his
army : that the flying army, consisting of the Light Infantry and
grenadiers, under Lord Cornwallis, still lay at Pennytown and
there was no appearance of a movement. That they are certainly
waiting for boats from Brunswick ; that he believed they would
attempt a landing in more places than one ; that their artillery
park has thirty pieces of cannon — all field pieces. They are
collecting horses from all parts of the country. Some move-
ment was intended yesterday morning but laid aside ; but what
it was and why they did not proceed he does not know. I sent
off a person to Trenton yesterday morning with directions to
return by Pennytown. I told him to go to . . . and get what
intelligence he could from him. He is not yet returned. I
expect him every moment. I charged him to let . . . know that,
if he would watch their motions and could inform us of the time
and place of their proposed landing, he should receive a large
reward for which I would be answerable. I cannot but think
their landing will be between this and Trenton, for three rea-
sons :
I St. That Lord Cornwallis with that part of the army which he
will lead keeps at Pennytown within four miles of the river.
2nd. They will by that means avoid the ferry at Shamony, and
the fords which, at this season of the year, must be disagreeable
to the troops.
3rd. They will derive much more assistance from the country
which is but too favourable to them.
4th. They know our principal artillery is near Trenton and the
passage through the woods to Bristol must be unfavourable to
them. On the road above they will find all clear and the dis-
tance nearly the same.
The river is not and I believe cannot be sufificiently guarded.
REED TO WASHINGTON 323
We must depend upon intelligence of their motions ; to obtain
which no expense must be spared. If it were possible to fix
signals answering to their different movements that would be
most speedy and effectual. The militia are crossing over in
parties. I fear they do not mean to return. I do not know by
whose orders, but if their Colonels have power to give permission
in a little time there will be none left. I do not like the condi-
tion of things at and above Coryell's Ferry ; the officers are quite
new and seem to have little sense of the necessity of vigilance.
I shall wait a little to see my man return and then unless
your Excellency think my stay here of service, I will return to
Headquarters. I enclose you a proclamation which I got from
the other side. I suppose it is one of the same kind General
Dickinson saw. Mr. Moylan desires me to mention to your
Excellency the propriety of his meeting General Lee to inform
him of the state of things and wishes to know your plan by the
return of the Light Horse.
I am in haste, most respectfully Dear Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
Jos Reed.
No. II. Colonel Cadwalader to Council of Safety, 1776.
Headquarters, Trenton Ferry, Bucks County
8th Deer 1776.
Gent"
His Excely General Washington desires me to request that you
will immediately dispatch a Party of men from Philad* to cut
down & destroy the two Bridges on the Burlington Road, one on
Pensawkin & the other on Cooper's Creek — as he is apprehen-
sive the Enemy intend to pass to Philad^ by that Rout. Let me
beg of you in my own name that you will alarm the whole Coun-
try, South and West, nothing but their assistance can save us !
I am Gent, with great respect Your most ob' h'ble Serv'
John Cadwalader.
No. 12. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop.
Sir:
I send this patrol in order to see what is going on in the neigh-
borhood of Bordentown, and I will send another patrol to Maid-
enhead. The filing of yesterday was intended by the enemy to
324 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
cover the landing of about thirty rebels who were bold enough to
venture to a landing near a house where I had a sergeant and six
men. These they forced to withdraw. I cannot understand the
object of the enemy in making this crossing but I sent a com-
mand of thirty men there and they had gone. I reinforced the
picket with six men and placed them under the protection of an
officer and thirty men who will remain. A sergeant and six men
who have charge of cattle I sent this morning with forty oxen to
Bordentown. My regimental quarter masters are ready to go to
New York and are waiting for those of my brother's brigade.
There arrived yesterday an officer with twenty horses for the
Dragoon Regiment Burgoyne. A patrol of them consisting of
six men was sent to Pennytown but have not returned. I have
information that a dragoon mortally wounded lies at a place ten
miles from here and I have sent a surgeon to him.
Rall.
Trenton the 17th December 1776
10 o'clock in the morning.
No. 13. Colonel von Donop to General Grant.
Bordentown, December 18, 1776.
Sir :
I have this moment received your letter of the ly* instant.
Since I had the honour to advise you that there were 4000 of the
enemy at Cooper's Creek the best report I can obtain reduces
the number to 500. I do not care to take the trouble to march
with all my force for these gentlemen will not wait for me. I
believe however that it would be a good thing to establish a post
at Mount Holly and to push on from there, and place a guard at
the bridge between that place and Moorestown. From thence
we could send out patrols to Rancocas Creek and then with
troops around Busseltown. I could send patrols to Burlington.
You will see by the map which I send you that I will then be
able to get information of the enemy on both my flanks and at
the same time deprive them of the plan of making a descent from
Rancocas Creek. There is another report concerning the rebels
which I get from Mr. Smith, and a messenger just from the Gen-
eral-in-Chief reports the same thing from Philadelphia.. This
man informs me that they are hard at work fortifying the city
but a man residing there has assured me that from the way they
INTELLIGENCE GATHERED BY DONOP 325
are doing it tlie work will not be finished in two years. Yester-
day he passed Cooper's Creek where there are two battalions,
one of which was marching toward Haddonfield and the other
stationed there had destroyed the bridge over the creek. At
this place on the i6th instant Captain Loray ^ of my chasseurs
claims to have thrown into the water a quantity of cannon balls.
There is more news from Colonel Sterling which reached me
yesterday. I have also the honor to send you a letter which I
took from Captain Henry ■* a rebel officer. Lieutenant Dela-
hunty ^ is quartered in a house in the country two miles from
here because his wife is sick. I cannot tell you then, my Gen-
eral, what he has been able to find out but as he will pass here
to-morrow I will find out everything. I have just sent back the
above mentioned rebel officer, he assuring me that he will leave
the army as soon as we get in possession of Philadelphia and
not serve again with the troops of Pennsylvania. I believe you
have judged correctly of the movements of the enemy at Vessel's
Ferry, but the six dragoons, of whom five have returned met 100
rebels, who while retreating fired rapidly on them, killed a horse,
and wounded a dragoon. Colonel Rail expects to make a search
for them today with a detachment of yagers and dragoons. You
will oblige me, my General, to give me from time to time some
of the information you receive.
I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obt. ser't.
DONOP.
N. B. The messenger who brought me the news from Phila-
delphia, which I had the honor to send you has told me that he
was sent by order of General Howe to take a letter to a resident
of Philadelphia. This resident had requested him to receive his
reply by word of mouth, that he would do everything in his power
to organize a fleet of war vessels in the Delaware river. The
messenger also states that he had been promised a gratuitous
gift of a commission. I desire to know from you how much
1 Captain Friedrich Heinrich von Loray of Lieutenant-Colonel von
Wurmb's battalion of Hessian chasseurs.
2 Probably Captain John Henry of the Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania, militia.
3 Lieutenant Laurence DeLahunty of the Hessian garrison regi-
ment.
326 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ought to be given him. Also, you will oblige me, General, to let
me know if I may send some men into the country to give me
the news of the enemy and if I will be repaid the money which I
will be obliged to give them. There are two of them on their
way to Cooper's Creek and Gloucester from whom I expect news
today or tomorrow.
No. 14. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop.
Trenton, the i8th of December 1776.
Sir :
This morning at daybreak another party of rebels made a
landing at the same place as they did the clay before yesterday.
The yagers fired upon the boats and after a cannonade from the
enemy on the other side of the river they withdrew. I sent sev-
eral detachments there but they had gone. I received informa-
tion just now that a party of rebels had crossed four miles above
here at Howell's ferry. I have sent a patrol of twelve yagers
and two dragoons there to ascertain the facts. My light dra-
goons which I thought lost, returned yesterday, having left one
man behind mortally wounded. They reported that they came
across a party of rebels about one hundred strong, who opened
on them a terrific fire. I have sent this morning a patrol with a
wagon to Pennington to bring in the wounded man if possible.
Rall.
No. 15. General Washington to Major-General Lee.
The following intercepted letter from General Washington to
Major-General Lee was found among the German records at
Marburg, Germany : —
Brunswick, 30th of November, 1776.
My Dear General :
The movements of the enemy are, since I wrote you from New-
ark, of such a nature as things stand at present, sincerel)' to be
wished for. I have feared that they would take Newark, Eliza-
beth Town and Amboy for their winter quarters in order to under-
take from these places early in the spring an attack on Philadel-
phia and at the same time having a favourable season ahead that
they would make a diversion on the Delaware river with their fleet.
The advantages they have gained over us in the past have made
GENERAL HOWE TO LORD GERMAIN 327
them so proud and sure of success that they are determined to
go to Philadelphia this winter. I have positive information that
this is a fact and because the term of service of the light troops
of Jersey and Maryland are ended they anticipate the weakness
of our army. Should they now really risk this undertaking then
there is a great probability that they will pay dearly for it for I
shall continue to retreat before them so as to lull them into
security.
I am with the greatest respect, my dear General,
your obedient servant
Go. Washington.
No. 16. General Howe to Lord Germain.
Extract of a letter from General Sir William Howe to Lord
George Germain, dated New York, December 20, 1776 : —
In Jersey, upon the approach of the van of Lord Cornwallis's
corps to Brunswick by a forced march, on the ist instant, the
enemy went off most precipitately to Princetown ; and had they
not prevented the passage of the Rariton, by breaking a part of
Brunswick bridge, so great was the confusion among them, that
their army must have inevitably been cut to pieces.
My first design extending no further than to get and keep pos-
session of East-Jersey, Lord Cornwallis had orders not to advance
beyond Brunswick, which occasioned him to discontinue his pur-
suit ; but finding the advantages that might be gained by pushing
on to the Delaware, and the possibility of getting to Philadelphia,
the communication leading to Brunswick was reinforced, and on
the 6th I joined his Lordship with the 4th brigade of British
under the command of Major-general Grant. On the 7th Lord
Cornwallis's corps, the guards excepted, who were left at Bruns-
wick, marched to Princetown, which the enemy had quitted on
the same day. This corps marched in two divisions on the 8th,
the first advancing to Trenton reached the Delaware soon after
the enemy's rear guard had crossed. Their main army having
passed the preceding day and night, took post on the other side
of the river.
Lord Cornwallis, with the rear division, halted at Maidenhead,
six miles from Trenton, and marched next morning at one o'clock
to Corriel's Ferry, thirteen miles higher up the Delaware, in some
expectation of finding boats there, and in ^he neighborhood, suf-
328 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ficient to pass the river ; but in this he was disappointed, the
enemy having taken the precaution to destroy or to secure on the
south side, all the boats that could possibly be employed for this
purpose.
The passage of the Delaware being thus rendered impracti-
cable, his Lordship took post at Pennington, in which place and
Trenton the two divisions remained until the 14th, when the
■weather having become too severe to keep the field, and the win-
ter cantonments being arranged, the troops marched from both
places to their respective stations. The chain, I own, is rather
too extensive, but I was induced to occupy Burlington to cover
the county of Monmouth, in which there are many loyal inhabit-
ants, and trusting to the almost general submission of the country
to the southward of this chain, and to the strength of the corps
placed in the advance posts, I conclude the troops will be in per-
fect security. Lord Cornwallis having desired to return to Britain,
the command in Jersey is given to Major-general Grant, in whose
approved good conduct I place the greatest confidence.
I cannot too much commend Lord Cornwallis's good services
during this campaign, and particularly the ability and conduct he
displayed in the pursuit of the enemy from Fort Lee to Trenton,
a distance exceeding eighty miles, in which he was well supported
by the ardour of his corps, who chearfully quitted their tents and
heavy baggage, as impediments to their march.
By pressing the rebels so close, they had not time to destroy
the country, as they intended, or to remove their stores, by which
a large quantity of provisions and plenty of forage have been
secured.
During Lord Cornwallis's stay at Pennington, a patrole of
thirty dragoons from the i6th regiment, was sent out to gain in-
telligence of a corps under the command of General Lee, reported
to be in Morris county, on their way to cross the Delaware at
Alexandria. Lieutenant-colonel Harcourt desired the direction
of this detachment, and learning, as he proceeded, the situation
of this corps, consisting of two thousand men, and of General
Lee's headquarters, he contrived by infinite address and gallan-
try, to get to his house undiscovered by the guard, surrounded it,
and overcame all their resistance, and made the General prisoner.
The time of service for which most of the enemy's troops were
engaged being expired, their present strength, from a review of
RALL'S UNEASINESS 329
the latest intelligence received, is about 8000 on the south side
of the Delaware, and in Philadelphia, 500 militia embodied in
Morris county, New-Jersey, and about 3000 at Peek's Kill, North
Castle, and the smaller posts in this province.
No. 17. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop.
Trenton, 20th of December 1776.
Sir:
Yesterday the rebels captured three men of the von Lossberg
regiment who went out to procure forage two miles from here and
not far from the road to Maidenhead. I have written to General
Leslie at Princeton and asked him to post some troops at Maiden-
head in order to keep open the communication with Princeton.
In fact my right wing is too much exposed. Near Pennington
stands a strong corps of rebels. At Howell's ferry on the other
side of the Delaware four miles from here is the left wing of Gen-
eral Stirling's command and at Upper Makefield on my right
wing is the corps which General Lee commanded. The constant
alarms and troubles I have here prevents me going to Borden-
town today as I had hoped. This morning a grenadier called
and stated that he alone had charge of the baggage that has been
here already for four days and he wished that his Battalion would
get a wagon and send for this baggage. He belongs to the von
Linsingen battalion.
Rall.
This minute Lieutenant von Grothausen who made a patrol
this morning with twenty yagers and four dragoons up the Dela-
ware river for four miles has reported. He met a party of rebels
one hundred and fifty strong, and as soon as they saw him they
retreated but not until they had killed one of the horses of the
dragoons. The patrol brought a prisoner with them whom I have
in the guard house.
No. 18. General Grant to Colonel von Donop.
Brunswick Dec. 21st 1776.
Sir
I have received your Letter of the i6th by Captain Campbell
and since then that of the 18"'. When you send People for
Intelligence, if you find that they serve you faithfully be so good
330 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
as to give them certificates and refer them to Mr. Skinner ^ for
payment, which is the method I am directed to follow as Skin-
ner is best acquainted with the people of the Country and of
course best Judge of what will satisfy them in the money way.
Colonel Rail has lost another Dragoon. I have received three
letters of yesterday's Date from him. I send you enclosed my
answer and refer you to it for Information I have lately had
about the Enemy, which I beheve is to be depended upon.
I understand the Meaning of Monthly . . . les and have waved
it. Colonel Rail sent a Detachment of loo men and a cannon to
Princetown. I don't touch much upon that, but surely it was not
necessar}', it was making more of the rebels than they deserve.
Be so good as to communicate with General Leslie and fix with
him what Days your Patrols should meet upon the road from
Trenton to Princetown, you will of Course vary the Force and
Time of sending them. I likewise write to him upon this
subject.
We are in great Want of Carriages and Hay. I should be
much obliged to you if you could send me a hundred Waggons
loaded with Hay. The Farmers shall receive eleven Shillings a
day for each Waggon with two horses and fifteen shillings a day
for Waggons with four horses, the money to be paid weekly by
Commissary Christie in Gold or dollars. If you cannot get a
hundred Waggons send fifty or as many as can be found in the
country, you will be kind enough to send an Escort with them to
Princetown. Gen. Leslie will forward them from thence to this
place.
I have not heard from the General so can say nothing about
your 1 8 pounders which I am as anxious about as you can be,
Colonel Sterling not less so, in order to get into Quarters.^
The rebels gave way at Pluckhimin, the Guards had a man and
a Guide wounded. At Springfield General LesUe had three men
wounded the rebels had three killed one of their most violent
Captains and several men wounded, they fled as usual into the
mountains. I have some thoughts of quartering two regiments
' Cortlandt Skinner, attorney-general of the Province of New Jer-
sey under the crown, and afterward brigadier-general commanding a
brigade of New Jersey volunteers — loyalists.
- It was thought necessary to have these cannon in Burlington before
the post was occupied.
RALL ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS COMMUNICATIONS 331
there to bring the People to their senses, if the General does not
think the Post too far advanced.
I am told Rhode Island surrendered without firing a shot.
Lord Cornwallis has not sailed and you will still be in time to
send Letters for Europe, which I shall forward by Express. Your
Quarter masters passed and your Baggage shall be sent forward
when they return.
I have the honour to be with much esteem. Sir,
Your most obed't & most h'ble servant
James Grant.
No. 19. Colonel von Donop to General Grant.
BoRDENTOWN, 2ist of December 1776.
Sir:
Following my report of the 18' instant I have the honour to
announce to you that although I had resolved to pay a visit to
Mr. Putnam at Cooper's Creek, I have now changed my mind
after having gone out day before yesterday with Colonels von
Block and Sterling and a patrol to Mount Holly. I learned there
that there was a large quantity of provisions on this side of the
Delaware river. I concluded that at present it would not be
worth while to weary the troops so much by making this march.
The bridges have all been destroyed and the troops would have
to make a long detour and march over marshy roads.
Donop.
No. 20. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop.
Trenton, 21st of December 1776.
Sir:
Yesterday I sent two dragoons to Princeton with letters. They
were not gone over an hour when one of them came back and
reported that the other soldier had been killed and his own horse
had been shot by a concealed enemy. He took the letters from
his dead comrade and mounting his horse because his own had
been wounded he returned here. I sent immediately one Captain
with one hundred men and one piece of artillery to Princeton and
asked again of General Leslie to place some troops at Maiden-
head, if only two hundred men. This would keep up communi-
cation between Princeton and Trenton if strong patrols were sent
out from both places. The party that is making it so unsafe on
332 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
this side of the river is estimated by some as one hundred and
fifty men, others say there are not over forty men strong.
Rall,
Major Dunbar asks for an escort for his baggage from Borden-
town to Trenton, which can be relieved as it passes on from post
to post.
No. 2 1. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop.
Trenton, 21st of December 1776.
Sir :
It is impossible, my brother, to spare a battalion of my brigade
as I am liable to be attacked at any moment. I have the enemy
before me, behind me and at my right flank. The road from
here to Princeton is very unsafe so that I have to send your let-
ters by an escort of fifty men. The corps of General Lee is at
my right flank and the enemy are very bold in front of me at the
landings. But this I will stop by troops under cover. I will
attack them as soon as they come near enough to enable me to
do it. Be kind enough to send the baggage to the draw-bridge
and it will be taken in charge by my command. I fully under-
stand my situation and three battalions are few enough to defend
myself here as you can readily judge for yourself. I beg there-
fore to be relieved of this request and not be placed in certain
danger. I have not made any redoubts or any kind of fortifica-
tions because I have the enemy in all directions. It is then, my
brother, absolutely impossible. I intended this morning to ask
you to relieve me from posting guard at the draw-bridge because
I cannot furnish men enough for other duties. If however this
is utterly impossible, if it has still to be done, I am ready to obey
my brother according to his first order. I send this by one of my
mounted men, who can, in case you still insist, bring the order
back immediately and the battalion can march to you instantly.
But I will then be compelled to move out with the two battalions
and camp outside the city.
Rall.
He left here one quarter to ten o'clock.
HARRYING THE HESSIANS 333
No. 22. Colonel von Donop to General Grant.
I await with impatience the arrival of tlie Koehler battaUon
with the heavy artillery, because I am not able to take posses-
sion of Burlington before they arrive, and as long as the galleys
are in the neighbourhood. I had intended to post a battalion at
Mount Holly but since I have myself seen the situation I have
changed my mind not finding it proper to do so for the reason
that dense woods are adjacent and there is high ground on the
side of Moorestown and Haddonfield. But as soon as the
Koehler battalion arrives I will post a considerable detachment
there with some horse so that my left flank will be properly
guarded. There is a great scarcity of houses to accommodate
the troops in order that they may not be exposed to annoyance
by the enemy. It would however be easy for the brigades to be
quartered in the country behind me. Colonel Rail has reported
to me that he had sent a patrol of twenty men and four dra-
goons along the river above Trenton and the enemy as they were
retiring killed a horse of our dragoons and in return we captured
a prisoner from them. Also Colonel Rail tells me three soldiers
from the von Lossberg regiment who were foraging near Maid-
enhead were killed by the enemy. The plans of our troops have
evidently not been announced although it was intended that the
2nd British Battalion should have been posted at Maidenhead.
Accordingly Colonel Rail has written to General Leslie that there
should certainly be some troops there to keep open the communica-
tion between Trenton and Princeton. Even now the Rail brigade
is exposed on the rear to the attacks of the enemy and it will
weary it too much if it is called upon to perform also this service.
The General will notice the exchange of the English officer since
my last report by examining the list and the letter of Colonel Cad-
walader hereto annexed. At the same time I have the honor to
send you the documents No. i, 2 & 3 received from Colonel
Sterling and you will see by No. 4 that the situation is changed
again today. If the enemy approaches still nearer it will be of
advantage to me. I will go as I had intended yesterday morn-
ing and attack them on the road, between Black Horse and Slab-
town,^ which is half way between Black Horse and Mount Holly.
He cannot march by our right flank without encountering another
^ Now Jacksonville, Burlington County.
334 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
body of men on the road from New Mill to Trenton. In this
case if it is attempted I would be obliged to use the troops of
Sterling, von Block and von Linsingen and keep open the com-
munication with Rail and hold the drawbridge at Crosswicks
Creek. Therefore I send you, my General, such directions as
you may think proper to give to Lieutenant-Colonel Koehler in
case he is marching with the heavy artillery on the road from
South Amboy to ]\Ioorestown, for on this road he runs the risk
of falling into the hands of the enemy. There is another state-
ment which I have the honor to send you, with a copy of the
letter and my reply. I judge from this letter that they are de-
sirous to keep Mount Holly and to declare Burlington to be neu-
tral ground. It is possible for the troops at Bristol to fire on
the town of Burlington with six pounders but they cannot so
control Mount Holly. In closing my letter I just received a
report from Colonel Rail which informs me that in sending two
dragoons yesterday with a letter to Princeton and scarcely an
hour after they started one returned saying that the other dra-
goon had been killed by a body of rebels who were in ambush on
the road. He brought back to Colonel Rail the horse and the
letter from the dragoon who had been killed. Colonel Rail im-
mediately detached one hundred men with one cannon to take
the letter to General Leslie at Princeton. He asked him to place
two hundred men at least at Maidenhead immediately, which by
frequent patrols would assure the communication being kept open
between Trenton and Princeton. Colonel Rail also said that
the party of the enemy which disturbed the highway according
to one report consisted of about 150 men and from other reports
not more than 40 men.
(This letter was unsigned.)
No. 23. General Grant to Colonel Rall.
Brunswick, Dec. 21st 1776.
Sir:
I have this moment received your three Letters of yesterday's
Date. I am sorry to hear your Brigade has been fatigued or
alarmed. You may be assured that the rebel army in Pennsyl-
vania which has been joined by Lee's Corps, Gates and Arnolds
does not exceed eight thousand men who have neither shoes nor
stockings, are in fact almost naked, dying of cold, without blan-
THE DESPISED REBELS 335
kets and very ill supplied with Provisions. On this Side the
Delaware they have not three hundred men. These stroll about
in small parties, under the command of subaltern officers none
of them above the rank of Captain, and their principal object is
to pick up some of our Light Dragoons.
With regard to the communication to Burdentown if the duty
falls heavy upon your Brigade, you will be so good as to apply to
Colonel Donop, who will give whatever Directions are necessary
and when you send Letters to Princetown you may either send a
small Detachment of Foot, or when despatch is necessary a Cor-
poral and four Dragoons. For as General Howe does not ap-
prove of Maidenhead for a Post, I can not send Troops there,
but I have desired Brig. Gen. Leslie to send Patrols frequently
from Princetown to meet the patrols from Trenton and to fix
with Colonel Donop and you, when these Patrols are to be sent.
Ammunition shall be sent for the Artillery & Powder & Balls to
make Cartridges which your men can do themselves at their
Leisure.
Officers are to give the parole and countresign in their respec-
tive cantonments, which can be attended with no inconvenience
to the service, any Body stop'd by your Out posts who has not
your Parole and Countresign will be stop'd of course and brought
before you, if you find he is a Friend you will of course release
him or confine him if he is a suspected Person.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed't & most h'ble
servant
James Grant
To Col. Rall
No. 24. Lieutenant Colonel Sterling to Colonel von
Donop.
I.
Sir:
A gentleman of Credit is just come who informs me that 1000
of the rebels were certainly at Mountholly and they were to be at
one o'clock at Slabtown and that 2000 more were in the rear to
support them which he heard came in to Mountholly this morn-
ing. He likewise heard that Washington proposed to send over
1000 or 1500 men at Donks Ferry, which is 3 miles from Bur-
lington on this Side of Rancocas Creek, to make a conjunction
336 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
with the above. Col. Block has ordered out 3 Companys that
are at Hancock's bridge and Busseltown.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed't servant
Thos. Sterling.
2 oclock Saturday
II.
Sir :
Colonel Block has just now conimunicated your Letter to me,
wherein you do me the honour to know my opinion, the Rebels
without Doubt mean to beat up our Quarters and drive us from
hence from their approaching so near us. I am therefore of
opinion, if it is necessary to keep their country for the winter
that we should not wait to be attacked but so soon as we are
certain, that a Body of them is at Slabtown, which. I believe is
now the Case, that you Sir with the Troops at Burdentown should
come here and attack them before they have time to extend
themselves so as to surround us or to form a Plan to drive us
from hence. I am confident we are a Match for them were their
numbers as strong as we hear (3000 men). I suppose Colonel
Raille will send a Battalion to occupy Burdentown in your ab-
sense.
I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obed't h'ble servant
Thos. Sterling.
Blackhorse
i past 4 o'clock Saturday 21st Dec. 1776.
No. 25. Memoranda.
I.
{Inielligence by Mr. Hovenden, who left Bucks County 20th Dec,
1776.)
That the Main Body of the rebel army lies at Beaumonts be-
tween Telits and Bakers Ferry about 11 miles above Trenton
Ferry commanded by General Washington and Lord Stirling.
That a party of about 3000 men under Gen. Sulivan had joined
Gen. Washington and it was said they were immediately to march
and make their Quarters at Newtown. That of this number near
200 sick and invalids were arrived at the hospital at Newtown.
A party 200 or 300 men are stationed at Robinsons Ferry about 7
miles above Beaumonts, Don't know of any other party higher up
REPORTS OF BRITISH SPIES 337
the river. That General Washington had with him 6 eight pound-
ers but were removed from thence, know not where. There are
opposite to Slacks Island about 5 miles below Beaumonts 4 eight
pounders. That below Slack's Island and at Yardley's are about
600 men, commanded by Gen. Dickinson with two pieces of
cannon. Gen. Mercer was there but often shifts his Quarters.
That upon the most diligent Inquiry and best intelligence he
could procure General Washington's whole Army did not consist
of more than 8000 men. That General Sulivan went to Philadel-
phia on the 15^'^ inst from Washington's Quarters. That Gen-
eral Gates had not passed the river on Thursday last, but was
informed, he was coming forward with about 500 men.
II.
(Intelligence by Mr. Haines., a Burlington County loyalist^
Bazilla Haines sent out to procure Intelligence on the 21^'
of Dec. 1776 arrived at Mount holly in the night and lodged in
the Rebel camp there. Was informed they had only two Field
pieces, which he thinks were three pounders as he perceived them
at the church. That all the Troops were drawn up in his view,
that he walked round them and thinks there were not above
eight hundred, near one half Boys and all of them militia, a very
few Pennsylvanians excepted. That he knew a great many of
them, who came from Gloucester, Egg Harbour, Penns Neck and
Cohansey. They were commanded by Col. Griffin.
III.
{Intelligence by Samuel Brown, who left Bucks County on the 22'''
Dec. 1776.)
That the Troops opposite to Trenton and Bordentown are in
number about 600 men commanded by General Ewing. Of these
m>en there is a Guard of 25 men opposite Mr. Field's, about 50
at Mr. Riche's opposite to Bordenton, about half a mile nearer
Trenton about thirty, the rest lay above between Riche's and
Trenton and over against Trenton there are two pieces of can-
non. That Gen. Washingtons whole Army does not consist of
more than 8000 men, about 5000 of them Troops formerly en-
listed, partly brought from Jersey by Washington and partly by
Sulivan, the rest are new raised Militia. That the time of Enlist-
338 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ment of Ewing's Brigade of 600 men all expire the first of Jan.
next and that the officers and men and Gen. Ewing himself has
declared they will serve no longer. That the New England Troops
who came with General Washington it is generally believed from
their Declaration that they will not serve longer than the Term of
their Enlistment, which expires also the first of Jan'y next, that
these Troops compose the main Part of Washington's Army.
Mr. Hovenden further says that there are four regiments or
rather the remains of them, whose time expires the ist of Jan'y
and that he was informed by their principal officers that they
would serve no longer out of their own Province.
IV.
{Intelligence by Capt. Losbiniere who left Bristol the 22"''- Dec. 1776^
That there were two Companys at Neshaminy Ferry with some
Boats. At Bristol not more than 800 or 900 at most commanded
by Col. Cadwalader. No Entrenchments or other works but 5
Cannon, three iron 4 pounders, two brass 6 pounders, and 7 flat-
bottom boats which may carry about 50 men each and two ferry
Boats, which may carry the like number. That they often send
in the night a party of about 50 men over the river who land
above Burlington, stay 24 Hours and return. At Minirks about
3 miles above Bristol are two companys, one Company at the Old
house on Penns-bury.
At Mr. Thos. Richee's opposite to Bordentown, between 4 and
500 men, and at Trenton Ferry about the same number, and that
the whole number commanded by General Washington on Penn-
sylvania side, supposing the Corps commanded by Gen. Lee to
have formed their junction, which is confidently reported, are
about 8000 men. That since their retreat from New Jersey a
great number of sick are constantly sending to Philadelphia.
That he knew not where Gen. Putnam is, but understood that
Colonel Griffin is on the Jersey side of the River. That General
MifHin set out from Philadelphia last week to raise a number of
men in Westmoreland County and other frontier Parts of Penn-
sylvania.
BRITISH PRECAUTIONS 339
No. 26. Captain Loray to Colonel Rall.
Crosswicks December 21st 1776.
Sir:
I have placed a guard at the large bridge, also have guarded
all the road in the rear of your command. You may therefore
feel that if the enemy does not attack you in front nothing can
hurt you. My patrols went as far as Springfield and I heard that
there are seven hundred men at Mount Holly, but it is not likely
that they will undertake anything. I really believe that the
whole party is nothing but a rebel patrol. To-morrow however I
will report fully the particulars.
Loray.
No. 27. General Leslie to Colonel Rall.
Princeton one o'Clock morning.
Sir,
I am honoured with your Letter at 12 o'Clock last night. I 've
ordered the first L. Infantry to be at Trenton tomorrow at 10
o'clock and I take the 2"'' L'. Inf. and 300 men of the 2""^ Bri-
gade to Maidenhead to be in the Way if wanted.
I, wish you success and am Sir your most obed't and h'ble ser-
vant
A. Leslie.
Today. I 've mentioned the movement to General Grant.
No. 28. Colonel Reed to General Washington.
Bristol 22d December 1776.
Dear Sir :
Pomroy, whom I sent by your order to go to Amboy and so
through the Jerseys and round by Princeton to you, returned to
Burlington yesterday. He went to South Amboy, but was not
able to get over ; upon which he came to Brunswic, passed on to
Princeton, and was prevented from going to Pennington, upon
which he returned to Burlington by way of Cranbury.
His intelligence is, that he saw no troops, baggage wagons, or
artillery going to New York, except about eight wagons, which
he understood had the baggage of some of the light horse, who
had been relieved and were going into quarters. At Cranbury
340 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
he saw sixteen wagons going down to South Amboy for the bag-
gage of about five hundred men, who Vvere to quarter about Cran-
bury, being enlisted forces commanded by one Laurence. At
Brunswic he saw four pieces of cannon ; the number of men he
could not learn, but they did not exceed six or eight hundred.
Princeton, he says, was called head-quarters, and there he saw a
very considerable body of troops coming out of the College, meet-
ing-house and other places where they quartered. He understood
they were settled in their winter quarters, and had given over
further operations till the spring. In Burlington County he found
them scattered through all the farmer's houses, eight, ten, twelve
and fifteen in a house, and rambling over the whole country.
Colonel Griffin has advanced up the Jerseys with six hundred
men as far as Mount Holly, within seven miles of their head-
quarters at the Black Horse. He has written over here for two
pieces of artillery and two or three hundred volunteers, as he
expected an attack very soon. The spirits of the militia here are
very high ; they are all for supporting him. Colonel Cadwalader
and the gentlemen here all agree, that they should be indulged.
We can either give him a strong reinforcement, or make a sepa-
rate attack ; the latter bids fairest for producing the greatest and
best efforts. It is therefore determined, to make all possible
preparation today ; and, no event happening to change our mea-
sures, the main body here will cross the river tomorrow morning
and attack their post between this and the Black Horse, proceed-
ing from thence either to the Black Horse or the Square, where
about two hundred men are posted, as things shall turn out
with Griffin. If they should not attack Griffin as he expects, it
is probable both our parties may advance to the Black Horse,
should success attend the intermediate attempt. If they should
collect their force and march against Griffin, our attack will have
the best efforts in preventing their sending troops on that errand,
or breaking up their quarters and coming in upon their rear,
which we must endeavour to do in order to free Griffin.
We are all of opinion, my dear General, that something must
be attempted to revive our expiring credit, give our cause some
degree of reputation, and prevent a total depreciation of the
Continental money, which is coming on very fast ; that even a
failure cannot be more fatal, than to remain in our present situa-
tion ; in short, some enterprise must be undertaken in our present
REED URGES OFFENSIVE ACTION 341
circumstances, or we must give up the cause. In a little time the
Continental army will be dissolved. The militia must be taken
before their spirits and patience are exhausted ; and the scat-
tered, divided state of the enemy affords us a fair opportunity of
trying what our men will do, when called to an offensive attack.
Will it not be possible, my dear General, for your troops, or such
part of them as can act with advantage, to make a diversion, or
something more, at or about Trenton ? The greater the alarm,
the more likely the success will attend the attacks. If we could
possess ourselves again of New Jersey, or any considerable part
of it, the effects would be greater than if we had never left it.
Allow me to hope that you will consult your own good judg-
ment and spirit, and not let the goodness of your heart subject
you to the influence of opinions from men in every respect your
inferiors. Something must be attempted before the sixty days
expire which the commissioners have allowed ; for, however many
affect to despise it, it is evident that a very serious attention is
paid to it, and I am confident that unless some more favourable
appearance attends our arms and cause before that time, a very
large number of the militia officers here will follow the example
of those of Jersey and take benefit from it. I will not disguise
my own sentiments, that our cause is desperate and hopeless, if
we do not take the opportunity of the collection of troops at
present, to strike some stroke. Our affairs are hastening fast to
ruin if we do not retrieve them by some happy event. Delay
with us is now equal to a total defeat. Be not deceived, my dear
General, with small, flattering appearances ; we must not suffer
ourselves to be lulled into security and inaction, because the
enemy does not cross the river. It is but a reprieve ; the execu-
tion is the more certain, for I am very clear that they can and
will cross the river, in spite of any opposition we can give them.
Pardon the freedom I have used. The love of my country, a
wife and four children in the enemy's hands, the respect and
attachment I have to you, the ruin and poverty that must attend
me, and thousands of others will plead my excuse for so much
freedom. I am with the greatest respect and regard, dear sir
Your obedient and affectionate humble servant
Joseph Reed.
342 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 29. General Washington to Colonel Reed.
23 December 1776
Dear Sir :
The bearer is sent down to know whether your plan was
attempted last night and if not to inform you, that Christmas-day at
night, one hour before day is the time fixed upon for our attempt
on Trenton. For Heaven's sake keep this to yourself, as the
discovery of it may prove fatal to us, our numbers, sorry am I to
say, being less than I had any conception of : but necessity, dire
necessity, will, nay must, justify an attempt. Prepare, and, in
concert with Griffin, attack as many of their posts as you possibly
can with a prospect of success : the more we can attack at the
same instant, the more confusion we shall spread and greater
good will result from it. If I had not been fully convinced before
of the enemy's designs, I have now ample testimony of their
intentions to attack Philadelphia, so soon as the ice will afford
the means of conveyance.
As the Colonels of the Continental Regiments might kick up
some dust about command, unless Cadwalader is considered by
them in the light of a brigadier, which I wish him to be, I desired
General Gates, who is unwell, and applied for leave to go to Phila-
delphia, to endeavour, if his health would permit him, to call and
stay two or three days at Bristol in his way. I shall not be par-
ticular : we could not ripen matters for our attack before the time
mentioned in the first part of this letter : -so much out of sorts
and so much in want of everything are the troops under Sullivan
&c. Let me know by a careful express the plan you are to pur-
sue. The letter herewith sent, forward on to Philadelphia : I
could wish it to be in time for the Southern post's departure,
which will be I believe by eleven o'clock tomorrow.
I am, dear Sir, Your most obedient servant
Go. Washington
P. S. — I have ordered our men to be provided with three
days' provisions ready cooked, with which and their blankets
they are to march : for if we are successful, which Heaven grant
and the circumstances favor, we may push on. I shall direct
every ferry and ford to be well guarded, and not a soul suffered
BRITISH PRICES FOR ARMY SUPPLIES
343
to pass without an officer's going down witli the permit. Do the
same with you.
To Joseph Reed, Esq, — or in his absence to Jno. Cadwalader, Esq,
only, at Bristol.
No. 30. Quartermaster Gamble's Circulars.
I.
BuRDENTOWN December 24th 1776
The General commanding in Chief his Majesteys Forces in
New Jersey, in order to encourage the Inliabitants to supply the
Troops with necessaries has thought proper to establish the fol-
lowing prices to be paid in Gold and Silver for the Articles here-
after mentioned and from the generous prices fixed it is to be
hoped that the Inhabitants will cheerfully furnish the supplies in
order to prevent the disagreeable alternative of having them
seized by foraging Parties. The Inhabitants living in the neigh-
bourhood of Trenton are to deliver their Produce to Mr. Palmer
Commissary at that Place and those living near Bordentown are
to deliver their Produce to Mr. MacCulloch Commissary, and
those in the neighbourhood of Burlington to Mr. Johnstone Com-
missary in that place.
prices.
Hay taken from the Farmer
do. delivered by the Farmer
Oats delivered by the Farmer
do. taken from the Farmer's house
Indian Corn delivered by the Farmer
do. taken from the house
Wheat delivered by the Farmer
do taken from the house
Flour New York inspection delivered
do taken from the mill
Bran delivered
do. taken from the mill
Pork
Beef.
1 (Captain Gamble (47th Foot) sent a copy of this circular with the
following letter to Colonel von Donop, who was then at IVIount Holly.)
60/
(j: Ton
80/
jf do
3/
(! bushel
2/6
if: do
3/6
^ do
3/
i. do
6/
<f. do
5/6
f do
15/
^ Ct, wt
14/3
<f. do
1/
^ do
9 I/:
H
25/
i hundred
25 or 30/4 (4 do
Thqs Gamble ^
A.Q.
Jlf. General
344 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
BURDENTOWN, Dec. 24th 1776
Sir:
I do myself the honour to inclose you some intelligence re-
ceived from the other side of the River, I believe from very good
authority. I also inclose the prices fixed by General Grant for
the different articles furnished the Troops by the Inhabitants of
this province copies of which I shall take care to have dispersed
throughout the District under your command. The Inhabitants
begin to bring in supplies and our Magazine fills, so that I hope
we shall not be reduced to the dissagreeable necessity of sending
out Forage parties. The Commander in chief has issued orders
for paying the Troops 165 Day's Batt. and Forage money, as a
douceur for their service during the campaign. You will there-
fore, Sir, be pleased to give the commanding Officers of Corps
orders to have their returns in readiness for that purpose.
I did myself the honour to write you a short note the night
before last, inclosing you some intelligence and begging to know
if you had any Commands for me. I was in hopes you would
have allowed me to have attended you to Mountholly.
Mr. Donop has brought directions for Mr. Laurence ^ to come
to you he sets out early tomorrow morning for that purpose and
if you think Mr. Galloway " can be of any service he will with
great pleasure attend you.
I have the honour to be with great respect Your most obed't
h'lle serv't
Th°s Gamble
No. 31. Colonel John Cadwalader's Division.
Colonel Daniel Hitchcock'' s Brigade.
Eleventh regiment. Continental foot (formerly Second Rhode
Island regiment). Colonel, Daniel Hitchcock (comdg. brig.) ;
Lieutenant-Colonel, Ezekiel Cornell (detached D. A. G. Cent.
Army) ; Major, Israel Angell (comdg. regt.). 18 commissioned
officers and 129 enlisted men present.
Fourth regiment, Continental foot — Massachusetts regiment.
1 Probably Lieutenant Moritz von Donop of the Hessian yagers
and Dr. John Lawrence of Monmouth County, New Jersey, an ardent
tory.
^ Joseph Galloway, the distinguished Philadelphia loyalist.
COLONEL HITCHCOCK'S BRIGADE 345
Colonel, ■ • ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas Nixon ; Major,
Andrew Colburn. The lieutenant-colonel in command, although
about this time he was commissioned colonel of the regiment, to
rank August 9, 1776, the former colonel, John Nixon, having
been made a brigadier-general August 9, 1776. The major was
absent, having been wounded at Harlem Heights, October 12,
1776. He had been commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Third
New Hampshire regiment, but was still borne on the rolls of this
regiment. (He was mortally wounded at the battle of Stillwater,
September 19, 1777.) 17 commissioned officers and 184 enlisted
men present.
Ninth regiment, Continental foot — Rhode Island regiment.
Colonel, ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Archibald Crary ; Major,
Christopher Smith. The lieutenant-colonel in command ; major
absent, and Colonel James M. Varnum also absent, having been
promoted brigadier-general of the Rhode Island State troops,
December 10, 1776. Christopher Greene, the first lieutenant-
colonel of this regiment, had been taken prisoner in Canada,
December 31, 1775, and was not yet exchanged. The office of
colonel was left vacant to be filled by him. 16 commissioned
officers and 148 enlisted men present.
Twelfth regiment. Continental foot — Massachusetts regiment.
Colonel, Moses Little ; Lieutenant-Colonel, William Henshaw ;
Major, James Collins. The lieutenant-colonel in command ; major
absent, and colonel in charge of a detachment of sick at Peek-
skill, New York. 18 commissioned officers and 134 enlisted men
present.
Rhode Island regiment State troops. Colonel, Christopher Lip-
pitt ; Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major, James Tew. The colonel
in command, and major absent. Lieutenant-Colonel Comstock,
originally of this regiment, had been transferred to the First
Rhode Island regiment, October 28, 1776, and the vacancy in the
office of lieutenant-colonel had not been filled. 28 commissioned
officers and 193 enlisted men present.
The total effective strength of this brigade was 89 officers and
788 men.
Philadelphia Battalions of Associators.
First battalion. Colonel, Jacob Morgan, Jr. ; I,ieutenant-Colo-
nel, William Coates ; Major, Joseph Cowperthwaite.
346 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Second battalion. Colonel, John Bayard ; Lieutenant-Colonel,
John Cox ; Major, William Bradford.
Third battalion. Colonel, John Cadwalader ; Lieutenant-Colo-
nel, John Nixon ; First Major, Samuel Meredith ; Second Major,
Robert Knox.
First company of artillery. Captain, Wingate Newman ; Cap-
tain-Lieutenant, William Baxter ; Second Lieutenant, Nathaniel
Wallace ; Second Lieutenant, John Sober.
Second company of artillery. Captain, Jehu Eyre ; First Lieu-
tenant, William Brown; Second Lieutenant, John Brown ; Second
Lieutenant, Samuel Williams.
All the field and company officers above mentioned were pre-
sent for duty.
Also attached to Colonel Cadwalader's division were : —
Detachment of Philadelphia rifle battalion. Colonel Timothy
Matlack, commanding.
Four companies Philadelphia city militia. Captain George
Henry, senior officer, commanding.
Kent County, Delaware, militia company. Captain Thomas
Rodney, commanding.
The total effective force of the three battalions of Associators,
the companies of artillery, the rifle battalion, and the militia of
Philadelphia and of Kent County, Delaware, was about looo
men.
No. 32. Brigadier-General James Ewing's Division.
Brigade of Pe7iiisylvania Militia of the Flying Camp.
Cumberland County regiment. Colonel, Frederick Watts
commanding ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Samuel Culbertson present ;
Major, . 27 commissioned officers and 162 enlisted men
present; 114 men absent, sick or on extra duty.
Lancaster County regiment. Colonel, Jacob Klotz ; Lieuten-
ant-Colonel, Thomas Murray ; Major, John Boyd. The colonel
in command, major present and lieutenant-colonel absent. 18
commissioned officers and 151 enlisted men present; 33 men
absent, sick or on extra duty.
Cumberland County regiment. Colonel, William Montgomery;
Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major, . The colonel in com-
mand ; no other field officers in commission. 15 commissioned
GENERAL EWING'S DIVISION 347
officers and 139 enlisted men present ; 149 men absent, sick, on
extra duty or on furlough.
York County regiment. Colonel, Richard McAllister; Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, ; Major, John Clark, Jr. The colonel in
command, and major detached for duty as aide-de-camp to Major-
General Greene ; no lieutenant-colonel in commission. 15 com-
missioned officers and 97 enlisted men present; 77 men absent,
sick, on extra duty or on furlough.
Chester County regiment. Colonel, James Moore ; Lieutenant-
Colonel, George Smith ; Major, Solomon Bush. The major in
command; colonel and lieutenant-colonel absent. 17 commis-
sioned officers and 84 enlisted men present; 75 men absent, sick,
on extra duty or on furlough.
The total strength of this brigade was 92 officers and 633 men,
with 277 soldiers fit for duty.
To this force must be added a small body of from 300 to 500
men of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey militia.
Pennsylvania militia — Detachment Bucks County regiment.
Colonel, Joseph Hart.
New Jersey militia. Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson,
commanding; Brigade Major, Roberts Hoops; Captain and
Aid-de-camp, Frederick Frelinghuysen.
Detachment First regiment, Hunterdon County. Colonel,
Isaac Smith ; Major, Joseph Phillips.
Detachment Second regiment, Middlesex County. Colonel,
John' Neilson ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Richard Lott ; First Major,
John Taylor ; Second Major, John Van Emburgh.
No. 33. General Officers of the American Revolution.
Major-General John Sullivan, tvho was of Irish parentage, was
born February 17, 1740, in Berwick, in what is now the State of
Maine. He studied law, and when the war broke out was set-
tled in New Hampshire. On June 22, 1775, he was made a brig-
adier-general in the Continental array, and on August 9, 1776,
was promoted to the rank of major-general. During the war
we find him ever doing his duty fearlessly. He was a popular
officer, of gentlemanly manners, and a soldier of great daring and
determination, prompt and precise in carrying out. implicitly
all instructions given him. His staff at this time consisted of
Major William Stephens Smith, aide-de-camp and acting adju-
348 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
tant-general ; Major Nicholas Van Cortland, aide-de-camp ; Major
Lewis Morris, Jr., aide-de-camp ; Major Edward Sherburne,
aide-de-camp; Major John White, aide-de-camp. (Both Major
Sherburne and Major White were afterward killed at the battle of
Germantown, October 4, 1777.)
Major-General Nathanael Greene was of Quaker descent,
and was born in the town of Warwick, Rhode Island, June 6,
1742. Although at this time but thirty-four years of age, he held
a responsible commission in the Continental army. He had
entered the army in the first days of the war, and was made a
major-general by Congress August 9, 1776. He distinguished
himself in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, as well as at
Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and was then placed
in full command of the Southern Department. He was without
doubt one of the ablest and truest of the men who surrounded
the commanding general. He had a clear and fertile brain, and
was ever ready and willing to do what he could for the cause of
liberty. In all the miserable cabals which afterward disgraced
the American arms, no taint of connection with any intrigue ever
clung to the noble Greene. The glory which his good sword won
still remains with unfading lustre around his name, although his
body sleeps in what is now an unknown grave. It has "been
truthfully said of him that " he carried in his native genius all
the resources of war and the balance of every extreme of fortune."
Even Lord Cornwallis gave this encomium to his practical gen-
eralship : " Greene is as dangerous as Washington : He is vigi-
lant, enterprising and full of resources. With but little hope of
gaining any advantage over him I never feel secure when en-
camped in his neighbourhood." The aides-de-camp on his staff
were Major William Blodget, Major William Livingston, Major
John Clark, Jr.
Brigadier-General Lord Stirling, whose correct name was Wil-
liam Alexander, but who claimed a title from the English crown,
and immense tracts in Nova Scotia, was yet a soldier whose
every impulse was directed by his devotion to his country's free-
dom. He was a native of New York, was born in 1726, and had
seen service in the French and Indian War on the staff of Gen-
eral Shirley, but his home was near Baskingridge in Somerset
County, New Jersey. His wife was a sister of Governor Living-
ston of that State. He was colonel of the First battalion, Somer-
AMERICAN GENERAL OFFICERS 349
set militia, at the breaking out of the war ; was appointed colonel
of the First battalion, New Jersey Continental line, November 7,
1775. brigadier-general by Congress, March 11, 1776, and major-
general nearly a year later. As before mentioned, he had been
captured at the battle of Long Island, but was exchanged within
a mohth, and immediately rejoined his command. He was per-
sonally a brave soldier, fearless in duty, strong in principles, and
a well-educated and honorable man. The aide-de-camp of Gen-
eral Lord Stirling was Lieutenant John Brent of the Third Vir-
ginia regiment.
Brigadier-General Matthias Alexis Roche de Fermoy was for
many years an officer of engineers in the army of France, where
he enjoyed a considerable reputation. With the restless ambition
of a soldier of fortune he came to America, and was made a brig-
adier-general by Congress, November 5, 1776. He took part in
the battle of Saratoga, and acted, as at Trenton, in a very ques-
tionable manner. He made a request of the Continental Con-
gress, December 30, 1777, for promotion to the rank of major-
general, but it was refused.
Brigadier-General Adam Stephen was an officer from Virginia
who had acquired an excellent reputation as lieutenant-colonel of
Colonel Washington's regiment in the French and Indian war,
that great preparatory school for officers of the Continental army,
and who had been made a brigadier-general by Congress, Septem-
ber 4, 1776. He fought well at Trenton, was made a major-general
of the Continental army, February 19, 1777, and took part in the
battle of Brandywincj but it is said that his intemperate habits
brought him under a cloud at the battle of Germantown ; he was
dismissed November 20, 1777, and thereafter his name is not
mentioned in military history.
Brigadier-General Arthur St. Clair was born in Edinburgh,
Scotland, in the year 1734. He held a subaltern's commission in
the army under General Wolfe, but in January, 1776, he was made
a colonel of the Second Pennsylvania battalion. Continental line,
and in the following August a brigadier-general of the Continental
army. Soon after the battle of Princeton Congress conferred on
him the rank of major-general, after which he commanded a divi-
sion of Pennsylvania troops. His subsequent history was full of
trouble. He was tried by court-martial for cowardice and treach-
ery, but was fully acquitted, and lived for some years in great
350 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
poverty, his proud spirit overwlielmed witli unmerited disgrace.
General St. Clair's aide-de-camp in this campaign was Major
James Wilkinson, formerly aide-de-camp to Major-General Gates.
Colonel Paul Dudley Sargent was born in Salem, Massachu-
setts, in 1745. He entered early into the struggle for independ-
ence, and commanded a regiment at the siege of Boston. He
was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, and after the battle of
White Plains commanded a brigade of Continental troops. Colo-
nel Sargent was considered a brave and skillful officer. He died
in Sullivan, Maine, September 15, 1828.
Colonel John Stark was born August 28, 1728, in Londonderry,
New Hampshire. He fought bravely at Bunker Hill. After the
battles of Trenton and Princeton he resigned, but in a few months
led the New Hampshire troops at Bennington, and then as a
brigadier-general of the Continental army joined General Gates
with a strong force. He was gallant and courageous, always
ready and eager for action, and with difficulty brooked restraint
when once he caught sight of the enemies of his country. In
appearance he resembled an Indian, with his tall figure, large
nose and high cheek bones. He died in Manchester, New
Hampshire, May 8, 1822.-
Colonel John Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts, owned a
number of vessels, and before the war was extensively engaged in
the fishing trade. His regiment was recruited from the hardy
class of men whom he was accustomed to employ in his business
life. His command was always efficient, and had more than the
usual discipline. Colonel Glover was small in stature, and as
Major-General the Chevalier de Chastellux writes, was " an active
and a good soldier.''
Colonel Henry Knox was a Boston bookseller, and only twenty-
six years of age at the date of the battles of Trenton and Prince-
ton. He was a volunteer at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was
afterward made colonel of a regiment of Continental artillery.
He is always spoken of as the soul of honor, sincere, open-
hearted, benevolent and brave. It is greatly to his credit that
General Washington held him in the highest esteem, not only as
a soldier but as Secretary of War and Navy, in his cabinet.
FIELD OFFICERS UNDER WASHINGTON 351
No. 34. Field Officers of Troops under Washington's
Immediate Command.
Brigadier-General Lord Stirling's Brigade.
First regiment, Virginia Continental infantry. Colonel, James
Read ; Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major, John Green. Captain
John Fleming, senior officer, in command. All the field officers
absent, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Eppes having been killed at
the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, and the major suffer-
ing from wounds received at the battle of White Plains, October
28, 1776. 31 commissioned officers and 154 enlisted men pre-
sent; 329 men absent, sick, on extra duty or on furlough.
Delaware regiment, Continental infantry. Colonel, John Has-
let ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Gunning Bedford ; Major, Thomas Mc-
Donough. The colonel in command ; lieutenant-colonel and
major absent, the latter on account of wounds received at the
battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. 10 commissioned offi-
cers and 98 enlisted men present; 32 men absent, sick.
Third regiment, Virginia Continental infantry. Colonel,
George Weedon ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas Marshall ; Major,
William Taliaferro. The colonel in command; major present;
lieutenant-colonel absent. 21 commissioned officers and 160
enlisted men present ; 452 men absent, sick, on extra duty or
on furlough.
First Pennsylvania rifle regiment volunteers. Colonel, ;
Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major, Ennion Williams. The major
in command. The last colonel, Samuel Miles, and lieutenant-
colonel, James Piper, prisoners of war, had been captured at the
battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Piper had died September, 1776, in captivity. 19 commissioned
officers and 180 enlisted men present; 305 men absent, sick,
wounded, on extra duty or on furlough. This regiment and the
Pennsylvania regiment of musketry commanded by Colonel Sam-
uel J. Atlee were nearly destroyed at the battle of Long Island.
The remnant of Colonel Atlee's command was then assigned to
duty with this command.
The total effective strength of this brigade was 81 officers and
S92 men.
352 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Brigadier- General Roche de Fermoyi's Brigade.
First regiment, Continental foot — Pennsylvania rifle regiment.
Colonel, Edward Hand ; Lieutenant-Colonel, James Chambers ;
Major, James Ross. The colonel in command ; major present ;
lieutenant-colonel absent. 28 commissioned officers and 236 en-
listed men present; 326 men absent, sick, on extra duty or on
furlough.
German regiment. Continental infantry. This organization
was raised in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Colonel, Nicholas
Haussegger ; Lieutenant-Colonel, George Strieker ; Major, Ludo-
wick Weltner. All field officers present. 40 commissioned offi-
cers and 334 enlisted men present ; 75 men absent, sick, on extra
duty or on furlough.
The total effective strength of this brigade was 68 officers and
570 men.
Brigadier- General Hugh Mercer's Brigade.
Twentieth regiment. Continental foot — Connecticut regiment.
Colonel, John Durkee ; Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major, Thomas
Dyer. The colonel in command; major present. The lieu-
tenant-colonel had been, as General Washington wrote, "the
gallant and brave Colonel Knowlton, who would have been an
honour to any country," who was mortally wounded at Harlem
Heights, September 16, 1776. 30 commissioned officers and 283
enlisted men present; 217 men absent, sick, on extra duty or on
furlough.
First Maryland regiment. Continental infantry. Colonel, Fran-
cis Ware ; Lieutenant-Colonel, John H. Stone ; Major, Patrick
Sim. The colonel and major absent. The last colonel of this
regiment, William Smallwood, had been made a brigadier-general,
October 23, 1776, wounded five days afterward at the battle of
White Plains, and at this time sent to Maryland to arouse the
people. The lieutenant-colonel was in command of the regiment.
In after years he was the governor of Maryland. 5 commissioned
officers and 158 enlisted men present; lo men absent, sick or on
furlough.
Twenty-seventh regiment. Continental foot — Massachusetts
regiment. Colonel, Israel Hutchinson; Lieutenant- Colonel,
Benjamin Holden ; Major, Ezra Putnam. The major in com-
FIELD OFFICERS UNDER WASHINGTON 353
mand ; colonel and lieutenant-colonel absent. 17 commissioned
officers and 98 enlisted men present ; 292 men absent, sick or on
duty.
Colonel Bradley's battalion, Connecticut state troops. Colonel,
Philip Burr Bradley; Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas Hobby; Major,
David Dimon. All field officers absent ; colonel sick at home ;
lieutenant-colonel a prisoner Of war, and suffering from wounds
received at Fort Washington, November 16, 1776, and major on
duty at Albany, New York. Captain Benjamin Mills, senior offi'-
cer, in command. 18 commissioned officers and 124 enlisted men
present ; 231 men absent, sick, on extra duty, on furlough or pris-
oners of war.
Maryland rifle battalion volunteers. Lieutenant-Colonel Com-
mandant, Moses Rawlings. The lieutenant-colonel absent, suf-
fering from wounds received at Fort Washington, November 16,
1776. Captain David Harris, senior officer, in command. 3 com-
missioned officers and 102 enlisted men present ; 19 men absent,
sick.
The total effective strength of this brigade was 73 officers and
765 men.
Bngadier-Ge7ieral Adam Stephen's Brigade.
Fourth regiment, Virginia- Continental infantry. Colonel,
Thomas Elliott ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Robert Lawson ; Major,
John Sayres. The lieutenant-colonel in command ; colonel and
major absent. (The major was killed at the battle of German-
town, October 4, 1777.) 31 commissioned officers and ig8 en-
listed men present ; 33 men absent, sick or on extra duty.
Fifth regiment, Virginia Continental infantry. Colonel,
Charles Scott ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Josiah Parker ; Major, George
Johnston. All field officers present. 14 commissioned officers
and 115 enlisted men present; 25 men absent, sick or on extra
duty.
Sixth regiment, Virginia Continental infantry. Colonel, Mor-
decai Buckner ; Lieutenant-Colonel, James Hendricks ; Major,
Richard Parker. The colonel in command ; lieutenant-colonel
present; major absent. 25 commissioned officers and 166 en-
listed men present ; 58 men absent, sick or on extra duty.
The total effective strength of the brigade was 70 officers and
479 men.
354 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Brigadier-General Arthicr St. Clair's Brigade.
Fifth regiment, Continental foot — formerly First New
Hampshire regiment. Colonel, John Stark ; Lieutenant-Colonel,
Thomas Poor ; Major, John Moore. The colonel in command.
About no men fit for duty.
Eighth regiment, Continental foot — formerly Second New
Hampshire regiment. Colonel, Enoch Poor ; Lieutenant-Colo-
nel, John McDuffie ; Major, Joseph Cilley. 90 effective men in
this regiment.
Second regiment, Continental foot — formerly Third New
Hampshire regiment. Colonel, ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Israel
Oilman ; Major, Nathan Hale. The lieutenant-colonel in com-
mand. The last colonel, James Reed, had been commissioned a
brigadier-general, August 9, 1776, and was absent with a detach-
ment of convalescents, "lame and ragged," at Peekskill, New
York. About this time, he was " struck with blindness," and
was obliged to leave the service. About 135 men on duty.
Fifteenth regiment, Continental foot — Massachusetts regi-
ment. Colonel, John Paterson ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Seth Read;
Major, Henry Sherburne (of Rhode Island). The colonel in
command ; lieutenant-colonel and major absent. The lieutenant-
colonel had become insane. 170 men present for service.
The total effective strength of the brigade was about 500 men.
Colonel Paul D. Sargent's Brigade.
Sixteenth regiment. Continental foot — Massachusetts regi-
ment. Colonel, Paul Dudley Sargent; Lieutenant - Colonel,
Michael Jackson ; Major, . The colonel in command of the
brigade ; lieutenant-colonel absent, wounded at Montressor's Is-
land, September 24, 1776. The regiment had no major, as Major
Jonathan \'\'. Austin had been cashiered November 13, 1776.
Captain James Perry, senior officer, in command. 17 commis-
sioned officers and 135 enlisted men present; 313 men absent,
sick or on extra duty.
Colonel Ward's regiment, Connecticut Continental infantry.
Colonel, Andrew Ward ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Obadiah Johnson ; "
1 The return of December 22, 1776, in Force's Archives, says the
heutenant-colonel of Colonel Ward's regiment was "present." It ap-
pears by Correspondence and Journals of Colonel Samuel B. Webb,
FIELD OFFICERS UNDER WASHINGTON 355
Major, Thaddeus Cook. The colonel and major present. 13
commissioned officers and 144 enlisted men present; 292 men
absent, sick, on extra duty or on furlough.
Sixth battalion, Connecticut State troops. Colonel, John
Chester ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Solomon Wills ; Major, John Rip-
ley. All field officers present. 19 commissioned officers and 241
enlisted men present. This battalion, although belonging to
Sargent's brigade, did not cross the river on Christmas night,
but remained on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware.
Thirteenth regiment, Continental foot — Massachusetts regi-
ment. Colonel, Joseph Read; Lieutenant-Colonel, Ebenezer
Clap ; Major, Calvin Smith. The lieutenant-colonel in com-
mand; major present; colonel absent. 16 commissioned officers
and 106 enlisted men present; 337 men absent, sick, on extra
duty or on furlough.
First regiment. New York Continental infantry. Colonel,
; Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major, . This regiment is
generally known as Colonel Alexander McDougall's regiment,
although he had been promoted brigadier-general of the Conti-
nental army, August 9, 1776, and was stationed at Morristown,
New Jersey. Lieutenant-Colonel Herman Zedwitz had been
cashiered and sent to prison, November 22, 1776, and Major
Barnabas Tuthill had resigned, September 4, 1776. Captain John
Johnson was senior officer in command of the regiment. 11 com-
missioned officers and 45 enlisted men present ; 9 men absent,
sick.
Third regiment. New York Continental infantry. Colonel,
Peter Gansevoort ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Baron Friedrich von
Weisenfels ; Major, Robert Cochran. The lieutenant-colonel in
command; colonel and major absent. 15 commissioned officers
and 65 enlisted men present ; 16 men absent, sick.
The total effective strength of the brigade was 91 officers and
736 men.
Coloneljohn Glover's Brigade.
Fourteenth regiment, Continental foot — Massachusetts regi-
ment, commonly called the " Marblehead Regiment." Colonel,
vol. ii. p. 137, that Lieutenant-Colonel Obadiah Johnson of this regi-
ment obtained a furlough to go home, much to General Washington's
disgust. It is difficult to say whether or not he was present at Trenton ;
probably he was not.
356 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
John Glover ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Gabriel Johonnot ; Major,
William R. Lee. The major in command ; colonel present in
command of the brigade ; lieutenant-colonel absent. 30 com-
missioned officers and 147 enlisted men present ; 219 men absent,
sick or on extra duty.
Third regiment Continental foot — Massachusetts regiment.
Colonel, ^\llIiam Shepard ; Lieutenant-Colonel, ; Major,
Ebenezer Sprout. The colonel in command and major present.
22 commissioned officers and 195 enlisted men present ; 318 men
absent, sick, on extra duty or on furlough.
Nineteenth regiment Continental foot — Connecticut regi-
ment. Colonel, Charles Webb ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Street Hall;
Major, John Brooks. The colonel in command ; major present ;
lieutenant-colonel absent. Major Brooks, afterwards governor of
Massachusetts, in the march to the surprise at Trenton was over-
come with fatigue, and was reluctantly obliged to return to the
encampment. Captain William Hull performed his duties. 22
commissioned officers and 190 enlisted men present; 342 men
absent, sick, on extra duty or on furlough.
Twenty-third regiment. Continental foot — Massachusetts regi-
ment. Colonel, John Bailey; lieutenant-colonel, John Jacobs;
Major, Josiah Hayden. The colonel in command; lieutenant-
colonel present; major absent. 17 commissioned officers and
129 enlisted men present ; 353 men absent, sick or on extra duty.
Twenty-sixth regiment. Continental foot — Massachusetts regi-
ment. Colonel, Loammi Baldwin; Lieutenant-Colonel, James
Wesson ; Major, Isaac Sherman (of Connecticut). All field offi-
cers present. 24 commissioned officers and 197 enlisted men
present; 268 men absent, sick or on extra duty. The return of
December 29, 1776, which is on file in the adjutant-general's
office at Trenton, differs somewhat from the inspection before the
fight, dated December 22, 1776. The former gives 23 officers and
190 men in this regiment in the expedition.
The total effective strength of the brigade was 115 officers and
858 men.
K/wx's Regiment Continental Artillery and State Batteries assigned
to this Command.
Colonel, Henry Knox; Lieutenant-Colonel, David Mason;
Major, John Crane ; Major, John Lamb ; First Lieutenant, Sam-
AMERICAN ARTILLERY AT TRENTON 357
uel Shaw, Adjutant ; First Lieutenant, Samuel Treat, Quarter-
master. All present except Major Crane, who had been wounded
at Corker's Hook, September 14, 1776.
New York company of Continental artillery. Captain, Sebas-
tian Bauman ; Captain-Lieutenant, Joseph Crane ; First Lieuten-
ant, George Fleming ; Second Lieutenant, Jacob Reed ; Second
Lieutenant, Cornelius Swartwout. This company had about 80
men and three small cannon.
Massachusetts company of Continental artillery. Captain,
Thomas Pierce ; Captain- Lieutenant, Winthrop Sargent ; First
Lieutenant, Isaac Packard ; Second Lieutenant, David Preston ;
Second Lieutenant, Joseph Blake. The captain-lieutenant in
command, Captain Pierce being absent, wounded, and Lieutenant
Blake, a prisoner of war, captured at Fort Washington, Novem-
ber 16, 1776. This battery had two guns.
New York State company of artillery — late provincial com-
pany. Captain, Alexander Hamilton ; Captain-Lieutenant, James
Moore ; First Lieutenant, ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas
Deane ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Thompson. The captain in
command. The captain-lieutenant was sick with camp fever at
the house of Robert Thompson, Upper Makefield Township,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and died there December 26, 1776.
He was buried near the mouth of Pidcock's Creek. First Lieu-
tenant James Gilliland had resigned in December, 1776. 4 com-
missioned officers and 32 enlisted men present. This company
had two guns.
Eastern company, New Jersey State artillery. Captain, Daniel
Neil j Captain- Lieutenant, John Doughty j First Lieutenant,
Thomas Clark ; Second Lieutenant, John Vandyke ; Third
Lieutenant, Aaron Clark. The captain in command. The cap-
tain-lieutenant was on special duty. 4 oflicers and 59 enlisted
men present. The company had two guns.
Western company. New Jersey State artillery. Captain, Samuel
Hugg; Captain-Lieutenant, Thomas Newark; First Lieutenant,
John Westcott ; Second Lieutenant, Joseph Dayton. This battery
had two guns.
Second company of Pennsylvania State artillery battalion.
Captain, Thomas Forrest ; First Lieutenant, Hercules Courtney j
Second Lieutenant, Francis Procter ; Third Lieutenant, Patrick
Duffy. The captain and third lieutenant and 50 enlisted men
358 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
present. The first and second lieutenants absent on detached
duty. Lieutenant Courtney remained in Philadelphia with Major
Procter's detachment, and was made captain of a company.
First Lieutenant Worsley Eames of said detachment was on duty
with Captain Forrest's company. This company was equipped
with two brass-mounted six-pounders.''
Second company of artillery of Philadelphia Associators. Cap-
tain, Joseph Moulder ; First Lieutenant, U'illiam Linnard ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Anthony Cuthbert. 3 officers and 82 enlisted
men present. This company had three guns.
Philadelphia troop of light horse. Captain, Samuel Morris ;
Second Lieutenant, James Budden ; Cornet, John Dunlap. 3
officers and 22 enlisted men present.
No. 35. John Honeyman.
The following document is found among the Revolutionary
papers filed in the adjutant-general's office at Trenton. It does
not appear b)' the county records that any punishment was meted
out to the defendant by reason of these charges.
State of New Jersey ]
Somerset County |
To wit. An Inquisition taken and Made in the Hilborough
Township of the said County of Somerset the Ninth day of June in
the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy
Eight, By the oaths of, Henderick Probasco, Henderick Stryker,
Thomas Skillman, Reyneir Veghte, Peter Stryker, Jn° Stryker,
Cornelius Lett, Frederick VanLew, Laurance VanCIeef, William
Baird, Samuel Geulick, Uriah VanCIeef, Gerardes Beekman, Jn°
Voorheese, Abraham Voorhees, Abraham Ditmass, Abraham
Beekman, Christopher Beekman, Nathan Allen, Joest Kershow,
Garret Voorheese, Joseph Hageman, Garret Terhune Jr. Martin
Nevious, Good and Lawful men of the Said County, Before Edward
Bunn Esq' one of the Justices of the Peace of the said County,
Who upon their Oath aforesaid say that John Honeyman of the
Eastern Precinct in the County aforesaid did since the fifth day
of October one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six and
' The Pennsylvania Magazine, No. 4, vol. iv. p. 470, shows an " In-
dent of Stores for two Six pounders sent under the Command of Cap.
Thomas Forrest To Join the Grand Army at Trentown December 4th
1776."
ONE OF WASHINGTON'S SPIES INDICTED 359
Before the fifth day of June One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Seventy Seven did aid and comfort the Enemies within this State
against tlie form of the allegiance to the State the Government
and Dignity of the Same.
We whose names are hereunto Set and Seals affixed being the
Juries above Named do upon the Evidence to us produced find
the Inquisition aforesaid True
Hendrack Probasco (seal)
Hendrick Stryker (seal)
Thomas Skillman (seal)
Reyneir Veghte (seal)
Peter Stryker (seal)
John Stryker (seal)
CoRN^ Lott (seal)
Frederick^ VanLieu (seal)
Laurance V Cleef (seal)
William Bard (seal)
Samuel Gulick (seal)
Garret Terhune Jun'' (seal)
Joseph Hageman (seal)
Jurias VanCleef (seal)
Gerardus Beekman (seal)
John Voorhees (seal)
Abraham Voorhees (seal)
Abraham Ditmars (seal)
Abraham Beekman (seal)
Christopher Beekman (seal)
Nathan Allin (seal)
JosT Kesciu (seal)
Garrit Voorhees (seal)
Martinis Nevyus (seal)
I Do Hereby Certify that the within Inquisition by the Juries
therein Named this Ninth day of June One thousand Seven Hun-
dred and Seventy Eight before me
(Signed) Edward Bunn.
The Def appeared and the Inquisition being read, &C pleaded
Not Guilty, &c and put himself upon his Country, &c, &c, &c
(signed) W"" Paterson
AtP Gener'
No. 36. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee.
25 Dec. 1776.
Sir : You are to see that your men have three days' provisions
ready cooked before 12 o'clock this forenoon — the whole fit for
duty except a Serjeant and six men to be left with the baggage,
and to parade precisely at four in the afternoon with their arms,
accoutrements & ammunition in the best order, with their pro-
visions and blankets— you will have them told off in divisions
in which order they are to march — eight men abreast, with the
36o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
officers fixed to their divisions from which they are on no account
to separate — no man is to quit his division on pain of instant
punishment — each officer is to provide himself with a piece of
white paper stuck in his hat for a field mark. You will order
your men to assemble and parade them in the valley immediately
over the hill on the back of McConkey's Ferry, to remain there
for farther orders — a profound silence is to be observed, both
by officers and men, and a strict and ready attention paid to
whatever orders may be given — in forming the Brigade Co
Durkee takes the right, Co. Stone left, Co. Bradley on the left of
Co. Durkee & Co. Rawlings on the Right of Co. Stone — the
Line to form & march from the Right — Co. Hutchinson to form
by themselves. —
Your obt S'v't
H. Mercer.
No. 37. From Diary of an Officer on Washington's Staff.
New Town, Pa., Dec. 22, 1776.
Things have been going against us since last August, when we
were forced to give up Long Island, losing 3000 men and a
great amount of supplies. In October we were forced to evacu-
ate New York and cross the Hudson into New Jersey. We
reached Trenton Dec. 2. It was prudent forethought on the
part of General Washington to send General Maxwell ahead to
secure all the boats on the Delaware River and have them at
Trenton upon our arrival. If it had not been done we should
have been in a bad fix with Cornwallis at our heels. As it was
the Hessians under Count Donop and Colonel Rail arrived in
that village in season to fire a few shots at the last boat. Accord-
ing to last accounts General Howe and General Cornwallis have
gone to New York leaving General Grant with a few hundred
English troops at Princeton, Colonel Rail with 1500 Hessians at
Trenton and Count Donop with 2000 at Bordentown, ten miles
down the river from Trenton.
Washington's headquarters are here in this little village of New
Town, back from the river northwest of Trenton. General
Greene and General Sullivan, with their divisions, numbering
2500 men and sixteen cannon, are ten miles up stream at McCon-
key's Ferry. A portion of the boats are there. General Ewing,
with 2000 men, is on this side of the river a little below Trenton,
WASHINGTON'S PREPARATIONS 361
and General Cadwallader and General Putnam are at Bristol, ten
miles further down, with as many more.
I rode along the river yesterday morning and could see the
Hessians in Trenton. It is a pretty village, containing about 130
houses and a Presbyterian meeting-house. A stone bridge spans
the Assinpink creek on the road leading south to Bordentown.
There are apple orchards and gardens. Rail has his own regi-
ment and Knyphausen a few dragoons and fifty riflemen. The
Hessians call them Yagers. He has six cannon. Knyphausen
has two of them, two stand in front of Rail's headquarters, and
two up by the Pennington road. A scout just in says that Gen-
eral Howe has issued a proclamation, offering pardon to every-
body in New Jersey who will lay down their arms and take the
oath of allegiance. He says that Howe and Cornwallis are well
satisfied with what they have accomplished. Cornwallis is going
to England to tell the King that the rebellion is about over.
Howe is going to have a good time in New York attending dinner
parties. From what I see I am quite certain Washington intends
to make some movement soon. He keeps his own counsel, but
is very much determined.
Dec. 23 — Orders have been issued to cook rations for three
days. Washington has just given the counter sign, "Victory or
Death." He has written a letter to General Cadwallader at Bris-
tol, which he has intrusted to me to copy. He intends to cross
the river, make a ten-mile march to Trenton, and attack Rail
just before daybreak. Ewing is to cross and seize the bridge
crossing the Assanpink. Putnam and Cadwallader are to cross
and make a feint of attacking Donop so that he can not hasten
to Rail's assistance.
Dec. 24 — A scout just in says that the Hessians have a picket
on the Pennington road half a mile out from Trenton, and another
at Dickenson's house, on the river road.
Dec. 25 — Christmas morning. They make a great deal of
Christmas in Germany, and no doubt the Hessians will drink a
great deal of beer and have a dance to-night. They will be
sleepy to-morrow morning. Washington will set the tune for
them about daybreak. The rations are cooked. New flints and
ammunition have been distributed. Colonel Glover's fishermen
from Marblehead, Mass., are to manage the boats just as they
did in the retreat from Long Island.
362 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Christmas, 6 p. m. — The regiments have had their evening
parade, but instead of returning to their quarters are marching
toward the ferry. It is fearfully cold and raw and a snow-storm
setting in. The wind is northeast and beats in the faces of the
men. It will be a terrible night for the soldiers who have no
shoes. Some of them have tied old rags around their feet ; others
are barefoot, but I have not heard a man complain. They are
ready to suffer any hardship and die rather than give up their
liberty. I have just copied the order for marching. Both divi-
sions are to go from the ferry to Bear Tavern, two miles. They
will separate there ; Washington will accompany Greene's division
with a part of the artillery down the Pennington Road ; Sullivan
and the rest of the artillery will take the river road.
Dec. 26, 3 a. m. — I am writing in the ferry house. The troops
are all over, and the boats have gone back for the artillery. We
are three hours behind the set time. Glover's men have had a
hard time to force the boats through the floating ice with the
snow drifting in their faces. I never have seen Washington so
determined as he is now. He stands on the bank of the river,
wrapped in his cloak, superintending the landing of his troops.
He is calm and collected, but very determined. The storm is
changing to sleet, and cuts like a knife. The last cannon is
being landed, and we are ready to mount our horses.
Dec. 26, Noon — It was nearly 4 o'clock when we started.
The two divisions divided at Bear Tavern.
At Birmingham, three and a half miles south of the tavern, a
man came with a message from General Sullivan that the storm
was wetting the muskets and rendering them unfit for service.
"Tell General Sullivan," said Washington, "to use the bayonet.
I am resolved to take Trenton."
It was broad daylight when we came to a house where a man
was chopping wood. He was very much surprised when he saw
us. " Can you tell me where the Hessian picket is ? " Washington
asked. The man hesitated, but I said, " You need not be fright-
ened, it is General Washington who asks the question." His
face brightened and he pointed toward the house of Mr. Howell.
It was just 8 o'clock. Looking down the road I saw a Hessian
running out from the house. He yelled in Dutch and swung his
arms. Three or four others came out with their guns. Two of
them fired at us, but the bullets whistled over our heads. Some
AN OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE 363
of General Stephen's men rushed forward and captured two.
The others took to their heels, running toward Mr. Calhoun's
house, where the picket guard was stationed, about twenty men
under Captain Altenbrockum. They came running out of the
house. The Captain flourished his sword and tried to form his
men. Some of them fired at us, others ran toward the village.
The next moment we heard drums beat and a bugle sound, and
then from the west came the boom of a cannon. General Wash-
ington's face lighted up instantly, for he knew that it was one of
Sullivan's guns. We could see a great commotion down toward
the meeting-house, men running here and there, officers swinging
their swords, artillerymen harnessing their horses. Captain For-
rest unlimbered his guns. Washington gave the order to advance,
and we rushed on to the junction of King and Queen streets.
Forrest wheeled six of his cannon into position to sweep both
streets. The riflemen under Colonel Hand and Scott's and Law-
son's battalions went upon the run through the fields on the left
to gain possession of the Princeton road. The Hessians were
just ready to open fire with two of their cannon when Captain
Washington and Lieutenant Monroe with their men rushed for-
ward and captured them. We saw Rail come riding up the street
from his headquarters, which were at Stacy Potts' house. We
could hear him shouting in Dutch, " My brave soldiers, advance."
His men were frightened and confused, for our men were firing
upon them from fences and houses and they were falling fast.
Instead of advancing they ran into an apple orchard. The offi-
cers tried to rally them, but our men kept advancing and picking
off the officers. It was not long before Rail tumbled from his
horse and his soldiers threw down their guns and gave themselves
up as prisoners.
While this was taking place on the Pennington road Colonel
John Stark, from New Hampshire, in the advance on the river
road was driving Knyphausen's men pell mell through the town.
Sullivan sent a portion of his troops under St. Clair to seize the
bridge and cut off the retreat of the Hessians toward Borden-
town. Sullivan's men shot the artillery horses and captured two
cannon attached to Knyphausen's regiment.
Dec. 26, 3 p. m. — I have been talking with Rail's Adjutant,
Lieutenant Piel. He says that Rail sat down to a grand dinner
at the Trenton Tavern Christmas Day, that he drank a great deal
364 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
o£ wine and sat up nearly all night playing cards. He had been
in bed but a short time when the battle began and was sound
asleep. Piel shook him, but found it hard work to wake him up.
Supposing he was wide awake Piel went out to help rally the
men, but Rail not appearing, he went back and found him in his
night shirt. " What 's the matter ? " Rail asked. Piel informed
him that a battle was going on. That seemed to bring him to
his senses. He dressed himself, rushed out and mounted his
horse to be mortally wounded a few minutes later.
We have taken nearly 1000 prisoners, six cannon, more than
1000 muskets, twelve drums, and four colors. About forty Hes-
sians were killed or wounded. Our loss is only two killed and
three wounded. Two of the latter are Captain Washington and
Lieutenant Monroe, who rushed forward very bravely to seize the
cannon.
I have just been with General Washington and Greene to see
Rail. He will not live through the night. He asked that his
men might be kindly treated. Washington promised that he
would see they were well cared for.
Dec. 27, 1776. — Here we are back in our camp with the pris-
oners and trophies. Washington is keeping his promise ; the
soldiers are in the New Town Meeting-house and other buildings.
He has just given directions for to-morrow's dinner. All the
captured Hessian officers are to dine with him. He bears the
Hessians no malice, but says they have been sold by their Grand
Duke to King George and sent to America, when if they could
have their own way they would be peaceably living in their own
country.
It is a glorious victory. It will rejoice the hearts of our friends
everywhere and give new life to our hitherto waning fortunes.
Washington has baffled the enemy in his retreat from New York.
He has pounced upon the Hessians like an eagle upon a hen and
is safe once more on this side the river. If he does nothing more
he will live in history as a great military commander.
No. 38. Colonel Cadwalader to .
Bristol 26th Deer 1776.
Gentlemen. —
There was a general attack to be made last night. The river
was impassable here & we made the attempt at Dunks Ferry but
FRAGMENTARY REPORTS 365
found it impracticable to get over our Cannon, we returned this
morn'g to Bristol about four. I this moment have an account by
Mr. JMcLane (a man of veracity) that he was at Trenton Ferry
this morning & heard a very heavy firing on the River & Penny
Town Roads that lead to Trenton — the heavy firing lasted about
J an Hour & continued to moderate for about three Quarters.
The Light Horse & Hessians were seen flying in great confusion
towards Bordentown, but without Cannon or Waggons, so that
the Enemy must have lost the whole, a party of our men inter-
cepted about a Dozen Hessians in sight of our people on this
side & brought them to the Ferry & huzza'd. I have ordered the
boats from Dunk's and shall pass as soon as possible — we can
muster here about 1800 men if the Expedition last night in the
storm does not thin our Ranks. Has General Putnam crossed
and with what Numbers — Pray let me know ; Everything of this
kind gives Confidence to the Troops. 1 have no doubt of the
report, a heavy firing was heard at this place — an attempt was
made to pass at or a little below Trenton Ferr)', but could not get
over, that would have made the Victory still more compleat.
Yours &
John Cadwalader.
No. 39. Colonel Cadwalader to .
Bristol, 25th Deer
Gentlemen :
I wrote this morning to Gen. Washington directed to Gen.
Ewing at Trenton Ferry who informs me that he cannot yet ascer-
tain the particulars of this morning's action — one \\'aggon loaded
with Arms was brought down to the Ferry (Hessian arms) and
safe landed on this shore & six Hessians we have taken 14 or 16
ps of Cannon, a considerable of Stores & Cloathing. The num-
ber of killed, wounded &: prisoners is very considerable.
Yours &c
John Cadwalader.
No. 40. Colonel Clement Biddle to - — — .
Dated 29th Deer 1776.
We have returned with much honour from our Trenton expedi-
tion having brought off about 750 Hessians i Lt. Col. 2 Majors,
4 Captains, 15 Subalterns, 3 Standards, 6 Brass field Pieces and
near 1000 Stand of Arms.
366 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
We came on them by surprize at about 7 o'clock — their guard
at the end of the town and their parties in town gave smart resist-
ance for a while and they passed up the Creek back of the Meet-
ing House where they formed and thought we should have had a
smart engagement but they were by that time near surrounded
& so push'd at all points that they surrendered with all their
arms &c.
Our officers and men behaved with most remarkable bravery,
and by their activity and zeal they soon put a most honourable
end to this very important affair. Indeed I never could conceive
that one spirit should so universally animate both officers and
men to rush forward into action.
No. 41. Tench Tilghman to James Tilghman, Esq.
Head Quarters Newtowx 27th Decemr 1776
Hon" Sir:
I have the pleasure to inform you that I am safe and well after
a most successful Enterprise against three Regiments of Hessians
consisting of about 1500 Men lying in Trenton, which was planned
and executed under his Excellency's immediate command. Our
party amounted to 2400 Men, we crossed the River at McKon-
keys Ferry 9 Miles above Trenton the Night was excessively
severe, both cold and snowey, which the Men bore without the
least murmur. We were so much delayed in crossing the River,
that we did not reach Trenton till eight OClock, when the divi-
sion which the General headed in person, attacked the Enemy's
out post. The other Division which marched the lower Road
attacked the advanced post at Phil Dickenson's, within a few
minutes after we began ours. Both parties pushed on with so
much rapidity, that the Enemy had scarce time to form, our peo-
ple advanced up to the Mouths of their Field pieces, shot down
their Horses, and brought off the Cannon. About 600 run off
upon the Bordenton Road the moment the Attack began, the
remainder finding themselves surrounded laid down their Arms.
We have taken 30 officers and 886 privates among the former
Col° Rahls the Commandant who is wounded. The General left
him and the other wounded Officers upon their parole, under their
own Surgeons, and gave all the privates their Baggage. Our loss
is only Cap' Washington and his Lieutenant slightly wounded
and two privates killed and two wounded. If the Ice had not
OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BATTLE 367
prevented Gen^ Ewing from crossing at Trenton Ferry, and Col°
Cadwalader from doing the same at Bristol, we should have fol-
lowed the Blow and drove every post below Trenton. The
Hessians have laid all waste since the British Troops went
away, the Inhabitants had all left the Town and their Houses
were stripped and torn to pieces. The Inhabitants about the
Country told us, that the British protections would not pass
among the Hessians. I am informed that many people have of
choice kept their Effects in Philad", supposing if Gerf Howe got
possession that they would be safe, so they may be, if he only
carries British Troops with him, but you may depend it is not in
his power, neither does he pretend to restrain the Foreigners. I
have just snatched time to scrawl these few lines by Col° Baylor,
who is going to Congress —
I am your most dutiful and affect — Son
Tench Tilghman.
No. 42. Extract of Letter from an Officer of Dis-
tinction.
(Generally believed to be Brigadier-General Lord Stirling, at Newtown, Bucks
County, Pennsylvania, dated December 27, 1776.)
This letter was published by the Council of Safety, and a copy
was sent to the Congress of the United States : —
It was determined, some days ago, that our army should pass
over to Jersey, in three different places, and attack the men, and
twenty brass field-pieces, with his Excellency Gen. Washington
at their head, and Majors Gens. Sullivan and Greene in com-
mand of two divisions, passed over on the night of Christmas,
and about three o'clock, A. M. were on their march, by two
routs, towards Trenton. The night was sleety, and the roads so
slippery that it was day break when we were two miles from
Trenton. But happily the enemy were not apprised of our de-
sign, and our advanced party were on their guards at half a mile
from the town, when Gen. Sullivan's and Gen. Greene's divisions
soon came into the same road. Their guard gave our advanced
party several smart fires, as we drove them ; but we soon got
two field-pieces at play, and several others in a short time ; and
one of our Colonels pushing down on the right while the others
advanced on the left, into the town. The enemy, consisting of
368 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
about fifteen hundred Hessians, under Col. Rohl, formed and
made some smart fires from the musketry and six field-pieces, but
our people pressed from every quarter, and drove them from their
cannon. They retreated towards a field behind a piece of wood
up the creek, from Trenton, and formed in two bodies, which I
expected would have brought on a smart engagement from the
troops, who had formed very near them, but at that instant, as I
came in full view of them, from the back of the wood, with his
Excellency General Washington, an officer informed him that the
party had grounded their arms and surrendered prisoners.
The others soon followed their example, except a part which
had gone off in the hazy weather, towards Princeton, and a party
of their light horse which made off on our first appearance. Too
much praise cannot be given to the officers of every regiment.
By their active and spirited behaviour, they soon put an honor-
able issue to this glorious day.
I was immediately sent off with the prisoners to M'Conkey's
ferry, and have got about seven hundred and fifty safe in town
and a few miles from here, on this side of the ferry, viz. one Lieu-
tenant Colonel, two Majors, four Captains, Seven Lieutenants,
and eight Ensigns. We left Colonel Rohl, the commandant
wounded, on his parole, and several other officers and wounded
men at Trenton. We lost but two of our men, that I can hear
of, a few wounded, and one brave officer, Capt. Washington, who
assisted in securing their artillery, shot in both hands. Indeed
every officer and private behaved well, and it was a most fortu-
nate day for our arms, which I the more rejoice at, having an
active part in it. The success of this day will greatly animate
our friends, and add fresh courage to our new army, which, when
formed, will be sufficient to secure us from the depredations or
insults of our enemy.
Gen. Ewing's division could not pass at Trenton for the ice,
which also impeded Gen. Cadwallader passing over with all his
cannon and the militia, though part of his troops were over, and
if the whole could have passed, we should have swept the coast
to Philadelphia. We took three standards, six fine brass cannon,
and about one thousand stands of arms.
Published by order of Council of Safety.
G. BiCKHAM, Sec. pro tem.
THE HESSIAN CAPTIVES 369
No. 43. The Pennsylvania Evening Post,
(December 31, 1776, also published the foregoing document and added this
statement).
By an authentic account received this morning, the following
is a list of prisoners taken, viz. : One Col. two Lieut. Cols, three
Majors, four Captains, eight Lieuts, twelve Ensigns, two Surgeon
Mates, ninety nine sergeants, twenty five drummers, nine musi-
cians, twenty five servants, and seven hundred and forty privates.
Philadelphia, Dec. 31. By the last advices from the Jersies,
we learn the enemy are every where flying before our army, who
frequently take small parties of them. Since the affair at Tren-
ton, it is said, we have taken four hundred, amongst whom are
several officers. '
Yesterday morning upwards of nine hundred Hessians, who
were taken at Trenton, were brought to this city. The wretched
condition of these unhappy men, most of whom, if not all, were
dragged from their wives and families by a despotic and avari-
cious prince, must sensibly affect every generous mind with the
dreadful effects of arbitrary power.
Last Monday seven of the lighthorse belonging to this city,
took nine lighthorsemen from the enemy, near Princeton, without
firing a gun.
Last Thursday afternoon Col. Rohl died, at Trenton, of the
wounds he received that morning.
No. 44. Colonel Clement Biddle to Committee of Safety.
Head Quarters Newtown 28 Decem'r 1776
Sir :
His Excellency, General Washington has commanded me to
send forward the Prisoners taken at Trenton, to pass through
Philadelphia to Lancaster and I have sent them with a Guard
under the conduct of Capt. Murray (an officer of this State lately
released from New York) with directions to furnish them Provi-
sions and Quarters on the Road. . . .
I have the pleasure to inform you that the Prisoners amount to
near one thousand, that their Arms, six brass field pieces. Eight
Standards or Colours and a number of Swords, Cartouch Boxes
taken in this happy Expedition, are safely arrived at and near
this place. If your Honourable Committee could by any means
370 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
furnish Shoes & Stockings for our Troops it will be a great
relief. . . .
I am with great Respect your and the Councils most obedient
and very Humble serv't
Clement Biddle,
D. Qu'r M'r Gen'l
I am not alone in assuring you that the Inhabitants of Jersey
of whom we had an opportunity of enquiring of the Behaviour of
the Hessian Troops declare that their Officers & Soldiers treated
them in general with more Lenity, than those of the British Troops
w'ch Justice to our Prisoners, calls for an acknowledgement of,
as false reports had been spread to the contrary.
Y'r mo. ob. & h. s.
C. B.
Directed
On Public Service to the Hon'ble Thomas Wharton, Esq. Pre-
sident of the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
No. 45. Lieutenant Patrick Duffy to Colonel Thomas
Procter.
M^Conkey's Ferry 28th Dec'r, 1776.
Sir —
I have the pleasure of informing you that I have yesterday
arrived from Trenton, after a very fataguing (though successfull)
engagement in which can assure you the Artillery got applause.
I had the Honour of being detach'd up the Main Street in front
of the Savages, without any other piece, and sustained the fire of
Several gunns from the Houses on each side without the least
loss must attribute my protection to the hand of Providence. We
made Prisoners of about 900, together with the number killed
which I cannot exactly ascertain, but we took 6 brass field pieces
and a number of small arms, all which has been safely carried
off. . . .
Yr Very obedient Servant,
Pat Duffy.
P. S. Comp'ts to Capt. Courtney & Mr Turnbull am glad to
hear of y'r Promotion to Colonell.
Directed To Collonell Thomas Procter, of Artillery, Philadel-
phia.
LETTER OF COLONEL KNOX 371
No. 46. Colonel Knox to his Wife.
Delaware River, near Trenton
Dec. 28, 1776 near 12 o'clock
My Dearly Beloved Friend, —
You will before this have heard of our success on the morning
of the 26th instant. The enemy, by their superior marching, had
obliged us to retire on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, by
which means we were obliged to evacuate or give up nearly all
the Jerseys. Soon after retiring over the river, the preservation
of Philadelphia was a matter exceedingly precarious — the force
of the enemy three or four times as large as ours. However,
they seemed content with their success for the present, and quar-
tered their troops in different and distant places in the Jerseys.
Of these cantonments Trenton was the most considerable. Tren-
ton is an open town, situated nearly on the banks of the Dela-
ware, accessible on all sides. Our army was scattered along the
river for nearly twenty-five miles. Our intelligence agreed that
the force of the enemy in Trenton was from two to three thou-
sand, with about six field cannon, and that they were pretty secure
in their situation, and that they were Hessians — no British
troops. A hardy design was formed of attacking the town by
storm. Accordingly a part of the army, consisting of about 2500
or 3000 passed the river on Christmas night, with almost infinite
difficulty, with eighteen field pieces. The floating ice in the river
made the labor almost incredible. However, perseverance ac-
complished what at first seemed impossible. About tw^o o'clock
the troops were all on the Jersey side ; we then were about nine
miles from the object. The night was cold and stormy ; it hailed
with great violence ; the troops marched with the most profound
silence and good order. They arrived by two routes at the same
time, about half an hour after daylight, within one mile of the
town. The storm continued with great violence, but was in our
backs, and consequently in the faces of our enemy. About half
a mile from the town was an advanced guard on each road, con-
■sisting of a captain's guard. These we forced, and entered the
town with them pell-mell ; and here succeeded a scene of war of
which I had often conceived, but never saw before. The hurry,
fright, and confusion of the enemy was (not) unlike that which
will be when the last trump shall sound. They endeavoured to
372 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
form in streets, the heads of which we had previously the posses-
sion of with cannon and howitzers ; these, in the twinkling of an
eye, cleared the streets. The backs of the houses were resorted
to for shelter. These proved ineffectual : the musketry soon dis-
lodged them. Finally they were driven through the town into an
open plain beyond. Here they formed in an instant. During
the contest in the streets measures were taken for putting an
entire stop to their retreat by posting troops and cannon in such
passes and roads as it was possible for them to get away by.
The poor fellows after they were formed on the plain saw them-
selves completely surrounded, the only resource left was to force
their way through numbers unknown to them. The Hessians
lost part of their cannon in the town ; they did not relish the pro-
ject of forcing, and were obliged to surrender upon the spot, with
all their artillery, six brass pieces, army colors, &c. A Colonel
Rawle commanded, who was wounded. The number of prisoners
was above 1200, including ofScers — all Hessians. There were
few killed or wounded on either side. After having marched off
the prisoners and secured the cannon, stores, &c. we returned to
the place, nine miles distant, where we had embarked. Provi-
dence seemed to have smiled upon every part of this enterprise.
Great advantages may be gained from it if we take the proper
steps. At another post we have pushed over the river 2000 men,
today another body, and tomorrow the whole army will follow.
It must give a sensible pleasure to every friend of the rights of
man to think with how much intrepidity our people pushed the
enemy, and prevented their forming in the town. His Excellency
the General has done me the unmerited great honour of thanking
me in public orders in terms strong and polite. This I would
blush to mention to any other than to you, my dear Lucy; and I
am fearful that even my Lucy may think her Harry possesses a
species of little vanity in doing (it) at all.
No. 47. Captain Thomas Forrest to Colonel Thomas
Procter.
M<^Co>.'Key's Ferry, 29th Dec'r 1776.
Sir —
Am happy in acquainting you that we have return'd from Tren-
ton after defeating the Brass Caps and Crous coups and am now
under marching orders on an other Expedition over the river,
GOVERNOR TRYON'S CHAGRIN 373
hope it may prove as Successful! as the last ; we have taken, ex-
clusive of what were not able to march off, with a Compleat band
of Musick, the number kill'd uncertain. The men are not able
to move for want of Shoes and Watch Coats which I expect
you '11 forward p bearer immediately, with Gunn Screws, and the
Regimental Coats for such as has been before mentioned. . . .
Yr Ob't Servant
Thomas Forrest
Comp'" of Brother Officers to Mr Courtney and TurnbuU —
Directed To CoUonel Procter, of Artillery, Philadelphia —
No. 48. Governor Tryon to Lord Germain.
New York 31 Decemb'r 1776
My Lord —
The Rebels carrying off the Hessian Brigade under Coll : Rail
'at Trenton, has given me more real chagrin, than any other cir-
cumstance this war : the moment was critical, and I believe the
Rebel Chiefs were conscious, if some stroke was not struck that
would give life to their sinking cause, they should not raise an-
other army. Unlucky as was this loss, I have received great
comfort by the assurances Heister and Gen'l Kniphausen have
given me (who are most sincerely and deeply mortified at the
event) that the Rebels will not with all their arts be able to
seduce the Hessian Prisoners from their allegiance to their Prince
and duty to His Maj'ty. I trust, this tarnish to the Campaign,
will in due season be wiped away by some brilliant enterprize of
the King's forces who entertain the keenest sense of the insult.
I am with all possible respect My Lord
Your 's Lord'p's most obed't and very humble servant
W Tryon.
No. 49. Memorandum in General Robert Anderson's
Letter Book
(In reference to his father, Captain Richard Clough Anderson, Fifth regi-
ment, Continental infantry).
He was ordered on Christmas eve, 1776 to proceed to . . .
and if he did not find any of the enemy's forces there, then to
, and if he did not find them at either of the places named
374 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
he was to go to Trenton where he would find them. His orders
were to reconnoitre, to see where the enemy's outpost were, to
get such information as he could about tliem, but to be very
careful and not to bring on an engagement.
Having gone to the places designated without finding the
enemy, he advanced upon Trenton. The party came close upon
the Hessian sentinel, who was marching on his post, bending his
head down as he met the storm, which beat heavily in a driving
snow in the faces of the patrol. He saw them about the same
time that he was seen, and as he brought his gun to a charge and
challenged, he was shot down. My father having now accom-
plished the object of his mission, and knowing that the enemy's
forces would be promptly turned out, and that an engagement
which he had been ordered to avoid would ensue, ordered his
company to countermarch, and marched them back towards his
camp. He had not gone farbefore he saw, very much to his sur-
prise, Washington's Army advancing toward him. As he was
then in a narrow lane he ordered his company to withdraw one side
into an adjoining field. The advance guard seeing a body of
soldiers ahead, and supposing that they were the advance guard
of the British forces, halted, and very soon an officer approached
near enough to recognize them as American troops. General
Washington approached and asked who was in command and
where he had been. I have frequently heard my father remark
that he never saw Gen^ Washington exhibit so much anger as he
did when he told him where he had been and what he had done.
He turned to Gen' S(tephen) and asked how he dared to send a
patrol from camp without his authority, remarking " You sir, may
have ruined all my plans, by having put them on their guard."
He then addressed my father in a very calm and considerate
manner and told him that as he and his men must be very much
fatigued after such hard service, he should march in the van
guard, when he would be less harrassed by the fatigue of the
march.
No. 50. Proclamation.
The following advertisement was put up in the most public
parts of the Jerseys : —
His Excellency General Washington strictly forbids all the offi-
cers and soldiers of the Continental army, of the militia and all
recruiting parties, plundering any person whatsoever, whether
CAPTAIN WILLIAM HULL'S ACCOUNT 375
Tories or others. The effects of such persons will be applied to
public uses in a regular manner, and it is expected that humanity
and tenderness to women and children will distinguish brave
Americans, contending for liberty, from infamous mercenary rav-
agers, whether British or Hessians.
Go. Washington.
Trentox, January i, 1777.
No. 51. Captain William Hull, Seventh Connecticut
Regiment, to Andrew Adams.
Trenton, Jany ist 1777
Dear Sir :
Have but a moment which shall embrace with Pleasure to
inform you of the present State of our Army and our late Success.
After we had recruited a few days of a fatiguing March of more
than 250 Miles (thro' all our Windings) Genl. Washington gave
orders for us to be every way equiped for Action. On the Even-
ing of the 25 th Ult. we were ordered to March to a ferry (McCon-
key's) about twelve Miles from Trenton, where was stationed
near two Thousand Hessians. As violent a Storm ensued of
Hail & Snow as I ever felt. The Artillery and Infantry all were
across the Ferry about twelve O'clock, consisting of only twenty
one hundred principally New England Troops. In this Violent
Storm we marched on for Trenton. Before Light in the Morn-
ing we gained all the Roads leading from Trenton. The Genl.
gave orders that every Officer's Watch should be set by his, and
the Moment of Attack was fixed. Just after Light, we came to
their out Guard, which fired upon us and retreated. The first
Sound of the Musquetry and Retreat of the Guards animated the
Men and they pushed on with Resolution and Firmness. Hap-
pily the fire begun on every Side at the same instant, their Main
body had just Time to form when there ensued a heavy Cannon-
ade from our Field Pieces and a fine brisk and lively fire from
our Infantry. This continued but a Short Time before the
Enemy finding themselves flanked on every Side laid down their
Arms. The Resolution and Bravery of our Men, their Order and
Regulariety, gave me the highest Sensation of Pleasure. Genl.
Washington highly congratulated the Men on next day in Genl.
Orders, and with Pleasure observed, that he had been in Many
Actions before, but always perceived some Misbehaviour in some
376 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
individuals^ but in that Action he saw none. Pennsylvania itself
is obliged to acknowledge the Bravery of New Eng'd Troops. I
have a List from Head Quarters of the Killed and taken, which
was taken the day after the Action, since which many more have
been brought in ; i Col. wounded since dead, 2 Lieut. CoP taken,
3 Majors, 4 Capts, 8 Lieuts, 12 Ens'ns, 92 Serg'ts, 9 Musicians,
12 Drums, 25 Servants, 842 Privates, 2 Capt's killed, 2 Lieut's,
killed, 50 privates. Six Brass Field Pieces, One Mortar and about
1500 Stand of Arms. A large Number of Horses and avast
Quantity of Plunder of every kind. And this, Sir, I will assure
you with only the Loss of six or seven on our side, this is no
Exaggeration but simple fact, 'tis impossible to describe the scene
to you as it appeared. We immediately retreated across the
River and did not get to our Tents till next Morning — two
Nights and one day in as violent a Storm as I ever felt. What
can't Men do when engaged in so noble a Cause. Our Men's
Time Expired Yesterday, they have generally engaged to tarry
six weeks longer. My company almost to a man. Orders have
now come for us to march for Princetown. We have a Rumor
that it was burned last night by the Enemy, who we suppose are
about retreating. Compliments to Miss Adams & Children.
Adieu and believe me to be sincerely yours,
Wm Hull.
To Andrew Adams, Litchfield, Conn.
No. 52. Colonel John Haslet to C^sar Rodney.
(The last letter he wrote. In possession of Mr. Caesar A. Rodney, of Wil-
mington, Delaware.)
Allentown January 2d 1777.
This morning we were called up at 2 o'clock under a pretended
alarm that we were to be attacked by the enemy but at daylight
we were ordered to march for Trenton, and when we reached
Crosswicks found that the brigade had gone. We reached Tren-
ton about II o'clock, and found all the troops from our different
posts in Jersey, collected and collecting there under General
Washington himself ; and the regular troops were already properly
disposed to receive the enemy, whose main body was then within
a few miles and determined to dispossess us. Trenton stands
upon the River Delaware, with a creek called Assunpink passing
through the town across which there is a bridge. The enemy
COLONEL HASLET'S SPIRITED DESCRIPTION 377
came down on the upper side of this creek, through the town,
and a number of our troops were posted with Riflemen and artil-
lery to oppose their approach. The main body of our army was
drawn up on a plain below or on the lower side of the Assun-
pink, near the bridge, and the main force of our Artillery was
posted on the banks and high grounds along the creek in front
of them. Gen. Mercer's brigade was posted about 2 miles up
the creek, and the troops under Gen. Cadwalader were stationed
in a field on the right about a mile from the town, on the main
road, to prevent the enemy from flanking. We had five pieces
of Artillery with our Division and about 20 more in the field,
near, and at the town. Our numbers were about five thousand,
and the enemy's about seven thousand. The attack began about
2 o'clock and a heavy fire upon both sides, chiefly from the artil-
lery, continued untill dark. At this time the enemy were left in
possession of the upper part of the town, but we kept possession
of the bridge, altho' the enemy attempted several times to carry
it but were repulsed each time with great slaughter. After sunset
this afternoon the enemy came down in a very heavy column to
force the bridge. The fire was very heavy and the Light troops
were ordered to fly to the support of that important post, and as
we drew near, I stepped out of the front to order my men to
close up ; at this time Martinas Sipple was about lo sets behind
the man next in front of him. I at once drew my sword and
threatened to cut his head off if he did not keep close, he then
sprang forward and I returned to the front. The enemy were
soon defeated and retired and the American army also retired to
the woods, where they encamped and built up fires. I then had
the roll called to see if any of our men were missing and Mar-
tinas ^ was not to be found, but Lieut. Mark McCall informed
me that immediately upon my returning to the head of the col-
umn, after making him close up, he fled out of the field. We lost
but few men ; the enemy considerably more. It is thought Gen.
Washington did not intend to hold the upper part of the town.
1 This man appears again as a soldier in the 7th company. Captain
John Rhodes, of Colonel David Hall's Delaware regiment. (See
Whiteley's Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware, p. 30.)
378 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 53. Commissioned Officers of Rall's Brigade, Dec.
1776.
Rail Regiment.
Colonel, Johann Gottlieb Rail ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Balthasar
Brethauer ; Major, Johann Jost Matthaus ; Captains, Johann
Heinrich Brubach and Heinrich Ludwig Boking ; Lieutenants,
Johann Heinrich Sternickel, Carl Andreas Kinen, Gregorius
Salzmann and Johannes Stroebel ; Ensigns, Ludwig Kinen, Jacob
Lebrecht Fleck, Carl W'ilhelm Kleinschmidt and Johann Georg
Schroeder.
Von Lossberg Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Francis SchefEer ; Major, Ludwig August
von Hanstein ; Captains, Johann Friedrich von Riess, Friedrich
Wilhelm von Benning, Ernst Eberhard von Altenbockum and
Adam Christoph Steding ; Lieutenants, Heinrich Reinhard Hille,
Georg Christian Kimm, Ernst Christian Schwabe, Georg Her-
mann Zoll, Ludwig Wilhelm Keller, Wilhelm Christian Miiller
and Jacob Piel ; Ensigns, Christian August von Hobe, Friedrich
Franz Grabe, Friedrich von Zengen and Friedrich Christoph
Hendorff.
I'on Knyphausen Regiment.
Major, Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow ; Captains, Bernhard
von Biesenrodt, Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein, Barthold Hel-
frich von Schimmelpfennig and Jacob Baum ; Lieutenants, Carl
Ludwig von Geyso, Christian Sobbe, Andreas \^'iederhold, Nicho-
las Vaupell, Werner von Ferry, Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt ;
Ensigns, Carl Friedrich Fiihrer, Wilhelm von Drach and Heinrich
Zimmermann.
Yagers.
Lieutenant, Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen.
Artillery.
Lieutenants, Friedrich Fischer and Johannes Engelhardt.
Judge Advocate, Friedrich Moeller.
[The spelling of the German names printed on this and following
pages is often obviously inaccurate, but is given as in the records.]
GENERAL MERCER'S ORDERS 379
No. 54. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee.
25 Dcr. 1776.
Sir:
You are to see that your men have three days provisions ready
cooked before 12 o'clock this forenoon — the whole fit for duty
except a Serjeant and six men to be left with the baggage, and to
parade precisely at four in the afternoon with their arms, accou-
trements & ammunition in the best order, with their provisions
and blankets — you will have them told off in divisions in which
order they are to march — eight men a breast, with the officers
fixed to their divisions from which they are on no account to
separate — no man is to quit his division on pain of instant pun-
ishment— each officer is to provide himself with a piece of white
paper stuck in his hat for a field mark. You will order your
men to assemble and parade them in the valley immediately
over the hill on the back of McConkey's Ferry, to remain there
for farther orders — a profound silence is to be observed, both
by officers and men, and a strict and ready attention paid to
whatever orders may be given — in forming the Brigade Co.
Durkee takes the right, Co. Stone left, Co. Bradley on the left of
Co. Durkee & Co. Rawlings on the Right of Co. Stone — the
Line to form & march from the Right — Co. Hutchinson to form
by themselves.
Your obt s'v't
H. Mercer.
No. 55. Hessian Outposts of Trenton.
(The initials K denote regt. von Knyphausen ; L, von Lossberg; R, Rail.)
Referring particularly to Lieutenant Piel's map, page 124 ante,
B marks the spot on the Pennington road where the picket was
stationed on Christmas night. The personnel, as far as shown by
the records, has been already given.
F is the post on the River road. It was the residence of
General Dickinson then and now known as "The Hermitage,"
being to-day a part of the homestead of the Atterbury estate.
This picket was called the Yager post and was in charge of Lieu-
tenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen with two non-commis-
sioned officers, Sergeant Georg Wilhelm Hassell and Corporal
Franz Bauer, and fifty yagers.
38o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
H is the post at the Fox Chase Tavern kept by Mrs. Joseph
Bond on the Maidenhead or Brunswick Road. This was a strong
picket, the principal one of the cantonment, and from this point
the patrols started out on the route D toward the left wing E of
the same picket and the various stations of guards C\ C^, C, etc.
to post B, thence to post F and back again through the chain of
sentries to the tavern above mentioned. As we have said, this
picket post consisted of one commissioned ofificer, one non-com-
missioned officer and about seventy-five men, and was at this
critical time in charge of Ensign Franz Friedrich Grabe of the
von Lossberg regiment. Captain Johann Heinrich Brubach of
the Rail regiment was also there on Christmas night as inspector
of the guards, Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer having been relieved.
The rest of the men so far as the records give their names were :
Sergeant Reinhard (K), Drummer Christian Schlieder and Fusi-
lier Curt Anhagen (L), Grenadier Casper Brede (R), Fusilier
Christoph Bucker (L), Fusiliers Direll, Doer and Fenner (K),
Grenadier Johannes Gerhardt (R), Fusilier Heinrich Goebell (K),
Fusilier Johannes Goebell (L), Fusilier Werner Hahn (K), Fusi-
lier Friedrich Hohbein (L), Grenadier Jacob Koch (R), Fusiliers
Diedrich Kruger, Philipp Matthias and Johannes Heinrich
Mohme (L), FusiUer Reinhard (K), Grenadier Heinrich Rosb
(R), Fusilier Anton Schenck (L), Grenadiers Philip Wernick and
Nicholas Wicke (R).
At the post K, the tavern formerly owned by Rensselaer Wil-
liams, there were one commissioned officer, five non-commissioned
officers and twenty-two men on Christmas night. This force was
then commanded by Ensign Heinrich Zimmermann of the von
Borch company of the von Knyphausen regiment. There was a
guard composed of Sergeant Dietzell and nine men in a barn
below the Ferry road, and a guard of Sergeant Diemer and nine
more men at the "Doctor House." A patrol from the tavern
visited these small posts every hour during the night. The fol-
lowing is a list of Ensign Zimmermann's command on Christmas
night : Sergeant Christian Diemer (L), Sergeant Jacob Dietzell
(R), Sergeant Hamell (K), Corporal Johannes Wagener (L),
Corporal Johannes Wolfskeil (R), Drummer Bechtell (K), Fusi-
liers Carl Baake and Heinrich Brath (L), Fusiliers Diebell, Ditter
and Doering (K), Grenadiers Caspar Fey, Johannes Foerster
and Martin Fuhrmann (R), Fusilier Hattendorf (K), Fusilier
THE HESSIAN OUTPOSTS 381
Hendrick Holste (L), Grenadier Jost Koehler (R), Fusilier
Knieriem (K), Grenadiers Dietricli Koch, Christoph Loersch
and Christopher Scheffer (R), Fusihers Schreiber and Schroder
(K), Fusiliers Wilhelm Schweibe, Heinrich Seehaussen and
Friedrich Tegetmeyer (L), Grenadier Heinrich Ulrich (R).
At the bridge over the Assunpink Creek there was a guard
of one non-commissioned officer and eighteen men. From this
bridge a Small patrol was compelled to go to Doctor Bryant's
residence every half hour during the night. The guard was at
the flour mill on the south side of the bridge. In 1680 Mahlon
Stacy had built on this site a mill of hewn logs one and one-
half stories high. In 17 14 Judge William Trent had purchased
this property and had built a two-story stone mill. This was
used by the Hessians as a commissary storehouse. The men in
charge of this guard were all from the von Knyphausen regiment,
Sergeant Johannes Mueller of the von Borck company being the
ranking non-commissioned officer. In the middle of the stone
bridge over the Assunpink creek was a hut in which a sentinel
stood and another sentinel was stationed just outside of the mill.
Besides the sergeant just referred to, the following men were
at the mill on Christmas night : Fusiliers Caspar Bambeg, Georg
Berg, Engeland, Kurtz and Schultz (K).
Next to the mill was George Bright's two-story stone bakery,
and just beyond that Jonathan Richmond's tavern. In the wall
of the bakery was embedded a rough sandstone block with the
inscription " G. B. 1756." This has been seen in position by
many now living. In the bakery were stationed : Fusiliers Hen-
ninghausen, Mueller, Schmerer and Stroehler (K).
The headquarters guard-house was at the residence of Pontius
Delare Stille, then on the corner of Church alley and King street,
and now still standing on the southeast corner of Warren and
Perry streets. It was nearly opposite Colonel Rail's quarters,
and on Christmas night the guard was commanded by Lieutenant
Johann Heinrich Sternickel (R). The German records give us
the names of only four of the watchguard : Corporal Friedrich
Eberth (L), Grenadier Johannes Lindermann (R), Fusilier Hein-
rich Rohrkoster (L), Fusilier Daniel Schmidt (K).
In addition to these picket stations there was a strong post
midway between Trenton and Bordentown at the drawbridge over
the Crosswicks Creek. The main station of this outpost was at
382 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the drawbridge, and at the time of the battle it was commanded
by Lieutenant Johannes Stroebel (R), who had with him twenty-
four men. Lieutenant Heinrich Reinhard Hille (L) was stationed
a short distance from the drawbridge on the road to Allentown
in charge of twenty soldiers. On the road to Trenton and about
a quarter of a mile north from the drawbridge Captain Heinrich
Ludwig Boking (R), with one non-commissioned officer and
twenty men, occupied three farmhouses^ and a mile nearer Tren-
ton Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt of the von Borck
company of the von Knyphausen regiment had a small detach-
ment of two non-commissioned officers and fifteen men. The
entire number of soldiers at the post of the drawbridge was four
commissioned officers and eighty-two men. These men had left
Trenton about noon on December 24 for a forty-eight hours' tour
of duty at the drawbridge, and of course the surprise at Trenton
on December 26 found them still at their posts. It appears from
one statement that Colonel Rail and his Adjutant, Lieutenant
Piel, visited this picket on two occasions during the occupancy of
Trenton, but other accounts deny that he visited any picket posts.
The detachment of Lieutenant Stroebel consisted of : Sergeant
Helmerich, Corporals Ahlhaursen and Heidmuller, Drummer
Christoph Hattendorff and Fusilier Wilhelm Barthels (L) ; Gren-
adier Heinrich Baumbach (R) ; Fusiliers Christian Grundmeyer,
Curth Herding, Friedrich Holsti, Heinrich Holste, Carl Laescke,
Friedrich Lehmkuhe, Friedrich Lucke, Herman Matthias, Otto
Mayer, Conrad Raabe, Conrad Rohmer, Christoph Schmoe, Sie-
mon Schultz, Otto Schwacke and Julius Seemele (L) ; Grenadier
Heinrich Sirbert (R) ; Fusiliers Carl Warsmith and Balthaser
Weber (L).
The detachment of Lieutenant Heinrich Reinhard Hille of the
drawbridge picket was : Drummer Mueller ; Fusiliers Beetz,
Joachim Bichard, Biesse, Wilhelm Conrad, Curth, Eisenach, Wie-
gand, Goebell, Jackell and Heinrich Krengell (K) ; Grenadier
Nicholas Landgrebe (R) ; Fusiliers Heinrich Melchior, Ochse,
Ruhl, Schreiber, Schrenck, Seitz, Stock, Wilke and Zeiss (K).
The detachment of Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking, the
senior officer of the drawbridge picket, was as follows : Sergeant
Wilhelm Kreiss, Drummer Heinrich Briell, Grenadiers Conrad
Arnd, Georg Draube, Andreas Fuhrmann, Conrad Gerth, Michael
Giese, Caspar Gundlach, Assmath Heiter, Philip Himmelreich,
HESSIANS WHO ESCAPED CAPTURE 383
Christoph Jordan, Urban Mueller, Johannes Nultejo, Johannes
Pfliging, Johannes Reinbold, Heinrich Reitz, Heinrich Rierch-
hart, Adam Ritter, Henricus Scheffer, Herman Wagner and
Johannes Wissmann (R).
The picket commanded by Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von
Romrodt, and stationed on the road leading from the drawbridge
to Trenton, was composed of: Corporals Nicholas Tenner and
Schmidt (K) ; Grenadiers Wilhelm Andress and Adam Back-
hauss (R) ; Fusiliers Heinrich Bodensieg and Heinrich Buddie
(L) ; Fusiliers Heinrich Geisell, Gottschalk, Homberger, Koeh-
ler and Johannes Muench (K) ; Grenadier Heinrich Nadler (R) ;
Fusilier Peter (K) ; Grenadiers Conrad Brassier, Johannes Rea-
ther (R) ; Fusilier Conrad Steinhard (K) ; Grenadier Georg
Zange (R).
No. 56. Hessians who escaped Capture.
Rail Regiment.
List of the men of the Rail regiment in the affair at Trenton
who were not captured : the initials denote their companies, as
Matthaus (M), Poking (B), Body (By), Kohler (K) : —
Ensign Ludwig Kinen (M), Sergeants Martin Appell (B), Nich-
olas Gundlack (K), Georg Keuthe (By), Johannes H. Rueppell
(B), Andreas Schneider (By) ; Corporals Matthaus (M), Ludwig
Hordes (B), Heinrich Koch (M), Wilhelm Roese (K), Heinrich
Schotte (M) and Siemion ^^'eltner (K) ; Drummers Nicholas
Bindernagell (B), Martin Fiant (B) and Christian Franke (B) ; For-
ager Heinrich Giesselmann (B), Forager Georg Schilling (By) ; Sur-
geon Kuhlmann (M) ; Grenadiers Johannes Amelung (By), Engel-
hard Bartell (By), Henricus Bartscher (By), Johannes Behnert
(K), Johannes Bernhardy (B), Rudolph Bettenhausen (M), Justus
Biermann (B), Johannes Bolte (B), Georg Bretthauer (By), Jacob
Bruckman (By), Peter Deisserath (B), Christoph Diegemann (M),
Conrad Doring (By), Georg Dornemann (M), Heinrich Emloth
(K), Heinrich Engell (By), Johannes Erchelenz (B), Paul Ernest
(M), Johannes Etzell (K), Georg Ewald (B), Ludwig Ewald
(By), Johannes Giese (M), Georg Goebell (By), Heinrich Goertell
(By), Jacob Gross (By), Peter Gundlach (By), Christoph Guthe
(By), Adam Haensell (B), Georg Hausler (K), Caspar Hechenthal
(B), Conrad Herboldt (B), Conrad Hertzog (By), Churt Hilgen-
berg (By), Georg Homburg (M), Heinrich Horstmann (B), Martin
384 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Kahrsbach (B), Samuel Kilmer (By), Georg Kothe (K), Joseph
Kothe (K), Johannes Knopfel (K), Wilhelm Kreutzberg (M),
Friedrich Loenier (B), Christoph Ludolph (By), Sylas May (B),
Heinrich Meyard (B), Conrad Meybert (By), Diedrich Mueller (B),
Johannes ^Mueller (Kj, Heinrich Neumeyer (B), Georg Neurath
(B), Caspar Noll (By), Georg Nolte (M), Johannes Nolte, Sen. (B),
Friedrich Orth (K), Alexander Paul (By), Christian Poepler (B),
Heinrich Rang (M), Ernst Riel (M), Daniel Riemann (B), David
Rietze (B), Jost Roeddijer (M), Ludwig Roeddijer (K), Johannes
Rose (M), Heinrich Schacht (B), Heinrich Scheffer (By), Ludwig
Scheffer (By), Conrad Schehlhaase (B), Johannes Scherpf (B), Jo-
hannes Schultze(By), Georg Schwartz (M), Caspar Schweitzer (By),
Johannes Seeger (M), Wilhelm Siemon (K), Johannes Signer (K),
Christian Ulrich (M), Georg Umbach (By), Georg Vocheurath
(K), Conrad Vogeler (K), Christoph Vogeler (K), Arnold Wass-
math (M), Caspar Wenert (M) and Christoph Wiegand (B).
This list (of I officer and 99 men) was prepared in Philadel-
phia, April 6, 1778. All of these men went to Bordentown ex-
cept Drummer Bindernagell and Grenadier Loenier (B), who in
some way joined Captain Baum of the von Knyphausen regi-
ment, and wandered off with him to Princeton.
(There is no statement in the documents in Germany as to the
number of men of the von Lossberg regiment who made good
their escape, although Corporal Wilhelm Hardung of the body
company testified that he succeeded in eluding capture.)
Von Ktiyphausen Regiment.
Roster of the men of the von Knyphausen regiment (50 offi-
cers and 75 men) at Trenton. Initials denote Minnigerode (M),
Body (By), Borck (Bk), Biesenrodt (Bt), Dechow (D) : —
Field Preacher Wilhelm Bauer; Captains Jacob Baum and
Barthold Helfrich von Schimmelpfennig ; Lieutenants Nicholas
Vaupell and Carl Ludwig von Geyso ; Sergeants Eckhard (M)
and Heinrich Prinz (Bt) ; Corporals Heeland (M), Hopiann (By),
Leymann (Bk), Ruhl (D), Schwalm (By), Spertzell (Bt), Stumpf
(D), von Dalwigk (Bt) and Yager (D) ; Drummers Justus Aune
(Bt), Ashmann (By), Froehlich (D), Abraham May (Bt) ; Farriers
Crausse (Bk), Wiegand (Mj ; Fusiliers Abrecht (By), Johannes
Arnth (Bt), Bastsen (By), Friedrich Becker (Bk), Heinrich Becker
HESSIANS WHO ESCAPED CAPTURE 385
(Bt), Werner Blith (Bt), Johannes Berg (Bk), Boeth (D), Heinrich
Bonn (Bk), Johannes Claus (Bt), Corell (D), Heinrich Dipp (Bk),
Doehnhard (D), Dorst (D), Heinrich Eisenach (Bk), Engeland,
Sen. (D), Ernst (By), Adam Eueller (D), Helwig Fanner (By),
Heinrich Grass (Bk), Johannes Hamell (Bt), Andreas Hass (Bt),
Georg Haust (Bt), Hech (By), Conrad Heiderich (Bk), Heine-
mann (D), Kitz (D), Johannes Klippert (Bt), Kochsen (By), Knaaf
(D), Kreuther (M), Caspar Loos (Bt), Luckhard (By), Muench
(D), Conrad Muhling (Bk), May (M), Menges (D), Johannes
Rhein (Bt), Johannes Riebeling (Bt), Johannes Roeth (Bk), Rud-
wig (By), Georg Ruppert (Bk), Schmeiss (M), Georg Schmidt
(D), Schreiber (M), Johannes Schwalm (By), Johannes Schwalm
(Bk), Heinrich Seyl (Bt), Stauffenberg (D), Conrad Stein (Bt),
Viehmann (D), Vogell (D), Heinrich Volker (Bt), Ciriacus Wag-
ner (Bk), Jacob Wagner (Bt), Georg Weckesser (Bt), Yaeger (D)
and Zulanf (M).
Regiment of Artillery.
April 10, 1778, Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Heinrich Eitel, com-
manding officer of the Hessian regiment of artillery, and at that
time on duty in Philadelphia, prepared a list of his men (i officer
and 16 men) who had escaped capfure in the surprise at Trenton :
Lieutenant Johannes Engelhardt ; Bombardiers Heinrich Ide
and Johannes Humberties Westerburg ; Artillerists Bautzer, Dil-
forth, Geisse, Heckert, Korn, Christian Kuhn,' Kulm, Loelekes,
Muench, Rasch, Ruhl, Schmeermund, Zahn, Zaun.
A small guard oi ten men who went to Princeton with baggage
on Christmas day, of course took no part in the fight. They may
be said to have escaped. Their names were : —
Corporal Heinrich Grebe (M), Grenadiers Johannes Brawn
(M), Bernard Loose (By), Georg Hesse (K) and Wilhelm Wim-
melmann (M), all of Rail regiment ; Fusiliers Koch, Jr. (By),
^ Christian Kuhn, a soldier of gigantic stature, after escaping from
the Trenton battle, appears to have deserted the Hessian Corps, for
later on in the war he joined Captain Zebulon M. Pike's company of
Colonel Stephen Moylan's Fourth regiment. Continental dragoons, and
subsequently was discharged therefrom on account of a sabre cut on
his arm. Under Act of Congress, August 11, 1790, he was placed on
the New Jersey Invalid Pension Roll as Christian Koon, spelled also
Khun, Kuhn and Coon, and died January 23, 1823, at Montgomery,
Orange County, New York.
386 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Nicholas Luckhard (D), Ochse (M), Jacob Schmidt (M) and
Schumacher (D), all of von Knyphausen regiment.
No. 57. Return of Prisoners taken at Trenton
December 26, 1776, by the Army under the Command of General
Washington.
JS
dj
0
f.
fe
Regiments.
0
5
'0
u
s
■a
I
0
I
C
u
I
a
rJ
G
S
H
4
0 2i
CO
^8
e
1
E
p
6
c
.2
D
tern
0
3
0
Landspatch . . ,
206
274
Knyphausen .
I
2
2
S
2S
6
6
2s8
10^
Rohl .
I
I
I
I
2
=;
2
2S
a
4
p
244
lO^
Artillery
I
4
I
32
38
I
2
3
4
8
12
^
92
20
9
25
740
918
6 dble fortifyed Brass three pound's with carreages compleat.
3 ammunition Waggons, As many Muskets, Bayonets, Cartouch Boxes and
Swords as there are prisoners. 12 Drums.
4 Colours.
No. 58. Hessian Prisoners of War.
List of the Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers, Drum-
mers and Privates of the Grenadier Regiment of Rall, now
Prisoners of War.
No.
Companies' Names.
T3
n
0 .
io
0
C
.2
'e .
0 <u
"a
go
S5
0
E
S
2
a
1
1
S
<
1
2
3
4
5
Body Company
Lieutenant-Colonel Kohler . . .
Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer . . .
Major Matthaus .
Captain Bbking . ...
3
2
7
6
2
4
6
I
I
3
3
2
2
2
45
47
47
56
58
56
51
62
69
Total . . ....
5
25
2
12
253
297
Middle and under Staff,
I Adjutant. 4 Hautboys.
D. Brethauer, Lieutenant-Colonel.
LISTS OF HESSIAN PRISONERS
387
List of. the Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers, Drum-
mers AND Privates of the Regiment of von Lossberg, now Pris-
oners of War.
B
0
Ta
No.
Companies' Names.
li
S
1
i
c
Is
i§
&
i
>
0
u
z
tn
(-1
p^
<1
I
Body Company . . . . .
I
7
3
46
S7
2
Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer ....
I
7
I
I
38
48
3
Captain von Altenbockum ...
I
I
I
2q
37
4
Major von Hanstein .
1
6
39
48
S
Colonels — vacant . . .
3
6
I
47
57
Total
9
31
-
6
199
247
T Adjutant.
Middle and under Staff,
I Drum Major.
F. Scheffer,
5 Hautboys.
Lieutenant- Colonel.
List of the Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers, Drum-
mers AND Privates of the Regiment von Knyphausen, now Pris-
oners of War.
No.
Companies' Names.
Body Company .
Colonel von Borck
Lieutenant-Colonel von Minnigerode
Major von Dechow
Captain von Biesenrodt
Total.
25
257
54
55
71
52
62
294
Middle and under Staff.
I Adjutant. i Judge. i Hautboy.
VON Biesenrodt, Captain.
388 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
List of the several detachments of Artillery belonging to the
Regiments of von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rall, taken
IN the action at Trenton, the 26th of December, 1776, and
NOW remaining Prisoners of War.
■s
i
No.
Names of the Detachments
0 .
|i
is
go
0
3
S
E
3
Q
12
s
c
3
0
13
14
2
s
s
3
2
I
3
0
I
3
Of the Regiment von Lossberg .
Of the Regiment von Knyphausen
Of the Regiment Rall .
I
2
18
3
Total
I
4
29
6
40
Note. — That exclusive of the above-mentioned prisoners, there are 3 Gun-
ners wounded, and 2 Gunners sick, who remained as Prisoners at Trenton.
F. Fischer, Lieat. of Artillery.
Philadelphia the 5th January 1777.
Postscript. We cannot answer for the exactness of these Lists,
because the Night before the Troops have marched to Lancaster,
some Privates have joined them. Our request to remain with the
Subalterns and Privates and to march along with them to Lancas-
ter, having been denied. We are going this day towards Balti-
more.
F. SCHEFFER.
Philadelphia 6th January 1777.
No. 59. Roster of Officers of Rall's Brigade.
The roster of officers of Rail's brigade and their condition at
the close of the Trenton battle may be stated thus : —
Rail Regiment.
Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rall, severely wounded, paroled, and
died in Trenton, December 27, 1776; Lieutenant-Colonel Bal-
thasar Brethauer, prisoner and died while a prisoner of war;
Major Johann Jost Matthaus, prisoner ; Captain Johann Heinrich
Brubach, prisoner and died while a prisoner of war; Captain
Heinrich Ludwig Boking, escaped ; Lieutenant Johann Heinrich
OFFICERS OF RALL'S BRIGADE 3S9
Sternickel, wounded, paroled and died while a paroled prisoner
of war in Trenton ; Lieutenant Carl Andreas Kinen, prisoner
(he was also suffering from a wound received at Fort Washing-
ton) ; Lieutenant Gregorius Salzmann, paroled in Trenton and
remained there sick for many months ; Lieutenant Johannes
Stroebel, escaped ; Ensign Ludwig Kinen, in Bordentown at the
time of the fight ; Ensign Jacob Lebrecht Fleck, prisoner ; En-
sign Carl Wilhelm Kleinschmidt, acting as adjutant of the regi-
ment, prisoner ; Ensign Johann Georg Schroeder, prisoner.
Von Lossberg Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Scheffer, prisoner ; Major Ludwig
August von Hanstein, prisoner ; Captain Johann Friedrich von
Riess, killed ; Captain Ernst Eberhard von Altenbockum, badly
wounded, paroled in Trenton ; but he soon rejoined his regiment,
probably exchanged, and did not sign the parole of December
27'*"; Captain Adam Christoph Steding, prisoner ; Captain Fried-
rich Wilhelm von Benning, killed ; Lieutenant Heinrich Rein-
hard Hille, escaped ; Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm, killed ;
Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe, wounded, paroled and left
in Trenton ; Lieutenant Ludwig Wilhelm Keller, prisoner, died
at Dumfries, "Virginia, October 6, 1777, prisoner of war; Lieu-
tenant Georg Hermann Zoll, acting as adjutant of the regiment,
wounded, paroled and left in Trenton ; Lieutenant Wilhelm
Christian Miiller,, prisoner; Lieutenant Jacob Piel, acting as
adjutant of the brigade, prisoner ; Ensign Christian August von
Hobe, wounded and taken prisoner; Ensign Friedrich Franz
Grabe, prisoner ; Ensign Friedrich von Zengen, prisoner ; En-
sign Friedrich Christoph Hendorff, prisoner, but did not sign the
parole of December 27"'.
Vo7i Knyphausen Regiment.
Major Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow, badly wounded and died
in Trenton December 27, 1776; Captain Bernhard von Biesen-
rodt, prisoner ; Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein, pris-
oner; Captain Barthold Helfrich von Schimmelpfennig, escaped ;
Captain Jacob Baum, escaped ; Lieutenant Christian Sobbe, act-
ing as adjutant of the regiment, prisoner ; Lieutenant Andreas
Wiederhold, prisoner, but did not sign the parole of December
27*'' ; Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso, wounded and escaped ;
390 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Lieutenant Nicholas Vaupell, escaped ; Lieutenant Werner von
Ferry, prisoner, but did not sign the parole of December 30*
because probably he signed one of a similar kind when he had
permission to visit Trenton ; Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von
Romrodt, escaped ; Ensign Carl Friedrich Fuhrer, prisoner, but
signed a separate parole from the rest of the officers. It was
said that he joined the American army ; Ensign Heinrich Zim-
mermann, escaped ; Ensign Wilhelm von Drach, prisoner.
Artillery.
Lieutenant Friedrich Fischer, prisoner ; Lieutenant Johannes
Engelhardt, escaped.
Yagers.
Lieutenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen, escaped, but
mortally wounded in Trenton, January 2, 1777, and died soon
afterward in Princeton ; Judge Advocate Friedrich Moeller,
prisoner.
The German records at Marburg give us some personal history
of a few of these officers, related by themselves under oath, and
it will not be amiss to record it here. It shows many of them
to have been veterans in war and to have entered military life at
a very early age.
Rail Regiment.
Major Johann Jost Matthaus, 58 years of age, was born at
Schwarzenberg. At the age of 19 he served in the regiment
Prinz Carl, then in the von Hugne regiment, and was finally com-
missioned in the Rail regiment. He was married.
Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking, 35 years old, was born in
Cassel, and joined the army at 17 years of age. He was married.
Lieutenant Carl Andreas Kinen, 19 years of age, was born at
Dillenburg. He had been in service for three years, first in the
regiment von Mirbach, and then in the Rail regiment. He had
been wounded November 16, 1776, at the assault on Fort Wash-
ington, and had come to Trenton with his regiment, though he
had done no duty with it on account of these wounds. While
trying to escape over the bridge in the fight, he had been cap-
tured with others on Queen street between Second and Front
streets.
Lieutenant Johannes Stroebel, 43 years old, was born at Nie-
PERSONAL HISTORY OF HESSIAN OFFICERS 391
der Hessen, and had been in the Hessian service since the year
1753-
Ensign Ludwig Kinen was born in the same village as his
brother Lieutenant Kinen, and was one year younger than that
officer. He had entered the army at 16 years of age.
Ensign Jacob Lebrecht Fleck, 23 years old, was born at Hom-
burg, had joined the von Donop regiment when he was 17 years
of age, spent a year therein, and was then transferred to the Rail
regiment for duty.
Ensign Johann Georg Schroeder, 22 years old, was born at
Cassel. This was his first year of service.
Von Lossberg Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Scheffer, 54 years of age, was born
at Hermsdorf, had been in service thirty-five years, and was a
married man.
Major Ludwig August von Hanstein was born at Obernhof,
was married, and had been twenty-eight years in the army, first
in the von Donop regiment, then in the Erbprinz, and finally
in the von Lossberg regiment. His age at this time was 46 years.
Captain Ernst Eberhard von Altenbockum, 40 years of age,
was the commander of the company which bore his name. He
was born at Courland, was unmarried, and had spent twenty-
two years in the Hessian service.
Captain Adam Christoph Steding, 39 years of age, commanded
the von Loos company in this regiment. He was born in Fisch-
beck, and had entered military life at 16 years of age. He was
unmarried.
Captain Johann Friedrich von Riess was the son of Friedrich
Jacob von Riess of Stallburg. He was born in Frankfort-on-the-
Main in the year 1745. His family came from Cassel, and were
owners of the salt mines at Allendorf. He began his military
life as a lieutenant in the Nassau Weilburg regiment, Upper
Rhenanian, and then received his promotion to a captaincy in
the von Lossberg regiment, only to meet his death as heretofore
stated.
Captain Friedrich Wilhelm von Benning of the von Lossberg
regiment appears in the German records as a first lieutenant in
the Leib regiment in the year 1766. He remained in this office
until 1773, when the von Lossberg regiment was organized, and
392 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
then he was made a staff captain therein. In this commission he
came to America, and received his death wound at the head of
his company.
Lieutenant Heinrich Reinhard Hille, 22 years old, was born in
Rinteln, and for nearly two years had been in service in Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Scheffer's company.
Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe was also born at Rinteln.
He had been in the body company of this regiment for sixteen
years, and was 30 years old at the time of the battle.
Lieutenant Georg Hermann Zoll was born in the same village
as Lieutenant Schwabe and Lieutenant Hille. He was 29 years
of age, unmarried, and had been twelve years in service.
Lieutenant Wilhelm Christian Miiller, 27 years of age, was
born in Ziegenhain. He had been in Major von Hanstein's com-
pany for nearly eleven years, and had previously served for two
years in the regiment Prinz Carl.
Lieutenant Jacob Piel, 34 years old, was born in Bremen, and
had been in service in Major von Hanstein's company for four-
teen years. He was not married.
Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm appears as an ensign in the
Hessian regiment von Barthold in 1766. When the von Loss-
berg regiment was formed in 1773, Kimm was made a second
lieutenant in that organization. In 1776 he was promoted to be
a first lieutenant, which rank he held when he fell mortally
wounded in the streets of Trenton. He died on the evening of
the battle.
Lieutenant Christian August von Hobe was born in Mecklen-
burg, had been in the Colonel von Loos company for six years,
and was 22 years old.
Ensign Friedrich Franz Grabe was born in Rinteln, was 17
years of age, and had been four years in the German army.
Ensign Friedrich von Zengen was born in Bonenburg, was 19
years old, and had been in service in the body company for four
years.
Ensign Friedrich Christoph Hendorff, 30 years of age, was
born at Rhinefels, and had been in service for eight years, first
in the Hessian Hussar corps, and since February, 1776, in Major
von Hanstein's company of this regiment.
PERSONAL HISTORY OF HESSIAN OFFICERS
393
Von Knyphausen Regiment.
Major Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow was the son of Hans C,
von Dechow of Ratzeburg, Mecklenburg-StreUtz, in which place
the Hessian soldier was born. He was a captain in the Prussian
army under Frederick the Great. When the Hesse-Cassel regi-
ment named after General von Knyphausen was sent to America,
he became its major, and was for some months its commanding
officer. He was wounded quite severely at Fort Washington, but
soon recovered. He was an experienced officer, and in his com-
mand enjoyed a reputation for great personal bravery. The
wound which he received at the Trenton battle was in the left
hip, and like Colonel Rail he died the next day.
Captain Bernhard von Biesenrodt, 40 years of age, was born in
Ober Kaufungen, and had been in the army since 1755. He was
commander of a company named after himself.
Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein, commander of the
von Borck company, was born at Ronnenburg. He was 47 years
of age, and had been twenty-seven years in the Hessian military
service.
Captain Barthold Helfrich von Schimmelpfennig, 37 years of
age, was born in Hersfeld, and had been for twenty-four years in
the von Knyphausen regiment. At this time he was staff captain
in the von Biesenrodt company.
Captain Jacob Baum was 44 years old, and twenty-six of those
years had been spent in service. He was a staff captain in the
body company.
Lieutenant Christian Sobbe was born at Freystadt, was 2)Z
years old, unmarried, and had been in this regiment for nineteen
years.
Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso was born at Marbach, and
was nearly 20 years old. He was first in the regiment Prinz
Carl, then in the battalion of the guard, and then in Major von
Dechow's company of this regiment. He had entered the army
in 1774.
Lieutenant Nicholas Vaupell was born at Muden. He be-
longed to the body company, but on the day of the battle was
on duty with the von Dechow company. He was a married
man.
Lieutenant Werner von Ferry, 23 years of age, was born in
394 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Munster, and had served seven years in the body company of
this regiment.
Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt, 28 years of age,
was born near Ziegenhain. He had served in the von Borck
company for six years.
Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold was 24 years of age and a
bright and active officer. He died at Cassel in 1803, then major
and inspector of the arsenal.
Ensign Heinrich Zimmermann, 21 years old,, was born at Cas-
sel, and had joined the von Borck company in February, 1776.
Ensign Wilhelm von Drach was born at Ellrichshausen. At
the time of the battle he was 18 years old and was serving in the
von Minnigerode company.
Artillery.
Lieutenant Friedrich Fischer, 38 years old, was born in Nie-
dernhausen and had been twenty years in service.
Lieutenant Johannes Engelhardt was born in Cassel. He was
23 years of age, and had been in the army but one year.
No. 60. Lord Stirling to Governor Livingston.
New Town, December 28th 1776
My Dear Sir:
I dare say you have heard of our little expedition to Trentown,
on the night of the 25* ; the result was, that we made a most
complete surprise on them, and have taken and killed at least
one thousand two hundred of the best of Hessian troops, with
their artillery and stores. The effect is amazing; the enemy
have deserted Borden Town, Black Horse, Burlington, Mount
Holly and are fled to South Amboy ; we are now in possession
of all those places, and the spirit of that part of the country is
roused.
I write this at the request of General Washington, with a lame
hand, but I hope it will be well enough to give them another
drubbing soon. I had the honour to make two regiments of
them surrender prisoners of war and to treat them in such a style
as will make the rest of them more willing to surrender than to
fight.
i I
KINDNESS TO HESSIAN PRISONERS ENJOINED 395
God bless you ; be active and make the State of New Jersey
what it ought to be.
Most affectionately yours
Stirling.
No. 61. Proclamation by the Pennsylvania Council of
Safety.
In Council ok Safety December 31 1776
To the Public :
There arrived yesterday in this City near one thousand Hes-
sian prisoners taken by his Excellency Gen'l Washington in his
late fortunate and successful Expedition to New Jersey. The
General has recommended to this Council to provide suitable
Quarters for them and it is his earnest wish that they may be
well treated and have such principles instilled into them, whilst
they remain prisoners, that when they return on being exchanged
they may fully open the Eyes of their Countrymen in the service
of the King of Great Britain who at present are not a little jealous
of their English fellow soldiers.
These miserable creatures now justly excite our Compassion.
They have no Enmity with us. According to the arbitrary cus-
toms of the tyrannical German Princes, they were dragg'd from
their native Country, and sold to a foreign Monark, without
either consulting their inclinations or informing them of the place
they were destined for, or the Enemy they were to contend with.
Their pay a mere pittance, they were necessitated and encouraged
to plunder. It is therefore nothing strange that they have been
guilty of great irregularities, tho' inferior to the brutal behaviour
of the British Troops. But from the moment they are rescued
from the authority of the British Officers, we ought no longer to
regard them as our Enemies, at least whilst their Conduct will
Justifie our favourable opinion. 'T is Britain alone that is our
Enemy; all the rest of Europe is from the strongest motives
interested in our favour. 'T is the Officers and Troops of Britain
only that are heartily engaged in this unjust war against us from
rancour, pride and ambition and notwithstanding the pains they
have taken to prejudice the Germans against us, we hope they
will find it impossible to prevail on them much longer to imbrue
their hands in the blood of the Americans, many of whom are
their Countrymen. The most favourable opportunity now offers
396 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
to weaken the force of our Enemies by making their Auxiliaries
our friends, and we earnestly entreat you to embrace it by sup-
pressing any resentment that might naturally arise on recollecting
their late hostility and treating the much injured and deceived
Hessians now in our power in the most friendly manner, as a
people we would wish to unite with ourselves in improving the
fertile forrests of America, extending its manufacture & Com-
merce and maintaining its Liberty and independency against all
attacks of foreign & Arbitrary Power.
No. 62. Count de Schaumburg to Baron Hohendorf.'
Monsieur le Baron :
On my return from Naples, I received at Rome your letter of
the 27''> December of last year. I have learned with unspeak-
able pleasure the courage our troops exhibited at Trenton, and
you cannot imagine my joy on being told that of the 1950 Hes-
sians engaged in the fight, but 345 escaped. There were just
1605 men killed and I cannot sufficiently commend your prudence
in sending an exact list of the dead to my minister in London.
This precaution was the more necessary, as the report sent to
the English ministry does not give but 1455 dead. This would
make 483,450 florins instead of the 643,500 which I am intitled
to demand under our convention. You will comprehend the
prejudice which such an error would work in my finances, and I
do not doubt you will take the necessary pains to prove that
Lord North's list is false and yours correct.
The court of London objects that there were a hundred
wounded who ought not to be included in the list, nor paid for
as dead ; but I trust you will not overlook my instructions to you
on quittiiig Cassel and that you will not have tried by human
succor to recall to life the unfortunates whose days could not be
lengthened but by the loss of a leg or arm. That would be mak-
ing them a pernicious present and I am sure they would rather
die than live in a condition no longer fit for my service. I do
not mean by this that you should assassinate them : we should
be humane, my dear Baron, but you may insinuate to the sur-
geons with entire propriety that a crippled man is a reproach to
^ Dr. Benjamin Franklin is generally believed to have been the
author of this satirical letter. Tyler's Literary History of the Ameri-
can Revolution, vol. ii. p. 380. Bigelow's Life of Benjamin Franklin,
vol. ii. p. 395.
SCHAUMBURG FS. LEONIDAS 397
their profession and that there is no wiser course than to let
every one of them die when he ceases to be fit to fight.
I am about to send you some new recruits. Don't economize
them. Glory is true wealth. There is nothing degrades a soldier
like the love of money. He must care only for honour and repu-
tation, but this reputation must be acquired in the midst of
dangers. A battle gained without costing the conqueror any
blood is an inglorious success, while the conquered cover them-
selves with glory by perishing with their arms in their hands.
Do you remember that of the 300 Lacedemonians who defended
the defile at Thermopylae, not one returned ? How happy should
I be could I say the same of my brave Hessians !
It is true that their King Leonidas perished with them ! but
things have changed, and it is no longer the custom for Princes
of the Empire to go and fight in America for a cause with which
they have no concern. And besides, to whom should they pay
the 30 guineas per man if I did not stay in Europe to receive
them ? Then it is necessary also that I be ready to send recruits
to replace the men you lose. For this purpose I must return to
Hesse. It is true grown men are becoming scarce there but I
will send the boys. Besides the scarcer the commodity the higher
the price. I am assured that the women and little girls have
begun to till our lands, and they get on not badly. You did right
to send back to Europe that Doctor Crumerus who was so suc-
cessful in curing dysentery. Don't bother with a man who is
subject to looseness of the bowels. That disease makes bad
soldiers. One coward will do more mischief in an engagement
than ten brave men will do good. Better that they burst in their
barracks than fly in a battle and tarnish the glory of our arms.
Besides, you know that they pay me as killed for all who die
from disease and I don't get a farthing for runaways. My trip to
Italy, which has cost me enormously, makes it desirable that
there should be a great mortality among them. You will therer
fore promise promotion to all who expose themselves ; you will
exhort them to seek glory in the midst of dangers ; you will
say to Major Maundorf that I am not at all content with his
saving the 345 men who escaped the massacre at Trenton.
Through the whole campaign he has not had ten men killed in
consequence of his orders. Finally, let it be your principal
object to prolong the war and avoid a decisive engagement on
398 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
either side, for I have made arrangements for a grand Italian
opera and I do not wish to be obliged to give it up. Meantime
I pray God, my dear Baron de Hohendorf, to have you in his
holy and gracious keeping.
No. 63. Colonel von Donop to General Knyphausen.
Quarters at Allentown December 27th 1776.
Sir:
Perhaps your excellency has been already informed of the
unpleasant affair which happened to the Rail brigade, but I think
it my duty to report to you. On the 21^' instant I received word
from Colonel Block at Black Horse, where his battalion was
posted with the 42""^ Regiment, that a party of rebels had
marched into Mount Holly, and that as yet he had been unable
to ascertain its real strength, some reporting it two and some
four thousand strong. I informed Colonel Rail immediately and
advised him to be on his guard because while I believed the
enemy would attack me, they might also make a demonstration
against him. I arranged my plans so that I felt safe in case of a
surprise and the next morning went myself to Black Horse. I
found the enemy had all except a few patrols moved out no far-
ther than the meeting house this side of Mount Holly. Immedi-
ately on my return to Bordentown the alarm guns which I had
ordered, were discharged at three o'clock in the afternoon by the
two battalions at the Black Horse and by the battalion von Lin-
singen lying between Black Horse and Bordentown. I informed
Colonel Rail immediately and returned instantly to Black Horse.
I found my men all under arms because as soon as I had left
four or five hundred rebels had attacked the picket at Rancocas
bridge, but effected nothing but the withdrawal of the twelve
Scotish soldiers and their sergeant Captain von Eshwege who
was quartered with his company in a house near came to their
assistance and a picket of grenadiers that was stationed just
beyond him and the rebels did not move a step further.
In order to rid myself of these unpleasant guests I went next
morning with the 42"*^ Regiment, the two battalions Block and
von Linsengen directly to Mount Holly. I met a few hundred
men at the meeting house but after firing a few shots they ran
away and the whole party took the road to Moorestown. They
were about a thousand men strong and under the command of
VON DONOP TO KNYPHAUSEN 399
Colonel Griffin. It was the fault of one of my patrols that I did
not get on them as I wished, for the patrol went against my direc-
tion too far in advance. I had no wounded or dead men, but
the rebels had three caused by my artillery fire although but a
few shots were fired. At the attack on Rancocas bridge Captain
von Eshwege's company had two and the guard of Scotsmen
two slightly wounded men. The battalion von Linsengen then
marched back again to their former quarters, Mansfield Square,
in order to be near Bordentown, and the other two battalions
remained at Mount Holly to gather food and forage for the stores
at Bordentown. There was nothing in Colonel Rail's reports,
and more especially in the communications from General Grant
to fear at Trenton. The following morning I regret to say proved
the contrary. Lieutenant Colonel von Minnigerode reported to
me that he had heard by a messenger that the rebels had sur-
prised the Rail brigade this morning at Trenton between eight
and nine o'clock and that they were ten to twelve thousand
strong. Soon after this Lieutenant Colonel von Minnigerode
sent an officer to me saying the report of the surprise at Trenton
had been confirmed by many who had escaped from there. I
went immediately back to Black Horse, reinforced the command
at the Crosswicks bridge so as to keep open the way to Prince-
ton. According to all the reports of the men who escaped from
Trenton and the statements of patrols I had sent in that direction,
the whole Rail brigade has been lost and many thousand rebels
are in their quarters. I did not think it advisable for me to
remain any longer in so dangerous a situation, surrounded on all
sides by the enemy and cut off from all communication with
Princeton. I was also assured that a large part of the rebels had
turned to Princeton and I had not the slightest word from Gen-
eral Leslie. My ammunition had run low, only about nine car-
tridges to a cannon and very little indeed for the fire-locks.
Even if I had thought proper to face all attacks from the enemy
in my dangerous position, to remain in Bordentown and wait for
a doubtful success I would not dare to do it on account of the
shortage of ammunition. Therefore after due consideration I
withdrew to Allentown which is twelve English miles from Prince-
ton and informed General Leslie of this fact. This place is so
situated that I can push through from here or in one day if neces-
sary resume my former position. I have brought all my baggage
400 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
along, but I am sorry I am compelled to leave about twenty sick
and wounded at Bordentown, with a stock of provisions and
forage. Some of the men were not able to be carried and the
wagons were too scarce to carry the rations, which will therefore
I fear fall into the hands of the rebels. I have organized all the
escaped men from the Rail brigade and made up a force of two
hundred and ninety-two men, including the command at the
drawbridge of one Captain, three officers and one hundred men.
Lieutenant von Grothausen with fifty yagers who had his com-
mand at Trenton, with a detachment of light infantry and dra-
goons, except one yager who was killed and one sick soldier,
escaped from the fight. Colonel Rail it is said is mortally
wounded and so is Major von Dechow. Lieutenant Colonel
Bretthauer and many of the officers have been wounded, some of
them killed. I could not find anything more definite than this.
All the cannon and flags of the brigade are lost and the prisoners
taken amount to seven hundred men.
I am Your Excellency's ser't &c Donop.
Whether this affair was an accident or whether a mistake had
been made could not be determined from the stories told by
the fugitives. All agree, however, that if Colonel Rail with his
brigade had retreated over the bridge and then destroyed it he
could have saved his command instead of fighting for an hour
against such heavy odds. Nevertheless it certainly proves his
splendid courage and that of his regiments, and this at least is
greatly to their honour. Even the two regiments, the von Loss-
berg and his own, could have been saved. The death of Colonel
Rail has therefore avoided a painful investigation, for he would
have had to answer for this grave responsibilit)'.
No. 64. General Grant to Colonel von Donop.
Brunswick 27th Dec 1776
Sir:
Colonel Rail's Defeat is a most unfortunate business. I did
not think that all the Rebels in America would have taken that
Brigade Prisoners — one must not judge rashly of People who
have been unfortunate but if you had been there and had found
yourself overpowered by numbers, if I am not mistaken, you
would have contrived to retreat across the bridge to Bordenton —
VON HEISTER TO THE PRINCE OF HESSE 401
the Light Dragoons, Light Infantry and it appears from your let-
ter to General Leslie that 200 Hessians did so. After all that
has happened if I was with you, your Grenadiers and Yagers I
should not be afraid of an attack from Washington's Army, which
is almost naked and does not exceed 8000 men including Lee's,
Gates's and Arnold's Corps. I have sent an express to General
Howe and till I receive his commands about the future Arrange-
ment of our cantonments, I must beg of you to remain at Allen-
town, or if that should not be practicable, for I don't know the
place, you must crowd into Princetown, Maidenhead, Cranbury
and Kingston.
I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most obed't h'lle servant
James Grant.
No. 65. General von Heister to the Prince of Hesse.
To His Highness the Prince of Hesse
Merciful Father of the Country !
Your Highness has I trust seen my letter of the 2^^ of Decem-
ber. The fate of war which I had such good reason to praise in
my last letter and which I humbly hope pleased your Highness
has given us a sad example of its inconstancy — which is hard
indeed for every true Hessian. The pain the first report gave me
it is unnecessary to describe and I feel it anew when I am com-
pelled to repeat it to you who must feel the loss of even a single
subject. The three regiments of von Lossberg, von Knyphausen
and Rail which were quartered at Trenton in New Jersey were on
the 26* of December surprised and attacked by a superior force
of the rebels an account of which you may read in the enclosed
journal written up to the 27'h of December. After a defense of
nearly an hour and a half the entire body of officers and a large
part of the men had been killed or wounded, the rest were sur-
rounded and made prisoners. The fifteen flags and the six can-
non were also lost. A small balance of 292 men as near as I can
ascertain saved themselves and joined Colonel von Donop's
force. They will be according to my request sent to General
Howe's quarters and I therefore expect them daily. After they
have rested and recruited themselves, if in fit condition, I will
form them into a separate battalion which can be assigned to
" Colonel von Donop's command and a Staff officer can be placed
in charge of them. On the 3'^ inst. I sent Quarter Master Muller
402 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of the von Knyphausen regiment with twelve men of the brigade
with permission of the General in Chief to Philadelphia to assist
the prisoners there with money and underclothing until their re-
lease for which I am working very hard. If Colonel Rail has
made a mistake and caused this mishap nothing positive can be
said until the imprisoned officers can be examined. According
to the story of the men who escaped through his hot-headedness
he was not willing to retreat and sacrificed his men because rather
than use the bridge behind him which he could have held pos-
session of with advantage. His death does away with many
investigations and many complications. I have always judged
him stronger in the attack than in the defense. The former he
gallantly displayed at Fort Knyphausen. Just now I receive the
report that an English brigade has shared the same fate as the
Rail brigade, but I am not able to say how true this is. The
English regiments have no flags and cannon with them and so
they are saved the misfortune of losing them. The farther events
your Highness will see in the Continental journales. I lay these
facts before you and I am yours humbly.
VON Heister.
New York 5th of January 1777.
No. 66. Earl of Suffolk to General von Heister.
St James 3rd March 1777.
Sir:
The Baron de Kuzleben has sent me the letter which you hon-
ored me with of date January 28*, but that of December 2^^^
never reached me. It was with great sorrow that we heard of
the disaster which happened to the Hessian brigade, by which
this most brilliant campaign was closed by the loss of so many
brave men. In deploring the death of Colonel Rail we are not
able at the same time to avoid the fact that his great rashness
interfered with him as the commander of a post where he should
have tried to preserve the lives of his men. We will always con-
tinue to hope that the occasion will present itself that the troops
of his Serene Highness may be able to give essential proof of
their valour in the service of His Majesty, and that you will have
to send us great accounts of their brave conduct.
I have the honour to be With great esteem, Sir,
Your very humble & very obt servant
Suffolk.
WRATH OF THE PRINCE OF HESSE 403
No. 67. Prince of Hesse to Lieutenant-General von
Knyphausen.
Cassel, i6th of June 1777.
I
I expected to receive the particulars of the fatal affair at Tren-
ton on the return of Quarter Master Mueller from Lieutenant
General von Heister. This has not been done and I therefore
expect and demand of the Lieutenant General all the information
necessary to give light on this unlucky business, and enable me
to judge of the proper sentence. The general description has
not yet been received and all the minor points are still wanting.
Quarter Master Mueller's diary does not mention a word of it.
My sensitive feelings are not quieted and the painful shock not
lessened by keeping from me the details of this affair. I there-
fore repeat the demand on the Lieutenant General for a thorough
investigation of the whole matter. Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer
particularly and the commanding officers of the other two regi-
ments must on their return from imprisonment be subject to the
severest investigation. The former must especially be questioned
why he did not take command immediately after Colonel Rail
was wounded and why he did not try to remedy the disaster
when he knew that Colonel Rail was disabled from further
command ?
II
Court Geismar, August 3, 1777
As soon as the three captured regiments are exchanged, the
Lieutenant General is requested, as he has been already ordered
to establish a court martial in which a Major General shall pre-
side and all these questions must be answered :
1. — At what time in the day were the regiments attacked and
captured ?
2. — How strong was the force of the enemy ?
3. — What plans had Colonel Rail made in case his regiments
were attacked ?
4. — Were the quarters of the regiments separated or near to-
gether ? What precautions were taken and were there any patrols,
sent out to obtain information as to the near approach of the
enemy ?
5. — How did the regiments defend themselves and how long
404 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
did this defense continue ? How heavy was the loss of wounded
and dead on our side and how great on the side of the enemy ?
6. — Why did not Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer take command
after Colonel Rail had been disabled, as it was his duty as senior
officer, and why did he not retreat over the little bridge across
the stream in their rear, after finding the enemy so strong?
7. — From whom did Colonel Rail receive his orders ? Did he
not receive proper instructions ? Did Colonel Rail visit his posts
often ? Did Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer give no orders when
Colonel Rail found himself unable to save his men ?
8. — Why did not Colonel von Donop march to their assistance
and was there no communication existing between Bordentown
and Trenton ?
The greatest responsibility after the death of Colonel Rail rests
on Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer and after him on the two officers
who commanded the von Knyphausen and the von Woellworth ^
regiments and these officers are to be held to account for their
conduct.
No. 68. Friedrich L. L Hessen to General Knyphausen.
My dear Lieutenant General von Knyphausen :
In regard to the report of that fatal affair at Trenton I would
inform you that the importance of the matter has not permitted
an earlier conclusion. It has been found that many facts need
verification, that the behaviour of every one implicated should be
clearly understood so that the conduct of each one should be
judged properly and beyond question. I would respectfully ask
the Lieutenant General to convene a just and impartial court
according to the rules, that this unpleasant afiair may end and
every officer implicated, irrespective of previous statements and
testimony, be resworn in so important a matter. A Major Gen-
eral should preside and there must be three officers ordered on
the court of each rank. You may order such courts-martial to
carefully investigate all the circumstances of this affair and after
due consideration pass judgment thereon. If any are found
guilty according to law you should pass sentence on each one
according as your conscience may dictate and send the verdict
to me.
In the investigation it is shown ;
1 Formerly the Rail regiment.
ADMIRABLE HINDSIGHT 405
1. — That the danger to which the regiments in Trenton were
daily exposed should have made it apparent to Colonel Rail that
he ought to have designated an alarm place for the brigade, that
he should have made the necessary arrangements for defence,
that he should have erected fortifications and breast-works and
should have sent out frequent patrols to those places where the
enemy was supposed to be, especially at Pennington, to Howell's
and to Johnson's ferries. As the whole force of the enemy
crossed over the Delaware river on the 25* of December 1776
,and this crossing took sixteen hours it is apparent that the send-
ing out of patrols had been neglected. If it had been done the
regiments would have had timely warning and could have made
preparations for resistance.
2. — An investigation is yet to be made by the court-martial
as to what orders Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer gave after Colonel
Rail had been wounded in the attack on the town which he made
with the von Lossberg and his own regiment and after Major
von Hanstein had informed Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer of the
wounding of Colonel Rail and he according to his own statement
had assumed charge of the command.
3. — As Major von Hanstein states that after the fruitless
attack upon the town and during the retreat to the woods he.
Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer and Major Matthaus had all agreed
to break through the line of the enemy, a thorough investigation
must be made why this resolution was not carried out. The pro-
tocol of former investigations should be presented to this court-
martial for its action.
4. — Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer is to be questioned as to why
in the retreat not the least effort was made to break through and
join the English troops at Princeton, when the troops had not
even fired and by his own testimony an officer of the enemy
was called out and made by him to understand that they were
forced to surrender. Captain Steding said in his testimony that
Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer and Major von Hanstein joined an
officer of the enemy who rode up to them at the time of the re-
treat and on their return both of the regiments surrendered. We
may conclude from this as well as from Lieutenant Colonel Schef-
fer's testimony that no fire was opened upon the enemy in front
of them. Although the enemy was much stronger numerically,
they were in no way equal to the brigade of Colonel Rail and it
4o6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
cannot be denied that their troops were much scattered and
stronger on the flanks than on the front of Trenton. Therefore
if the regiments intended to break through and were in order for
so doing it ought not to have been a very hard task for these regi-
ments unitedly at some one point to have effected an escape.
The militia was a mixed force, much dissatisfied from previous
misfortunes and losses and they would not have stood at one
certain point against an attack with the bayonet. By this honor-
able way a disgraceful surrender and capture might have been
avoided. If this however had been found to be impossible then
the regiments should have tried to withdraw toward the creek and
made an effort to cross it. The testimony of Captain von Lowen-
stein shows plainly in the trial that two hundred steps to the right
of the position of the von Knyphausen regiment, and so accord-
ing to this statement behind the von Lossberg and the Rail regi-
ments also, the water was only knee deep.
5. — The regiment von Knyphausen remained too long at the
quarters of Major von Dechow waiting for orders, as it stood
there when the attack and the firing had begun at the upper part
of the town. Because Colonel Rail had made no arrangements
against a surprise the regiment could do nothing but guard the
bridge over the creek at Trenton or aid the other two regiments
already in conflict with the enemy. The signal to march should
have been the cannon shots of the enemy.
6. — An investigation should be made earnestly and with dili-
gence as to the cause which made the von Knyphausen regiment
withdraw when in the apple orchard back of Trenton, when the
Rail and the von Lossberg regiments were about to make the
attack on the town and why did they turn to the left and separate
themselves instead of assisting those regiments.
7. — Who gave the orders for this separation? Was the oc-
cupation of the bridge the motive for this movement ? If so why
did they not attack the enemy there with the bayonet ? Was no
attempt made to do this ?
8. — How can Captain von Biesenrodt answer these questions ?
Why did his regiment not attack the enemy at the bridge ? Why
did his regiment march up and down the creek in an uncertain
way and thereby separate itself from the other regiments then in
action ? Why did he intentionally put the regiment in low
ground when an elevation was before him and why did he remain
KEEN GERMAN CRITICISMS 407
there ? Why did he send Lieutenant Wiederhold according to
his own statement to an officer in advance of the enemy and soon
after that walked up himself to General Lord Stirling an Ameri-
can General and there capitulate, and then returning to the regi-
ment surrendered them without hesitation. This regiment that
would have accepted every chance, for it had lately at the capture
of Fort Knyphausen fought so bravely and acted so well, was
surrendered without having made an attack and scarcely without
having fired a shot ? When his duty urged him to risk an escape
by crossing the creek with the rest of his men where a part of his
men had already crossed and where apparently there was no dan-
ger of drowning, instead of doing this he surrendered in a shame-
ful way. Besides these questions Captain von Biesenrodt should
be also asked why he had not marched to the place already
designated by Captain von Lowenstein where the water was
shallow.
9. — It also seems that the Artillery officer Lieutenant Engel-
hardt is guilty of a criminal act in leaving his cannon in such
haste instead of remaining with his command. Even if he did
lose a few artillerists and a few horses he certainly hurried over
the bridge before the fate of his command had been decided.
He should be more carefully questioned on this subject than has
heretofore been done.
As soon as all these points have been examined into as we
have already stated the Lieutenant General having reconvened
the Court-Martial, all those who are found guilty by the Court
should be arrested and confined until my action in the matter
shall be received in America. The kind of punishment will be
indicated in the summing up of this unpleasant affair. Because
of some facts worthy of consideration in the case of those officers
now serving with the von Trumbach regiment in Georgia and who
may be found guilty, their arrest will be deferred until my action
in the matter is made known.
Yours affectionately
Friedrich L. I. Hessen.
Weissenstein 23rd of April 1779
4o8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 69. Return Casualties Rall's Brigade.
New York, 13th of December 1781.
On account of the various returns from different sources, and
especially from the statements of the officers, it is very uncertain
what the loss, in dead and wounded, was of each regiment at the
affair at Trenton and the strength of each regiment when cap-
tured. It has therefore become necessary in order to make a
correct judgment in the case to have extracts from the Commis-
sary's office upon his word of honor of the dead, wounded and
captured at the surprise at Trenton. This is to be taken from
the total lists received of the losses of the Rail brigade at Tren-
ton in 1776. And with this information every effort possible has
been made to get correct accounts of the losses on the side of the
enemy, both from the papers here or the rebel papers there, that
it might be ascertained what was the strength of the enemy at
the surprise. But it was all in vain, no papers could be found to
give the facts accurately. Your obt. servt
J. J. LOTHEISEN.
EXTRACT OF THE RETURN
sent under word of honour to the War Commissioner Lorentz,
now deceased, examined by him and found correct, of the dead,
wounded and prisoners taken at the surprise at Trenton on the
26* day of December 1776 of the regiments Alt von Lossberg,
von Knyphausen and Rail.
Regiments.
Dead and Missing.
Wounded.
Captured.
1 «
!,. i.
'" '.J
= S
t
iil
J,
ise
»
0 0
£
1
So
e
1
so
G
1
^1
0
_>
£
1.1
3
0
>
0,
il
a
£
Von Lossberg .
I
3
I
=;4
32
8
228
Von Knyp-
hausen
I
2
II
27
7
276
Rail
12
ID
25
10
255
Total . .
I
16
3
75
84
25
759
HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 409
The above extract of the return I have examined and find it
correct. I therefore according to my duty sign it with my own
name.
J. J. LOTHEISEN.
New York 13th of December 1781
No. 70. Proceedings of Hessian Court-Martial.
To THE Honorable Court Martial. —
It is known to the honorable Court Martial that I have been
for some time forced by sickness to remain in my quarters. The
trouble which I have in my legs makes it impossible for me to
wear shoes and I cannot therefore go out. In fact I am too weak
to engage in any reading of the extensive testimony or to be pre-
sent at the reading.
I hope that the truthful explanation will excuse me and I pray
that the Honourable Court Martial will send my testimony to
my quarters to be read to me. I have nothing to add in refer-
ence to the surprise at Trenton and I leave it to the action of the
Court Martial.
Very respectfully your obedient servant
Scheffer
New York 4th of January 1782.
New York, 4th of January 17S2
An excuse was received today from Lieutenant Colonel Schef-
fer that he could not be present at the meeting of the Court
Martial because of sickness and he humbly asked to have a
Committee sent to his quarters to read to him the statements
which had been made.
The Court Martial was also directed by His Excellency the
Lieutenant General Knyphausen to order to be present at their
meeting all officers who had been in the command of the three
regiments at Trenton. Also to request Lieutenant Hendorff who
has since then been discharged to be present but to leave it en-
tirely to his honour whether he will respond to the call or not.
J. J. Lotheisen.
New York, 5th of January 1782
The following Committee was sent to Lieutenant Colonel
Scheffer of the von Lossberg regiment and to Captain Schimmel-
pfennig of the von Knyphausen regiment because of their inabil-
410 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
ity to be present at the meeting of the Court Martial, viz : Colo-
nel von Kochenhausen, Lieutenant Colonel Eitel and Major
Hessenmuller to Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer, and Major Pfaff,
Captain Wachs and myself as Auditor to Captain Schimmel-
pfennig. The minutes and the testimony was read to both of the
sick officers and they declared they had no changes to make, that
they left the facts just as they were stated and that they had no
objection to any member of the Court Martial
F. VON Kochenhausen H. H. Eitel
VON Hessenmuller Friedrich Pfaff
F. Wachs. J. J. Lotheisen.
The members of the Court were :
Major General Heinrich Jul. von Kospoth, formerly Colonel of
the von Wutgenau regiment, President of the court ; Colonel
Rudolph von Bunau of the garrison regiment von Bunau ; Colo-
nel Friedrich von Kochenhausen of the regiment Hereditary
Prince ; Lieutenant Colonel Otto Christian Wilhelm von Linsin-
gen of the grenadier battalion von Linsingen ; Lieutenant Colo-
nel Carl von Kietzell of the regiment von Wissenbach ; Lieuten-
ant Colonel Georg Emanuel von Lengercke, of the grenadier
battalion von Lengercke, and afterward of the regiment Prinz
Carl ; Lieutenant Colonel Hans Heinrich Eitel of the Hessian
Artillery ; Major Friedrich Pfaff of the regiment Hereditary
Prince ; Major Friedrich von Eschwege of the grenadier bat-
talion von Lengercke ; Major Heinrich Christian von Hessen-
muller of the grenadier battalion Graff; Captain Heinrich Fried-
rich Wachs of the regiment Hereditary Prince ; Captain Georg
Hohenstein of the grenadier battalion Graff ; Captain Ludwig
Eberhard Murarius of the regiment Landgrave ; Lieutenant Carl
von Rabenau of the grenadier battalion Lowenstein ; Lieutenant
Reinhard Yunck formerly of the garrison regiment von Seitz now
of the grenadier battalion Graff ; Lieutenant Max Ludwig von
Helmold of the grenadier battalion von Linsingen and afterward
the regiment du Corps ; Ensign Heinrich Georg de Nolde of the
regiment Landgrave ; Ensign August von Pappenheim of the
regiment Landgrave ; Ensign Friedrich Wilhelm Kuester of
the garrison regiment von Bunau.
Johann Jacob Lotheisen was Auditor.
FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 411
An extract from the minutes of the Court shows who were
ordered before it to give their testimony or to confirm that
already given.
New York, 5th of January 1782
Court Martial.
Major General von Kospoth, presiding.
The following officers of the regiments von Lossberg, von
Knyphausen and Rail heard the reading of the minutes and the
testimony and offered no objections : —
1. — Lieutenant Zoll
— Lieutenant von Hobe (formerly Ensign)
— Lieutenant Hille — all of the regiment von Lossberg.
— Captain von Biesenrodt
— Captain Baum
— Captain Wiederhold (formerly Lieutenant)
— Captain Vaupell (formerly Lieutenant)
— Lieutenant Sobbe
— Lieutenant von Drach (formerly Ensign)
— Lieutenant von Romrodt
— Lieutenant Zimmermann (formerly Ensign) — all of the
regiment von Knyphausen.
2. — Major Boking (formerly Captain)
13. — Captain Salzmann (formerly Lieutenant) — all of the regi-
ment Rail
14. — Corporal Frank Georg Bauer of the Yagers
No. 71. Finding of Hessian Court- Martial.
The President and the members of the Court were then
sworn : —
They gave their decision according to their respective rank
after they had been cautioned to keep the same secret : —
The Ensigns. They agree that the disaster at Trenton was
due to the neglect of Colonel Rail in not making the necessary
preparations in case of retreat. Also that he was to blame for
attacking the town instead of retreating, thereby causing the con-
fusion in the Rail and von Lossberg regiments. They think that
Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer in the situation in which he was
when he took command of the regiments, against a superior force,
would have found it impossible to have effected a retreat ; that
9
10
n
I
412 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
he and all his officers did all in their power to encourage their
men and preserve order and that the testimony shows no censure
should be placed on them. In the matter of the pickets there
could be nothing said against them as they were too weak in
number to resist so strong an enemy and they were not guilty
of making a premature retreat. Lieutenant Fischer according
to the testimony remained with the von Lossberg regiment and
Lieutenant Engelhardt could not save the cannon of the Rail
regiment; therefore the Ensigns judge that no blame can be
attached to the Artillery detachment of the brigade. The min-
utes show in the case of the von Knyphausen regiment that the
command marched into the low ground on a positive order ;
therefore the regiment could not be held responsible for it. They
also think that it was impossible for Captain von Biesenrodt,
who took command when the von Knyphausen regiment already
stood in the low ground, to force the bridge with his small regi-
ment, and there was no way for him to make them cross the
creek, and that he had taken the necessary steps in this matter,
first to have the creek sounded, second to place an officer and
forty men to protect the ford, and third to assume charge himself
of the rear guard. Captain von Loewenstein had rtot then shown
him where the water was only knee-deep and therefore no lack of
resolution or want of bravery can be charged to him. That he
finally surrendered himself and his men he could not be censured
for, because first the other regiments were already captured, sec-
ond the situation of the von Knyphausen regiment was already
known to the enemy from Major von Dechow's movements, and
third the enemy put its whole force now against the regiment
von Knyphausen, and this regiment could not successfully resist
after having the cannon stuck in the swamp and only numbering
then but 276 men. We also find that Captain Schimmelpfennig,
Lieutenant now Captain Baum, Lieutenant now Captain Vaupell
and Lieutenant von Geyso did not go through the creek until the
whole regiment had orders from Captain von Biesenrodt, and took
the men across according to the statement already made. So the
Ensigns believe Captain von Biesenrodt as well as the officers,
the non-commissioned officers and the privates of the von Knyp-
hausen regiment are free from blame and ought to be acquitted.
H. G. D. NoLDE
A. VON Pappenheim
F. KUESTER.
FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 413
The Lieutenants. The Lieutenants agree in tlie decision of the
Ensigns in every particular, and for the same reasons tliey recom-
mend that the three regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen
and Rail be acquitted.
C. VON Rabenau
R. YUNCK
M. L. VON Helmold.
The Captains. The Captains believe, according to the facts
set forth, that no faint-heartedness, premature retreat or any act
of insubordination can be charged against the three regiments
von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail at the surprise at Tren-
ton. The commanding officers as well as the other officers, the
several commands, the pickets, as well as Sergeant Mueller who
had command at the bridge, and the detachment of artillery, all
did their duty and ought to be acquitted. All the men who were
in service at the surprise at Trenton we include in this opinion
and we desire it published in the newspapers here as well as at
Cassel. That his Serene Highness of Hesse may grant the regi-
ments above named new flags we desire to state these facts in
addition to what has already been said :
1. — That Captain von Lowenstein, if he were yet alive, would
have the greatest necessity for explaining why he apparently
deceived Captain von Biesenrodt in that he did not show him
the place where the creek could be crossed after Major von
Dechow was wounded.
2. — It would appear that Captain Schimmelpfennig, Lieu-
tenant Baum, Lieutenant Vaupell and Lieutenant von Geyso after
crossing the creek should have halted on the bank and collected
their men. But owing to the general confusion and especially
the fact that von Geyso was wounded, they ought to be excused.
3. — It was perfectly right that Captain von Biesenrodt should
form^the rear guard and that he should take command of it and
offer to be the last man to cross.
4. — After Captain von Biesenrodt had given the order to cross
the creek it was his duty to give special orders to his subaltern
officers that they should cross and to see that the orders were
carried out in the proper manner.
5. — It is known to us, especially to Captain Wachs and Cap-
tain Hohenstein by personal knowledge that Captain von Biesen-
rodt is a brave man. He has proven this so often in the face of
414 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the enemy, and according to the opinion of others he did his duty
at the surprise at Trenton, so that we are convinced that he had
not then lost his usual courage.
H. Wachs
G. HOHENSTEIN
MURARIUS.
The Majors. The examination shows nothing more to us than
that Colonel Rail neglected to take the necessary precautions
which it was his duty to do for the regiments he commanded and
he left his officers without any orders in case of attack. Colonel
Rail died without an examination which would probably have
cleared up many things. We are therefore of the opinion that
neither faint-heartedness, premature flight or insubordination is
to be charged against the men at the surprise at Trenton and that
their commander Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer, Major Matthaus
and the other officers of the regiments von Lossberg and Rail,
also the pickets and guards as well as Sergeant Mueller who had
the watch at the bridge, and the detachment of artillery have all
done their duty and we recommend them for acquittal. We think
that all the officers still living, who served at the surprise at Tren-
ton, should be fully exonerated from blame a'nd that this. should
be published in the newspapers here and at Cassel. As far as
the regiment von Knyphausen is concerned we believe that they
obeyed strictly the orders of their commanding officer Major von
Dechow and after he retired wounded and Captain von Biesen-
rodt had taken command of the regiment they had already been
placed in a bad position in low ground near the enemy. In
this condition Captain von Biesenrodt did all that could be done
under the circumstances. He gave orders for the regiment to
retire through the creek, ordered the rear guard of forty men and
took charge of it himself. The enemy pressed so violently and
closed up on the regiment that no blame can be put on Captain
von Biesenrodt and the rest of the officers of the von Knyphausen
regiment. In order not to sacrifice the men uselessly they were
compelled to surrender. It is to be hoped that His Highness
the Count of Hesse will grant new flags to these three regiments,
keep them in service and retain his good will toward them.
Friedrich Pfaff
Friedrich von Eschwege
H. Hessenmuller.
FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 415
The Lieutenant Colonels. We observe from the testimony that
the surprise at Trenton was carried out with great force and
determination by the enemy. This fact must be taken into con-
sideration in rendering a decision. According to our opinion all
the pickets and guards did their duty and did not leave their
posts without proper defence and they then only retreated under
continual fire, some of them to their regiments and some to Bor-
dentown in order not to be captured. The Yager company can-
not be blamed because they had no bayonets and they all fol-
lowed their commander Lieutenant von Grothausen now deceased,
but how much he was blameworthy cannot now be decided be-
cause he cannot be examined, for he died of his wounds. The
detachment of artillery did their duty and defended themselves
as long as it was possible to do it. Artillery Lieutenant Engel-
hardt did wrong by not joining the von Lossberg and Rail regi-
ments after he had lost his cannon, but as it is known to us that
he has both before and since the surprise of Trenton conducted
himself very bravely, and being a young officer and having testi-
fied on a former examination at Charleston that he was already
cut off, he should be acquitted. After a due consideration of all
the different perplexing situations in which Lieutenant Colonel
Scheffer was placed after the wounding of Colonel Rail, we can
neither find a want of courage or irresolution on his part, but
rather great bravery because : —
I'. — He formed his regiment in a large open ground under the
direct fire of the enemy.
2. — While marching to attack the enemy, he obeyed according
to his rank the order of Colonel Rail and began an attack on
the enemy then in his rear in the town, and after the regiments
had been beaten and Colonel Rail had been wounded he took
command.
3. — After agreeing with Majors von Hanstein and Matthaus
to break through the woods he did march against the enemy a
certain distance but he was compelled to stop, because his regi-
ments were not in order after leaving the town and because he
found himself surrounded on all sides by the enemy. The regi-
ments which can form in a great surprise and under fire of the
enemy like the von Lossberg and Rail regiments and by an order'
of their commander attack the foe and defend themselves a con-
siderable time, which the loss of the von Lossberg sufficiently
4i6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
shows, cannot be judged otherwise than that the officers, non-
commissioned officers and privates fully did their duty. Captain
von Biesenrodt showed no lack of determination or courage in
the situation when he took command of the von Knyphausen
regiment.
1. — He received the command of the regiment when it was
posted in a bad position, a low swamp, and their cannon were
already stuck in the marsh.
2. — It was utterly impossible for a weak regiment, in much
confusion and without cannon, to break through the enemy which
had already placed a guard on all the high positions on the shore
and at the bridge, and the bridge could not be forced.
3. — He had fully considered the crossing of the creek as the
only way to save the regiment and had its depth sounded before
giving orders to cross the same.
4. — The crossing took considerable time on account of the
steep shore on the other side, and it was a good move to order
Lieutenant von Ferry with forty men to watch the enemy posted
opposite on the heights.
S- — We think that as a brave officer he did not want to be the
first to go through the water but was determined to go with the
rear guard and is not censurable but rather praiseworthy for this
act, although Captain Schimmelpfennig found fault with this
action.
6. — The capitulation was not wrong because the crossing of
the creek was impossible with the cannon and the howitzers of
the enemy posted on the heights.
7- — It is to be supposed that Captain von Biesenrodt's plan
would have worked well were it not that Major -s^on Dechow had
gone toward the enemy previous to this and revealed the situa-
tion of the regiment by having a white pocket handkerchief tied
to a staff. This fact worked greatly, toward the discouragement
of the men.
We are therefore in favour of acquitting the three regiments
von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail, now Angelelli, and the
detachment of Artillery, all the guards and the pickets. The
names of the surviving officers should be mentioned and the sen-
tence when confirmed by His Highness should justify the con-
duct of these men and it should be published in the newspapers
here and at Cassel.
FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 417
We humbly leave all this to the mercy of his Serene Highness,
that he may acquit the three regiments and grant them new flags.
W. VON LiNSINGEN
G. E. VON Lengerke
H. H. ElTEL.
The Colonels. It seems to us according to the testimony read
to us that much is due to the bad conduct of Colonel Rail the
commander at Trenton at the time of the surprise.
I. — That he had not used prudence enough to put up some
fortifications which had been suggested by Colonel von Donop
and the plans prepared by Captain Pauli.
2. — Engineer Captain Martin was sent to Colonel Rail shortly
before the surprise by Colonel von Donop to see Colonel Rail
about the construction of a redoubt and he had disdainfully re-
jected the idea with the expression that the rebels were a miserable
band and fortifications against such a party were unnecessary.
3. — Colonel Rail entirely omitted to designate alarm places
for the brigade.
4. — When Major von Dechow made the proposition the day
before the attack to send away the baggage as it was only an
incumbrance in case of an attack Colonel Rail replied ridiculing
and belittling the suggestion. Colonel Rail having been mor-
tally wounded and died of the wounds received at the attack on
Trenton he cannot be held to answer these charges, and a deci-
sion cannot be justly rendered against him. But no blame for
want of courage, or because of an unnecessary retreat can be
placed on the von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail regiments
at the affair at Trenton.
The uncertainty as to why the regiment von Knyphausen
remained so long at the place of rendezvous cannot be cleared
up because of the death of Major von Dechow, but it is probable
that he, as no alarm place had been designated by Colonel Rail,
waited there for orders where to march his regiment. Captain
von Biesenrodt cannot be blamed for finding the regiment in a
bad position and in disorder for it is well understood how diffi-
cult it is to bring out order where once there has been confusion.
The testimony shows further that Captain von Biesenrodt had
ordered the crossing of the creek with all the care available but
the strong opposing forces and the superiority of artillery made
4i8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the crossing impossible. The detached commands and the pick-
ets, the guards at the bridge under Sergeant Mueller, and the
detachment of artillery did their whole duty and should be
acquitted. We also think that every surviving officer of the Rail
brigade in the affair at Trenton should be acquitted and their
names together with this verdict should be published in public
orders and in the newspapers of the country. In reference to
the lost flags of those three regiments we would humbly ask and
pray that new flags be granted them.
R. VON BUNAU
H. W. VON KiLZEL
F. VON KOCHENHAUSEN.
The President and the Auditor. We agree with the opinion of
the Lieutenant Colonels for the reasons given and we would also
state that no blame should be attached to Captain Schimmelpfen-
nig and the Lieutenants Baum, Vaupell and von Geyso because
they crossed the creek before they were ordered by Captain von
Biesenrodt who also ordered the whole von Knyphausen regi-
ment to cross. Captain Schiramelpfennig states in his testi-
mony that he reassembled about fifty men and retreated with
them to Princeton. As the regiments have all been acquitted
but are serving without flags according to the Articles of War
this matter must be referred to and we would humbly submit to
his Serene Highness to mercifully grant new flags to the Alt von
Lossljerg, the von Knyphausen and the Rail, now the d'Ange-
lelli, regiments.
VON KOSPOTH
J. J. LOTHEISEN.
Verdict. On the surprise at Trenton of the regiments von
Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail, now d'Angelelli, and their
capture.
The Court Martial resolves after thoroughly examining all the
testimony and all the facts that by a unanimous vote they judge
that the regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail,
now d'Angelelli, cannot be blamed for any want of courage, pre-
mature retreat or insubordination at the surprise at Trenton, and
they believe that the commanders of the regiments, the other offi-
cers, the regiments themselves, the guards and pickets, the watch
SURVIVING HESSIAN OFFICERS 419
at the bridge under Sergeant Mueller and the detachment of
artillery all did their duty.
The following is a list of the living officers as far as known : —
Regiment von Lossberg. i. Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer ; 2.
Major von Hanstein ; 3. Captain now Major von Altenbockum ;
4. Captain Steding ; 5. Lieutenant now Captain Piel ; 6. Lieu-
tenant Zoll ; 7. Lieutenant von Hobe ; 8. Lieutenant Miiller ;
9. Lieutenant Schwabe ; 10. Lieutenant Hille ; 11. Lieutenant
Hendorff ; 12. Lieutenant Grabe ; 13. Ensign von Zengen and
14. Bombardier Volprecht.
Regiment von Knyphausen. i. Captain von Biesenrodt ; 2.
Captain Schimmelpfennig ; 3. Lieutenant now Captain Baum ;
4. Lieutenant now Captain Wiederhold ; 5. Lieutenant now Cap-
tain Vaupell ; 6. Lieutenant von Romrodt ; 7. Lieutenant von
Sobbe ; 8. Lieutenant von Ferry ; 9. Lieutenant von Geyso ; 10.
Ensign now Lieutenant von Dracli ; 11. Ensign now Lieutenant
Zimmermann ; 12. Sergeant Mueller.
Regiment Rail, now d' Atigelelli. i. Captain now Major Bo-
king ; 2. Lieutenant now Captain Salzmann ; 3. Ensign Fleck ;
4. Artillery Lieutenant Engelhardt.
Yager Corps. Corporal Frank Georg Bauer.
We desire to acquit all these officers and if the verdict is con-
firmed we wish to have it announced in public orders and pub-
lished in the newspapers here and in Cassel for the justification
of the regiments. We also humbly pray that his Highness will
grant these regiments new flags.
New York, January nth 1782
VON KOSPOTH
J. J. LOTHEISEN
No. 72. Report of Hessian War Commission.
To HIS SERENE HIGHNESS, PrINCE OF HESSE,
Most gracious Prince and Lord :
The War Commission humbly ask for a full pardon in the
case of the survivirig officers at the surprise at Trenton. We
• agree with the court that the sentence should be published in
the gazettes and that permission be granted to carry new colors.
The Commission would also point out the notable defects in the
lines of testimony and they would refer to the premature publica-
420 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
tion of the opinion of the court by Auditor Lotheisen, and before
the full statement of facts had been given to him. According
to the records, by order of the English General Grant several
regiments were given to the command of Colonel von Donop
and winter quarters were assigned them in and around Trenton
on December 13, 1776. Thereupon Colonel von Donop occupied
the posts as ordered and Colonel Rail took command at Trenton
of the Alt-Lossberg, Knyphausen and his own regiment with
the artillery belonging thereto, the yagers and twenty English
dragoons. They made an effective force of about 1200 men,
were all selected for services well performed, and they took pos-
session of Trenton December 14, 1776. Colonel Rail neglected
however to protect his position by redoubts, where the safety of
the village required them. Colonel von Donop instructed him,
through Captains Pauli and Martin, to erect them, but he only
posted a few detachments and picket-guards. He required his
men to sleep with their clothing on and with their arms, over
night at their quarters, and later he changed this, taking a regi-
ment at a time in turn to be prepared for attack. On the 20* of
December he made a request of Brigadier General Leslie at
Princeton and Major General Grant at Brunswick, as Princeton
was twelve miles from Trenton, to place a detachment of two
hundred men at Maidenhead, as he feared the enemy would
interrupt communication between the two places. He received
the reply that this was unnecessary because of the small number
and wretched condition of the enemy. But Colonel Rail still
thinking the condition of his post dangerous sent out strong
patrols toward Princeton and then called them back to Trenton.
In the meanwhile several American officers in disguise presented
themselves to him, and under the pretext of soliciting protection,
spied out all his preparations. On the 25* of December, the
day before the surprise, the picket on the Pennington road was
attacked and six men were wounded. Major von Dechow then
requested Colonel Rail to order the baggage packed and sent to
the grenadiers. Colonel Rail replied " Fudge ! these country
clowns canrwt whip us ! " Nevertheless he reinforced the picket
on the Pennington road by a detachment under Lieutenant Wie-
derhold and ordered his men to remain awake during the night
at the alarm houses. Major von Dechow, who on December
26'*' should have gone out with the patrol two hours before day-
REPORT OF HESSIAN WAR COMMISSION 421
light, with two cannon and the required men, notwithstanding
the anxiety he had the day before expressed, neglected his duty
and the patrol did not march. Colonel Rail, on that morning
slept until half past seven o'clock and Lieutenant Wiederhold
and the picket had already at that time exchanged shots with the
enemy. Lieutenant Piel of the von Lossberg regiment, Adjutant
of the brigade, finding Colonel Rail asleep between five and six
o'clock and again at half past seven o'clock hesitated to wake
him and report the attack of the enemy. He went however to
the watch guard quarters and sent out a few men to aid the
pickets. On returning he saw Colonel Rail standing at the window
in his night clothes and to his question " What is the matter .■'
What is the matter.? " he replied " Do you not hear the firing ? "
Colonel Rail answered " I will be there immediately." In the
meantime Lieutenant Wiederhold had withdrawn his men on the
approach and constant firing of four battalions of the enemy,
which was followed by their whole force amounting to from five
to eight thousand men, and waited on the outskirts of the town
until the regiments should come out. During this time the enemy
gained the heights of the town with their cannon and howitzers.
Lieutenants Engelhardt and Fischer of the artillery fired their
field pieces at the enemy several tirnes but the loss of eight gun-
ners and five horses prevented the use of the cannon and the
officers were compelled to retire. After the loss of the cannon
Rail's regiment withdrew from their position in great confusion
and in disorder rushed through both the other regiments. Ensign
Kleinschmidt, Adjutant of the regiment, tried as much as possible
to restore order again. Colonel Rail then with his own and the
von Lossberg regiment attacked the town, already advantageously
occupied by the enemy. He directed Major von Dechow to
protect their flank with the von Knyphausen regiment. This
regiment was therefore obliged to separate itself from the others,
and to march with the Von Lossberg cannon to the bridge in
order to hold it, but one piece however was sunk in the morass.
So much time was lost in endeavoring to recover the cannon
from the swamp that before the regiments reached the bridge it
was occupied by the enemy. Colonel Rail was forced to give up
the town because the force of the enemy was so great. And in
the conflict he received a fatal wound and the command fell upon
Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer. He was anxious to break through
422 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the enemy and make his escape with the von Lossberg and the
Rail regiments, numbering then 483 effective men, but because of
the enemy's advantageous position, their dispositions, their strong
artillery fire, as well as the bad weather which apparently pre-
vented the guns from going off and rendered them useless, they
were compelled to surrender. Major von Dechow then with the
von Knyphausen regiment, numbering 276 men, wished to retreat
through the stream. But he received a severe wound and had
to give over his command to Captain von Biesenrodt. He was
then informed that the other two regiments had been taken pris-
oners and that he also with his regiment must surrender. Cap-
tain von Lowenstein, who brought this message to Captain von
Biesenrodt, failed to mention that in that neighborhood there
was a place in the creek where the water was only knee-deep.
Captain von Biesenrodt had no intention of surrendering, as
Major von Dechow advised, but resolved to retreat through the
woods. He found however this plan was defeated by the occu'
pation of the wood by the enemy, and he then had the creek
sounded and directed his regiment to march through it. He
ordered an officer and 40 men to cover their retreat, and placed
himself with the rear guard. But the accomplishment of this
design was thwarted by the strong advance of Lord Stirling's
brigade, their position having been discovered by the display of
a white handkerchief on a spontoon by Major von Dechow, and
he was forced then to capitulate. All this shows that Colonel
Rail and Major von Dechow in many respects acted culpably,
and laid the foundations for the ill fate of the brigade. All the
surviving officers should therefore be absolved from the penalty
passed upon them by the court-martial. The War Commission
finds these to be the facts in the case and agrees with it the more
readily, because the members of the court, by their accurate
knowledge of the localities and of the accompanying circum-
stances of the case, are in the best condition to judge of its
merits. But the War Commission is of the opinion that the refer-
ence to the publication of the sentence in the gazettes and the
gracious permission to carry the flags does not properly belong
to the penalty but rather belongs to the mercy of his Highness.
They also think a reprimand should be given on account of the
defects in the hearings; also that the Auditor should not have
WHY CADWALADER FAILED 423
allowed his own opinions to have been communicated to the
court-martial before the sentence had been announced.
And we ever remain in deepest reverence,
Your Serene Highness' humble, most obedient and faithful
servants
Bardeleben Schlieffen
Wakenitz Jungkenn
Wangermann Schramm
Cassel 1 5 April 1782.
No. 73. Colonel Cadwalader to General Washington.
Bristol 26 December 1776
Sir:
The river was so full of ice that it was impossible to pass
above Bristol, where I intended ; and therefore I concluded to
make an attempt at Dunk's Ferry. As soon as it was dark I
sent down all the boats I could muster and marched down about
eight o'clock. I embarked a few men to line the river and pre-
vent any person from escaping to give intelligence to the enemy :
and these were followed by a part of the first battalion of militia,
then two field-pieces, with which I went over to see if it was
practicable to land them ; and upon examination I found it was
impossible the ice being very thick. Upon reporting this to the
field-officers, they were all of opinion, that it would not be proper
to proceed without cannon. During this time the third battalion
was landed. We concluded to withdraw the troops that had
passed, but could not effect it till near four o'clock this morning.
The whole then were ordered to march for Bristol. I imagine
the badness of the night must have prevented you from passing
over as you intended. Our men turned out cheerfully. We had
about eighteen hundred rank and file, including artillery. It will
be impossible for the enemy to pass the river till the ice will
bear. Would it not be proper to attempt to cross below and
join General Putnam, who was to go over from Philadelphia
today, with five hundred men, which number, added to the four
hundred Jersey militia which Colonel Griffin left there, would
make a formidable body. This would cause a diversion, that
would favor any attempt you may design in future, and would
expose their baggage and stores, if they attempt to cross. It is
impossible, in our present situation, to cooperate with General
424 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Putnam. The militia will be easier kept together by being in
motion. We shall have some service from Colonel Hitchcock's
brigade, whose term of enlistment will be up in a few days. We
have procured a considerable number of shoes, stockings and
breeches for them. They are in good spirits and enlist very fast.
I am Sir, with great respect,
Your most obedient, humble servant
John Cadwalader.
No. 74. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop.
Sir :
I am honoured with yours by Captain Gamble. I am exceed-
ingly sorry for Colonel Rail and his Brigade.
I have informed General Grant of your being at AUentown
this day and told him that I had desired you would remain at
AUentown, untill you heard further. I have begged of him to
let me know his pleasure in regard to your motions without loss
of time. We are told the Rebels crossed over the river and
carried their Prisoners with them yesterday. I have about 50
Hessians of Rail's here and 3 officers.
I am with Respect, Sir, Your most obed't h'lle servant
A. Leslie
p. Town Dec. 27th 1776 4 afternoon.
No. 75. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop.
I.
Princetown, Saturday morning 2 o'clock.
Sir :
About 1400 of the Rebels landed at Trenton yesterday and
went to Pennington about 3 o'clock in the afternoon from thence
they intended for Rockyhill there to be met by the Jersey Troops
and they and another party were to attack the Troops here, in
consequence of this I must beg of you to march the Troops under
your command to this Place without Loss of time, which I shall
inform General Grant of.
I 've the honour to be Sir Your most obedt h'lle servant
A. Leslie.
To CoL. Donop.
BRITISH FEARS FOR PRINCETON 425
II.
Princetown 5 o'clock Saturday morning
Sir:
I sent off two Dragoons at 2 o'clock this morning to inform
you of two separate Bodies of the rebels intending to attack this
Place in consequence of which I beg you will march the Troops
under your command without Loss of Time to this Place. I
suppose you will order back the heavy Guns that are on the Road
from South Amboy to Burlington.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed't h'ble servant
Alex. Leslie.
No. 76. General Grant to Colonel von Donop.
Brunswick 28th Dec 1776.
Sir :
You will please to march the Troops under your command to
Princetown where the General has ordered me to station the
Hessian Grenadiers, Yagers and remains of Rail's Brigade.
You will please to inform General Leslie when you intend to
march and as nearly as you can judge about the hour you expect
to arrive at Princetown. I have desired him to send a Patrol of
the two Battalions of Light Infantry towards Trenton, when you
move as he is upon your arrival at Princetown to order a part of
his Corps to march to Kingston or Six Mile Run, the 2^^ Divi-
sion to march the day after which Colonel Sterling is to follow
with the 42"'^ Reg't.
I have ordered Kohlers Bat. of Hessian Grenadiers to march
tomorrow from Amboy, if no accident prevents their complying
with this order, they will be at Princetown the 30th.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed't servant
James Grant.
No. 77. General Grant to Colonel von Donop.
Brunswick 28th Dec 1776.
Sir:
You wished some time ago to be stationed at Princetown and
it is to be hoped you will find it agreeable Winterquarters. Your
Grenadiers and Yagers have been much fatigued. I am sorry to
hear you have so many sick and that my Friend Colonel Block is
426 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of the number. I flatter myself that under your care they will
all recover soon and have no doubt if they should make an
attempt on your cantonment that those Rebel Gentlemen would
have reason to repent it.
You will be kind enough to form Magazines for the subsistence
of the Troops under your command agreeable to the General's
Instruction at Trenton.
I have wrote to the General for a supply of ammunition for
your three pounders and the Troops. Powder and Ball shall be
sent and you will be so good as to order Cartridges to be made,
when you are furnished with the materials, in the mean time I
have desired General Leslie to let you have all he can spare
before he leaves you.
It is not in my Power to leave Colonel Sterling with you, but
I have ordered him not to march till Kohler's Reg't arrives at
Princetown, they are to disembark to-morrow morning at Araboy
and are to join you as soon as possible.
You shall have a State of our new Cantonments as soon as
fixed. I had the honour to receive your Letter by Mr. Henry,
who sets out in the morning and I am Sir,
Your most obed't servant
James Grant
No. 78. Colonel von Donop to General Grant.
Princeton 29th Dec. 1776
Sir :
This morning at six o'clock Lieutenant Henry brought your
reply to me of yesterday in which you seem to place much confi-
dence in me. I am very much obliged, my General, and I hope
that you will never be mistaken if the occasion presents itself.
This is what appears to be my actual situation and I confess to
you that I am somewhat embarrassed, finding myself alone after
the departure of Colonel Sterling. He was a reliable man and
one able to interpret for me. I am now obliged to guess the
meaning of your letters by the sense of the paragraphs, not being
able to understand your language fully. Thus I am obliged to
exercise much ingenuity in deciphering your orders. The same
thing happens to me when the country people come to me to
give me news of the movements of the army of Washington, who
in my opinion ought to be driven immediately to the other side
VON DONOP'S PERPLEXITIES 427
of the Delaware river. I do not believe at all that they have
more than 500 of our men as prisoners which number cannot
surely weaken our army. I acknowledge however that the shame
is none the less for our nation to have lost six cannon, with
fifteen banners and three regiments at one attack and this in a
section of the country greatly demoralized. Colonel Rail was to
have been buriefi with his Lievitenant Colonel -^ yesterday. I am
very well satisfied becavise they would have been compelled to
appear before a Court Martial, the former to explain his general
conduct and the latter why he did not go out in the morning with
Rail's patrol. You order me to make a store house here but I
do not find Captain Gamble who is I think with you, although I
have not given him permission to go away from here. I have
however found one of the Commissary's who has told me that it
was afterward arranged to have one of the Commissary's here.
The two six pounders which belong to the 42"^ Regiment please
give orders whether or not they are to remain with me. I desire
very much that General Leslie should march as 400 men slept
last night in the open air. You can imagine what must happen
to my men. All sick.
I am, with the greatest consideration Sir, your most h'lle serv't
DONOP.
No. 79. General Washington to Colonel Cadwalader.
Head Quarters, Newtown Deer. 27th 1776.
Dear Sir : I was just now favored with your two letters of the
25th and 26th instant, and regret much the cause that prevented
your passing the river : had it not been for this accident I am
persuaded our plans would have been accomplished to our utmost
wishes. The same obstacle hindered Genl. Ewing from giving
his aid and co-operating in the attack on Trenton. Could we
have had his force to have secured the pass over the bridges, the
whole of the enemy must have fallen into our hands ; but avail-
ing themselves of this circumstance, all that could, retreated
with the greatest precipitation without making the least opposi-
tion. Those that remained, drew up, but in such confusion and
disorder that they were incapable of making a successful resist-
ance. You have the number of officers &c below. The damage
we sustained was very inconsiderable, not more than a private or
1 Major von Dechow.
428 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
two killed, one or two wounded, and Captn. Washington of the
Third Virginia Regiment. I should have most certainly pursued
those that retreated had it not been for the distressed situation
of my Troops (about Three or four & twenty hundred in number)
who had experienced the greatest fatigue in breaking a passage
thro the ice, and all the severities of rain & storm. This with
the apprehension that we could receive no succours, and that the
difficulty of passing & repassing the River might become greater,
led us to conclude our return eligible. The officers & men who
were engaged in the enterprize behaved with great firmness,
perseverance, and bravery and such as did them the highest
honour.
I shall be extremely ready, and it is my earnest wish to pursue
every means that shall seem probable to distress the enemy and
to promise success on our part. If we could happily beat up the
rest of their Quarters, bordering on and near the River, it would
be attended with the most valuable consequences. I have called
a meeting of the General Officers to consult of what measures
shall be next pursued & would recommend that you & Genl.
Putnam should defer your intended operations till you hear from
me. Perhaps it may be judged prudent for us to pass here with
the force we have, if it is practicable, or if it is not that I may
come down to you & afford every assistance in my power. We
will try to concert a plan & upon such principles as shall appear
to promise success. Please to give me frequent information of
the state of the River, & whether it is to be passed in Boats or
whether the Ice will admit of a passage.
I am in haste, Dr Sir With much esteem Yr. most obedt. servt
Go. Washington
Prisoners.
1 Col. 2 Lieut. Cols. 3 Majors 4 Captains 8 Lieuts. 12 Ensigns
2 Surgeon's Mates, 92 Sergeants 20 Drummers 9 Musicians 25
Servants 740 Rank & file
Total 919, about 25 or 30 killed, 6 pieces of Brass Artillery, from
900 to 1000 stand arms &c
To Col. John Cadwalader.
WASHINGTON'S SECOND CROSSING 429
No. 80. General Washington to the Congress.
Newtown, 29 December 1776.
Sir:
I am just setting out to attempt a second passage over the
Delaware with the troops that were with me on the morning of
the 26"\ I am determined to effect it if possible : but know that
it will be attended with much fatigue and difficulty on account
of the ice, which will neither allow us to cross on foot, nor give
us an easy passage with boats. General Cadwalader crossed
from Bristol on the 27''% and, by his letter of yesterday, was at
Bordentown with about eighteen hundred men. In addition to
these General Mifflin sent over five hundred from Philadelphia
on Friday, three hundred yesterday evening from Burlington and
will follow today with seven or eight hundred more. I have
taken every precaution in my power for subsisting the troops and
shall, without loss of time, and as soon as circumstances will
admit of it, pursue the enemy in their retreat — try to beat up
more of their quarters — and in a word adopt in every instance
such measures as the exigency of our affairs requires, and our
situation will justify.
Had it not been for the unhappy failure of Generals Ewing
and Cadwalader in their attempt to pass, on the night of the 25''',
— and if the several concerted attacks could have been made —
I have no doubt that our views would have succeeded to our
warmest expectations. What was done occasioned the enemy to
leave their several posts on the Delaware with great precipita-
tion. The peculiar distresses to which the troops, who were with
me, were reduced by the severities of cold, rain, snow, and storm
— the charge of the prisoners they had taken, and another reason
that might be mentioned,' and the little prospect of receiving
succors on account of the season and situation of the river —
would not authorize a further pursuit at that time. Since trans-
mitting the list of prisoners, a few more have been discovered and
taken in Trenton : — among 'em a lieutenant-colonel and a deputy
adjutant general, — the whole amounting to about a thousand.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obe-
dient servant.
Go. Washington.
430 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
P. S. I am under great apprehension about obtaining proper
supplies of provisions for tlie Troops. 1 fear it will be extremely
difificult, if not impracticable, as the Enemy, from every account
has taken and collected every thing they could find.
No. 8 1. British Forces in New Jersey.
The British and Auxiliary Troops in New Jersey, stationed
from Elizabeth Town to Maidenhead, may be given as follows : —
Queen's Rangers ; First, Second, Third and Fourth Battalions
Light Infantry, British ; First and Second Battalions Grenadiers,
British ; First Regiment Waldeckers, Hessian ; Battalion von
Linsingen, Hessian ; Battalion von Minnigerode, Hessian ; Bat-
talion von Block, Hessian ; Hessian battalion — the escaped
men of Rail's brigade ; Detachment Chasseurs, British ; Detach-
ment Yagers, Hessian ; Detachment Royal Artillery, British —
principally from First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth
Companies of Fourth Battalion ; Sixteenth Regiment Light Dra-
goons, British, Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable William Har-
court, commanding ; Seventeenth Regiment Light Dragoons,
British, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Birch, commanding.
Also the following Brigades of British Foot: —
First Brigade. Major General Robertson's command, which in
his absence was in charge of Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable
Henry Monckton, as senior officer ; Fourth Regiment, or " King's
Own," Major James Ogelvie, commanding ; Twenty-seventh
Regiment or Inniskilling's, Major Henry Couran, commanding-
Forty-fifth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable Henry
Monckton, commanding.
Second Brigade. Brigadier General Alexander Leslie, com-
manding; Fifth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel William Walcott,
commanding; Twent3'-eighth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Rob-
ert Prescott, commanding; Thirty-fifth Regiment, Lieutenant
Colonel James Cockburne, commanding ; Forty-ninth Regiment,
Major Thomas Dilkes, commanding.
Fourth Brigade. Major General Grant's command, but in
charge of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood ; Seventeenth
Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood, commanding;
Fortieth Regiment, Major Samuel Bradstreet, commanding, in
the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave ; Fifty-fifth
Regiment, Major Cornelius Cuyler, commanding.
READY FOR THE NEW MOVEMENT 431
Sixth Brigade. Major General James Agnew commanding;
Twenty-third Regiment, or Royal Welsh Fuzileers, Lieutenant
Colonel Benjamin Bernard, commanding; Forty-sixth Regiment,
Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Markham, commanding.
Two other temporary brigades had been formed. One under
command of Lieutenant Colonel Sterling, as senior officer, was
composed of :
Forty-second Regiment or Royal Highland Watch, Lieutenant
Colonel Thomas Sterling, commanding ; Seventy-first or Scotch
Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, commanding.
The other temporary brigade under command of Brigadier
General Mathew consisted of :
First Battalion of British Guards, Second Battalion of British
Guards.
No. 82. General Mifflin's Orders.
General Mifflin issued these orders on the last day of the year
1776, and the first day of the year following : —
BRIGADE ORDERS.
BoRDENTOWN, December 31, 1776.
The General returns his most hearty thanks to the brigade for
the Alertness shown by them on the Alarm last Evening. Such
Conduct does them Honour and gives their Commanding Officer
the best expectations of success. He recommends to all officers
of the Brigade to hold their respective Corps in complete order
for Marching at a minute's warning for which purpose they must
prevent their Men from strolling too far from their quarters. A
party of 200 Men goes out this day to harrass the Enemy,
commanded by Majors Mifflin ^ and Hubley.^ The commanding
officer to call at Head Quarters in this town for orders. Every
Man in the brigade must always keep by him dressed Provisions
for three Days. This Order must not be neglected as the least
Deviation from it may ruin the best concerted Plans.
1 Major John Mifflin of Colonel Magaw's Fifth Pennsylvania battal-
ion. He was evidently in this campaign acting as brigade-major to
General Mifflin, an office he held prior to September, 1776.
^ Major Adam Hubley, Tenth Pennsylvania Continental regiment,
then being organized.
432 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
BRIGADE ORDERS.
BoRDENTOWN, January ist 1777
His Excellency Gen. Washington having last night, by Express,
ordered the Brigade to be held in readiness to march in the
Night, or early this morning, at a minute's notice. The Com-
manding Officer, in obedience to orders, directed the Brigade to
be paraded at two o'clock, but was surprised to find very little
Attention paid to the Drums. Had the enemy advanced towards
this Town at that time, the Army here might have been, to their
eternal Disgrace and the Ruin of their Country, made Prisoners
of War. In fu^ture when the Brigade is ordered to be assembled
by Night or by Day, the long roll will be beat : upon which signal
every Ofiicer and Soldier must turn out with the greatest alacrity
and form on their proper Ground in the Street. They are not to
wait for the Drums beating to Arms. The long roll is the proper
signal for turning out, and must be attended to, as much as beat-
ing to Arms.
Gen. Washington has detached a large Body of Men toward
the Enemy at Princeton, which in all probability will bring on a
General Action. The Brigadier General, therefore, exhorts all
his Officers and men, as they love their Country and wish to see
her secure and happy, to hold themselves in complete order to
march at a minute's warning. The reputation of the Brigade
depends on their Alacrity and Readiness to obey orders and to
turn out to face their Enemy.
Dr. Potts,' Surgeon General to the Brigade, requests the offi-
cers to make returns to him at Head Quarters in this Town of
their sick and wounded without the least Delay, as the men fre-
quently suffer much from the neglect of such returns. A Brigade
hospital will be established this Day to receive the sick &c.
In future the Guards and Picket are to be paraded near Head
Quarters at 10 o'clock in the Morning, that the Relief may take
Place time enough for those who are to be relieved to have their
Dinners at a seasonable hour.
Major Holland " is sent by his Excell'y Gen. Washington to
' Jonathan Potts of Pennsylvania, formerly surgeon for the troops
on the Canadian Expedition.
2 Captain Thomas Holland of the Delaware Continental regiment
died October 13, 1777, of wounds received at the battle of Germantown,
October 4, 1777.
THE NEW AMERICAN FORCE 433
assist in forming and arranging the Brigade, which consists of
many small Corps and of course requires a general Arrangement.
Unavoidable Difficulties and much Danger would arise from
having them in their present state. The officers and men are,
therefore, to pay great Attention to the Arrangement, to know
their Places, and to be able to form, when Occasion requires in
an instant. Good Order, Discipline and a Good Cause, are the
Surest Steps to victory and to Glory.
The new force then gathered in Burlington County between
Trenton and Bordentown consisted of :
Detachments from regiments of the Pennsylvania Continental
Line then organizing ; Second Regiment, Colonel John Philip De
Haas ; Tenth Regiment, Colonel James Penrose ; Eleventh Regi-
ment, Colonel Richard Humpton ; Twelfth Regiment, Colonel
William Cooke ; and also from the Philadelphia Rifle Battalion,
Colonel Timothy Matlock.
Detachments from the following organizations of Pennsylvania
Associators :
Lancaster County Battalions of Colonel Bartram Galbraith,
Colonel James Crawford, Colonel Timothy Green, Colonel
Thomas Porter, Colonel James Burd and Colonel George Ross ;
Bedford County Battalion of Colonel John Piper; Northumber-
land County Battalions of Colonel James Potter, a company of
Colonel Philip Cole's battalion and Captain John Lee's company
of Colonel Samuel Hunter's battalions ; Bucks County Battalion
of Colonel Arthur Erwin ; Cumberland County Battalion of Colo-
nel Joseph Armstrong ; Northampton County Battalions of Colo-
nel George Ta)'lor, Colonel Henry Geiger and Colonel Jacob
Stroud ; Detachment of New Castle County, Delaware Militia,
Major Thomas Duff, commanding ; a company of Kent County,
Delaware Militia, Captain Thomas Rodney, commanding ; Four
companies of Philadelphia Militia, Captain George Henry, senior
officer, commanding ; a detachment of Marines from the armed
boat Hancock, Captain William Shippen, commanding; a de-
tachment of Marines from Ship Montgomery, Captain William
Brown, commanding ; a detachment of Marines under command
of Major Samuel Nicholas ; a- detachment of Marines from the
brigantine Andrew Doria, Captain Isaac Craig, commanding ; a
detachment of sailors used to firing guns, under command of Cap-
tain Thomas Read of the Continental Navy.
434 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 83. General Cadwalader to General Washington.
Crosswicks, 31st December, 1776.
Sir :
A very intelligent young gentleman is returned just now from
Princetown he left there yesterday morning and got in about 12 or
I o'clock. He would have returned last night, but General Les-
ley who commands and Colonel Abercrombie would not suffer him
to go off. He made his escape this morning early, and informs me
that from the best information he could get, they were about five
thousand men, consisting of Hessians and British troops — about
the same number of each. I have made a rough draft of the
road from this place, the situation of the cannon and works begun
and those intended this morning. He thinks there are not so
many as they report. He conversed with some of the officers
and lodged last night with them. They inquired what were our
numbers. He mentioned about 16,000 from the best accounts.
They did not believe we had more than five or six thousand.
That many were forced into the service, and that they were de-
serting in great numbers every day. No sentries on the back or
east end of the town. They parade every morning an hour before
day and some nights lie on their arms. An attack has been ex-
pected for several nights past — the men are much fatigued and
until last night in want of provisions, when a very considerable
number of wagons arrived with provisions from Brunswick. All
the baggage is sent to Brunswick, where there are but few men.
This confirms the accounts I sent you last night. About fifty
light horse at Princeton, one half quartered at Scudder's mill,
the other on the west of the town. He inquired if there were
any troops on the road. They say there are more on this side
Brunswick. Some Hessians arrived yesterday (it is said) from
Brunswick. I suppose they were those that landed at South
Amboy as I cannot hear anything of them in this neighbourhood.
I received your last letter last night by express. Our spy was
near the party of chasseurs when they were taken and says an
assistant quarter master general or commissary was with them.
The enemy had heard it. Major Mifflin ^ is just setting off with
a party of two hundred from Cumberland. Major Nicholas of
^ Major John Mifflin, acting on the staff of General Mifflin.
REENLISTMENT OF THE TROOPS 435
the Marines '■ informs me that Ehsha Laurence,^ late sheriff of
Monmouth, is now collecting men at Monmouth Court House :
he has got together about seventy men. He has put twenty men
into prison for refusing to bear arms. The person who brings
the intelligence fled. Major Nicholas is desirous of going after
Laurence's party. I think it is not an object at this time ; and
have refused the application till I have your order.
I am, Sir, your most obedient, very humble servant
John Cadwalader.
Sir:
No. 84. General Washington to the Congress.
Trenton i January 1777.
On Monday morning I passed the Delaware myself : the whole
of our troops and artillery not till yesterday, owing to the ice,
which rendered their passage extremely difficult and fatiguing.
Since their arrival, we have been parading the regiments whose
time of service is now expired, in order to know what force we
should have to depend on and how to regulate our views accord-
ingly. After much persuasion, and the exertions of their officers,
half or a greater proportion of those from the eastward have con-
sented to stay six weeks on a bounty of ten dollars. I feel the
inconvenience of this advance, and I know the consequence which
will result from it : but what could be done ? Pennsylvania had
allowed the same to her militia : the troops felt their importance,
and would have their price. Indeed, as their aid is so essential
and not to be dispensed with, it is to be wondered at, that they
had not estimated it at a higher rate. I perceive that Congress,
apprehensive of this event, had made unlimited provision for it.
General Mifflin is at Bordentown with about eighteen hundred
men and General Cadwalader at Croswix's with about the same
number. We are now making our arrangements, and concerning
a plan of operations, which I shall attempt to execute as soon as
possible and which I hope will be attended with some success.
As to the number and situation of the enemy, I cannot obtain
certain intelligence ; but from the accounts most to be relied on,
^ Major Samuel Nicholas of Philadelphia.
2 Lieutenant-Colonel Elisha Laurence, First battalion, New Jersey
volunteers, loyalists.
436 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
they have collected the principal part of their force from Bruns-
wic and the neighbouring posts, at Princeton, where they are
throwing up some works. The number there is reported to be
from five to six thousand : and it is confidently said they have
sent the chief part of their baggage to Brunswic. It is added,
that General Howe landed at Amboy a day or two ago with a
thousand light troops, and is on his march from thence.
I have the honour to be, with due respect &c
Go. Washington.
P. S. I have not been able to procure returns of our force,
owing to our situation. I suppose that about two or three and
twenty hundred passed with me, which number is now reduced
to fifteen or sixteen hundred. No estimate of our force can be
formed from the number of regiments : many of them, by reason
of sickness, cannot turn out more than a hundred men.
No. 85. General Knox to his Wife.
Trenton 2d Jan. 1777.
We are collecting our force at this place, and shall give battle
to the enemy very soon. Our people have exerted great fortitude,
and stayed beyond the time of their enlistment, in high spirits,
but want rum and clothing. Will it give you satisfaction or plea-
sure in being informed that the Congress have created me a gen-
eral officer — a brigadier — with the entire command of the artil-
lery.' If so, I shall be happy. It was unsolicited on ray part,
though I cannot say unexpected. People are more lavish in their
praises of my poor endeavours than they deserve. All the merit
I can claim is industry. I wish to render my devoted country
every service in my power ; and the only alloy I have in my exer-
tions is, that it separates me from thee — the dearest object of
all my earthly happiness. May Heaven give us a speedy and
happy meeting. The attack of Trenton was a most horrid scene
to the poor inhabitants. War, my Lucy, is not a humane trade,
and the man who follows (it) as such will meet with his proper
demerits in another world.
GENERAL PUTNAM'S ADVICES 437
No. 86. Colonel Reed to General Putnam.
East side of Trenton Creek January 2d 1777,
twelve o'clock at night
Dear General Putnam ;
The enemy advanced upon us today. We came to the east
side of the river or creek, which runs through Trenton, when it
was resolved to make a forced march and attack the enemy in
Princeton. In order to do this with the greatest security our
baggage is sent off to Burlington. His Excellency begs you will
march immediately forward with all the force you can collect at
Crosswicks where you will find a very advantageous post : your
advanced party at AUentown. You will also send a good guard
for our baggage wherever it may be. Let us hear from you as
often as possible. We shall do the same by you.
Yours, J. Reed.
To Major-Gen ERAL Putnam, Mount Holly.
No. 87. General Putnam to .
II o'clock Philada 3rd Jany 1777
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to inform you that I have this Morning by
Captain Nicholson Advice of an Action yesterday at Trenton.
Gen' Howe advanced with his whole Strength (supposed 7000)
toward Trenton, & was met by Stirling's & Hand's Brigades a
small Distance from that Place. The action commenced at i
oClock P. M. & continued till Sunsett. Our two Brigades (who
opposed the British Army) retreated across a Bridge to the main
Body which were posted on this Side a Rivulet which divides the
Town. In this Situation my Author left the Armies last evening
— no considerable Loss was sustained on either Side. A Can-
nonade began about Sunrise this Morning & still continues. I
have ordered the Gallies & all the Boats which can be collected,
to move up the River immediately — I am dispatching about
1000 Militia which have come in from different Parts of this
State. It is needless to insist on the Necessity of forwarding
every Man that is inlisted. You must be equally sensible with
me that the fate of a Winter depends probably on the exertions
of a few Days
I have the Honour to be Gentlemen with the greatest
Esteem your most humi Serv't
Israel Putnam.
438 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 88. From the Journal of Captain Thomas Rodney.
(Original journal belonging to iWr. Caesar A. Rodney of Wilmington, Dela-
ware.)
January 3d 1777.
At two o'clock this morning, tlie ground having been frozen
firm by a keen N. West wind, secret orders were issued to each
department and the whole army was at once put in motion, but
no one knew what the Gen. meant to do. Some thought that
we were going to attack the enemy in the rear ; some that we
were going to Princeton : the latter proved to be right. We
went by a bye road on the right hand which made it about 16
miles. During this nocturnal march I with the Dover Company
and the Red Feather Company of Philadelphia Light Infantry
led the van of the army and Capt. Henry with the other three
companies of Philadelphia Light Infantry brought up the rear.
The van moved on all night in the most cool and determined
order, but on the march great confusion happened in the rear.
There was a cry that they were surrounded by the Hessians and
several corps of Militia broke and fled towards Bordentown, but
the rest of the column remained firm and pursued their march
without disorder, but those who were frightened and fled did not
recover from their panic until they reached Burlington. When
we had proceeded to within a mile and a half of Princeton and
the van had crossed Stony Brook, Gen. Washington ordered our
Infantry to file off to one side of the road and halt. Gen. Sulli-
van was ordered to wheel to the right and flank the town on that
side, and two Brigades were ordered to wheel to the left, to make
a circuit and surround the town on that side and as they went to
break down the Bridge and post a party at the mill on the main
road, to oppose the enemy's main army if they should pursue us
from Trenton. The third Division was composed of Gen. Mer-
cer's Brigade of Continental troops, about 300 men, and Cad-
walader's brigade of Philadelphia Militia to which brigade the
whole of our Light Infantry Regiment was again annexed. Mer-
cer's brigade marched in front and another corps of infantry
brought up the rear. My company flanked the whole brigade
on the right in an Indian file so that my men were very much
extended and distant from each other ; I marched in front and
was followed by Sarjeant M^Knatt and next to him was Nehe-
miah Tilton. Mercer's Brigade which was headed by Col. Haslet
FROM CAPTAIN RODNEY'S JOURNAL 439
of Delaware on foot and Gen. Mercer on horseback was to march
straight on to Princeton without turning to the right or left. It
so happened that two Regiments of British troops that were on
their march to Trenton to reinforce their army there, received
intelligence of the movements of the American Army (for the sun
rose as we passed over Stony Brook) and about a mile from
Princeton they turned off from the main road and posted them-
selves behind a long string of buildings and an orchard on the
straight road to Princeton. The two first Divisions of our army
therefore passed wide to the right and left, and leaving them
undiscovered went in to Princeton. Gen. Mercer's Brigade, owing
to some delay in arranging Cadwalader's men, had advanced
several hundred yards ahead and never discovered the enemy
until he was turning the buildings they were posted behind, and
then they were not more than fifty yards off. He immediately
formed his men, with great courage, and poured a heavy fire in
upon the enemy. But they being greatly superior in number
returned the fire and charged bayonets, and their onset was so
fierce that Gen. Mercer fell mortally wounded and many of his
officers \yere killed, and the brigades being effectually broken
up, began a disorderly flight. Col. Haslet retired some small
distance behind the buildings and endeavored to rally them, but
receiving a bullet through his head, dropt dead on the spot and
the whole brigade fled in confusion. At this instant Gen. Cad-
walader's Philadelphia Brigade came up and the enemy checked
by their appearance took post behind a fence and a ditch in front
of the buildings before mentioned, and so extended themselves
that every man could load and fire incessantly; the fence stood
on low ground between two hills ; on the hill behind the British
line they had eight pieces of artillery which played incessantly
with round and grape shot on our brigade, and the fire was
extremely hot. Yet Gen. Cadwalader led up the head of the
column with the greatest bravery to within 50 yards of the
enemy, but this was rashly done, for he was obliged to recoil ;
and leaving one piece of his artillery, he fell back about 40 yards
and endeavoured to form the brigade, and some companies did,
form and gave a few vollies, but the fire of the enemy was so hot,
that, at the sight of the Regular troops running to the rear, the
militia gave way and the whole brigade broke and most of them
retired to a woods about 150 yards in the rear:. But two. pieces
440 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of artillery stood their ground and were served with great skill
and bravery. At this time a field officer was sent to order me to
take post on the left of the artillery, until the brigade should
form again, and, with the Philadelphia Infantry keep up a fire
from some stacks and buildings, and to assist the artillery in
preventing the enemy from advancing. We now crossed the
enemy's fire from right to Left and took position behind some
stacks just on the left of the artillery ; and about 30 of the Phila-
delphia Infantry were under cover of a house on our left and a
little in the rear. About 150 of my men came to this post, but I
could not keep them all there, for the enemies fire was dreadful
and three balls, for they were very thick, had grazed me : one
passed within my elbow nicking my great coat and carried away
the breech of Sarjeant M'^Knatts gun, he being close behind me,
another carried away the inside edge of one of my shoe soles,
another had nicked my hat and indeed they seemed as thick as
hail. From these stacks and buildings we, with the two pieces
of Artillery kept up a continuous fire on the enemy, and in all
probability it was this circumstance that prevented the enemy
from advancing, for they could not tell the number we had posted
behind these covers and were afraid to attempt passing them ;
but if they had known how few they were they might easily have
advanced while the two brigades were in confusion and routed
the whole body, for it was a long time before they could be reor-
ganized again, and indeed many, that were panic struck, ran
quite off. Gen. Washington having rallied both Gen. Mercer's
and Gen. Cadwalader's brigade, they moved forward and when
they came to where the Artillery stood began a very heavy platoon
fire on the march. This the enemy bore but a few minutes and
then threw down their arms and ran. We then pushed forwards
towards the town spreading over the fields and through the woods
to enclose the enemy and take prisoners. The fields were covered
with baggage, which the Gen. ordered to be taken care of. Our
whole force met at the Court House and took there about 200
prisoners and about 200 others pushed off and were pursued by
advanced parties who took about 50 more. In this engagement
we lost about 20 killed, the enemy about 100 men killed and lost
the field. This is a very pretty little town on the York road 12
miles from Trenton ; the houses are built of brick and are very
elegant especially the College which has 52 rooms in it; but the
THE AIMERICANS IN HIGH SPIRITS 441
whole town has been ravaged and ruined by the enemy. As soon
as the enemy's main army heard our cannon at Princeton (and
not 'til then) they discovered our manouvre and pushed after us
with all speed and we had not been above an hour in possession
of the town before the enemy's light horse and advanced parties
attacked our party at the bridge, but our people by a very heavy
fire kept the pass until our army left the town. Just as our army
began our march through Princetown with all their prisoners and
spoils the van of the British army we had left at Trenton came
in sight, and entered the town about an hour after we left it, but
made no stay and pushed on towards Brunswick for fear we
should get there before him, which was indeed the course our
General intended to pursue had he not been detained too long in
collecting the Baggage and Artillery which the enemy had left
behind him. Our army marched on to Kingston then wheeled
to the left and went down the Millstone, keeping that River on
our left ; the main body of the British followed, but kept on
through Kingston to Brunswick ; but one division or a strong
party of horse took the road on the left of the Millstone and
arrived on the hill, at the bridge on that road just as the van of
the American Army arrived on the opposite side. I was again
commanding the van of our army, and General Washington see-
ing the enemy, rode forward and ordered me to halt and take
down a number of carpenters which he had ordered forward and
break up the bridge, which was done and the enemy were obliged
to return. We then marched on to a little village called Stone
Brook or Summerset Court House about 15 miles from Princeton
where we arrived just at dusk. About an hour before we arrived
here 150 of the enemy from Princeton and 50 which were stationed
in this town went off with 20 wagons laden with Clothing and
Linen, and 400 of the Jersey militia who surrounded them were
afraid to fire on them and let them go off unmolested and there
were no troops in our army fresh enough to pursue them, or the
whole might have been taken in a few hours. Our army now
was extremely fatigued not having had refreshment since yesterday
morning, and our baggage had all been sent away the morning
of the action at Trenton : yet they are in good health and in high
spirits.
442 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
MoRRiSTOWN January 6th 1777
We left Pluckemin this morning and arrived at Morristown just
before sunset. The order of march, was first a small advance
guard, next the officers who were prisoners, next my Light Infantry
Regiment, in columns of four deep ; next the prisoners flanked
by the riflemen, next the head of the main column, with the Artil-
lery in front. Our whole Light Infantry are quartered in a very
large house belonging to Col. Ford having 4 Rooms on a floor
and Two stories high. This town is. situated among the moun-
tains of Morris County, about 18 miles from Elizabethtown, 28
from Brunswick and 20 from Carroll's Ferry.
No. 8g. Private Lardner to Captain Smith.
Dear Sir
I thank you for the papers you sent me relating to the first
Troop. The journal of Col. Reed Adjutant Gen' of the Army, I
read with peculiar interest, it is a valuable state paper.
A document coming from one so intimately acquainted with
all the events of the day, will always be interesting, tho' but for
the short period of 7 days. I am forceably struck, however inac-
curacies creep into history. Marshal in relating the account of
the attack at Trenton & the retreat to Princeton, takes one fact
on the credit of the British account. Viz., that the army " took a
circuitous rout thro' Allentown to Princeton". This would have
been impossible, being more than double the distance of that
taken by Washington by Quaker bridge. Instead of 6 or 7 hours
it would have taken nearly the whole of the next day & exhausted
the troops. In the B. History of the War, published in London
1780 p. 387 it says "They marched with such expedition towards
Princeton, that tho' they took a circuit by Allentown, partly to
avoid the Brigade which lay at Maidenhead" &c
On the evening of i Jany 1777 a party of the Troop George
Campbell, James Caldwell, myself & I think another, were posted
as a patrole on this very road. We remained on it the whole
night, occasionally going as high as Quaker bridge. We found
that the Enemy had no patroles there, and that apparently they
had no knowledge of it. Along this road Washington led his
army the following night, on the memorable retreat, Sz: with which
he must have been made acquainted or the patroles would nof
have been placed there.
WASHINGTON'S "OWN MANOEUVRE" 443
From my own knowledge I have the best reason to doubt
Gen'l Wilkinson's statement, where he says Vol. I. 140 — "Gen'I
St Clair had been charged with the guard of the fords of the
Assampink & in the course of the day (2'' Jani'y) whilst examin-
ing the ground to the right, he had fallen on the Quaker bridge."
I am a living witness it was familiar to others some time before.
But Wilkinson in another place observes, that the practicability
of the rout was well understood by Colonel Reed the Adjutant
Genl. — Surely it was.
I well remember the circumstance of the Council sitting near
to where the Troop was station'd, on the evening of the 2'^ Janry,
and to have heard it confidently mentioned the next day &
repeatedly afterwards as the universal sentiment — that the
thought of the movement that night originated entirely with
Washington — solely his own manoeuvre.
I now give a list from my best recollection, of the gentlemen
who served in that campaign. Mr. Nesbitt was not then a mem-
ber, tho' with the army as an officer in a City Corps, he joined
us immediately upon our getting home. Mr. Howell was not one
of the first members — he came in about i Decem 1776. Mr.
Peters was not an original member, we had all been of the Green
light Infantry the year before.
List according to (nearly) seniority of age or standing
1 Samuel Morris Captain 12 John'Dunlap
2 Levi Hollingsworth 13 James Hunter
3 George Campbell 14 Thomas Leiper
4 Blair M'^Clenachan 15 Thomas Leaming
5 Samuel Caldwell 16 William Hall
6 John Mease 17 Jonathan Penrose
7 William Pollard 18 John Donaldson
8 James Caldwell 19 Thomas Peters
9 George Gruff (of Lancaster) 20 John Lardner
10 James Budden 21 Samuel Howell Jun.
11 William Tod
I am dear sir with much respect Your obedient Servant,
John Lardner.
Tacony, Near Philada July 31, 1824
Captain Smith.
444 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 90. Congressional News.
Congress has received the following intelligence from the army
at Pluckemin, in the State of New-Jersey, January 5, 1777.
On the second instant the enemy began to advance upon us
at Trenton ; and, after some skirmishing, the head of their
column reached that place about four o'clock, whilst their rear
was as far back as Maidenhead. They attempted to pass San-
pinck creek, which runs through Trenton, at different places, but
finding the fords guarded, they halted and kindled their fires.
We were drawn up on the south side of the creek. In this situa-
tion we remained till dark, cannonading the enemy, and receiving
the fire of their field pieces, which did but little damage.
At twelve o'clock, after renewing our fires and leaving guards
at the bridge in Trenton, and other passes on the same stream
above, we marched by a round about road to Princeton. We
found Princeton, about sunrise, with only three regiments, and
three troops of lighthorse in it, two of which were on their march
to Trenton. — These three regiments, especially the two first
made a gallant resistance ; and in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
must have lost five hundred men. Upwards of one hundred of
them were left dead on the field, and with those carried on by
the army, and such as were taken in the pursuit, and carried
across the Delaware, there are near three hundred prisoners,
fourteen of whom are officers — all British.
Colonels Haselet and Potter, Capt. Neal of the artillery, Capt.
Flemming, who commanded the first Virginia regiment and four
or five other valuable officers, with about twenty-five or thirty
privates, were slain in the field. Our whole loss cannot be ascer-
tained as many who were in pursuit of the enemy, whom they
chased three or four miles are not yet come in. We burnt the
enemy's hay and destroyed such other things as the occasion
would admit.
From the best intelligence we have been able to get the enemy
were so much alarmed at the apprehension of losing their stores,
at Brunswick, that they marched immediately thither from Tren-
ton, without halting, and got there before day.
The militia of the Jersies are taking spirit and we hear coming
in fast.
"DRUB'D AND OUTGENERALED" 445
No. 91. Doctor Potts to Owen Biddle.
(Dr. Jonathan Potts, a Surgeon in the American Army, to Owen Biddle of
Philadelphia.)
My D'r Friend :
Tho' the Ac'ct I send is a melancholy one (in one respect) yet
I have sent an Express, to give you the best Information I can
collect. Our Mutual Friend, Anthony Morris, died here in three
hours after he received his wounds on Friday morning. They
were three in number — one on his chin, one on the knee, and
the third and fatal one on the right temple, by a grape-shot.
Brave man ! he fought and died nobly, deserving a much better
fate. Gen. Mercer is dangerously ill, indeed, I have scarcely any
hopes of him, the Villains have stab'd him in five different Places.
The dead on our side of this Place amount to sixteen, that of the
Enemy to twenty-three. They have retreated to Brunswick with
the greatest Precipitation, and from Accounts just come, the
Hero, Washington, is not far from them ! they have never been
so shamefully Drub'd and outgeneraled in every Respect. I
hourly expect to hear of their whole Army being cut to pieces, or
made Prisoners.
It pains me to inform you that on the morning of the Action I
was obliged to fly before, the Rascals, or fall into their hands,
and leave behind me my wounded Brethren ; would you believe
that the inhuman Monsters rob'd the General as he lay unable to
resist on the Bed, even to the taking of his Cravat from his
Neck, insulting him all the Time.
The number of Prisoners we have taken I cannot yet find out,
but they are numerous.
Should be glad to hear from you by the bearer ; is the Rein-
forcement march'd ?
I am, in haste, your most obedient humble Serv't
Jon'n Potts.
Dated at the Field of Action, near Princeton, Sunday Evening, Jan'y 5th
446 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
No. 92. General Cadwalader to Council of Safety.
Pluckimin 5th Jan'y 1777
Gentlemen —
Our Militia are in great Distress :
I have not time to inform you of our Successes — 300 prisoners
were taken at Princetown by the different Parties who pursued &
those taken in the Town — The Enemy have all left Brunswic
& I have no doubt will leave this State in a few days — . .
I am Genl with great Respect Your most obt Servt
John Cadwalader
Brig. Gen.
Directed To the Honble the Council of Safety Philada.
No. 93. Letter from an Officer of Distinction
(In General Washington's Army, dated Pluckemin January 5, 1777.)
I have been so much engaged with marches and counter-
marches that I have not had a moment to write. We left Cross-
wicks the first inst. about ten o'clock in the morning and arrived
a little after sunset at Trenton, through the worst roads that
were ever seen. About eleven o'clock we were alarmed by the
approach of the enemy. We only sent out a brigade to amuse
them, while we took post on the lower side of the creek, and back
in the woods. There was a pretty smart cannonade till dark,
when both sides ceased firing. The men ordered to keep their
posts and lie on their arms. A council of war was held and it
was determined to file off to the right, through the woods, and
by bye roads leaving the enemy on the left and attack Princeton
by daylight : about five hundred men, and two pieces of war can-
non were left to amuse the enemy.
Our whole army, with a great train of artillery, marched about
one, and you may suppose that we must form aivery long line of
march. We arrived one hour too late. About seven hundred
British troops were prepared to march, to join their main body,
part of which lay at Maidenhead. They saw our army about a
mile and a half distance, which made a very formidable appear-
ance. They returned to the town and made ready to receive us;
one division of their troops formed in front of a house on the
south side of the college and on the right hand of the road.
A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER'S ACCOUNT 447
Gen. Mercer's brigade filed off to the right, and was attacked by
the other division. The brigade did not fire till they advanced
within forty yards. The enemy received this brigade with charged
bayonets. Gen. Mercer was wounded (it is said by a ball fired)
but it is a fact he was afterwards wounded in the belly by a bayo-
net. Our brigade advanced through the skirts of a wood in front
of the enemy, posted on an eminence with two field pieces. Gen.
Greene ordered me to form as soon as we arrived on a hill about
two or three hundred yards distance. Our column was formed
from the right by divisions. About fifty light infantry of the
enemy posted themselves behind the fence, about an hundred
yards distance, And, on our left flank, I despatched Captain
Henry with a body of light infantry, about an hundred to flank
that party. But the first discharge from our field pieces on the
left, drove them up to the main body. I immediately rode in
front to the column, and ordered the second divisions to double
up, to the right, the third to the left and so on alternately. This
was done in the face of the enemy and under a shower of grape
shot. About half the first battalion was formed when they broke,
fell back upon the column, threw the whole into confusion. I
immediately rode round the left and formed a division, joined
one man after the other to it : but the fire was so hot that they
again broke. Some of the officers behaved very bravely, and
exerted themselves to the utmost. Gen. Washington came down
and exposed himself very much, but expostulated to no purpose.
I just then saw a considerable party of horse moving off to our
right, to take advantage of the confusion, but a discharge or two
from the cannon immediately dispersed them. I asked the Gen-
eral if it would not be proper to form about an hundred yards in
the rear. He desired me to try, which succeeded beyond my
expectation. I collected some of the brigade and some New
England men, and advanced obliquely to the right, passed a
fence, and marched up to the left of the enemy. Two small
parties were formed on the left, and advanced at the same time,
and bravely pushed up in the face of a heavy fire. The enemy
then left their station and inclined to the left, and gave us several
heavy fires, in which two were killed and several wounded. I
pressed my party forward, huzzaed, and cried out " They fly, the
day is our own " and it passed from right to left.
I fancy the enemy found it impossible to escape, as our troops
448 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
all began to rally and join in the pursuit. They all dropped
their packs and flew with the utmost precipitation, and we pur-
sued with great eagerness. The men were much fatigued for
want of rest, provisions, and with marching We followed about
two miles and then gave over. Many parties are yet out, and
have taken several prisoners. The town surrendered and about
sixty, including fourteen officers surrendered. We have taken in
the whole about three hundred, about thirty killed and fifty
wounded. I have no doubt but others will be brought in. We
lost about thirty killed and thirty wounded. We took three
pieces of brass artillery. The troops that lay at Maidenhead
returned about the same time we returned from the pursuit.
Horses could not be secured to carry off the artillery. Major
Proctor made an exchange : he left an iron three-pounder, and
brought a brass six-pounder. The enemy proceeded towards
Brunswick with the utmost expedition ! the British arrived there
at about day light and the Hessians at twelve yesterday. All
was in the greatest confusion and the British troops left town
last evening, and the whole this morning. We marched imme-
diately to Morristown, where we shall be ready to fall down on
Elizabethtown, Newark or Amboy. Gen M'Dougal is back of
Newark, where three Continental regiments, and Jersey militia,
altogether two thousand. Gen. Heath has crossed the North
River with three brigades. General Putnam is to come up with
all the troops he can muster.
No. 94. Colonel Lambert Cadwalader to Mrs. Samuel
Meredith.
Philadelphia Jany 7, 1777 —
My dear Peggy —
Our victorious little army under General Washington, after
having performed that signal service at Trenton, of which you
have heard, returned to this side of the river, but having received
intelligence of Johnny's ^ crossing near Bristol, the General
returned again to Trenton. He was there joined by Johnny's
and Mifflin's Brigades. Having heard that the enemy was mak-
ing towards him from Princeton, he sent off about 700 men to
meet and endeavor to drive them back — But the enemy proving
too numerous, our division retired into Trenton, and over the
' General John Cadwalader.
LETTER FROM GENERAL KNOX 449
bridge to the Mill-hill where the General in the meantime had
posted our main force. The enemy took possession of Trenton.
The General however kept up his camp fires and decamped
suddenly in the night. He took his march by a back road, got
into the Bordentown road, and forced his march to that place.
On his way thither he met with a body of British troops which
soon gave way. He then advanced rapidly to Princeton and
took quite a number of prisoners. Our loss is General Mercer
wounded, Col Haslitt and a Captain of Marines, with a few
privates killed.
After the encounter the General marched off for Somerset
Court House which is eight miles out of the road to Brunswick,
in order to join General Heath's Army from New England —
There is a report that this has been effected and that our army
has gone forward to Brunswick — General Howe cannot raise a
large array anywhere to make headway against us, so we expect
very great events in our favor. Our Army in the Jerseys must
amount altogether to nearly twelve thousand. I forgot to tell
you that we took five brass cannon in the late engagement. I
am in great hopes that the enemy will be cleared from the Jerseys
entirely.
A son of Warwick Coates is in town who saw Johnny, Mere-
dith, and Nixon, well at Princeton after the "action. Adieu in
haste
Your affectionate brother
Lambert Cadwalader
No. 95. General Knox to his Wife.
MoRRisTOWN, Jan. 7, 1777
My Dearest Love. —
I wrote to you from Trenton by a Mr. Furness, which I hope
you have received. I then informed you that we soon expected
another tussle. I was not out in my conjecture. About three
o'clock on the 2d of January, a column of the enemy attacked a
party of ours which was stationed about one mile above Trenton.
Our party was small, and did not make much resistance. The
enemy, who was Hessians, entered the town pell-mell, pretty
much in the same manner that we had driven them a few days
before. Nearly on the other side of Trenton, partly in the town,
runs a brook (the Assunpink), which in most places is not ford-
450 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
able, and over which through Trenton is a bridge. The ground
on the other side is much higher than on this, and may be said
to command Trenton completely. Here it was our army drew
up, with thirty or fourty pieces of artillery in front. The enemy
pushed our small party through the town with vigour, though not
with much loss. Their retreat over the bridge was thoroughly
secured by the artillery. After they had retired over the bridge,
the enemy advanced within reach of our cannon, who saluted
them_with great vociferation and some execution. This continued
till dark, when of course it ceased, except a few shells we now
and then chucked into town to prevent their enjoying their new
quarters securely. As I before mentioned, the creek was in our
front, our left on the Delaware, our right in a wood, parallel to
the creek. The situation was strong, to be sure : but hazardous
on this account, that had our right wing been defeated, the defeat
of the left would almost have been an inevitable consequence
and the whole thrown into confusion or pushed into the Dela-
ware, as it was impassable by boats. From these circumstances
the general thought it best to attack Princeton, twelve miles in
the rear of the enemy's grand army, and where they had the
17th, 40th and 55th regiments, with a number of draughts, alto-
gether perhaps twelve hundred men. Accordingly, about one
o'clock at night we began to march and make this most extra
manoeuvre. Our troops marched with great silence and order,
and arrived near Princeton a little after daybreak. We did not
surprise them as at Trenton ; for they were on their march down
to Trenton, on a road about a quarter of a mile distant from the
one in which we were. You may judge of their surprise when
they discovered such large columns marching up. They could
not possibly suppose it was our army, for that they took for
granted was cooped up near Trenton. They could not possibly
suppose it was their own army returning by a back road ; in
short, I believe they were as much astonished as if an army had
dropped perpendicularly upon them. However they had not
much time for consideration. We pushed a party to attack
them. This they repulsed with great spirit, and advanced upon
another column just then coming out of a wood, which they like-
wise put in some disorder ; but fresh troops coming up, and the
artillery beginning to play, they were after a smart resistance
totally put to the rout. The 17th regiment used their bayonets
THE ENEMY PANIC-STRICKEN 451
with too much severity upon a party they put to flight, but they
were paid for it in proportion, very few escaping. Near sixty
were killed on the spot, besides the wounded. We have taken
between three and four hundred prisoners, all British troops.
They must have lost in this affair nearly five hundred killed,
wounded and prisoners. We lost some gallant officers. Briga-
dier-General Mercer was wounded : he had three separate stabs
with a bayonet. A Lieutenant-Colonel Fleming was killed, and
Captain Neil of the artillery, an excellent officer. Mercer will
get better. The enemy took his parole after we left Princeton.
We took all their cannon, which consisted of two brass six-
pounders, a considerable quantity of military stores, blankets,
guns &c. They lost, among a number of other officers, a Captain
Leslie, a son of the Earl of Leven and nephew to General Leslie ;
him we brought off, and buried with the honours of war. After
we had been about two hours at Princeton, word was brought
that the enemy were advancing from Trenton. This they did, as
we have since been informed, in a most infernal sweat, — run-
ning, puffing, and blowing, and swearing at being so outwitted.
As we had other objects in view, to wit, breaking up their quar-
ters, we pursued our march to Somerset Court House, where
there were about thirteen hundred quartered, as we had been
informed. They, however, had marched off and joined the army
at Trenton. We at first intended to have made a forced march
to Brunswick ; but our men having been without either rest, rum
or provisions for two nights and days, were unequal to the task
of marching seventeen miles farther. If we could have secured
one thousand fresh men at Princeton to have pushed for Bruns-
wick, we should have struck one of the most brilliant strokes in
all history. However, the advantages are very great : already
they have collected the whole force, and drawn themselves to
one point, to wit, Brunswick. The enemy were within nineteen
miles of Philadelphia, they are now sixty miles. We have driven
them from almost the whole of West Jersey. The panick is still
kept up. We had a battle two days ago with a party of ours
and sixty Waldeckers, who were all killed or taken, in Monmouth
County in the lower part of the Jerseys. It is not our interest to
fight a general battle, nor can I think under all circumstances it
is the enemy's. They have sent their baggage to Staten Island
from the Jerseys, and we are very well informed they are doing
452 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the same from New York. Heath will have orders to march
there, and endeavour to storm it on that side. " There is a tide
in the affairs of men, which taken at the fiood leads on to vic-
tory." For my part, my Lucy, I look up to heaven and most
devoutly thank the great Governor of the Universe for producing
this turn in our affairs : and the sentiment I hope will so prevail
in the hearts of the people as to induce them to be a people
chosen of Heaven, not to give way to despair, but at all times
and under all circumstances never to despair of the Common-
wealth.
No. 96. Lord Stirling to S 1777 —
New Town Jany 7 — 1777 —
Sir — -
I shall send off to Philadelphia about 70 British prisoners,
tomorrow morning. Gen' Washington has upwards of 200 more
with him some more I understand are gone by Burlington ; I
have just received a letter from Gen^ Washington's Secretary he
says the loss of the Enemy at Princetown was at least 500 includ-
ing killed & prisoners a number of their wounded are scattered
in the farm houses so that very few of the three Regiments viz :
the 17"^, 40'^" & 55* & 60 dismounted light Horse made their
Escape ; It was the Generals design to have surprised Bruns-
wick : But the Enemy's main body pressed so close on his Rear
that he was obliged to abandon that design & file off to the left
at Kingston on the 5 th he was at Pluckimin about 16 mile to the
North West of Brunswick by possessing the Hills in that Country
he will be able to make the scituation of the Enemy very uneasy
in East Jersey I doubt not it will oblige them to abandon it.
With much respect & Esteem I am your most Humble Serv'
Stirling.
No. 97. American Officers Killed at Princeton.
Colonel John Haslet, commanding the regiment of Delaware
state troops, was an Irishman by birth. It appears that he was
educated for the ministry of the Presbyterian church, but after-
ward studied physic and practiced it for several years at his home
in Dover, Delaware. He was a zealous patriot and one of the
first men in the state in advocating independence. On the
AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED AT PRINCETON 453
recommendation of the Council of Safety of the " Three lower
Counties of Delaware " he was commissioned by the Continental
Congress January 19, 1776, as colonel of the first organization
raised in Delaware for the defense of the colonies. He was quite
tall, erect and athletic. He was beloved by his men, whom it
was his pride to have exceptionally well drilled and disciplined.
His regiment took a conspicuous part in the battles of Long
Island and White Plains. When Colonel Haslet was killed, an
order was found in his pocket directing him to return home to
recruit his regiment, which then numbered less than one hundred
men. This order he delayed complying with while the active
compaign was in progress and so he met his death. As has been
stated, he fell with a bullet in his head and died during the after-
noon of the fight. His remains were taken to Philadelphia and
buried with military honors in the old Presbyterian burial-ground,
January 25, 1777. On July 3, 1841, they were removed to the
graveyard of the Presbyterian Church at Dover, Delaware. The
Legislature of the State of Delaware by resolution on February
22, 1841, " remembering his virtues as a man, his merit as a citi-
zen and his services as a soldier caused a monumental stone in
testimony of their respect to be placed over his grave."
Captain Daniel Neil was first appointed captain-lieutenant of
the Eastern company of Artillery raised in the Colony of New
Jersey by order of the Provincial Congress February 13, 1776.
On the first of the following month Frederick Frelinghuysen of
Somerset County was commissioned captain of the battery,
but on May 9, 1776, Daniel Neil was promoted captain, and in
December the company became attached to Knox's brigade of
artillery on the Continental Establishment. He was personally
very brave and greatly beloved by his men. General Greene,
alluding in a letter to the efficiency and early death of this man
and referring to the grief of his widow in the camp at Morristown,
said it "melts the hearts of all."
Captain William Shippin was born about 1750. For several
years prior to the war he resided in Philadelphia and kept a
grocer's store on the south side of Market Street wharf. He
owned two vessels engaged in the coasting trade, but both of
them were captured by the enemy. In the Journal of the Conti-
nental Congress March 22, 1776, we find a notice of a petition
from " Thorowgood Smith and others setting forth that they
454 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
have procured a vessel and raised money to fit her out as a priva-
teer in order to cruise and guard the coast of Virginia and pray-
ing that a commission be granted to William Shippin to whom
they propose to give the command of said vessel and it was
resolved that a commission be granted to William Shippin as
captain of the above named vessel." In May, 1776, we find him
in command of a company of marines on board the armed boat
Hancock, Captain Thomas Moore, which vessel was attached to
the Delaware fleet of Commodore Seymour in the December
following. On the i6th of December, 1776, Margaret Morris
notes in her journal that " A Captain, a smart little fellow, named
Shippen " had been hunting for tories in Burlington. It is certain
that when General MifHin passed over the river with reinforce-
ments for General Washington's army Captain Shippin, filled
with patriotic ardor, joined him with a ship's party and some
marines, and so took part and received his death wound when the
Pennsylvania militia entered the fight at Princeton. He was
buried in the Friends' burial-ground on Stony Brook, but was
afterward disinterred and carried over the Delaware River at
Burlington at the same time as the body of General Mercer.
The Pennsylvania Evening Post of Saturday, January 18, 1777,
says: " Yesterday the remains of Captain William Shippin who
was killed at Princeton the third instant, gloriously fighting for
the liberty of his country were interred at St. Peters church-yard.
His funeral was attended by the Council of Safety, the members
of Assembly, officers of the Army, a troop of Virginia Light
Horse, and a great number of inhabitants. This brave and
unfortunate man was in his twenty-seventh year and has left a
widow and three young children to lament the death of an affec-
tionate husband and tender parent, his servants a kind master
and his neighbours a sincere and obliging friend." A half-pay
pension was granted his children after his death. In his will his
name is spelled Shippin, not Shippen, as it is usually written, and
he therefore could not have been of the family of William Ship-
pen, Senior, Member of the Continental Congress, nor of Dr.
William Shippen, Junior, Director General of the Hospitals of
the Armies of the United States.'-
Captain John Fleming was a very gallant officer, a member of
^ Letter of Dr. William Shippen in Pennsylvania Magazine,]3.rm3.ry,
1898, p. 497.
AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED AT PRINCETON 455
what has been for many years a distinguished family in Virginia
The field officers of his regiment, the First regiment Virginia
infantry, were not present for duty at the time of the battle, and
the command devolved on him. Captain Fleming was 'only
twenty-one years old, and was considered one of the bravest
young men in the army. The " Pennsylvania Evening Post " of
February i and the "Journal" of February 5 contained elegies
on his character " addressed to the Virginian youth."
Lieutenant Bartholomew Yeates belonged to the same regi-
ment, and was but eighteen years of age. He was said to be
possessed of great wealth. His father was a clergyman of the
Virginia church, the Rev. Robert Yeates of Gloucester County,
and his mother was Mary, daughter of Edward Randolph, the
youngest of seven sons of William Randolph, the founder of the
Virginia family of that name. His name is usually spelled
Yates, although in most Revolutionary papers another " e " is
inserted. In the battle he was shot in the breast, after which he
received thirteen bayonet wounds, besides being knocked on the
head with a musket after he fell. His dying affidavit of the
brutal conduct of British soldiers, made on January 9, 1777, was
forwarded by General Washington to General Howe. In the
" Pennsylvania Journal " of February 19, 1777, we find this tri-
bute to him, —
" But oh ! again my mangled Yeates appears,
Excites new vengeance and provokes fresh tears ;
Behold my wounds ! he says or seems to say
Remember Princeton on some future day ;
View well this body, pierced in every part,
And sure 't will fire the most unfeeling heart."
Ensign Anthony Morris, Jr., was an officer of the First bat-
talion Philadelphia Associators. He was born August 8, 1738,'
and was by trade a brewer. His great-grandfather of the same
name was mayor of Philadelphia in 1704. Ensign Morris re-
ceived three wounds, " one on the chin, one on the knee and the
third and fatal one on the right temple by a grape shot." ^ He
died in about three hours after he was wounded, and was first
buried in the Friends' burial-ground at Stony Brook, as we find by
an entry of January 14, 1777, in the diary of Margaret Morris of
^ Letter of Surgeon Jonathan Potts to Owen Biddle, Pennsylvania
Committee of Safety, from "Field of Action," January 5. — Pennsyl-
vania Magazine, January, 1896, p. 537, and see p. 445, ante.
456 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Burlington. The diary of Christopher Marshall of Philadelphia
states, under date of January 24, 1777 : " Last evening came from
the camp the light infantry of the First Battalion of City Militia :
Also were brought the remains of Ensign Anthony Morris, Jr.
who was killed at Princeton bravely supporting the Cause of
Liberty and Freedom : buried this afternoon in Friends burial
ground in a very heavy shower of rain and without military hon-
ours it being the request of his relations to the General that he
should be so interred."
Among the wounded officers we find Major William Bradford
of the Second battaUon of Philadelphia Associators, one of the
publishers of the " Pennsylvania Journal " in Philadelphia, and
the father of the Honorable William Bradford, the attorney-gen-
eral of the United States during the presidency of Washington.
General Washington reported Colonel Potter as among the
killed, and from that time to the present nearly every historian
has repeated the error. Colonel James Potter of the Second
regiment of Northumberland County militia, in his impetuous
dash after Colonel Mawhood's men, was so unfortunate as to be
slightly wounded and taken prisoner. Being reported " missing,''
Washington thought he had been killed. On his being exchanged
a few da3's after the battle, Colonel Potter engaged in a raid on
the enemy at Brunswick, January 19, 1777. He was promoted
brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia April 5, 1777, a major-
general May 23, 1782, and afterward attained a high position in
the councils of that Commonwealth.
No. 98. British Officers Killed at Princeton.
Captain Robert Mostyn entered the British service in the
Sixty-fifth regiment June 30, 1768, was made a lieutenant No-
vember 7, 1774, and a captain in the Fortieth regiment May 6,
1776. Judging from General Howe's return, hereafter referred
to, Captain Mostyn must have been on duty that day with the
Fifty-fifth regiment.
Captain John McPherson entered the army October 27, 1763,
was made a lieutenant in the Seventeenth regiment July 14, 1769,
and captain September 8, 1775. He was shot near the lungs by
a musket ball, and was carried, still living, into the village of
Princeton. Here he was found by the brave old General Putnam
BRITISH OFFICERS KILLED AT PRINCETON 457
when he took possession o£ that place several days after the fight.
Up to that time Captain McPherson, although suffering great
pain, had received little attention from the surgeon, but the gen-
eral provided medical attendance, and bestowed such kindness
upon his wounded foe that a great friendship sprung up between
the Scotchman and the American. It is related that when Cap-
tain McPherson rallied somewhat from the effect of the wound,
and asked that a British officer at Brunswick be allowed to see
him. General Putnam permitted the visitor to come in at night,
and manoeuvred his insignificant force many times past the room
where the wounded officer lay until he had succeeded in impress-
ing his British guest with the idea that he had several thousand
men in his command. Captain McPherson died in Princeton.
Captain the Hon. William Leslie of the Seventeenth regiment
was a son of the Scotch Earl of Levin, and a nephew of General
Alexander Leslie, who had been posted at Maidenhead. He was
a gallant officer, twenty-six years of age and greatly beloved by
his men. He entered the English army as an ensign of the
Forty-second regiment May 3, 1770, was made a lieutenant of
the Seventeenth regiment July 12, 1773, and captain, February
26, 1776. He was mortally wounded in the fight, and, when dis-
covered by General Washington as the latter passed over the
field after the battle, was properly cared for by Dr. Benjamin Rush
of Philadelphia, who was with Washington that day. Dr. Rush
attended to the wants of his wounded foe with more than ordi-
nary interest, in return, as he told General Washington, for some
obligation which he owed to Captain Leslie's father for many
kindnesses received at his hands when a student at the univer-
sity in Edinburgh. Captain Leslie was carried off with the army
on their march northward, and received every possible attention,
but he died the next morning near Pluckemin, and on the follow-
ing day, January 5, was interred with military honors in the vil-
lage cemetery at Pluckemin. General Leslie, when he heard of
the respect shown his nephew by the American officers, was
greatly affected, and, when the opportunity occurred, sent his
acknowledgments to General Washington by Lieutenant-Colonel
Fitzgerald of Washington's staff, who, some days after the bat-
tle of Princeton, entered the British lines under flag of truce.
Dr. Rush further showed his regard for the father of the young
officer by erecting a monument to Captain Leslie's memory in
4S8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
the old graveyard at Pluckemin. The following is the inscription
thereon : —
In Memory of the
Honble Captn Willm Leslie
of the 17th British Regiment
Son of the Earl of Leven
in Scotland
He fell Jany 3d 1777 Aged
26 Years at the battle of
Princeton
His friend Benjn Rush, M. D. of
Philadelphia
hath caused this Stone
to be erected as a mark
of his esteem for his WORTH
and of his respect
for his noble family
No. 99. British Casualties at Princeton.
General Howe's return of the killed, wounded and missing in
this engagement was as follows : —
Seventeenth Regiment — i Captain, 12 rank and file killed;
I Captain, i Lieutenant, i Ensign, 4 Sergeants, 46 rank and file
wounded ; i Sergeant, i Drummer, 33 rank and file missing.
Fortieth Regiment — i Lieutenant wounded ; i Ensign, 3 Ser-
geants, I Drummer, 88 rank and file missing.
Fifty-fifth Regiment — i Sergeant, 4 rank and file killed; i
Ensign, i Sergeant, 2 rank and file wounded ; i Captain, i Lieu-
tenant, I Ensign, i Sergeant, 2 Drummers, 66 rank and file miss-'
ing.
Total : I Captain, i Sergeant, 16 rank and file killed ; i Cap-
tain, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 5 Sergeants, 48 rank and file
wounded ; i Captain, i Lieutenant, 2 Ensigns, 5 Sergeants, 4
Drummers, 187 rank and file missing. — 276.
This official return omits the name of Second Lieutenant
Frederick Desaguliers, and nine enlisted men of the Royal regi-
ment of artillery, killed.
No. 100. General Howe's Congratulations.
Head Quarters, New York Jan. 8th 1777.
General Howe desires Lieut. Col. Mawhood will accept his
thanks for his Gallantry and good Conduct in the Attack made
upon the Enemy on the 3d Instant. He desires his thanks may
GENERAL MERCER 459
also be given to the Officers and Soldiers of the 17th Foot, to
part of the 55th Regiment and other Detachments on their march
who on that occasion supported the 17 th Regiment and Charged
the Enemy with Bayonets in the most Spirited manner.
The General desires his public Approbation may be signified
to Capt. Scott of the 17'h Foot, for his remarkable good conduct
in protecting and securing the Baggage of the 4th Brigade on the
above Occasion.
No. loi. Note on General Mercer.
The Continental Congress directed that his son should be
educated at the expense of the Government, and they also
ordered a monument to be erected to his memory at Fredericks-
burg, Virginia, with this inscription :
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
HUGH MERCER
BRIGADIER GENERAL OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES.
HE DIED ON THE I2TH OF JANUARY 1 777
OF THE WOUNDS HE RECEIVED ON THE THIRD OF THE
SAME MONTH, NEAR PRINCETON, IN NEW JERSEY
BRAVELY DEFENDING THE LIBERTIES
OF AMERICA.
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN TESTIMONY
OF HIS VIRTUES AND THEIR GRATITUDE HAVE CAUSED
THIS MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED.
At the time of his death General Mercer was about fifty-six
years of age. On his tombstone, erected by the Saint Andrew's
Society, we find a record of his life. He was a native of Aber-
deen in Scotland, an assistant surgeon in a Highland regiment
in Charles Edward's army on the disastrous battlefield of CuUo-
den, April i6, 1746 ; recipient of a medal from the Corporation
of Philadelphia for his courage in the assault against the Indian
settlement of Kittanning, on the Allegheny River, where he was
severely wounded ; the companion of Washington in the Army
of General Forbes at the reduction of Fort Duquesne ; a physician
of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a man distinguished for his skill
and learning, his gentleness and decision, his refinement and
humanity, his elevated honor and his devotion to the great cause
of civil and religious liberty. General Mercer was a Minute
Man in 1775, an organizer of Continental regiments in 1776 and
46o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Congress promoted him June 5, 1776, from a colonel of the Third
Virginia regiment to the rank of a general officer. A few
months afterward " he poured out his blood for a Generous Prin-
ciple." His patriotism is fully evinced in his remark in the
Virginia House of Burgesses when he offered his services for
the war, — " Hugh Mercer will serve his adopted country and the
cause of liberty in any rank or station to which he may be ap-
pointed."
No. 102. Washington's Report on Princeton.
(The following is General Washington's official report to Congress of the bat-
tle of Princeton.)
Pluckemin, 5 January 1777
Sir :
I have the honor to inform you, that, since the date of my last
from Trenton, I have removed with the army under my com-
mand to this place. The difficulty of crossing the Delaware, on
account of the ice, made our passage over it tedious, and gave
the enemy an opportunity of drawing in their several canton-
ments and assembling their whole force at Princeton. Their
large pickets advanced towards Trenton, — their great prepara-
tions and some intelligence I had received — added to their
knowledge, that the ist of January brought on a dissolution of
the best part of our army — gave- me the strongest reasons to
conclude that an attack upon us was meditating. Our situation
was most critical, and our force small. To remove immediately
was again destroying every dawn of hope, which had begun to
revive in the breasts of the Jersey militia : and to bring those
troops, who had first crossed the Delaware and were lying at
Crosswicks under General Cadwalader and those under General
Mifflin at Bordentown (amounting in the whole to about three
thousand six hundred) to Trenton, was to bring them to an
exposed place. One or the other, however, was unavoidable.
The latter was preferred and they were ordered to join us at
Trenton, which they did, by a night-march, on the i^' instant.
On the 2^, according to my expectation, the enemy began to
advance upon us ; and after some skirmishing, the head of their
column reached Trenton about four o'clock, whilst their rear was
as far back as Maidenhead. They attempted to pass Sanpink
Creek, which runs through Trenton, at different places : but,
WASHINGTON'S REPORT ON PRINCETON 461
finding the fords guarded, they halted and kindled their fires.
We were drawn up on the other side of the creek. In this situa-
tion we remained till dark, cannonading the enemy, and receiving
the fire of their field-pieces, which did us but little damage.
Having by this time discovered that the enemy were greatly
superior in number, and that their design was to surround us, I
ordered all our baggage to be removed silently to Burlington
soon after dark ; and at twelve o'clock after renewing our fires
and leaving guards at the bridge in Trenton and other passes on
the same stream above, marched by a roundabout road to Prince-
ton, where I knew they could not have much force left, and
might have stores. One thing I was certain of, — that it would
avoid the appearance of a retreat (which was of consequence, or
to run the hazard of the whole army being cut off) whilst we
might by a fortunate stroke withdraw General Howe from Tren-
ton and give some reputation to our arms. Happily we suc-
ceeded. We found Princeton about sunrise, with only three
regiments and three troops of light-horse in it, two of which were
on their march to Trenton. These three regiments, especially
the two first, made a gallant resistance, and, in killed, wounded,
and prisoners, must have lost five hundred men : upwards of one
hundred of them were left dead on the field ; and, with what I
have with me and what were taken in the pursuit and carried
across the Delaware, there are near three hundred prisoners,
fourteen of whom are officers, all British. This piece of good
fortune is counterbalanced by the loss of the brave and worthy
General Mercer, Colonels Haslet and Potter, Captain Neil of the
artillery. Captain Fleming, who commanded the first Virginia
regiment, and four or five other valuable officers, who, with about
twenty-five or thirty privates were slain in the field. Our whole
loss cannot be ascertained, as many, who were in pursuit of the
enemy (who were chased three or four miles) are not yet come
in. The rear of the enemy's army lying at Maidenhead, not
more than five or six miles from Princeton, was up with us before
our pursuit was over : but as I had the precaution to destroy the
bridge over Stony Brook, about half a mile from the field of
action, they were so long retarded there, as to give us time to
move off in good order for this place. We took two brass field
pieces : but for want of horses, could not bring them away. We
also took some blankets, shoes, and a few other trifling articles.
462 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
burned the hay, and destroyed such other things, as the shortness
of the time would admit of. My original plan, when I set out
from Trenton, was to have pushed on to Brunswic ; but the
harassed state of our troops, many of them having had no rest for
two nights and a day, and the danger of losing the advantage we
had gained by aiming at too much, induced me, by the advice of
my officers, to relinquish the attempt. But, in my judgment, six
or eight hundred fresh troops upon a forced march would have
destroyed all their stores and magazines, taken (as we have since
learned) their military chest, containing seventy thousand pounds,
and put an end to the war. The enemy, from the best intelli-
gence I have been able to get, were so much alarmed at the
apprehension of this, that they marched immediately to Brunswic
without halting, except at the bridges (for I also took up those
on Millstone, on the different routes to Brunswic) and got there
before day. From the best information I have received, General
Howe has left no men either at Trenton or Princeton. The
truth of this I am endeavouring to ascertain, that I may regulate
my movements accordingly. The militia are taking spirits, and,
I am told, are coming in fast from this State ; but I fear those
from Philadelphia will scarcely submit to the hardships of a
winter campaign much longer, especially as they very unluckily
sent their blankets with their baggage to Burlington. I must do
them the justice however to add, that they have undergone more
fatigue and hardship, than I expected militia, especially citizens,
would have done at this inclement season. I am just moving to
Morristown, where I shall endeavor to put them under the best
cover I can. Hitherto we have been without any ; and many
of our poor soldiers are quite barefoot, and ill clad in other
respects.
I have the honor to be, &c.
Go. Washington.
No. 103. General Washington to General Putnam.
Pluckemin 5 January 1777
Dear General :
Fortune has favored us in an attack on Princeton. General
Howe advanced upon Trenton, which we evacuated in the even-
ing of the 2d of this instant and drew up the troops on the south
side of Mill Creek and continued in that position until dark, then
WASHINGTON'S ALERTNESS 463
marched for Princeton, which we reached next morning by about
nine o'clock. There were three regiments quartered there of
British troops which we attacked and routed. The number of
the killed, wounded and taken prisoners amounts to about five or
six hundred. We lost several officers and about thirty privates.
General Mercer is badly wounded, if not mortally. After the
action we immediately marched for this place. I shall remove
from hence to Morristown there shall wait a few days and refresh
the troops, during which time I shall keep a strict watch upon
the enemy's motions. They appear to be panic-struck, and I am
in some hopes of driving them out of the Jerseys. It is thought
advisable for you to march the troops under your command to
Crosswicks and keep a strict watch upon the enemy in that quar-
ter. If the enemy continue at Brunswic, you must act with great
circumspection, lest you meet with a surprise. As we have made
two successful attacks upon the enemy by way of surprise, they
will be pointed with resentment and if there is any possibility of
retaliating, they will attempt it. You will give out your strength
to be twice as great as it is. Forward on all the baggage and
scattered troops belonging to this division of the army, as soon
as may be. You will keep as many spies out as you will see
proper. A number of horsemen, in the dress of the country,
must be constantly kept going backwards and forwards for this
purpose, and if you discover any motion of the enemy, which you
can depend upon, and which you think of consequence, let me
be informed thereof as soon as possible by express.
I am, dear General, yours &c
Go. Washington.
No. 104. Comments on the Battle of Princeton.
Major-General Greene wrote to Thomas Paine with much
enthusiasm and somewhat pardonable exaggeration : " The two
last actions at Trenton and Princeton have put a very different
face upon affairs. Within a fortnight past we have taken or
killed of Howe's army between two and three thousand men.
Our loss is trifling." He also wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke
of Rhode Island : " Ever since the Trenton affair we have had a
continual train of success. The Lord seems to have smote the
enemy with a panic. They are near three thousand weaker than
they were a month ago."
464 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
Alexander Hamilton said of this change of fortune : " After
escaping the grasp of a disciplined and victorious enemy, this
little band of patriots were seen skillfully avoiding an engage-
ment until they could contend with advantage and then by the
masterly enterprises of Trenton and Princeton, cutting them up
in detachments, rallying the scattered energies of the country,
infusing terror into the breasts of their invaders and changing
the whole tide and fortune of the war."
Sir Henry Clinton (incorrect as to the name of the creek and
route of the army, as well as slightly derogatory to the general-
ship of his comrade) said : " The two very judicious and officer
like movements of Lord Cornwallis against Tippoo in 1791 and
1792 proves what he himself thinks of his conduct in 1776. He
had driven Washington over the Assumption and the Delaware
was impassable : the Assumption no where but at its bridge, that
at Trenton. His Lordship held that at Aliens Town ; they held
the string too. His Lordship thinking that Washington would
wait for him till the next day, deceived by his fires &c into this
belief, neglects to patrole to Aliens Town — over which Wash-
ington's whole army and the last hope of America, escaped. I
am sure no Hessian Corporal would have been so imposed upon.
'T is a wonder Washington did not march to Brunswick."
Frederick the Great, referring to the events herein described,
declared that " the achievements of Washington and his little
band of compatriots between the 25th of December and the 4th
of January, a space of ten days, were the most brilliant of any
recorded in the annals of military achievements."
Lord Cornwallis himself, responding to a toast at the grand
dinner given at the headquarters of General Washington to the
ofificers of the British, French and American armies, the day
after the surrender of Yorktown, said : " And when the illustrious
part that your excellency has borne in this long and arduous con-
test becomes matter of history, fame will gather your brightest
laurels rather from the banks of the Delaware than from those of
the Chesapeake."
William Livingston, New Jersey's Revolutionary war governor,
to the General Assembly, January 24, 1777, wrote in his forcible
style : " So far from any essential benefit redounding to them
from their irruption into this state or their having made the least
advance toward subduing the continent of America, they are now
COMMENTS ON THE PRINCETON BATTLE 46J
obliged to shut themselves up in a small corner of a colony, over
which, but a few days ago they ridiculously arrogated utiiversal
empire. As their blunders, if possible, are equal to their cruelty,
I am persuaded that unless we are wanting to ourselves, we have
no reason to be dispirited in our righteous contest with a prince
and a people whom God Almighty, by thus infatuating seems
determined to destroy."
John Adams, the great statesman, in a letter dated Baltimore,
17th February, 1777, wrote to his wife his view of the conse-
quences of the British movements. " Howe, as you know my
opinion always was, will repent his mad march through the Jer-
seys. The people of that Commonwealth begin to raise their
spirits exceedingly and to be firmer than ever. They are actuated
by resentment now, and resentment coinciding with principle is
a very powerful motive."
The sentiments of the American people were well expressed in
the proceedings of the " Council of Safety of Pennsylvania,"
when they said : " When Washington turned on his pursuers at
Trenton and Princeton they expressed a hope that it might be in
his power to close the campaign with honour to himself and leave
General Howe in a situation which should afford him little reason
to boast."
In Botta's history we find this account of the situation of
affairs : " Thus by an army almost reduced to extremity, Philadel-
phia was saved, Pennsylvania protected, New Jersey nearly re-
covered and a victorious army laid under the necessity of quit-
ting all thought of actin^g offensively in order to defend itself."
. . . "Achievements so astonishing acquired an immense glory
for the captain-general of the United States. All nations shared
in the surprise of the Americans : all equally admired and ap-
plauded the prudence, the constancy and the noble intrepidity
of general Washington. An unanimous voice pronounced him
the saviour of his country ! all extolled him as equal to the most
celebrated commanders of antiquity : All proclaimed him the
Fabius of America. His name was in the mouth of all ! he was
celebrated by the pens of the most distinguished writers. The
most illustrious personages of Europe lavished upon him their
praises and their congratulations. The American general, there-
fore, wanted neither a cause full of grandeur to defend, nor occa-
466 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
sion for the acquisition of glory, nor genius to avail himself of it,
nor the renown due to his triumphs, nor an entire generation of
men perfectly well disposed to render him homage."
No. 105. Letter from the American Army.
(Letter from a gentleman of great worth in the American army to the printer
of tlie " Maryland Journal," dated near Princeton, January 7, 1777.) 1
On the 2d instant, intelligence was received by express that
the enemy's army was advancing from Princeton towards Tren-
ton, where the main body of our forces was then stationed. Two
brigades, under Gen. Stephen and Fermoy, had been detached
several hours before from the main body to Maidenhead, and
were ordered to skirmish with the enemy during their march and
retreat to Trenton, as occasion should require. A body of men
under command of Colonel Hand were also ordered to meet the
enemy, by which means their march was so much retarded as to
give ample time for our forces to form and prepare to give them
a warm reception upon their arrival. Two field pieces, planted
upon a hill at a small distance from the town, were managed with
great advantage, and did considerable execution for some time;
after which they were ordered to retire to the station occupied by
our forces on the south side of the bridge, over the little river
(the Assanpink), which divides the town into two parts, and opens
at right angles into the Delaware. In their way through the
town, the enemy suffered much by an incessant fire of musketry
from behind the houses and barns. The army had now arrived
at the northern side of the bridge, whilst our army was drawn up
in order of battle on the southern side. Our cannon played very
briskly from this eminence, and were returned as briskly by the
enemy. In a few minutes after the cannonade began, a very
heavy discharge of musketry ensued, and continued for ten or
fifteen minutes ; during this action a party of men were detached
from our right wing to secure a part of the river which it was
imagined, from the motions of the enemy, they intended to ford.
This detachment arrived at the pass very opportunely, and
effected their purpose. After this the enemy made a feeble and
unsupported attempt to pass the bridge, but this likewise proved
abortive. It was now near six o'clock in the evening, and night
coming on, closed the engagement.
^ Presumed to have been Dr. Rush.
LETTER DESCRIBING THE BATTLE 467
Our fires were built in due season, and were very numerous ;
and whilst the enemy were amused by these appearances, prepar-
ing for a general attack the next morning, our army marched at
about one o'clock in the morning from Trenton, on the south side
of the creek, to Princeton. When they arrived near the hill,
about one mile from Princeton, they found a body of the enemy
formed upon it and ready to receive them ; upon which a spirited
attack was made upon them, both with field pieces and musketry,
and after an obstinate resistance and loss of a considerable num-
ber of their men upon the field, those of them who could not
make their escape, surrendered prisoners of war. We immedi-
ately marched on to the centre of the town, and there took an-
other party of the enemy near the College. After tarrying a very
short time in town. Gen. Washington marched his army from
thence towards Rocky Hill, and they are now near Morristown,
in high spirits and in expectation of a junction with the rest of
our forces, sufficiently seasonable to make a general attack upon
the enemy and prevent at least a considerable part of them from
reaching their asylum in New York.
It is difficult to precisely ascertain the loss we have sustained
in the two engagements, but as near as I can judge I think we
have lost about forty men killed, and had near double the num-
ber wounded. In the list of the former are the brave Colonel
Hazlett, Captain Shippen and Captain Neal, who fell in the en-
gagement upon the hill near Princeton. Among the latter was
Brig. General Mercer, who received seven wounds in his body,
and two on his head, and was much bruised by the breach of a
musket. His life was yesterday almost despaired of, but this
morning I found him much relieved, and some of the most dan-
gerous complaints removed, so that I still have hopes of his recov-
ery, and of his being again restored to the arms of his grateful
country. He is now a prisoner upon parole.
The loss sustained by the enemy was much greater than ours,
as was easily discovered by viewing the dead upon the field after
the action. We have now one hundred of their wounded pris-
oners in the town which, together with those who surrendered
and were taken in small parties endeavoring to make their escape,
I think must amount to the number of 400, chiefly British troops.
Six brass cannon have fallen into our hands, a quantity of am-
munition and several wagons of baggage. A Capt. Leslie was
468 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
found among the dead of the enemy, and was this day buried
with the honors of war. A number of other officers were found
on the field, but they were not known and were buried with the
other dead. According to information from the inhabitants of
Princeton, the number which marched out of it to attack our
army amounted to 13,000 men, under command of Genl. Corn-
wallis. This body, as soon as they discovered they were out-
generaled by the march of Gen. Washington, being much cha-
grined at their disappointment (as it seems he intended to have
cut our army to pieces, crossed the Delaware and marched with-
out any further delay ,_ to Philadelphia,) rushed with the greatest
precipitation towards Princeton, where they arrived about an
hour after Gen. Washington had left, and imagining he would
endeavor to take Brunswick in the same manner, proceeded
briskly for that place. Our soldiers were much fatigued, the
greater part of them having been deprived of their rest the two
preceding nights, otherwise we might perhaps have possessed
ourselves of Brunswick. The enemy appear to be preparing to
decamp and retire to New York, so they are much disgusted with
their late treatment in New Jersey and have a great inclination to
rest themselves a little in some secure winter-quarters.
No. 106. Major Samuel Meredith to .
Morris Town, Jany. gth, 1777.
I have been so busy ever since I wrote you till this time, and,
indeed, there has been no opportunity till this day or two, that it
will plead my excuse. As I have not heard any disagreeable
news from Phila., I take it for granted that my dearest and little
ones are well, and if so, I shall be happy.
The Greatest stroke of Generalship that has been shown in this
war was exhibited by General Washington in our march from
Trenton to Prince Town. It entirely disconcerted the progress
of the enemy, who knew nothing of our march till the firing hap-
pened at Prince Town between them and us, for we went a back
road all the way. What was done there you have heard I don't
doubt, with a good deal of exaggeration. It was, however, a very
capital stroke, for those who were not taken or killed retired with
utmost precipitation. Those from Trenton did so likewise. They
are now posted on this side of Brunswick, the landing Piscataway,
Amboy, &c. They retired from Elizabeth Town yesterday. The
ANOTHER ACCOUNT 469
militia of this County fell upon their Rear & took 90 or 100 of
them, (and killed some,) with a considerable quantity of Baggage.
Our Baggage, when we left Trenton, was all sent down to Bur-
lington, so that we have had no shift of clothes at all. But it is
expected in a few daj's. The person this letter is to go by
called just as I began, so that I have not an opportunity of say-
ing as much as I would. Do remember me to all the Family, &
believe that I am, with the greatest Love to you and the little
ones, your affectionate,
S. M.
No. 107. Letter from the British Army.
" Relation of the Engagement at Trenton and Princetown on Thursday and
Friday the 2nd & 3rd of Jan'ry 1777 by Mr Hood 3rd Battn."
About 12 oClock on Wednesday morning Orders came to them
to march from Crosswicks to Trenton — they arrived at Trenton
on Wednesday morning ^ ab't 9 oClock — in one hour after, the
Alarm Gun fired and all thee Battalion got under arms immedi-
ately — they were ordered to march over the Bridge & form a
Line with the whole Brigade Comman'd by Gen'l Cadwalader —
in about i h'r after they perceived the Enemy advancing and fir-
ing their artillery, on which they were ordered to take possession
of a wood up the Creek to prevent the Enemy from out flanking
— at this time the Enemy & two of our Brigades were engaged
beyond Trenton on the Princetown Road. Our People retreated
into Trenton. They on this returned back to the Bridge &
form'd in a line — with 3000 men & 2 field ps in the Main Street
— and 2. field p's secreted behind Mr. Wain's house opposite the
Mill — & some Rifle men in the Mill, & artillery all along the
Creek — after they were so station'd the Enemy advanced towards
the Bridge. While they were advancing, a Cannonade on both
sides commenced, & the Enemy threw a number of Shells which
did no execution and one Cannon Ball, passed through the 3d
Battalion & killed 2 men. — the Enemy advanced ab't half way
over the Bridge, when they were repulsed it is supposed with
considerable loss as a heavy fire was kept up both in front and
flank with the artillery and musquetry, for abt 12 minutes, the
firing ceased in the dusk of the evening — they were then ordered
to form a square round the Woods and to make up their fires &
1 This should read Thursday morning, January 2.
470 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
to lay on their Arms, — abt 12 oClock at Night they were ordered
under Arms — they were then ordered to lay down their arms &
return to their fires. — a little after One ordered to Arms again.
they united the several Brigades together & the Artillery ad-
vanced before them & the army followed, 'this was all done with
greatest Silence — they continued their March round the head of
the Mill Creek dam, & pass'd a Bridge and so continued their
rout to the Princetown Road & then cross'd it & pass'd into a
bye road & proceeded about i mile to the northward of Prince-
town — and continued this rout till day light when they saw
Princetown — and came through the Woods & field on the Back
of the town and perceived the Enemy ab' 700 on the rise of a Hill
ab' I of a Mile from the town, — a firing began by the Virginia
Brigade, and then it was supported by Gen'l Cadwaladers brigade
which was at first put in a little confusion, but rallied under the
Hill immediately. ■ — in the meantime a New England Brigade
advanced and the Rifle Men flanked the Enemy, and they broke
& run immediately upon W^i^ our people pursued them, advanced
to the Town, they fired one Shot into the College, when a man
waved his Hat, another Shot was fired & a flag was sent out &
they surrendered, to the number of 86 — afterwards a number
more was brought in to the ammo'' of 200 — in this action ab''
100 of the Enemy was killed & ab't 14 of ours. (We drove off
100 head of Cattle with the Army.) Gen'l Mercer advanced at
the Head of his Brigade between a Barn & a house near where
the Engagement began — his horse was shot under him & fell,
when the Gen was recovering from the fall the Enemy thrust a
Bayonet in his head, it is said he died of his wounds, and Cap-
tain Shippen shot through the head — this party of the Enemy
were entirely scattered & numbers of them were taken in small
parties. — at Princetown 5 Field p's taken one of w'"^*" spiked up,
several Baggage Waggons, and some ammunition & Stores —
they then halted at Princetown ab't i hour when they heard a
platoon fireing on the Princetown Road, they were order under
arms & to form, — Gen'l Miflin came to them & told them the
Enemy was a coming, to prepare for a Brush — they then
march'd to Kingston took to the left went up Mill Stone Creek
abt 3 Mile, the head of the Army halted there for the Rear — that
the informant went to a farmers to get some refreshments, fell
asleep and waked in the morning, the Army was gone — he heard
CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS 471
they were at Somerset Court house on Saturday morning and
that he intended to proceed to join Gen'l Heath ; that . . .
No. 108. From the New York Gazette and Weekly
Mercury.
(January 13, 1777.)
New York, 13 January 1777
Several Skirmishes between the King's Troops, and the Rebels
have lately happened in the Jersies. But the most distinguished
Rencounter occurred on the 3d Instant, near Princetown. The
17th Regiment, consisting of less than 300 Men fell in with the
Rebel-Army of between 5 and 6000, whom they attacked with all
the Ardor and Intrepidity of Britons They received the Fire of
the Rebels from behind a Fence, over which they immediately
leaped upon their Enemies, who presently turned to the right
about with such Precipitation as to leave their very Cannon
behind them. The Soldiers instantly turned their Cannon, and
fired at least 20 Rounds upon their Rear, and had they been
assisted with another Regiment or two, the Rebels would have
found it rather difficult to make good their Retreat. This has
been one of the most splendid Actions of the whole Campaign,
and has given a convincing Proof that British Valour has not
declined from its antient Glory. Of Col. Mawhood^ their gallant
Commander ; and of his Conduct in the Affair, too many Enco-
miums cannot be said. The Loss was about Twenty Killed and
Eighty wounded of the Troops. Of the Rebels above 400 were
killed and wounded. Among their Slain were eleven Officers.
Mr. Mercer^ (one of the wounded Rebel-Officers, since dead)
when he was taken up by our People, asked how many the Num-
bers were who had thus attacked him, and upon being told, he
cried out with astonishment ; " My God, is it possible ? I have
often hfeard of British Courage ; but never could have imagined
to find such an Instance as this ! "
Another Account says. That the 17th Regiment just before
they charged the Rebels, deliberately pulled off their Knapsacks,
and gave three Cheers, then broke through the Rebels, faced
about, attacked, and broke through them a second Time. Col.
Mawhood then said, it would be prudent, as they were so few, to
retire ; upon which the Men one and all cried out, " No, No ;
Let us attack them again ; " And it was with great Difficulty
472 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
their Colonel could induce them to retreat ; which at length they
performed in the utmost Order.
To the Honor of this brave Regiment, both as Soldiers and as
Men, not one of them has ever attempted to plunder, or encour-
age it in others.
In the several Skirmishes, the Rebels have lost above 700
Men.
By the nearest Calculation that can be formed, the Rebels, in
the Course of the last year, did not lose by Sickness and Battle
less than 25,000 Men. An immense Draught in a Country,
where the Price of Labor is so great, and the Hands so few.
It is said, that several of the Hessian officers, from a just
Sense of Honor, and Conviction of the Meanness of suffering a
soldier to plunder, are resolved to discourage it intirely. Per-
haps, the best Means of preventing it in future, would be to burn
all that the Soldiers have collected before their faces, and to
assure them they must expect the same Attention to real military
Discipline hereafter.
No. 109. General Greene to .
(Extract of a letter from Major-General G (Greene) to a gentleman in
Philadelphia, dated Morristown, January 9.)
Not a line have I received from you since you left us at New-
town — I am much obliged to you for the attention — Were I not
fully persuaded that you are anxious to know the success of our
late manauvres, I would not have wrote you a syllable this fort-
night. I almost think the author of the Crisis a prophet where
he says the Tories will curse the day that Howe arrived upon the
Delaware. I verily believe the observation is coming true. The
two late actions at Trenton and Princeton have put a very differ-
ent face upon affairs.
Within a fortnight past we have taken and killed of Howe's
army between two and three thousand men — Our loss is trifling
— we are daily picking up their parties — yesterday we took
seventy prisoners and thirty loads of baggage.
Great credit is due to the Philadelphia militia, their behaviour
at Trenton in the cannonade, and at Princeton was brave, firm
and manly ; they were broken at first in the action at Princeton,
and soon formed in the face of grapeshot, and pushed on with a
CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS 473
spirit that would do honor to veterans, besides which they have
borne a winter's campaign with a soldier like patience. General
Cadwallader is a brave and gallant officer.
No. no. From the Freeman's Journal.
(January 21, 1777.)
General Washington, finding it absolutely necessary to rouse
the spirits of the army, which have been sorely depressed by the
long series of disasters which have attended us for almost the
whole of the month, resolved to attempt surprising a considerable
body of Hessians, quartered at Trenton, consisting of about
nineteen hundred, and a detachment of British light horse. The
plan was as spiritedly executed as it was judiciously concerted,
and terminated in fully answering the warmest expectations of its
projectors. Yesterday morning, orders were given for a large
part of the army to have three day's provisions ready cooked,
and forty rounds a man, and to be ready to march by three
o'clock in the afternoon ; accordingly the farthest brigades
marched by two o'clock. About eleven o'clock at night it began
snowing, and continued so until daybreak, when a most violent
northeast storm came on, of snow, rain and hail together. Early,
the American army, which did not exceed twenty-four hundred
men, crossed the Delaware with several companies of artillery
and thirteen field-pieces, and formed in two divisions : one com-
manded by General Greene, the other by General Sullivan, and
the whole by General Washington. The attack began about
seven o'clock by the van-guard of Sullivan's division, who at-
tacked the Hessians' advanced guard, about a mile from the
town. These they soon drove, when the whole pushed with the
utmost vigor for the town, which they immediately entered. Gen-
eral Greene's division attacked the town on the other side at the
same time. The Hessians did as much as could be expected
from people so surprised, but the impetuosity of our men was
irresistible : fifteen minutes decided the action, and the enemy
threw down their arms and surrendered prisoners of war. They
consisted of three regiments of grenadiers and fusileers, and were
equal to any troops the Prince of Hesse could boast of. The
troop of British dragoons, without waiting to be charged, scam-
pered off -with the utmost expedition. Could the brigade under
Colonel Ewing have landed below the town, as was intended, the
474 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
light horse must inevitably have been taken, as well as a consid-
erable number of the Hessians who got off : but the violence of
the wind was such, and the quantity of the ice so great, that he
found it impossible to cross. Our success, though not complete,
was great. The men behaved with the utmost bravery. Finding
that their guns did not generally go off, owing to their having
been exposed to the snow and rain for six hours, they charged
bayonets, and, with three cheers, rushed like bloodhounds upon
the Hessians, who, astonished at their fury fled or threw down
their arms : and it was owing to the ardor of the attack that so
little blood was shed. The army returned the same day, and,
notwithstanding a continual pelting for twelve hours, of a most
violent rain, hail, and snow-storm, we had only two men frozen
to death. Luckily they found some hogsheads of rum at Tren-
ton, large draughts of which alone preserved the lives of many.
The soldiers behaved exceedingly well with respect to plundering,
considering they were animated by revenge for past insults, exas-
perated by the injuries done their messmates taken at Fort
Washington and animated by every incentive that could work
upon the license of a successful army. The general gave the
Hessians all their baggage and they have since gone to the west-
ern counties of Pennsylvania, with their packs unsearched. They
were amazed at the generosity of the general, so opposite to their
own conduct, and call him a very good rebel. The enemy who
lay at Bordentown soon had the alarm, which was communicated
to all the parties along the river, who, after remaining under
arms the whole day, in the evening marched off, leaving us to
take possession of Bordentown, Mount Holly and Burlington.
No. III. From the Pennsylvania Evening Post.
(January 21, 1777, signed "An American Whig." The part of the letter not
herein published is certainly in the style of Governor Livingston.)
The late success of General Washington, in the Jersies, must
afford the most heart felt pleasure to every American Whig.
It was but the other day that the British and foreign troops
made a rapid progress through that state, little or no opposition
having been made to them — scarce an enemy to be seen — the
remains of our little army being obliged to retreat before them,
and take shelter on this side the Delaware.
General Howe, in all that careless security which uninterrupted
CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS 475
success usually creates, cantons his army up and down the coun-
try in parties. Full of their own prowess, and entertaining a
contempt for their enemies, they thought of nothing but getting
rich in plunder, and are thrown entirely off their guard. Gen.
Washington, perceiving this favourable opportunity, on a sudden
resolves to take advantage of it. In one of those dark and
dismal nights, which the greatest masters in the art of war recom-
mend for an enterprize of this kind, he passes over the Delaware
with only twenty-four hundred men and quick as lightening falls
on the astonished and surprised enemy. He wins an almost
bloodless victory, takes one thousand of the enemy prisoners,
their baggage, cannon and colours — he afterwards returns —
meanwhile a general panic seizes the whole. General Washington
again lands on the other side ; and, having been joined by some
other troops, the enemy recollect themselves, and prepare for the
attack. He avoids it, and at midnight, decamping, marches
round about, and leaving the enemy behind him at Trenton,
comes upon a party by surprize at Princeton, routs them, takes
three hundred prisoners, and three pieces of brass ordnance.
This unlooked for manoeuvre perplexes and amazes those who
were left behind. They, hearing the battle, march on to Prince-
ton to succour their brethren, but all is over there. They pro-
ceed in all haste to Brunswick, whilst our army turns off to the
left, to meet a reinforcement, which will enable them to fall upon
the enemy, and force them out of all their territories in the Jersey
state.
They will now, I hope, be brought to confess that there is
either some little courage left among our troops, or that they
have lost their own. . . .
No. 112. From the Connecticut Journal.
(January 22, 1777.)
Immediately after the taking of the Hessians at Trenton, on
the 26"' ult, our army retreated over the Delaware and remained
there for several days and then returned and took possession of
Trenton, where they remained quiet until Thursday, the 2"^ inst. ;
at which time the enemy having collected a large force at Prince-
ton, marched down in a body of 4,000, or 5,000 to attack our
people at Trenton. Through Trenton there runs a small river
over which there is a small bridge. General Washington, aware
4/6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
of the enemy's approach, drew his army, (about equal to the
enemy) over that bridge, in order to have the advantage of the
said river and of the higher ground on the farther side. Not
long before sunset, the enemy marched into Trenton : and after
reconnoitering our situation, drew up in solid column in order to
force the aforesaid bridge, which they attempted to do with great
vigor at three several times and were as often broken by our
artillery and obliged to retreat and give over the attempt after
suffering great loss, supposed at least one hundred and fifty
killed. By this time night came on and General Washington
ordered fires to be kindled and every thing disposed of for the
night. But after all was quiet he ordered a silent retreat, drew
off his army to the right, marched all night in a round-about road
and next morning arrived with his army at Princeton. All this
was done without any knowledge of the enemy who in the morn-
ing were in the utmost confusion not knowing which way our
army had gone until the firing at Princeton gave them informa-
tion.
No. 113. Proclamation.
Proclamation by His Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and
Commander-in-Chief of all the forces of the United States of America.
Whereas several persons, inhabitants of the United States of
America influenced by inimical motives, intimidated by the
threats of the enemy, or deluded by a Proclamation, issued the
30th of November last, by Lord and General Howe, styled
the King's Commissioners for granting pardon &c (now at open
war and invading these States) have been so lost to the interest
and welfare of their country, as to repair to the enemy, sign a
declaration of fidelity and in some instances, have been com-
pelled to take oaths of allegiance and to engage not to take up
arms or encourage others so to do against the king of Great
Britain : And whereas it has become necessary to distinguish
between the friends of America and those of Great Britain, inhab-
itants of these States and that every man who receives a protec-
tion from and is a subject of any State (not being conscientiously
scrupulous against bearing arms) should stand ready to defend
the same against every hostile invasion : I do therefore, in behalf
of the United States, by virtue of the powers committed to me
by Congress, hereby strictly command and require every person,
having subscribed such declaration, taken such oaths accepted
PROCLAMATION BY WASHINGTON 477
protection and certificates from Lord and General Howe or any
person acting under their authority for them to repair to Head-
quarters or to the quarters of the nearest General officer of the
Continental Army or Militia (until further provision can be made
by the Civil Authorities) and there deliver up such protections,
certificates and passports and take the oath of allegiance to the
United States of America; Nevertheless hereby granting full
Liberty to all such as prefer the interest and protection of Great
Britain to the freedom and happiness of their country, forthwith
to withdraw themselves and families within the enemies lines;
and I do hereby declare that all and every person who may neg-
lect or refuse to comply with this order, within Thirty days from
the date thereof will be deemed adherents to the King of Great
Britain and tried as common enemies of the American States.
Given at Headquarters Morris Town January 25 1777
GO. Washington
By His Excellency's command
Robert H. Harrison
Secretary
No. 114. From George Inman's Narrative of the Ameri-
can Revolution.
The beginning of Novr. was at the Reduction of Fort Washing-
ton soon after crossed the North River to Fort Lee was also
reduced and proceeded through the Jerseys to Trenton, meeting
with little or no opposition, the beginning of Deer, we left Tren-
ton for our own Cantonments at Hillsborough and 2 Brigades of
Hessian Troops under Col. Rail, marched in to be Quartered
there, we Enjoy'd our Winter Quarters but a few days, when
Gen'l Washington having crossed the Delaware, came suddenly
on Rail's Brigades at Trenton the 24th Deer, and Captured,
Killed and dispersed the whole, the British Army was obliged to
quit their Quarters and assembled at Prince Town the Americans
still remaining at Trenton and daily receiving from their late
success large reinforcements. The Season of the Year being
severe, snow on the ground and for Nights having no other bed
than hard frozen Earth or Ice and no other covering than a cloak
oftentimes induced me to Reflect on past times when I used to
sleep in soft downy Beds and with every comfortable necessary
4/8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
around me, amongst them friends whom I left, and wch perhaps
if I had remained might still have enjoy' d.
The advance of the Army having proceeded to Trenton we
were ordered on the 3d January 1777 from Prince Town as an
Escort to Stores and at sunrise a large Body of the Enemy were
discovered on our left wch Col. Mawhood immediately determined
to attack, we having the 55th and a party of convalescents with a
few of the 17th Dragoons, the enemy proved too powerful for us,
the 55 th giving away and retired to Prince Town, where the 40th
Reg't were posted and both Reg'ts quitted that Town, retiring
before the Enemy to Brunswick ; we attacked their Centre Col-
umn and drove them to their main body, but, they rallying we
were obliged to retire, after making such an exertion as we were
able to proceed to our Army then lying at Maidenhead. We suf-
fered much out of 224 Rank and file that marked off the Parade
at 5 o'clock that Morning we sustained a Loss of loi Rank and
file. Killed and wounded and much the greater part of the first
fire received, I being the only Officer in the Right wing of the
Battalion that was not very much injured receiving only a Buck
shot through my Cross Belt wch just entered the Pit of my
Stomach and made me sick for the moment. We had a very
severe march that day and all the following night, passing over
the field of Action abt 4 o'Clock that afternoon through Prince
Town and with the whole Army to Brunswick where we got on
the 4th abt Nine in the Morning. After halting one day to re-
fresh ourselves we proceeded to Amboy where we remained the
Winter, but found it irksome and unpleasant Quarters, being out
almost every day, wch harrass'd the Garrison much.
No. 115. Sergeant Joseph White's Narration.
(Extract from " An narrative of events in the Revolutionary War, with an
account of the Battles of Trenton, Trenton Bridge and Princeton," by
Joseph White, who was an orderly sergeant in the regiment of artillery.)
On the afternoon of the 25th of December 1776, our whole
army after marching several miles up the river Delaware, in a
violent snow storm, crossed it, in order to attack a body of Hes-
sians, posted at Trenton, under the command of Col. Rhol, who
was killed in battle. At day light, their out guard, posted about
three or four miles off from their main body, turned out and gave
SERGEANT WHITE'S NARRATION 479
us a fire. Our advanced guard opened from right to left, we
gave them four or five cannisters of shot, following them to their
main body, and displayed our columns.
The 3d shot we fired broke the axletree of the piece — we stood
there some time idle, they firing upon us. Col. Knox rode up
and said. My brave lads, go up and take those two field pieces
sword in hand. There is a party going, you must go & join them.
Capt. A. said Sergeant W you heard- what the Col. said — you
must take the whole of those that belonged to that piece, and
join them. This party was commanded by Capt. Washington,
and Lieut. Munroe, our late President of the U. States, both of
which were wounded. The party inclined to the right. I hal-
lowed as loud as I could scream, to the men to run for their lives
right up to the pieces. I was the first that reach them. They
had all left it, except one man tending vent — run you dog, cried
I, holding my sword over his head, he looked up and saw it, then
run. We put in a cannister of shot (they had put in the cart-
ridge before they left it) and fired. The battle ceased.
I took a walk over the field of battle, and my blood chill'd to
see such horror and distress. . .
After staying in Pennsylvania from 26th of December 1775
(1776) to January 2d, 1777 our whole army crossed over to Tren-
ton again with about one half the number less than we had when
we retreated over the river Delaware.
The night before a large body of malitia joined our army, and
they were sent out to meet the enemy, and fight upon their retreat.
As soon as they had got over the bridge, we had all our cannon
placed before it, consisting of 18 or 19 pieces. The enemy came
on in solid columns : we let them come on some ways, then by a
signal given, we all fired together. The enemy retreated off the
bridge and formed again, and we were ready for them. Our
whole artillery was again discharged at them. They retreated
again and formed : they came on a third time. We loaded with
cannister shot, and let them come nearer. We fired all together
again, and such destruction it made, you cannot conceive. The
bridge looked red as blood, with their killed and wounded and
their red coats. The enemy beat a retreat, and it began to grow
dark.
We were dismissed for an hour or two, to pull down all the
48o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
fences we could find, to build fires with them — and get some
refreshment. The fires were made to deceive the enemy : to
make them suppose that we were there encamped.
About 9 or 10 o'clock orders came by whispering, (not a loud
word must be spoken) to form the line and march. We took such
a circuitous rout, we were all night marching from Trenton to
Princeton.
A little before we got in sight of the enemy, our whole army
halted.
We marched on a short distance, we see them all formed in a
line and ready to receive us. We marched forward so did they.
I ordered the limbers off and to man the drag ropes. They were
to the north of us, the sun shone upon them and their arms glis-
tened very bright, it seemed to strike an awe upon us. . . . We
then loaded with cannister shot, they made a terrible squeaking
noise. Both armies kept on marching towards one another, until
the infantry come to use the bayonets. Our company being on
the extreme left, had to face the enemy's right ; consisting of
grenadiers, highlanders & their best troops.
Our left line gave way — but before I moved, saw the second
come up, and Gen. Merser, who was killed, leading them. I
never saw men looked so furious as they did, when running by
us with their bayonets charged. The British lines were broken,
and our troops followed them so close, that they could not form
again. A party of them ran into the colleges, which is built of
stone. After firing some cannon they surrendered. The pris-
oners we took were about 500 men besides killed and wounded.
I have seen in a book, a few years ago, printed in Philadelphia,
said to be a return from the Adjutant General, that we lost 300
men killed and mortally wounded in the battle of Princeton.
The British supposed to be about the same number in killed
and wounded.
No. 116. Extract from the Journal of Lieutenant
Samuel Shaw of the Artillery.
You have without doubt heard of our success at Trenton.
Our army lay in the town two days. On the 3'^ day about noon
we were alarmed by the enemy advancing, and in about two
hours they came up from Princeton and drove our advanced
LIEUTENANT SHAW'S JOURNAL 481
guard into Trenton — Our people on this retreated from tlie
thickest of the town over a bridge and waited for the enemy to
approach ; but night coming on put a stop to anything further
being done at that time. In the mean while the General came to
a resolution of stealing a march upon the enemy and attacking
their troops which were left behind at Princeton, about eleven
miles by a back road. We began our march about midnight
which was performed with so much secrecy that the enemy knew
nothing of it till the next morning discovered that we were gone,
and the first news they had of us was our beating up their quar-
ters at Princeton. We killed, wounded and took about five hun-
dred of them at that place. This with our taking of the Hessians
has given our affairs quite a different turn so that the Militia are
embodying in all parts of the Jerseys and appear determined to
have satisfaction for the injuries they have sustained from the
enemy. I had the pleasure of being in both actions and can truly
say, I think it impossible for any troops to behave better than
ours did ; only at Princeton the militia who had never seen any
action were a little skittish at first, but after that they behaved
very well. We are under very little apprehension from the enemy
at present, as they seem very much panic-struck ; and in so great
haste were they to get to a place of security that they did not
stay long enough at Princeton to take care of their wounded.
The enemy have retired to Brunswick and Amboy where they
are so narrowly watched by our people that they cannot get the
least forrage without fighting for it.
While we lay at Trenton after crossing the Delaware a second
time when the enemy advanced from Princeton with a superior
force nearly double of ours. Our out-guards were repulsed and
the enemy entered one part of the town while we remained in
possession of the other. There was now only a small branch of
a River between us over which was a bridge ; this though well
secured would have been but of little advantage to us as the
stream was fordable in every part. Our army was drawn up in
order of battle, and waited the approach of the enemy ; but the
day being far spent put a stop to their making the attack that
night — Then my friend — was the most critical moment our
bleeding country ever beheld — The fate of this extensive Conti-
482 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
nent seemed suspended by a single thread and the Independence
of America hung on the issue of a general battle which seemed
inevitable — But happy for us happy for unborn millions, that we
had a General who knew how to take advantage and by a mas-
terly manuvre frustrated the designs of the enemy — This step
considered in its consequences proved the salvation of the coun-
try— The most sanguine among us could not flatter himself with
any hopes of victory had we waited till morning and been reduced
to the necessity of engaging a foe so vastly our superior both in
numbers and discipline and who could never have a chance of
fighting us on more advantageous terms — i
No. 117. From Aliion's Parliamentary Register.
(History of the Debates and Proceedings of the House of Commons, vol. xii.
P- 39I-)
In the course of the debate May 3, 1779, which reflected se-
verely on Lord North and especially on Lord George Germain,
the latter among other arguments for his own defense said :
If the general in the tide of success, which run so strongly in
his favor, had followed his advantages properly up, by crossing
the Delaware, and had possessed himself of the Province of Penn-
sylvania, which at that time would have been the consequence of
the possession of Philadelphia, he thought both now and then,
and he was well warranted and justified in assuring the House,
that we had a fair prospect of a successful campaign, and of the
happy termination of the war in the course of it. But all our
hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at Trenton.
No. 118. General Howe to Lord Germain.
(Extract of a letter from Sir William Howe to Lord George Germain, dated
New York, 20 January, 1777.)
It is with much concern, that I am to inform your Lordship,
the unfortunate and untimely defeat at Trenton, has thrown us
further back than was at first apprehended, from the great en-
couragement it has given to the rebels.
I do not now see a prospect of terminating the war, but by a
general action, and I am aware of the difficulties in our way to
obtain it, as the enemy moves with so much more celerity than
we possibly can.
A HESSIAN DIARY 483
No. iig. Lord Germain to H. M. Peace Commissioners.
(Lord Germain to His Majesty's Commissioners for restoring Peace, 3 March,
I777-)
The affair at Trenton happened, it is true, subsequent to the
date of your Letter. I trust, however, that the unexpected suc-
cess of the Rebels there will not so far elate them as to prevent
them from seeing the real horrors of their situation, and tempt
them to disdain to sue for pardon.
No. 120. Translation of a Hessian Diary
(Published in the Pennsylvania Evening Post, Saturday, July 26, 1777.)
December 13th, 1776.
We marched to Trenton and joined our two regiments of Rail
and Kniphausen, in order to take up a sort of winter quarters
here, which are wretched enough. This town consists of about
one hundred houses, of which many are mean and little, and it is
easy to conceive how ill it must accommodate three regiments.
The inhabitants, like those at Princeton, are almost all fled, so
that we occupy bare walls. The Delaware, which is here ex-
tremely rapid, and in general about two ells deep, separates us
and the rebels. We are obliged to be constantly on our guard,
and do very severe duty, though our people begin to grow ragged,
and our baggage is left at New-York. Notwithstanding we have
marched across this extremely fine provmce of New-Jersey, which
may justly be called the garden of America, yet it is by no means
freed from the enemy, and we are insecure both in flank and rear.
This brigade has incontestably suffered the most of any, and we
now lie at the advanced point, that as soon as the Delaware
freezes we may march over and attack Philadelphia, which is
about thirty miles distant. My friend Sheffer and myself lodge
in a fine house belonging to a merchant, and we have empty
rooms enough. Some of the servants of the inhabitants remain
here ; last evening I gave one a box on the ear for his sauciness ;
I bid him bring me a candle, and he replied, if I wanted candles,
I should have brought them with me. I was furnished with a
candle, but nothing else. Here is no wine, except Madeira at
three shillings and sixpence sterling a bottle. On the third in-
stant Capt. Weitershausen, of the grenadiers, was shot at Bruns-
wick bridge by a rebel, who had concealed himself under the
484 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON
bridge. The Capt. had wrote by the last packet to his wife, de-
siring her to follow him to America. On the 13th General Lee,
with two other officers, were taken prisoners by the English light-
horse, to the great damage of the rebels.
The i6th the rebels came over the river in boats, but effected
nothing.
The 18th seventy rebels came over the water, and we were
obliged to turn out. But they only carried off a family who
went willingly, with three cows and some furniture.
The 19th one of the English lighthorse was twice badly wounded
by a troop of rebels near Maidenhead.
The 2ist a horseman was shot dead.
The 23rd Count Donop wrote to us from Bordentown, desiring
us to be on our guard, for that he was certain of being attacked.
The 24th the enemy actually attacked our grenadiers last night,
but without success, two Highlanders and a grenadier were
wounded. We have not slept one night in peace since we came
to this place. The troops have lain on their arms every night,
but they can endure it no longer. We give ourselves more trou-
ble and uneasiness than is necessary. That men who will not
fight without some defense for them, who have neither coat, shoe
nor stocking, nor scarce anything else to cover their bodies, and
who for a long time past have not received one farthing of pay,
should dare to attack regular troops in the open country, which
they could not withstand when they were posted amongst rocks
and in the strongest intrenchments, is not to be supposed.
No. 121. From an English Book of Orders found at
Trenton.
His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief orders that all inhab-
itants that shall be found with arms, not having an officer with
them shall be immediately taken and hung up.
From another Book found at Princeton.
Head-Quarters, Trenton, December 12th 1776.
Small straggling parties not dressed like soldiers' and without
officers, not being admissible in war who presumes to molest or
fire upon soldiers or peaceable inhabitants of the country, will be
immediately hanged without trial as assassins.
CONTEMPORANEOUS DOCUMENTS 485
No. 122. Contemporaneous Documents.
Other contemporaneous documents and history which have a
direct bearing upon the retreat through the Jerseys, the conduct
of General Lee in this campaign, the surprise at Trenton, the
affair at Assunpink bridge, the battle of Princeton and the march
to Morristown may be found as follows : —
Letters of General Washington in Ford's Writings of George
Washington, vol. v. pp. 60-177, ^.nd in Sparks' Writings of
George Washington, vol. iv. pp. 197-287.
Letters to General Washington in Sparks' Correspondence of
the American Revolution, vol. i. pp. 309-323.
Force's American Archives, fifth series, vol. iii. pp. 1039-1619.
Pennsylvania Archives, first series, vol. v. pp. 84-177.
Pennsylvania Archives, second series, vol i. pp. 431-436.
Archives of the State of New Jersey, second series, vol. i.
pp. 240-279.
Ensign William Beatty's Journal, on file in the Maryland His-
torical Society at Baltimore.
Sergeant William Young's Diary, in Pennsylvania Magazine,
vol. viii. p. 255.
General Joseph Reed's Narrative, in Pennsylvania Magazine,
vol. viii. p. 391.
Thomas Paine's Letter to the Abbe Raynal, pp. 16-24.
Examination of Joseph Galloway before the British House of
Commons, pp. 14-44-
Letters to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War, by Joseph
Galloway, pp. 43-60.
Thacher's MiHtary Journal, pp. 79-87.
Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i. pp. 95-151-
Journal of Apollos Morris, in Sparks' Collection, Harvard Col-
lege Library.
John Howland's Narrative, in Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island,
pp. 304-313.
Ramsey's History of American Revolution, vol. 1. pp. 311-326.
Reed and Cadwalader pamphlets and all the pamphlets relat-
ing to the ' Reed Controversy " contain copies of original letters.
See p. 75, ante.
Diary of a French officer, in Magazine of American History,
May, 1880.
BOOKS EXAMINED AND AUTHORITIES USED IN
THE PREPARATION OF THIS WORK.
Adolphus' History of Great Britain.
Aitkin's Annals of the Reign of George III.
Allen's History of the American Revolution.
Almon's Remembrancer.
American Historical Record.
Amory's Life of General Sullivan.
Anderson's Life of Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson.
Andrews' History of the War with America.
Andrews' History of the Wars of England.
Annual Register, 1777.
Arnold's Rhode Island.
Balch's Papers relating chiefly to the Maryland line.
Bancroft's History of the United States.
Barnard's History of England.
Barnes' Centenary History.
Barry's History of Massachusetts.
Bartlett's History of the American Revolution.
Bartlett's Rhode Island and Providence Plantation Records.
Beatty, Ensign, Journal of.
Belknap's History of New Hampshire.
Belsham's Memoir of George III.
Bigelow's Life of Benjamin Franklin.
Bissett's History of the Reign of George III.
Bonney's Legacy of Historic Gleanings.
Botta's History of the War of Independence.
Bradford's History of Massachusetts.
Brewster's Rambles about Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Bryant and Gays Popular History of the United States.
Burke's History of Virginia.
Burr's Antiquarian Record.
Butler's History of the United States.
Caldwell's Life of General Greene.
Cameron's Old Princeton.
Campbell's History of Virginia.
Carrington's Battles of the American Revolution.
AUTHORITIES 487
Cairington's Strategic Relations of New Jersey.
Centennial Celebration at Princeton.
Centennial Collections of Morris County, New Jersey.
Chastellux, Marquis de, Travels in North America.
Clyde's Rosbrugh, a Tale of the Revolution.
Colonial Records of Pennsylvania.
Connecticut Journal. 1777.
Cornwallis' Reply to Sir Henry Clinton.
Cowell's Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island.
Custis' Recollections of Washington.
Daily's History of Woodbridge, New Jersey.
Davis' History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Davis' Memoirs of Burr.
Davis' Washington on the West Bank of the Delaware in 1776.
Dawson's Battles of the United States by Sea and Land.
Dawson's History of Westchester County, New York.
Dodsley's Annual Register, Vols. XIX. and XX.
Donne's Correspondence of George Third with Lord North.
Drake's Life and Correspondence of General Knox.
Duer's Life of Lord Stirling.
Duncan's History of the Royal Artiller}'.
Dunlap's History of the American Theatre.
Dunlap's New York.
Edmond's Life and Times of General Washington.
Eelking's Deutsche Hiilfstruppen im Nord Amerikanischen Freiheit-
skriege.
Egle's History of Pennsylvania.
Elliott's Women of the Revolution.
Everett's Life of General Stark.
Ewald's Notes on American War.
Ewald's Beyspiele grosser Helden.
Field's Battle of Long Island.
Fiske's War of Independence.
Fiske's The American Revolution.
Fonblanque's Burgoyne.
Force's American Archives.
Ford's Writings of George Washington.
Forester, Frank, Writings of.
Freeman's Journal, 1777-
Frost's American Generals.
Frost's History of the United States.
Frothingham's Rise of the Republic.
Gaine's New York Gazette and Mercury.
Gaine's Universal Register.
488, AUTHORITIES
Galloway's Examination before the British House of Commons.
Galloway's Letters to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War.
Galloway's Reflections on the American Revolution.
Galloway's Reply to Howe.
Gentleman's Magazine, London, 1776 and 1777.
Girardine's History of Virginia.
Godey's Magazine, Vol. XXXII.
Goodrich's History of the United States.
Gordon's History of the Rise, Progress and Establishment of the Inde-
pendence of the United States.
Gordon's History of New Jersey.
Graydon's Memoirs.
Greene's German Element in the War of Independence.
Greene's Historical View of the American Revolution.
Greene's Life of General Greene.
Greene's New System of Military Discipline, by a General Officer.
Griswold's Washington and his Generals.
Guizot, Life of Washington.
Hageman's History of Princeton, New Jersey.
Hale's One Hundred Years Ago.
Hall's History of War in America.
Hall's History of Presbyterian Church, Trenton, New Jersey.
Halsey's History of Morris County, New Jersey.
Hamilton's Life of Hamilton.
Hamilton's Rise and Progress of the American Republic.
Harper's Magazine, July, 1874.
Hatfield's History of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Hart's Sketch of Anthony Morris.
Hart's Sketch of Colonel John Nixon.
Hausser's Journal.
Haven's Historic Manual.
Haven's Thirty Days in New Jersey.
Haven's Washington and his Army.
Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania.
Headley's Washington and his Generals.
Heath's Memoirs.
Henshaw, Colonel William, Orderly Book of.
Hildeburn's Issues of Pennsylvania Press.
Hildeburn's Sketch of Captain Shippin.
Hildreth's History of the United States.
Hills' History of the Church in Burlington.
HiUiard d'Auberteuil's Essais historiques.
Hinman, Connecticut in the Revolution.
Hinton's History of the United States.
AUTHORITIES 489
Historical Collections of Connecticut.
Historical Collections of Massachusetts.
Historical Collections of New Hampshire.
Historical Collections of New Jersey.
Historical Collections of New York.
Historical Collections of Pennsylvania.
Historical Collections of Virginia.
Historical Magazine.
History of the British Empire, by a Society of Gentlemen.
History of Civil War in America, by an Officer of the Army
History of First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.
History of Lord North's Administration.
Holhster's History of Connecticut.
Holmes' Annals of America.
Holt's Life of George III.
Holt's New York Gazette.
Honeyman, In Memoriam of St. John.
How, Diary of David. ,
Howe, Narrative of Sir William.
Howe's Battle of Trenton. .
Howe's Letters to Lord George Germain.
Howe's observations upon a pamphlet entitled Letters to a Nobleman.
Howland, John, Life and Recollections of.
Hughes' History of England.
Hull, Revolutionary Services of General WiUiam.
Humphreys' Life of General Putnam.
Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts.
Irving's Life of Washington.
Jesse's Memoirs of Life and Reign of King George III.
Johnson's Life of General Greene.
Johnston's Campaign of 1776.
Jones' New York during the Revolution.
Journals of Proceedings of Continental Congress.
Journals of Proceedings of New Jersey Legislature and of the Council
of Safety.
Kapp's Friedr. der Soldatenhandel.
Kapp's Life of Steuben.
Kapp's Life of DeKalb.
Kidder's History of First New Hampshire Regiment in the Revolution-
ary War.
Knight's History of England.
Lamb's Journal of Occurrences.
Lamb's History of the City of New York.
Langworthy's Memoirs of General Lee.
490 AUTHORITIES
Lecky's History of England.
Lee, General Charles, Memoirs of.
Lee's Life of Arthur Lee.
Lee's Papers, New York Historical Society.
Linn's Annals of the Buffalo Valley.
List of General and Field Officers of British Army, 1 776-1 777.
London Chronicle of 1777.
London Magazine for February, 1777.
Lossing's Centennial History of America,
Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution.
Lossing's First Century of the United States.
Lossing's History of the United States.
Lossing's Mary and Martha Washington.
Lossing's Washington and the Republic.
Lowell's The Hessians and the Other German Auxiliaries of Great
Britain in the Revolution.
Magazine of American History.
Mahon's History of England. (See Stanhope.)
Manuscript Records from Hesse Cassel and Marburg, in possession of
the author.
Marshall, Christopher, Remembrances of.
Marshall's Life of George Washington.
Massachusetts Historical Society Collections.
Maryland Journal, January, 1777.
McSherry's History of Maryland.
Moore's Ballads of the Revolution.
Moore's Diary of the American Revolution.
Moore's Treason of General Lee.
Morris, Adolphus, Sketches of Affairs at Trenton and Princeton by.
Morris, Margaret, Journal of.
Moorsom's History of the Fifty-second British Regiment.
Mott's History of Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
Mulford's History of New Jersey.
Murray's History of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey.
Murray's Impartial History of the Present War.
Nelson's History of Paterson.
New England Historical Genealogical Register.
New Hampshire, Adjutant-General's Report of 1866.
New Hampshire Historical Society Collections.
New Hampshire State Papers.
New Jersey Archives, Second series.
New Jersey Gazette.
New Jersey Historical Society Collections.
New Jersey Officers and Men in the Revolutionary War.
AUTHORITIES 491
New Jersey Revolutionary Correspondence.
New York, Documents Relating to the Colonial History of.
New York Historical Society Collections.
Niles' Principles of Revolution.
Ochs, Biography of General Von.
Paine's American Crisis.
Paine's Letter to the Abbd Raynal.
Paterson, Life and Character of Major-General John.
Pennsylvania Archives, Series I. and II.
Pennsylvania Colonial Records.
Pennsylvania Gazette.
Pennsylvania Historical Society Collections.
Pennsylvania Journal.
Pennsylvania Ledger.
Pennsylvania Magazine of History.
Pennsylvania Packet.
Peterson's History of Rhode Island.
Piel, Journal of Lieutenant.
Pitkin's History of the United States.
Potter's Monthly, January, 1877.
Ramsey's Life of Washington.
Raum's History of Trenton, New Jersey.
Raum's History of New Jersey.
Rawle's Life of General Mifflin.
Raynal, Abb^, on the American Revolution.
Raynal, Abb^, Letters on North American Affairs.
Read's Life of George Read.
Reed controversy pamphlets.
Reed's Life of General Reed.
Reed's Oration on General Mercer.
Rhode Island Revolutionary Records.
Rivington's Army List.
Rivington's Royal Gazette.
Rodney, Captain Thomas, Diary of.
Rosengarten's German Soldier in the Wars of the United States.
Russell's History of Virginia.
Saffel's Records of the Revolutionary War.
Sargent's Life of Major Andr^.
Scharf's History of Philadelphia.
Sedgwick's Life of Governor Livingston.
Shaw, Lieutenant Samuel, Journal of.
Simm's Life of General Nathanael Greene.
Smith's Life of General St. Clair.
Soule's Book on the American Revolution (French).
492 AUTHORITIES
Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. IV.
Sparks' American Biographies.
Sparks' Life of Washington.
Sparks' Writings of Washington.
Spencer's History of the United States.
Sprend's History of the American Revolution.
Stanhope's History of England. (See Mahon.)
Staples' Correspondence of the American Revolution.
Staples' Rhode Island in Continental Congress.
St. Clair's Narrative.
Stearns' First Church of Newark, New Jersey.
Stedman's History of the American War.
St. Leger's Account of Occurrences.
Tagebuch, eines Hessischen Officers.
Tagebuch, des Corporal Johannes Reuber.
Thacher's Military Journal.
Thomas' Reminiscences.
Tilghman, Memoir of Lieutenant-Colonel Tench,
Tome's Battles by Land and Sea
Tower's Life of Lafayette.
Tyler's Literary History of American Revolution.
Tuttle's Annals of Morris County, New Jersey.
Tuttle's Revolutionary Forefathers of Morris County, New Jersey.
Tuttle's Washington in Morris County, New Jersey.
Upham's Memoirs of General Glover.
Van Dyke's Account of a Spy of Washington.
Wallace's Life of Colonel William Bradford.
Ward's Battle of Long Island.
Warren's History of the American Revolution.
Washington's Official Letters.
Watson's Annals of Philadelphia.
Watson's Men and Times of the Revolution.
Weems' Life of Washington.
Wells' Life of Samuel Adams.
White's Narrative of Events in the Revolutionary War.
Whitehead's History of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
Whiteley's Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware.
Wiebke's First Years of the North American War for Liberty.
Wiederhold, Lieutenant, Diary of.
Wilkinson's Memoirs.
WiUiams' Biography of Revolutionary Heroes.
Willard's History of the United States.
Winterbotham's American Revolution.
Wolfe's Instructions.
Young, Sergeant, Diary of.
INDEX
ACQUACKA\0.\'CK BRIDGE, 5.
Adams, Andrew, letter to, from Capt.
Wm. Hull, 375.
Agnew, James, major-general com-
manding 6th British brigade, 431.
Allen, Nathan, 358.
Amboy, 10.
Anderson, Ephraim, cajjtain 2d bat-
talion New Jersey Continentals,
scouts through Hunterdon County,
87.
Anderson, Ezekiel, 273.
Anderson, John, lieutenant 5th Vir-
ginia Continentals, 121.
Anderson, Richard Clough, captain 5th
Virginia Continentals, 121; said to
have been wounded, 265 note.
Anderson, Robert, General, letter
book of, 373.
Armstrong, Brigadier-General John,
sent to Pennsylvania for reinforce-
ments, 32.
Armstrong, Major John, aide-de-camp
of General Mercer, 64; wounded, 292
note; carries General Mercer off the
field, 296.
Armstrong, Joseph, colonel Cumber-
land County battalion, 433.
Army, American, headquarters at
John Harris' house, near Newtown,
208; field officers under Washing-
ton's immediate command, 351 ;
commissary and quartermaster's de-
partment at Newtown, Pa., 30 ; loss
of, 2 ; at Hackensack, 3 ; desertions
from, 4 ; numbers only 3000 men,
12; list of regiments in the cam-
paign, 308 ; halts at Newark, 6 ;
sick sent to Morristown, ib. ; demon-
strations of, against the English,
at Newark, 9 ; leaves Newark, ib. ;
march of, south, to New Brunswick,
10 ; Maryland and New Jersey mili-
tia ask for discharge and leave for
home, 12; concentrated at Trenton,
17; march of, through the Jer-
seys, 18 ; militia characterized, ib. ;
reinforced by a German battalion
raised in Pennsylvania and Mary-
land, ig; active in preparations to
prevent British from crossing, 30 ;
reinforcements asked for from Penn-
sylvania, Maryland, and Delaware,
32 ; in camp in Pennsylvania, 53 ;
troops at Morristown, 60; arrive at
Bethlehem, 60 ; parts of, on east
side of Delaware River, 63 ; attacks
British at Mount Holly, 69 ; militia
retreats towards Moorestown, 70 ;
movement on Trenton proposed, 73;
Griffin's expedition, though directly
fruitless, diverts the enemy's atten-
tion from Trenton, 74 ; attack on
Hessians near Mt. Holly not car-
ried out, ib. ; how disposed of, 81 ;
strength of, 85 ; council of war re-
solves to recross the Delaware, ib. ;
in need of clothing and supplies, 86 ;
scouting through Hunterdon County
by a small party, 87 ; gossip about, in
Trenton, no ; deserters from, bring
intelligence, ib. ; council of war held
at Merrick's house, 112; plan of
attack, 113; reconnoissance by, at
Trenton, 117 et seq. ; reconnoissance
at Trenton, who commanded, 121 ;
move of, begins, 1 27 ; begins to cross
the Delaware, 129; to cross at Mc-
Konkey's Ferry, 130; ice delays the
crossing, 133; marches on Trenton,
139, 142; powder discovered damp,
140; arrangement of, 142 ; first con-
tact of, with the British, at Trenton,
146; movements of the brigades in
battle of Trenton, 163; loss of, in
battle of Trenton, 194; movements
of, at Trenton, reviewed, 231 etseq. ;
movements of Cadwalader, 239; ad-
vance of, under Cadwalader, in Bor-
dentown, 242; detachments of, sent
to harass the rear of von Donop,
243 ; Continentals, whose term has
expired, continue in service, 254 et
seq. ; position of, before Princeton,
494
INDEX
258 ; part of, forced to retreat, 259 ;
running fight of, for delay, 261 ; po-
sition of, before Princeton battle,
261, 262 ; loss in Trenton skirmish,
265 ; list of killed and wounded, ib.
note ; situation of, at Trenton, 269
d SCI].; flank movement of, on Prince-
ton, 271-278; first contact of, with
British, at Princeton, 2S0; pursues
British, 286, 290; list of killed and
wounded at Princeton, 292 ; bio-
graphical sketches of officers killed
at Princeton, 452. — Divisions and
Brigades. Divisions and brigades,
142 ; rosters, 344 £t seq. ; division of
General Horatio Gates, 60 ; brigade
of General Roche de Fermoy, 352 ;
New Jersey brigade wants to dis-
band, 6 ; Mercer's brigade routed,
282 ; brigade of Gen. Hugh Mercer,
352 ; brigade of Gen. Adam Stephen,
353; brigade of Col. Paul D. Sargent,
354 ; brigade of Gen. Arthur St.
Clair, 354; brigade of Col. John
Glover, 355 ; New England brigade,
59, 86, 264 ; Philadelphia militia
brigade. Col. John Cadwalader, 59-
Regiments. Continental artillery
regiment, 356; 2d light dragoons,
9 ; 2d Continental foot, formerly 3d
New Hampshire, 354; 3d Conti-
nental foot (Massachusetts regi-
ment), 356; 5th Continental foot,
formerly ist New Hampshire, 354;
8th Continental foot, formerly 2d
New Hampshire, 354 ; 13th Conti-
nental foot (Massachusetts regi-
ment), 355; 14th Continental foot
(Marblehead Massachusetts regi-
ment), 355; 15th Continental foot
(Massachusetts regiment), 354 ; 20th
Conrinental foot, 292 note ; Connect-
icut regiment, 352 ; 19th Conti-
nental foot (Connecticut regiment),
356; :6th Continental foot (Massa-
chusetts regiment), 354 ; 23d Conti-
nental foot (Massachusetts regi-
ment), 356; 24th Continental (3d
Massachusetts) infantry regiment,
60 ; 25th Continental infantry, ib. ;
26th Continental foot (Massachu-
setts regiment), 275, 356; 27th
Continental foot (Massachusetts
regiment), 352 ; Ward's regiment,
Connecticut Continental infantry,
354 ; Connecticut regiment, or
20th Continental foot, 352 ; 6th
Connecticut State Troops, 355 ; 7th
Connecticut Continentals, 206, 208,
261 ; Connecticut State Troops,
353 ; Delaware regiments, i, 17,
27, 351 ; Delaware regiment, Col.
David Hall, 377 note ; Kent County,
Del., militia, 232, 433 ; Newcastle,
Del., militia, 274, 433 ; Maryland
regiments, i ; ist Maryland regi-
ment, 27, 352 ; Maryland rifle bat-
talion volunteers, 353 ; loss of
Maryland troops, 257 ; battery (Mas-
sachusetts) of Capt. Winthrop Sar-
gent, 178; Massachusetts Conti-
nental artillery company, 357 ; 6th
Massachusetts Continentals, 922
note ; Massachusetts regiments, or
3d, 13th, 14th, 15th, i6th, 23d, 24th,
26th, 27th Continentals, 60, 352, 354,
355' 35*5; Col. John Glover's regi-
ment from Marblehead, Mass., 134;
4th Hampshire County, Mass., regi-
ment, 60 ; ist New Hampshire regi-
ment. Col. John Stark, 167 ; or 5th
Continental foot, 354; ist New
Hampshire regiment, Derryfield
company, 168; 2d New Hampshire,
or 8th Continental foot, 354; 3d
New Hampshire, later 2d Conti-
nental foot, 354; New Jersey Con-
tinentals, 4 ; 1st New Jersey Conti-
nentals, 151 ; New Jersey militia, i ;
militia around Trenton and Prince-
ton, 108; East New Jersey State
artillery company, 357 , West New
Jersey State artillery company, 357 ;
New Jersey militia, 18; ist regi-
ment Hunterdon brigade, ib. ; 2d
regiment Middlesex brigade, ib. ;
Burlington County militia destroys
bridges, 42 ; Gloucester and Salem
mihtia, 74 ; ist Hunterdon County
militia, 122 note, 138 note ; 2d regi-
ment Hunterdon County militia, 125;
3d regiment Hunterdon County mi-
litia, 115; 4th regiment Hunterdon
County mihtia, 251 ; ist Middlesex
County, N. J., mihtia, 290 ; 2d regi-
ment Middlesex, N. J., militia, 251 ;
Somerset County, N. J,, horse, 302;
1st New York Continentals, 355 ; 3d
New York Continentals, 355 ; New
York Continental artillery com-
pany, 357 ; New York militia, i ;
New York State artillery, Alexander
Hamilton's company, 158; New
York State Artillery company, 357 ;
Pennsylvania regiments, i ; Pennsyl-
vania State artillery, 158; Pennsyl-
vania State artillery, Forrest's bat-
tery, 19, 142, 158, 258, 357; 2d
INDEX
495
company Pennsylvania State artil-
lei'y' 357 ; roster of Pennsylvania
company of artillery, 257; Philadel-
phia battery, 136; battery (Philadel-
phia Associators) of Capt. Joseph
Moulder, 167, 174. — Philadelphia
troop of light horse, 142, 358; on
patrol duty in New Jersey, 208 ; ros-
ter of Philadelphia City Troop, 443 ;
Pennsylvania Continentals, 4, 129;
1st Pennsylvania regiment, 292 note;
1st Continental foot (Pennsylvania
regiment), 352 ; 2d Pennsylvania
Continentals, 433; loth Pennsyl-
vania regiment, 292 note, 433 ; nth
Pennsylvania Continentals, 15, 433;
I2th Pennsylvania Continentals,
433 ; German regiment Continental
infantry, 258, 352 ; Pennsylvania re-
giment of musketry, 351 ; 1st Penn-
sylvania rifles, 213; Pennsylvania
rifles, 292 note ; Col. Edward Hand's
Pennsylvania rifles, 47 ; Philadelphia
rifles, 232, 258, 433; Pennsylvania
militia, 12; Col. John Shea's regi-
ment of Pennsylvania piilitia, 262 ;
Philadelphia militia, 232, 433 ; ist
Pennsylvania volunteers, 351 ; Phila-
delphia Associators, 30, 274, 292
note ; 2d artillery company Phila-
delphia Associators, 358 ; ist bat-
tery Philadelphia Associators, 233 ;
3d battery Philadelphia Associa-
tors, 232 ; Bedford County, Pa.,
battalion, 433 ; Bucks County, Pa.,
battalion, 433 ; Chester County, Pa.,
militia, 274; Cumberland County,
Pa., militia, 274, 433 ; Lancaster
County Pa., battalions, 433; 3d bat-
talion Northampton County, Pa.,
militia, 267; Northampton County,
Pa., battalions, 433 ; Northumber-
land County, Pa., militia, 287, 433 ;
1st, 2d, and 3d Rhode Island regi-
ments, 255 ; Rhode Island State
regiment, 276; Virginia troops, 17 ;
1st Virginia Continentals, 351 ;
3d Virginia regiment, 27, 213, 351 ;
4th Virginia Continentals, 353 ; 5th
Virginia Continentals, I2i, 353; 6th
Virginia Continentals, 353 ; Scott's
Virginia Continentals, 258; Colonel
Weedon's regiment, 164; marines,
433-
Army British, Sir William Howe be-
comes commander of, 10; General
Lee's opinion of, ib. ; leaves Bruns-
wick, 17; reaches Princeton, ib. ;
questions in Parliament regarding
it, 20 ; opinion of a Quaker of, 22 ;
disregard of protection papers, 24
et seq. ; moves toward the river, 27 ;
enters Trenton, 28 ; movements of,
frustrated, 29 ; lack of enterprise in,
37 ; the purchased troops, 39 ; the
Hessians in an important position,
ib. ; stations of, in New Jersey, 38;
heavy artillery to come by way of
Amboy, 46, 47 ; stations of, 47 ;
troops at Pennington, 59 ; troops
alarmed at Black Horse and Mans-
field Square, 69; chain of canton-
ments of, a weakness, 89 ; artillery,
quarters of, in Trenton, 97 ; Hes-
sians need clothing, 99 ; troops at
Trenton constantly on duty, 100 ;
the watch guard, 105 ; quartermas-
ters sent to New York for supplies,
199; heavy patrol sent to Penning-
ton, 109 ; patrol meets the enemy,
109 ; efforts of, to hold Trenton, 118;
positions of regiments in Trenton,
119; officers careless, 145; surprised
by American army in Trenton, 1 52
et seq. ; camp followers, 1 80 ; sol-
diers of Rail's brigade join . von
Donop's at Bordentown, 187 ; num-
ber of men who escaped capture at
Trenton, 188 note; position of de-
tachments, 1S9, 190; losses of, in
battle of Trenton, 194, 195 ; recov-
ery of guns and flags taken from
the Hessians at Trenton, 201 ; Hes-
sian prisoners, how treated, 209,
210; parole signed by Hessian offi-
cers, 212; prisoners taken to Phila-
delphia, 213; captured officers taken
to see General Putnam, 214; taken
to Dumfries, Va., ib. ; disposal of
Hessian soldiers prisoners, 215;
reasons and excuses for the defeat
at Trenton, 224 et seq. ; captured
Hessian ofiicers examined, 229; on
the retreat to New York, 235 ; quar-
ters of, in and near Princeton, 238 ;
after the battle of Trenton, 246 et
seq. ; marches on Trenton, 258 ; part
of, ready for battle, 259; detach-
ments of, again in Trenton, 261-
265 ; efforts of, to capture American
army at Trenton, 269 ; comes on a
run from Trenton to Princeton, 288 ;
regiments at Stockton's farm scat-
tered, 290 ; loss of, at Princeton,
292 ; arrival of Hessian prisoners
at Philadelphia, 369 ; Hessian out-
posts at Trenton, 379; Hessians
who escaped capture, 383 ; return
496
INDEX
of prisoners taken at Trenton, 386 ;
proceedings of Hessian courts-mar-
tial, 409 et scq. ; members of, 410;
testimony of Hessian officers at
court-martial, 411 et seq. ; verdict of
court, 41S; report of War Commis-
sion on Trenton affair, 419; in New
Jersey, 430; biograi^hical sketches
of officers killed at Princeton, 456;
casualties at Princeton, 45S. — Brig-
ades. Second brigade. General Les-
lie, 24S ; Fourth brigade. General
Grant commanding, i6; Fourth
brigade. General Grant's, under
command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Mawhood, 24S ; Tory brigade of
General Courtlandt Skinner, 246;
stations of four brigades, 30 ; picket
stations of Rail's brigade, loi et
seq. ; list of officers of Rail's brig-
ade, 378. — Regiments. Royal artil-
lery, 430 ; 1 6th regiment, Burgoyne's
Queen's light dragoons, 55, 430;
quarters of, at Trenton, 96; 17th
light dragoons, 430 ; British chas-
seurs, 430 ; British light infantry,
430 ; Queen's Rangers, 430 ; 1st and
2d battalion Guards, 431 ; 4th regi-
ment, " King's Own," 430 ; 5th regi-
ment, 430; i6th regiment at Tren-
ton, 40; 17th regiment of the line,
278, 430 ; roster of, 248 note ; 23d
regiment. Royal Welsh Fusiliers,
431 ; 27th regiment, or Inniskilling,
430 ; 28th regiment, 430 ; 35th regi-
ment, 430 ; 40th regiment, 2S0, 430 ;
retreating, 290 ; 42d regiment, Royal
Highland Watch, 28, 46, 431 ; 42d
regiment and von Block battalion at
Mount Holly to gather forage, 70 ;
45th regiment, 430 ; 46th regiment,
5, 431 ; 49th regiment, 430 ; 55th
regiment. Col. James Grant, 48, 278,
430; retreats, 290; 71st regiment,
Scotch, 431 ; list of Hessian field
officers, 316; Hesse -Cassel Body
Dragoons, 106; Hessian yagers,
46, 430 ; at Trenton, 96 ; Hessian
chasseurs at Bordentown, 68 ; Rail's
Hessians, i6; Hessians in Burling-
ton County, 66; Hessian artillery,
46 ; Hessian artillery regiment Eitel,
106; grenadier regiment Rail, 2,
41, 94; surrenders, 181; grenadier
battalion von Block, 46, 69, 259,
430; regiment von Bose, 127 ;
regiment Landgraff, 29; regiment
von Knyphausen, 41, 104; station
of, in Trenton, 96; in battle of
Trenton, 170; roster of, 384; Hes-
sian grenadier battalion von Koeh-
! ler, 46; regiment von Linsingen,
46, 69, 259, 430; ordered to take
post near Mansfield Square, 48;
regiment von Lossberg, 2, 41 ;
reaches Trenton, 95 ; position of,
in batttle of Trenton, 160; officers
of, killed or wounded, 172 ; regiment
surrenders, 181 ; regimentvon Loss-
berg, company von ITanstein, 160 ;
company von I^oos, 95, 160; com-
pany von Scheffer, 95 ; company
von Altenbockum, 95; quartered
near the picket post, 118; fusiher
regiment von Lossberg, company
von Hanstein, quarters of, at Tren-
ton, 95 ; company Bernberg, 243 j
grenadiers, 430 ; battalion von Min-
nigerode, 46, 430 ; position of, in
battle of Trenton, 190 ; regiment
von Trumbach, 202 ; regiment von
Wissenback, 202 ; Waldeck, ist regi-
ment, 41, 430; return of casualties
of Rail's brigade, 408 ; 1st New
Jersey volunteers, loyalists, 236,
246, 435 note.
Arnold, Brig.-Gen. Benedict, 60 ; sent
with his troops by General Schuyler,
61.
Arnold, Ca]3tain Jacob, 303.
Assiscunk Creek, 43.
Assunpinck Creek, 90 ; picket at
bridge over, 381.
Atlee, Samuel J., colonel Pennsylvania
regiment of musketry, 351.
Atterbury estate in Trenton, 97.
Attleborough, Pa., 213.
Austin, Jonathan W., major i6th Con-
tinental foot, cashiered, 354.
Bailey, John, colonel 23d Conti-
nental foot, 356.
Baird, Wm., 358.
Baldwin, Loammi, colonel 26th Con-
tinental foot, 356.
Baptisttown, Hunterdon County, 130
note.
Barclay, Thomas, Washington at the
house of, 30.
Barnes, Major John, house of, on ,
Queen Street, Trenton, 37 ; a loyal-
ist, 163 ; Washington at the house
of, 246.
Barnes, Thomas, house of, at Tren-
ton, 95.
Battles, of Long Island, i ; of Har-
lem, mentioned, 2 ; of White Plains,
mentioned, 2.
INDEX
497
Baude, Henrich, fusilier von Alten-
bockum's company, 165.
Bauer, Frank Georg, corporal Hes-
sian yagers, 151, 411.
Bauer, Wilhelm, chaplain regiment
von Knyphausen, 189, 384.
Baum, Jacob, staff captain, 180; cap-
tain regiment von Knyphausen,
378, 384; escapes, 389; biographi-
cal note of, 393.
Baum, Captain, 104, 411.
Bauman, Captain, battery of, in sec-
ond division, 142.
Bauman, Sebastian, captain New
York Continental artillery company,
357-
Baylor, Lieut.-Col. George, aide-de-
camp of General Washington, 18 1,
182 ; sent to Congress with report
and captured flags, 221.
Bear Tavern, 140.
Beatty's Ferry, 30 ; American army
crosses at, 27.
Beaumont, Isaiah, private 20th Con-
tinental foot, wounded, 292 note.
Bedford, Gunning, lieutenant-colonel
Delaware Continentals, 351.
Beekman, Abraham, 358.
Beekman, Christopher, 358.
Beekman, Gerardes, 358.
Bellerjean, John, 96.
Bentley, Lieut. William, 5th Virginia
Continentals, 121.
Bergen Neck, General Mercer at, 4.
Bernard, Benjamin, lieutenant-colonel
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 431.
Bessonett, Charles, the tavern of, head-
quarters of Colonel Cadwalader,233.
Bethlehem, Pa., American hospital at,
127.
Bicker, private, regiment von Knyp-
hausen, 119.
Biddle, Col. Clement, deputy quarter-
master-general, letter from, to ,
365 ; to Committee of Safety, 369.
Biographical notes : of American gen-
erals, 347; Blunt, Capt. John, 136;
Boking, Hein. Ludw., captain, 390 ;
Bryant, Dr. William, 1 1 1 ; Cadwala-
der. Col. John, 81 ; de Fermoy, Gen.
Math. A. de Roche, 349 ; Dickinson,
Philip, 83 ; Engelhardt, Lieut. Joh.,
394 ; Ewing, James, 82 ; Fischer,
Lieut. Friedrich, Hessian artillery,
394 ; Fleming, Capt. John, 454 ;
Glover, Col. John, 350 ; Griibe, Fr.
Fr., lieuten'ant, 392 ; Greene, Gen.
Nathanael, 348 ; Hamilton, Alexan-
der, 158; Haslet, Col. John, 452;
Hendorff, Ensign Fr.Chr., 392; Hes-
sian officers, 390-394 ; Hille, Hem.
Reinh., lieutenant regiment von
Lossberg, 392 ; Hunt, Abraham,
122; Kimm, Geo. Chr., lieutenant
regiment von Lossberg, 392 ; Kinen,
Carl Andr., lieutenant regiment
Rail, 390 ; Kinen, Ludwig, ensign
regiment Rail, 391 ; Knox, Henry,
colonel Continental artillery, 350 ;
Leslie, Captain the Hon. William,
457; Livingston, Governor William,
12; LordCornwallis, 21; McPherson,
Capt. John, 456 ; Matthaus, Johann
Joost, major regiment Rail, 390;
Mercer, Gen. Hugh, 459; Mifflin,
Gen. Thomas, 8 ; Morris, Ensign
Anthony, 455 ; Mostyn, Capt. Rob-
ert, 456; Neil, Capt. Daniel, 453;
Piel, Jacob, lieutenant regiment von
Lossberg, 392 ; Rail, Col. Johann
Gottlieb, 196 ; St. Clair, Gen. Ar-
thur, 349 ; Sargent, Col. P. D., 350 ;
Scheffer, Fr&ncis, lieutenant-colonel
regiment von Lossberg, 391; Schroe-
der, Johann Georg, ensign regiment
Rail, 391; Schwabe, Ern. Christ.,
lieutenant regiment von Lossberg,
392 ; Shippin, Capt. William, 453 ;
Sobbe, Christian, lieutenant regi-
ment von Knyphausen, 393 ; Stark,
Col. John, 350 ; Steding, Adam
Christ., captain regiment von Loss-
berg, 39T ; Stephen, Gen. Adam,
349 ; Stirling, Gen. Lord, 348; Stroe-
bel, Johannes, lieutenant regiment
Rail, 390; Sullivan, Gen. John, 347;
Vaupell, Carl Nic, lieutenant regi-
ment von Knyphausen, 393 ; von
Altenbockum, E. E., captain regi-
ment von Lossberg, 391 ; von Ben-
ning, Fr. W., captain regiment von
Lossberg, 391 ; von Biesenrodt,
Bernh., captain regiment von Knyp-
hausen, 393 ; von Dechow, Fr.
L., major regiment von Knyphau-
sen, 393 ; von Donop, Col. Carl
Emil Kurt, 46; von Drach, William,
ensign regiment von Knyphausen,
394 ; von Ferry, Werner, lieutenant
regiment von Knyphausen, 393; von
Geyso, Ludwig, lieutenant regiment
von Knyphausen, 393; von Hanstein,
Ludwig Aug., major regiment von
Lossberg, 391 ; von Kobe, Chr. Aug.,
ensign regiment von Lossberg, 392 ;
von Lowenstein, L. W., captain
regiment von Knyphausen, 393; von
Riess, Joh. Friedrich, captain regi-
498
INDEX
ment von Lossberg, 391 ; von Roni-
rodt, W. L., lieutenant regiment von
Knyphausen, 394 ; von Schimmel-
pfennig, B. H., captain regiment
von Knyphausen, 393 ; Wiederhold,
Andr., lieutenant regiment von
Knyphausen, 394 ; Yeates, Lieut.
Bartholomew, 455 ; Zimmerman,
Heinr., ensign regiment von Knyp-
hausen, 394 ; ZoU, Geo. Harm., lieu-
tenant regiment von Lossberg, 392.
Birch, Samuel, lieutenant-colonel 17th
light dragoons, 430.
Birmingham, N. J., 140.
Black Horse, Burlington County, now
Columbus, 47 ; " The Sun " inn at,
69.
Blake, Joseph, 2d lieutenant Massa-
chusetts Continental artillery com-
pany, 357-
Bloombury Farm, 91, 266.
Blunt, Capt. John, of Portsmouth,
'34-
Bokuig, Hemr. Ludwig, captain regi-
ment Rail, 190, 378, 382; escapes,
388 ; biographical note of, 390 ; ma-
jor, 411.
Bond, Mrs. Joseph, keeps Fox Chase
Tavern, 102, 380.
Bond, Col. William, 60.
Borden town, British army post at, 42;
von Donop in winter quarters at, 46;
42d British regiment, Lieut.-Col.
Thomas Sterling, at, 46.
Bottamer, Jacob, private German bat-
talion, wounded, 265 note.
Bottle Hill, now Madison, N. J., 303.
Boyer, Peter, captain German battal-
ion, 265 note.
Bradford, William, major 2d battalion
Philadelphia Associators, 456.
Bradley, Philip Burr, colonel com-
manding, 353.
Bradstreet, Samuel, major 40th regi-
ment { British), 430.
Bray, Capt. Daniel, 2d Hunterdon
County militia, 129.
Bretha'uer, Balthasar, lieutenant-colo-
nel regiment Rail, 118, 378, 380;
commanding regiment Rail, 1 56 ;
horse of, killed, ib. ; sick, 175; dies
a prisoner, 388.
Bright, George, picket near bakery of,
381.
Bristol, American troops at, 81.
Brooks, John, major 19th Continental
foot, 356.
Broste, Quartermaster, regiment von
Linsingen, 109.
Brown, Samuel, a loyalist, 337.
Brown, Capt. William, 242 ; commands
ship Montgomery, 433.
Brubach, Joh. Heinr., captain regi-
ment Rail, 1 53, 378, 380 ; dies a pris-
oner, 388.
Bryant, Dr. William, 91 ; house of,
called " Doctor House," 103 ; bio-
graphical sketch of, III.
Buckner, Mordecai, colonel 6th Vir-
ginia Continentals, 353.
Budden, James, 2d lieutenant Phila-
delphia light horse, 358, 443 ; cap-
tures British soldiers on a scout, 249
et seq.
Bunn, Edward, justice of the peace of
Somerset County, 358.
Burd, James, colonel Lancaster County
battalion, 433.
Burlington, British troops in, 44 ; can-
nonaded from American boats, ib. ;
between the devil and the deep sea,
ib. ; British troops withdraw from,
45-
Burlington County, farmers in, robbed,
47 ; Tories in, give information to
von Donop, 68.
Burroughs, Edon, ist regiment Hun-
terdon County militia, 138 note.
Burroughs, Stephen, ist regiment Hun-
terdon County militia, 138 note.
Busseltown, British army reaches, 42.
Buyer, George, sergeant ist Pennsyl-
vania, wounded, 292 note.
Caldwell, James, private Philadel-
phia light horse, 273 note, 442, 443.
Caldwell, Rev. James, writes to Wash-
ington, 24.
Caldwell, Samuel, private Philadel-
phia light horse, 250, 443.
Calhoun, Alexander, house and store
of, at Trenton, 95 ; Captain von Al-
tenbockum at the house of, 146.
Campbell, Archibald, lieutenant-colo-
nel 71st regiment (British), 431.
Campbell, George, private Philadel-
phia light horse, 250, 273 note, 442,
443-
Cadwalader, Col. John, 19, 59; station
of his command, 81 ; to make the
attack at Mount Holly, etc., 113;
attempts of, to cross the Delaware,
232, 233 ; marches to Burlington,
240 ; position of, during battle of
Trenton, 242 ; promoted general of
Pennsylvania militia, 251 ; contem-
plates taking Brunswick, ib.; marches
to Crosswicks, 253; to Trenton, 254;
INDEX
499
station of brigade of, before Prince-
ton battle, 262; order of Washington
to, 310, 311; report of, to Council of
Safety, 446 ; letters of, to Washing-
ton, 241 , 364, 365, 423, 434 ; to Coun-
cil of Safety, Bucks County, Pa., 323;
to von Donop, 76 ; letter to, from
Washington, 132, 427.
Cadwalader, Col. Lambert, 151 ; letter
from, to his sister, Mrs. Samuel
Meredith, 448.
Chambers, Alexander, store of, where,
167.
Chambers, David, colonel Hunterdon
County militia," 115.
Chambers, James, lieutenant-colonel
1st Pennsylvania Continentals, 352.
Chambers, John, Hessians quartered
at the house of, 119.
Chester, John, colonel 6th Continen-
tals, 355 ; of Sargent's brigade, sent
witli the news of Trenton to General
Heath at Peekskill, 221.
Cilley, Joseph, major 8th Continental
foot, 354.
Clap, Ebenezer, lieutenant - colonel
13th Continental foot, 355.
Clark, Aaron, 3d lieutenant E. N. J.
State artillery company, 357.
Clark, Hannah, 296.
Clark, Sarah, 296.
Clark, Thomas, house of, now Henry
E. Hale's, 284 ; General Mercer dies
at the house of, 296.
Clark, Thomas, ist lieutenant E. N.
J. State artillery company, 357.
Claypoole, Abr. G., house of, at Tren-
ton, 94.
Clifford, John, 130 note.
Clinton, Sir Henry, supersedes Sir
William Howe, as commander of
British forces, 10 ; plan of, 11 ; criti-
cises conduct of English troops, 26 ;
on the battle of Trenton, 224.
Closter Dock, General Cornwallis
lands at, 2.
Clymer, George, 36.
Clymer, , member of Congress,
245.
Coates, William, lieutenant-colonel ist
Philadelphia Associators, 239.
Cochran, Robert, major 3d New York
Continentals, 355.
Cockburne, James, lieutenant-colonel
35th regiment (British), 430.
Cole, Philip, colonel Northumberland
County battalion, 433.
Columbus, Burlington County, occu-
pied by British troops, 47.
Colvin, I^atrick, 103.
Congress, denounces rumors of their
intention to leave Philadelphia, but
go two days later, 35 ; goes to Balti-
more, 36 ; resolution of, for a Day
of Fast and Prayer, 61 ; resolution of,
investing Washington with power to
raise additional troops, 243.
Cook, Thaddeus, major Ward's Con-
necticut Continental infantry, 355.
Cooke, Nicholas, governor of Rhode
Island, 1 2 ; letter to, from General
Greene, 65.
Cooke, William, colonel 12th Pennsyl-
vania Continentals, 433.
Cooper's Creek, 32.
Cornwallis, Lieutenant-General, lands
at Old Closter Dock, 2 ; halts at
Brunswick under orders from Howe,
16 ; ordered to cross the river at
Coryell's Ferry, 28 ; obtains leave
to go to England, 48 ; opinion of,
concerning defeat at Trenton, 224 ;
not allowed to go to England, but
ordered to his command, 247 ;
marches on Trenton, 24S ; on the
situation of American army, 26S ;
rushes back to Princeton, 2S8 et seq.
Coryell's Ferry, 30.
Cottnam, Warren, Hessians quartered
at the house of, 119.
Couran, Henry, major 27th regiment
(British), 430.
Courtney, Hercules, ist lieutenant
Pennsylvania artillery, 257 note, 357.
Cowperthwaite, Joseph, major ist
Philadelphia Associators, 233, 242.
Cox, John, lieutenant-colonel Phila-
delphia Associators, 73, 91, 242.
Coxe, Miss Rebecca, house of, at Tren-
ton, 95 ; Lieutenant Piel quartered
at the house of, 153.
Craig, Isaac, captain brigantine An-
drew Doria, 242, 243.
Cranberry, 238.
Crane, John, major Knox's artillery,
356, 357-
Crawford, James, colonel Lancaster
County battahon, 433.
Crosswicks Creek, \2 ; pickets at, 104,
381.
Cuthbert, Lieutenant, of Captain
Moulder's Philadelphia battery, 136,
358-
Cuyler, Cornelius, major 55th regiment
(British), 430.
Dache, Anthony, private Philadel-
phia Associators, wounded, 292 note.
500
INDEX
Dagworthy, Miss Mary, 122 note.
Dayton, Joseph, 2d lieutenant W. N.
J. State artillery company, 357.
Deane, Thomas, 2d lieutenant New
York State artillery company, 357.
De Fermoy, Gen. M. A. de Roche, brig-
ade of, 30, 84, 142 ; instructions to,
and others from, General Wash-
ington, 62 ; biographical note of,
349-
De Haas, John Philip, colonel 2d
Pennsylvania Continentals, 433.
Delaware River, 12; preparations for
crossing, 15.
De Nolde, Heinr. Georg, ensign regi-
ment Landgrave, 410.
Desaguliers, Lieut. Frederick, R. A.,
killed, 292.
Dexter, David, captain Lippit's Rhode
Island State regiment, 276.
Dickinson, Brig. Gen. Philemon, 53 ;
commanding New Jersey militia, 82 ;
country seat of, British picket post
at, 97, 189 ; pillaged, 102 ; on the
River road, 118, 150; called "The
Hermitage," 379.
Dilkes, Thomas, major 49th regiment
(British), 430.
Dillwyn, William, 45.
Dimon, David, Major Bradley's battal-
ion, 353.
Ditmass, Abr., 358.
Donaldson, John, private Philadelphia
light horse, 250, 443.
Doughty, John, captain-lieutenant E.
N. J. State artillery company, 357.
Douglass, Alexander, house of, head-
quarters of Gen. St. Clair, 270.
Downs, John, private Philadelphia
Associators, wounded, 292 note.
Drake, Henry, Bull Head Tavern,
94.
Duff, Thomas, major Delaware mili-
tia, 433.
Duffy, Patrick, 3d lieutenant 2d com-
pany Pennsylvania State artillery,
357 ; letter of, to Col. Thomas Proc-
ter, 370.
Dumfries, Va., Hessian officers taken
to, 214.
Dunham boat, use of, 129.
Dunk's Ferry, below Bristol, 30.
Dunlap, John, cornet Philadelphia light
horse, 249, 358, 443.
Durkee, John, colonel 20th Conti-
nental foot, 292 note, 352 ; letter to,
from General Mercer, 379.
Dyer, Thomas, major 20th Continental
foot, 352.
Fames, WoRSLEY, ist lieutenant Penn-
sylvania artillery, 258 note, 358.
East Hanover Street, formerly Pink-
erton's Alley, 156.
Eitel, Hans Heinrich, lieutenant-colo-
nel Hessian artillery, io5, 385, 410.
Elizabethtown, 10 ; British troops at
and near, 430.
Elliott, Thomas, colonel 4th Virginia
Continentals, 353.
Engelhardt, Johann, lieutenant of
Eitel's artillery, 106, 119, 156, 157,
378, 385 ; escapes, 390 ; biographi-
cal note of, 394.
Eppes, Francis, lieutenant-colonel ist
Virginia Continentals, killed, 351.
Erskine, Sir William, 70 ; colonel
and aide-de-camp to the king, acting
as quartermaster - general in New
Jersey, 268.
Erskine, General, hears the news of
Trenton at Amboy, 189.
Erwin, Arthur, colonel Buck's County
battalion, 433.
Kwald, Capt. Johann, commanding
company of Hessian yagers, 46;
blames Rail, 200.
Ewing, Gen. James, commanding divi-
sion of Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey militia, 82 ; position of, in the
attack on Trenton, 113. "
Eyre, Major Jehu, 233.
Eyssel, Sergt. Christian, of von Alten-
bockura's company, 165.
Faesch, John Jacob, Hessian pris-
oners employed at the iron works
of, at Mount Hope, N. J., 215.
Farmer, Lewis, captain ist Pennsyl-
vania rifles, 213.
Ferries, 30.
Filsin, George, private ist Pennsyl-
vania Continentals, wounded, 265
note.
Fischer, Friedrich, lieutenant of Hes-
sian artillery, 107, 127, 166, 378 ;
map by, 1 28 ; prisoner, 390 ; bio-
graphical note of, 394.
Fiss, , quartermaster regiment
Rail, 109.
Fitzgerald, John, lieutenant -colonel
and aide-de-camp to Washington,
286.
Flahaven, Capt. John, ist New Jersey
Continentals, 115, 150.
Fleck, Jacob Lebrecht, ensign regi-
ment Rail, 378 ; prisoner, 389 ; bio-
graphical note of, 391.
Fleming, George, first iieutenant New
INDEX
SOI
York Continental artillery company,
357-
Fleming, John, captain ist Virginia
Continentals, 351 ; mortally wound-
ed, 284; biographical sketch of,
454-
Flock, John Tindall, 250.
Ford, Col. Jacob, Jr., of Morris Coun-
ty, 60.
Forman, Col. David, sent to Mon-
mouth County, 9; called " Black
David," ib.
Forrest, Capt. Thomas, battery of, 19;
in Second Division, 142, 158, 258,
357-
Fort Lee abandoned, 2.
Fort Washington surrendered, 2.
Fortney, Wender, private German
battalion, wounded, 265 note.
Fox Chase Tavern, 102; in Maiden-
head road, 118 ; picket at, 380.
Frederick the Great on the sale of
Hessian troops, 39.
Frederic, Landgrave of Hesse, letter
from, to General Knyphausen, on
Trenton affair, 404.
Freeman Tavern, Morristown, N. J.,
headquarters American army, 303.
FreUnghuysen, Major Frederic, New
Jersey militia, 174 note ; brigade
major on General Dickinson's staff,
251.
Frelinghuysen, Frederick, captam
New Jersey artillery, 453.
Frye, Ebenezer, captain ist New
Hampshire regiment, 168.
Fiihrer, Carl Friedrich, ensigti regi-
ment von Knyphausen, joins the
Americans, 215; prisoner, 390.
Gage, General, superseded, 10.
Galbraith, Bertram, colonel Lancaster
County battalion, 433.
Galloway, Joseph, a Tory, examined
before House of Commons, 37 ; tes-
timony of, against General Howe,
223.
Gamble, Capt. Thomas, acting quarter-
master-general British army, issues
a circular to people of Hunterdon
and Burlington counties, 78, 341 ;
on von Donop's staff, 234.
Gamble, Captain, 424.
Gansevoort, Peter, colonel 3d New
York Continentals, 355.
Gates, Major-Gen. Horatio, 60; in-
triguing, 131 ; letter to, from Charles
Lee, 57 ; letter to, from Washing-
ton, 64.
Gearhart, Capt. Jacob, 2d regiment
Hunterdon County militia, 129.
Geiger, Henry, colonel Northampton
County battalion, 433.
Germain, Lord George, colonial sec-
retary, letter from, to General von
Heister, 226 ; letter from, to British
Peace Commissioners, 483.
Geulick, Samuel, 358.
Gilliland, James, ist lieutenant New
York State artillery company, 357.
Gilman, Israel, lieutenant-colonel 2d
Continental foot, 354.
Glover, Col. John, Marblehead, Mass.,
regiment, 84, 134; brigade of, in
first division, 142; colonel 14th
Continental foot, commanding brig-
ade, 355 et seq. ; biographical note
of, 35°-
Gloucester County, militia from, under
Griffin, 74.
Goebel, John, private German bat-
talion, killed, 265 note.
Grabe, Ensign Friedrich Franz, von
Lossberg regiment, 118, 148, 378,
380; von Altenbockum's company,
165 ; prisoner, 389 ; biographical
note of, 392.
Grant, Major-Gen. Sir James, com-
manding Fourth brigade British
army, 16, 430 ; colonel 55th foot,
48 ; his opinion of Americans'
fighting qualities, ib. note ; will
keep the peace in New Jersey, 108 ;
hears the news of Trenton at Bruns-
wick, 189 ; letters of, to Colonel
von Donop, 51, 67, 70, 115, 425;
to Colonel Rail, 334 ; letter to, from
Colonel von. Donop, 426.
Graydon, Alexander, captain Shee's
regiment, 263.
Greaton, Col. John, 60.
Green, John, major ist Virginia Con-
tinentals, 351.
Green, Timothy, colonel Lancaster
County battalion, 433.
Green, William, ist regiment Hunter-
don County militia, 138 note.
Greene, Gen. Nathanael, 12; aban-
dons Fort Lee, 2 ; retreats to Hack-
ensack, N. J., ib. ; takes command
at Princeton, 17 ; commanding left
wing, 142 ; Washington takes sup-
per with, at Samuel Merrick's
house, 112; letter from, to ,
47 2 ; biographical note of, 348.
Griffin, Col. Samuel, sick, 73; adju-
tant-general, 74 ; headquarters of, at
Haddonfield, ib.
502
INDEX
Gruff, George, of Lancaster, private
Philadelphia City Troop, 443.
Guild, John, ist regiment Hunterdon
County militia, 138 note.
Hackensack, N. J., Washington's
headquarters at, 3; uncertain loy-
alty of people around, ib. ; Hacken-
sack bridge burned, 5.
Hageman, Joseph, 358.
Haines, Mr., a loyalist, 337.
Hale, Nathan, major 2d Continental
foot, 354.
Hall, Street, lieutenant-colonel igth
Continental foot, 356.
Hall, William, private Philadelphia
City Troop, 443.
Hamilton, Capt. Alexander, battery
of, 15 ; in second division, 142 ;
captain New York State artillery
company, 357 ; biographical note of,
158.
Hand, Edward, colonel Pennsylvania
rifles, 258 ; colonel ist Pennsyl-
vania Continentals, 352 ; attacks
Mawhood's left, 284.
Harcourt, Hon. William, lieutenant-
colonel i6th light dragoons, 430;
captures Lee, 55.
Harris, David, captain Maryland rifle
battalion, 353.
Harris, John, American headquarters
at the house of, 208.
Harrison, Lieut. -Col. Robert H., trans-
fers headquarters business to New-
town, 112; Washington's secretary,
208.
Hartung, Corp. William, of von Loss-
berg regiment, 117 ; von Altenbock-
um's company, 118.
Haslet, John, of Delaware, 256; colo-
nel Delaware Continentals, 280, 351 ;
mortally wounded, 282 ; letter from,
to Caesar Rodney, 376 ; biographical
sketch of, 452.
Hassell, Sergt. Geo. Wilhelm, Hes-
sian yagers, 151.
Hausseger, Col. Nicholas, ig ; German
Continental infantry, 258, 352; taken
prisoner and suspected of disloyalty,
262.
Hayden, Josiah, major 23d Conti-
nental foot, 356.
Heard, Gen. Nathaniel, 9.
Heath, General, 58.
Heeland, , corporal regiment von
Minnigerode, 180.
Hendorff, Friedr. Christ., ensign regi-
ment von Lossberg, 378 ; account of
battle of Trenton by, 187 ; prisoner,
389 ; biographical note of, 392.
Hendricks, James, lieutenant-colonel
6th Virginia Continentals, 353.
Henley, Lieut.-Col. David, acting
deputy adjutant-general on Wash-
ington's staff, 28.
Henry, George, captain Philadelphia
militia, 232, 433.
Henry, Patrick, lieutenant and adjutant
ist New Jersey loyalist volunteers,
236.
Henry, Samuel, ironworks of, 176;
mill of, 262.
Henshaw, Lieut.-Col.William, of Mas-
sachusetts, 255.
Hesse, Prince of, letter to, from Gen-
eral von Heister, 401 ; from, to Gen-
eral von Knyphausen, 403.
Lleusser, , quartermaster regiment
von Lossberg, 109 ; describes Colo-
nel Rail, 199.
Heutzeman, , of the Hessian artil-
lery, 157.
Ilille, Heinr. Reinh., lieutenant regi-
ment von Lossberg, 190, 378, 382,
411 ; escapes, 389; biographical note
of, 392.
Historical authorities, documents, etc.,
list of, 485 et seq.
Hitchcock, Daniel, 59 ; colonel New
England brigade, 264; takes posi-
tion with his Continental brigade,
266 ; praised by Washington, 297;
Dr. Rush on, 298.
Hobley, Thomas, lieutenant-colonel
Bradley's battalion, prisoner of war,
353-
Holden, Benjamin, lieutenant-colonel
27th Continental foot, 352.
Holland, Thomas, captain Delaware
Continentals, 432 note.
HoUingsworth, Levi, 443.
Honeyman, John, of Griggstown,
Somerset County, Washington's s]3y,
87 ; letter of Washington protects
family of, 88 ; accused of aiding the
enemy, 358.
Hood, Mr., 3d battalion, letter from, to
, 469.
Hoops, Major Robert, brigade major
of Brig.-Gen. Phil. Dickinson's staff,
sent to Lee, 53.
Hopkinson, Francis, signer of the De-
claration of Independence, library
of, ruined, 234.
Hovenden, Mr., a loyalist, 336.
How, Micajah, house of, at Trenton,
95-
INDEX
503
Howard, John, of Col. Lippit's regi-
ment, 254.
Howe, Lord Richard, admiral of the
British fleet, might have intercepted
American army on the Raritan, 11.
Howe, Sir William, succeeds General
Gage as commander of British
forces, 10; in New Jersey, 38; re-
turns to New York, 48 ; on the situ-
ation, 66; letters of, to Lord George
Germain, 327, 482 ; to Lord Germain
on battle of Trenton, 219 ; to Colonel
von Donop, 316 ; of thanks from, to
Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood, 458 ;
report of, to Lord Germain, 293 ;
proclamation of, 314.
Howell, Arthur, 146.
Howell, Hezekiah, 37.
Howell, Richard, cooper-shop of, 146.
Howell, Samuel, Jr., private Philadel-
phia light horse, 250, 443.
Howell's Ferry, 30, 150.
Howell's house, English picket at,
119.
Howland, John, of Lippit's Rhode
Island State regiment, 276.
Hubley, Adam, major loth Pennsyl-
vania Continentals, 431 note.
Hugg, Samuel, battery of, 142; cap-
tain W. N. J. State artillery com-
pany, 357.
Hull, William, captain 7th Connecticut
Continentals, 206, 261,356; account
of, 208 ; letter from, to Andrew
Adams, 375.
Humpton, Col. Richard, 15; Pennsyl-
vania Continentals, 129; colonel nth
Pennsylvania Continentals, 433; or-
der of Washington to, 310.
Hunt, Abraham, 267; biographical no-
tice of, 122.
Hunt, Elias, 258.
Hunter, James, corporal Philadelphia
light horse, 250, 443.
Hunter, Samuel, colonel Northumber-
land County battalion, 433.
Hunterdon County, American scout-
ing party in, 122.
Hutchinson, Israel, colonel 27th Con-
tinental foot, 352.
Hyer, Jacob, 89.
Ide, , of the Hessian artillery,
163. •
Inman, George, extract from his " Nar-
rative of the American Revolution,"
477-
Inslee, Joseph, 1st Hunterdon County
militia, 138 note.
Jackson, Michael, lieutenant-colo-
nel i6th Continental foot, 354.
Jacobs, John, lieutenant-colonel 23d
Continental foot, 356.
Jerseys, the, \\'ashington's army in, i.
Johnson, John, captain ist New York
Continentals, 355.
Johnson, Obacliah, lieutenant-colonel
Ward's Connecticut infantry, 354.
Johnson's Ferry, 109.
Johnston, George, major 5th Virginia
Continentals, 353.
Johnstone, George, British diplomat, 7.
Johonnot, Gabriel, lieutenant-colonel
14th Continental foot, 356.
Jones, Capt. Thomas, 2d regiment
Hunterdon county militia, 129.
Keith, William, Washington leaves
house of, 73.
Keller, Ludwig Wilhelm, lieutenant
regiment von Lossberg, 378 ; pris-
oner, dies in Virginia, 389.
Kelly, John, major Northumberland
County, Pa., militia, 287.
Kemble, Major Stephen, deputy adju-
tant-general to General Howe, ob-
servations of, on battle of Trenton,
Kershow, Joest, 358.
Kimm, Lieut. Georg Christian, von
Altenbockum's company, 118; regi-
ment von Lossberg, 378 ; killed,
149, 389; biographical note of, 392.
Kinen, Carl Andr., lieutenant regiment
Rail, 193, 378; prisoner, 389 ; bio-
graphical note of, •390.
Kinen, Ludwig, ensign regiment Rail,
378; absent during battle, 389; bio-
graphical note of, 391.
Kingston, British troops at, 236.
Kirkbride's Ferry, 30.
Kleinschmidt, Carl Wilhelm, ensign
and adjutant regiment Rail, 168,
378; a prisoner, 389; joins the Amer-
icans, 215.
Knox, Henry, 84 ; colonel American
artillery, 136, 356; addresses troops,
254 ;. letters of, to his wife, 266 note,
371, 436, 449; biographical note of,
35°-
Knowles's Creek, 130.
Knowlton, , lieutenant-colonel 20th
Continental foot, mortally wounded
at Harlem Heights, 352.
Kosciusko, Thaddeus, 32.
Kuester, Friedrich Wilhelm, ensign
regiment von Bunau, 410.
Kuhn, Christian, a Hessian soldier.
504
INDEX
enlists in Moylan's 4th Continental
dragoons, 385 note.
Lamb, John, major Knox's artillery,
3S6-
Lamb, Patrick, 273.
Lanning, David, ibt regiment Hunter-
don County militia, 138 note ; cap-
tured by Hessians, escapes, ib.
Lanning, Joseph, blacksmith at Tren-
ton, 37.
Lanning, Samuel, 37.
Lardner, John, private Philadelphia
light horse, 250, 273 note; letter
from, to Captain Smith, 442,
Lawrence, Elisha, lieutenant-colonel
1st New Jersey loyalist volunteers,
236. 435 "ote-
Lawrence, John, mayor of Burlington,
43-
Lawrenceville, formerly Maidenhead,
27.
Lawson, Robert, lieutenant-colonel 4th
Virginia Continentals, 353.
Leaning, Thomas, private Philadelphia
City Troop, 443.
Lee, Maj. -General Charles, at White
Plains, ordered to join Washington,
4 ; opinion of, regarding Sir William
Howe, 10; treachery of, 52; plans
of, 54 ; slowness of his movements,
55 ; captured, 55; writes to General
Gates, abusing Washington, 57 ; a
prisoner, sent away from Brunswick,
303 ; letter to, from Washington,
13-
Lee, John, capt^n Northumberland
County battalion, 433.
Lee, William R., major 14th Conti-
nental foot, 356.
Leiper, Thomas, sergeant Philadelphia
light horse, 250, 443.
Leslie, Alexander, brigadier-general
2d brigade (British), 430; marches
to Springfield, Bound Brook, and
Princeton, 52 ; at Princeton, 49, i88 ;
hears the result of battle of Trenton,
189; formerly colonel 64th foot, 248 ;
letters from, to Colonel von Donop,
424.
Leslie, Capt. the Hon. William, R. A.,
wounded, 293; captain 17th regiment
roval artillery, biographical sketch
of,' 457-
Lewis, Capt. George, sent under flag
of truce to attend General Mercer,
297.
Lindenburger, John, lieutenant Penn-
sylvania artillery, 214.
Linnard, William, ist lieutenant 2d
Artillery company, Philadelphia As-
sociators, 358.
Lippit, Christopher, colonel Rhode
Island State regiment, 276.
Livingston, Gov. William, asked to
post guards, 12 ; message to legisla-
ture, 25; letters to, from Lord Stir-
ling, 219, 394; biographical note, 12.
Livingston, Robert James, Hunterdon
County militia, later ensign 5th Vir-
ginia regiment, 194.
Livingston, William Smith, major and
aide-de-camp to General Greene,
wounded, 292 note.
Long Island, battle of, i.
Loray, Capt. Friedrich Heinrich, Hes-
sian chasseurs, 68; letter from, to
Colonel Rail, 339.
Losbiniere, Captain, 338.
Lotheisen, Johann Jacob, judge advo-
cate, reports, 230, 408.
Lott, Cornehus, 358.
Lowantica Valley, 303.
Loyalists, information given by, 336 <?/
seq.
Lusk, Patrick, private Pennsylvania
rifles, wounded, 292 note.
McCall, Lieut. Mark, 377.
McClenachan, Blair, private Philadel-
phia City Troop, 443.
McDonough, Thomas, major Delaware
Continentals, 351.
McDougall, Alexander, colonel ist
New York Continentals, 355; brig-
adier-general, 60 ; comes with his
troops from General Schuyler's
corps, 61.
McDuffie, John, lieutenant-colonel 8th
Corrtinental foot, 354.
McKonkey's Ferry, 30; chosen as place
for the crossing of American army,
130.
McPherson, Capt. John, 17th regiment
Royal artillery, wounded, 293 ; bio-
graphical sketch of, 456.
Macwhorter, Rev. Dr. Alexander, at
council of war, 85.
Madison, formerly Battle Hill, 303.
Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, 27,
238 ; Lord Cornwallis at, 28 ; picket
at, on Brunswick road, 380.
Malta Island, 130, 246.
Mansfield Square, British troops at,
alarmed, 69.
Marburg, Germany, documents at, 68.
Markham, Enoch, lieutenant-colonel
46th regiment (British), 431.
INDEX
SOS
Marshall, Thomas, lieutenant-colonel
3d Virginia Continentals, 351.
Martin, Reinhard Jacob, captain Hes-
sian engineers, 99.
Mason, David, lieutenant - colonel
Knox's artillery, 356.
Matlock, Timothy, colonel Philadel-
phia rifles, 232, 433.
Matthew, Edward, brigadier-general
Royal artillery, excited, 303 ; con-
templates retreat from Brunswicli,
ib. ; commanding temporary brigade
(British), 431.
Matthaus, Johann Jost, major regiment
Rail, 109, 174, 378 ; succeeds in com-
mand of regiment Rail, 156; pris-
oner, 388; biographical sketch of,
390-
Matthew, General, meets American
troops at Pluckemin, 52.
Mawhood, Charles, lieutenant-colonel
17th regiment (British), marches to
Hillsborough and Flemingtown, 52 ;
commands 4th brigade, 248, 430;
pursues Mercer's brigade, 282 ; com-
mended in orders, 296 ; letter of
thanks to, from General Howe,
458.
Maxwell, Brig.-Gen. William, 15; in
command of New Jersey troops at
Tlconderoga, 6i ; takes command at
Morristown, 61.
Meade, Charles W., of Trenton, 275.
Mease, John, private Philadelphia City
Troop, 443.
Mercer, Brig.-Gen. Hugh, stationed at
Bergen Neck, 4 ; appeals in vain to
militia not to disband, 12; brigade
of, 30 ; instructions to, and others
from. General Washington, 62 ;
brigade of, in second division, 142 ;
with his brigade at Phillips Ford,
262; commands American advance
at Princeton, 280; wounded, 282,
445 ; brigade of, routed, 2S2 ; death
of, 296 et seq.; burial of, 297 ; letters
of, to Colonel Durkee, 359, 379 ; bio-
graphical sketch of, 459.
Meredith, Maj. Samuel, letter from, to
, 468.
Merrick, Samuel, Washington rides to
house of, 112.
Middlesex County, 10.
Mifflin, John, major Magaw's 5th
Pennsylvania, 431 note, 434.
Mifiiin, Brig.-Gen. Thomas, sent to
Congress, 8 ; quartermaster-general,
9 note; and Putnam advise Congress
to leave, 36; makes an appeal to
Philadelphia Associators, 19; suc-
cessful in recruiting, 253 ; urges sol-
diers to continue in service, 254 ;
brigade orders of, 431, 432; bio-
graphical note, 8.
Miles, Samuel, colonel Pennsylvania
rifles, 292 note ; colonel ist Pennsyl-
vania volunteers, prisoner of war,
351-
Miller, Capt.Henry, of Colonel Hand's
Pennsylvania rifles, 47, 259.
Miller, Rev. Dr. John, 291.
Millett's Hill, 280.
Mills, Benjamin, captain Bradley's
battalion, 353.
Milnor, Joseph, 96.
Minnick, Christian, owner of the
Bloomdale Ferry, 239.
Moeller, Friedrich, judge advocate
Rail's brigade, 378 ; prisoner, 390.
Moller, Wilhelm Christian, lieutenant,
172.
Monckton, Hon. Henry, lieutenant-
colonel commanding 1st British
brigade, 430.
Monmouth County, loyalists in, 9.
Monroe, Lieut. James, of Weedon's
regiment, 164 ; wounded, 194.
Montressor, Captain, 37.
Moore, James, captain ist Middlesex,
N. J., militia, 290.
Moore, James, captain-lieutenant New
York State artillery, dies, 357.
Moore, John, major 5th Continental
foot, 354.
Moore, Capt. Thomas, of the Ameri-
can armed boat Hancock, 45.
Morgan, Col. George, 77.
Morris, Anthony, Jr., ensign 1st battal-
ion Philadelphia Associators, 445 ;
killed, 292 ; biographical sketch of,
455-
Morris, Lewis, major, and aide-de-
camp to General Sullivan, wounded,
292 note.
Morris, Margaret, the Quakeress, 44.
Morris, Robert, 36 ; sends needed
money to Washington, 256.
Morris, Capt. Samuel, Philadelphia
troop of light horse, 19, 142, 150,
250, 358. 443-
Morris, Capt. Samuel C, of Philadel-
phia Associators, 36.
Morris, William S., 273.
Morris, , member of Congress,
245.
Morristown, N. J., sick of the Ameri-
can army sent to, 6 ; Washington's
headquarters at, 303.
t;o6
INDEX
Morrisville, formerly Trenton Ferry,
30-
Morven, residence of Richard Stocli-
ton, tlie signer, headquarters of Gen-
eral Cornwallis, 248.
Moseley, William, captain 7th Virginia
Continentals, wounded, 266 note.
Mostyn, Capt. Robert, 65th regiment
(British), killed, 292 ; biographical
sketch of, 456.
Mott, Capt. John, ist regiment Hun-
terdon County militia, 138 note ; cap-
tain N. J. Continentals, 146.
Motz, Justin Heinrich, judge advocate
general Hessian troops, report of,
229.
Moulder, Joseph, captain 2d artillery
company, Philadelphia Associators,
136, 264, 358; in 1st division, 142;
attacked, 284.
Mount Holly, Americans at, 67.
Mount Hope, Morris County, N. J.,
Hessian prisoners employed at the
iron works at, 215.
Muddy Run, 275.
Muhling, Conrad, fusilier company von
Borck, regiment von Knyphausen,
183.
Mueller, Serj. Johannes, defends As-
sunpink bridge, 170.
Miiller, Wilhelm Christian, lieutenant
regiment von Lossberg, 37S ; pris-
oner, 389 ; biographical note of,
392-
Muirheid, John, ist regiment Hunter-
don County militia, 138 note.
Muller, , quartermaster regiment
von Knyphausen, 109.
Murarius, Ludwig Eberhard, captain
regiment Landgrave, 410.
Murray, John, captain Pennsylvania
rifles, 292 note ; and detachment
guard prisoners to Philadelphia,
213-
Musgrave, Thomas, lieutenant-colonel
40th regiment (British), 430.
Navy, American : brigantine Andrew
Doria, 433; armed boat Hancock, 45,
433; ship Montgomery, 433.
Neil, Daniel, captain E. N. J. State ar-
tillery company, 2S1, 357; killed,
282 ; battery of, 142 ; biographical
sketch of, 453.
Neilson, John, colonel Middlesex
brigade, 18 ; colonel 2d regiment
Middlesex County, 251.
Neshaminy Creek, 208.
Nevious, IVIartin, 358.
Newark, Thomas, captain-lieutenant
W. N. J. State artillery company,
3S7-
Newark, N. J., American army halts
at, 6 ; demonstrations at, against
the English, 9 ; British troops en-
ter, 9.
Newbold, Joshua, 37, 96.
New Brunswick, 10.
New Jersey, legislature of, sitting at
Burlington, 6 ; passes a law to orga-
nize four battalions, 7 ; moves from
Princeton to Trenton, 13; Tories in,
ib. ; conditions in, deplorable, 21 ;
British proclamation to the people
of, 22 ; loyalists in, 24; treatment of,
by Plessians, ib. ; stations of British
army in, 38 ; officers of the militia of,
obtain intelligence of the enemy, 87;
Provincial Convention of, meets at
Trenton, 96 ; effect of the battles on
people of, 305.
New Market, 10.
Newtown, Bucks County, Pa., 208;
commissary and quartermaster's de-
partment at, 30.
New York, headquarters of British
army at, 10.
Nicholas, Samuel, major of marines,
242, 433, 4.35.
Nichols, Maj. Francis, 9th Pennsylva-
nia Continentals, comes to Borden-
town to exchange prisoners, 49.
Nixon, John, lieutenant-colonel 3d
battalion Philadelphia Associators,
232.
Norris, Richard, house of, 162.
Odell, Rev. Jonathan, of Burling-
ton, a loyalist, 44.
Ogelvie, James, major " King's Own "
regiment, 430.
Olden, Thomas, 287, 297.
Osborn, Sir George, muster-master-
general British army, 195.
Oxford Furnace, Sussex County, 129.
Packard, Isaac, ist lieutenant Mas-
sachusetts Continental artillery com-
pany, 357.
Paine,Thomas, publishes in " Pennsyl-
vania Journal " an appeal to Ameri-
can people, 80.
Parker, Josiah, lieutenant-colonel 5th
Virginia Continentals, 353.
Parker, Richard, major 6th Virginia
Continentals, 353.
Paterson, John, colonel 15th Conti-
nental foot, 354.
INDEX
507
Pauli, Capt. George Heinrich, an en-
gineer officer, 47 ; on von Donop's
staff, 106.
Pennington, 51.
Pennington road, picket on, 379.
Pennington-Trenton road, 142.
Pennsylvania, address to the people
of, by Council of Safety, 220.
Penrose, Col. James, in command at
Burlington, 253 ; colonel loth Penn-
sylvania Continentals, 433.
Penrose, Jonathan, private Philadel-
phia City Troop, 443.
Perry, James, captain i6th Continental
foot, 354.
Peters, Thomas, private Philadelphia
light horse, 250, 443.
Petty's Run, steel works at, 92.
Pfaif, Friedrich, major, regiment Erb-
prins, 410.
Philadelphia, to be preserved, 32 ;
Congress resolves to defend, 33 ; in
the control of General Putnam, 34 ;
how saved from British invasion,
304-
Phillips, Elias. 273; adjutant ist regi-
ment Hunterdon County militia,
138 note.
Phillips, Henry, captain ist regiment
Hunterdon County militia, 138 note.
Phillips, John, captain ist regiment
Hunterdon County militia, 138 note.
Phillips, Joseph, major 1st regiment
Hunterdon County militia, 138 note.
Phillips, Philip, captain, later major,
1st regiment Hunterdon County mi-
litia, 138 note.
Pidgeon, William, house of, at Tren-
ton, 94.
Piel, Lieut. Jacob, regiment von Loss-
berg, brigade adjutant to Colonel
Rail, 90, 120, 172, 378, 382 ; map
by, 124 ; a prisoner, 389 ; biographi-
cal note of, 392.
Pierce, Thomas, captain Massachu-
setts Continental artillery company,
357-
Pike, Gen. Zebulon, house in Tren-
ton, 171.
Pinkerton's alley, now East Hanover
street, Trenton, 156.
Piper, James, lieutenant-colonel ist
Pennsylvania volunteers, dies a pris-
oner of war, 351.
Piper, John, colonel Bedford County
battalion, 433.
Pluckemin, 52 ; letter dated at, 446.
Poland, , of the Hessian artillery,
157-
Pollard, William, corporal Philadel-
phia light horse, 250, 443.
Poraroy letter, 73.
Poor, Enoch, colonel 8th Continental
foot, 354.
Poor, Thomas, lieutenant-colonel 5th
Continental foot, 354.
Porter, Elisha, colonel, 60.
Porter, Thomas, colonel Lancaster
County battalion, 433.
Potter, James, colonel 2d Northum-
berland County, Pa., militia, 287,
433 ; taken prisoner, 456.
Potts, Jonathan, surgeon-general Mif-
flin's brigade, 432 ; letter from, to
Owen Biddle, 445, 455 note.
Potts, Stacy, of Trenton, 92 ; Colonel
Rail dies at the house of, 192.
Prescott, Brig. - Gen. Richard, ex-
changed for Gen. John Sullivan,
59-
Prescott, Robert, lieutenant-colonel
28th regiment (British), 430.
Preston, David, second lieutenant
Massachusetts Continental artillery
company, 357.
Princeton, N. J., Washington's army
marches through, i ; New Jersey
legislature leaves for Trenton, 13;
march to, 15; noted buildings at,
occupied and robbed, 18 ; quarters
of 42d regiment, R. A., and yagers,
near, 238 ; regiment von Minni-
gerode quartered in, 238.
Princeton, battle of, preliminaries for,
261 et seq. ; begins, 281 ; English
repulsed, 285 ; over in fifteen min-
utes, 286 ; fruits of, 29S ; General
Putnam gives an account of, 449 ;
British killed in, 458; comments on,
463 ; account of, in " New York Ga-
zette and Mercury," 47 1 ; in other
newspapers, 473 et seq. ; account of,
by Sergt. Joseph White, 478; by
Lieut. Samuel Shaw, 480.
Prisoners taken, 176.
Probasco, Henderick, 358.
Proclamations, from Washington, 374 ;
Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 395.
Procter, Francis, second lieutenant
second company Pennsylvania State
artillery, 357.
Procter, Thomas, Major, made colonel
Pennsylvania artilleiy, 258 note ;
letters to, from Lieut. Pat. Duffy,
370; from Capt. Thomas Forest,
372.
Proctor, Thomas, Captain, battery of,
253-
5o8
INDEX
Putnam, Ezra, major 27th Continental
foot, 352.
Putnam, Gen. Israel, 1 5 ; in command
at Philadelphia, 32; put in control
of Philadelphia, 34 ; and MifHin, ad-
vise Congress to leave, 36; reported
at Mount Holly with 3000 men, 49;
supposed to be on east side of Dela-
ware River, 68 ; receives captured
Hessian officers, 214; tells of the
Princeton battle, 449 ; letters to,
from Col. J. Reed, 437 ; from Gen-
eral Washington, 462 ; letter from,
to , 437-
QuiBBLETOWN, now New Market, 10.
Rall, Col. Johamn Gottlieb, com-
manding at Trenton, 41 ; sends a
patrol to Pennington, 51 ; on situa-
tion at Trenton, 67 ; keeps a picket
at Crosswick's Creek, 68 ; criticises
General Leslie, 70 ; headquarters
of, at Trenton, 92 ; boasts of, 99 ;
hopes to capture Washington, 105;
careless, 107, 125; wants more
troops, 108 ; reckless and over-con-
fident, no; tricked, no; blamed,
116; criticised by his officers, 120;
continues convivial, 122; in the
battle of Trenton, 158 ; bewildered,
162 ; tries to rally his forces, 169 ;
tries to make his troops advance,
173; badly wounded, 174; death of,
192 ; visited on his death-bed by
Washington and Greene, ib. ; epi-
taph of, 193 ; sketches of his charac-
ter, 198 et seq. ; verdict on, by the
War Commission, 231 ; dies at Tren-
ton, 388 ; letters from, to von Donop,
70. 3-3. 326, 329, 331, 332; letters
to, from General Leslie, 339; from
Captain Loray, 339.
Rancocas Bridge, attack at, 6g.
Randolph, Benjamin, private Phila-
delphia light horse, 250.
Rawlings, Moses, lieutenant - colonel
commandant Maryland rifle bat-
tahon, 353.
Read, James, colonel ist Virginia
Continentals, 351.
Read, John, lieutenant 4th Virginia
Continentals, wounded, 292.
Read, Joseph, colonel 13th Conti-
nental foot, 355.
Read, Seth, lieutenant -colonel 15th
Continental foot, 354.
Read, Capt. Thomas, 242 ; captain
Continental navy, 433.
Read, , Captain, 264.
Reed, Dr. Bowes, of Burlington, 234.
Reed, Col. Charles, Burlington County
militia, 78 note.
Reed, Jacob, 2d lieutenant New York
Continental artillery company, 357.
Reed, James, colonel 2d Continental
foot, appointed brigadier-general,
354-
Reed, John, goes to Congress with a
letter from Washington, 32.
Reed, Col. Joseph, in conference with
Washington, 5 ; sent to Governor
Livingston, 6; relations of, to Wash-
ington, 6; answer of, to British envoy,
7 ; goes to see Colonel Griffin, 73 ;
urges crossing the Delaware, 73;
makes an effort to save Burlington,
75 ; letter from, to von Donop, ib.;
the controversy about his loyalty, 75
et seq. ; account of battle of Tren-
ton by, 206 ; successful on a scout,
249 et seq.; letters of, to Washing-
ton, 322, 339; to General Putnam,
437 ; to, from Washington, 340.
Rhodes, John, captain Hall's Delaware
regiment, 377 note.
Richmond, Jonathan, house of, at
Trenton, 95 ; picket near tavern of,
381.
Rickey, John, hardware store of, at
Trenton, 37.
Rieman, , of the Hessian artillery,
,157-
Ripley, John, major 6th Continentals,
355-
River road, picket on, 379.
Road from Sand Town obliterated,
276.
Robertson, Major-General, ist brigade
(British), 430.
Rodney, C^sar, letter to, from Col. J.
Haslett, 376.
Rodney, Thomas, captain Kent Coun-
ty, Del., militia, 232, 266 note, 433;
journal of, 438.
Rosburgh, Rev. John, chaplain 3d
battalion Northampton County, Pa.,
militia, murdered, 266, 267.
Ross, George, colonel Lancaster
County battalion, 433.
Ross, James, major 1st Pennsylvania
Continentals, 352.
Rupp, , private regiment von
Knyphausen, iig.
Rush, Dr. Benjamin, 77 ; sent under
flag of truce to attend General Mer-
cer, 297; letter of, to Richard Henry
Lee, 298 ; letter ascribed to, 446.
INDEX
S09
Ryall, Thomas, 96.
St. Clair, Arthur, brigadier-gen-
eral, 84 ; brigade of, in first division,
142 ; position of brigade of, before
Princeton battle, 262 ; biographical
note of, 349.
Salzmann, Gregorius, lieutenant regi-
ment Rail, 162, 378; on parole in
Trenton, 389.
Salzmann, Captain, 411.
Sand Town, road from, obliterated,
276.
Sargent, Col. Paul D., 84 ; brigade of,
in first 'division, 142; colonel i6th
Continental foot, 354; commanding
brigade, 354 ; biographical note of,
, 35°-
Sargent, Winthrop, captain-lieutenant
Massachusetts Continental artillery
company, 357.
Sargent, Captain, battery of, 142.
Sayres, John, major 4th Virginia Con-
tinentals, 353.
Scheffer, Francis, lieutenant-colonel
regiment von Lossberg, 99, 378 ; in
the battle of Trenton, 161 etseq. ; ad-
vises retreat, 174; confers with his
majors, 175; writes about Trenton
affair, 230 ; prisoner, 389 ; biograph-
ical note of, 391.
Scheffer, , captain von Lossberg
fusiliers, 95.
Schimmelpfennig, Captain, 104.
Schmelz, , private regiment von
Knyphausen, 119.
Schroeder, Ensign Johann Georg,
regiment Rail, n8, 378; prisoner,
389; biographical note of, 391.
Schuyler, Gen. Philip, ordered to
send reinforcements, 4 ; sends rein-
forcements to Washington, 61.
Schwabe, Ernst Christian, lieutenant
regiment von Lossberg, 1 10, 378 ;
wounded, 172 ; in Trenton, 389; bio-
graphical note of, 392.
Scotch road, 142, 144.
Scotch Plains, 10.
Scott, Col. Charles, 5th Virginia Con-
tinentals, 121, 258, 353.
Scott, Dr. Moses, surgeon 2d Middle-
sex militia, later Continental army,
296.
Scott, William, captain 17th foot, at-
tacks Moulder's battery, 284.
Scudder, Amos, ensign ist regiment
Hunterdon County militia, 138 note.
Sergeant Jonathan Dickinson, house
of, at Princeton, burned, 18.
Seymour, Commodore Thomas, to pa-
trol the river between Philadelphia
and Bordentown, 31.
Shabbakonk Creek, 259.
Shaw, Samuel, ist lieutenant and adju-
tant Knox's artillery, 357.
Shee, John, colonel Pennsylvania mili-
tia, 263.
Sheldon, Col. Elisha, of Connecticut,
commands 2d light dragoons, 10.
Shepard, \Villiam, colonel 3d Conti-
nental foot, 356.
Sherburne, Henry (of Rhode Island),
major 15th Continental foot, 354.
Sherman, Isaac (of Connecticut), ma-
jor 26th Continental foot, 356.
Sherwood's Ferry, 30.
Shippen, Dr., sent for by Washington,
127.
Shippin, William, captain armed boat
Hancock, 45, 242, 433 ; killed, 292 ;
captain of marines, biographical
sketch of, 453.
Sim, Patrick, major ist Maryland Con-
tinentals, 352.
Simmons, Henry, ist regiment Hun-
terdon County militia, 138 note.
Sipple, Martinas, behaves badly in
battle, 377.
Skillman, Thomas, 358.
Skinner, Courtlandt, brigadier-general
British army, 236.
Slack, James, of Makefield Township,
Bucks County, Pa., 138 note.
Slack, Uriah, ist Hunterdon County
militia, 138 note.
Smallwood, Brig.-Gen. William, 256 ;
wounded at White Plains, 32 ; sent
to Maryland, etc., for reinforce-
ments, ib. ; colonel ist Maryland
Continentals, appointed brigadier-
general, and wounded, 352.
Smith, Calvin, major 13th Continental
foot, 355.
Smith, Isaac, colonel ist regiment
Hunterdon brigade, 18, 122 note;
house of, at Trenton, 95.
Smith, John R. C, captain Philadel-
phia light horse, 273 note.
Smith, William, 156.
Sobbe, Christian, lieutenant regiment
von Knyphausen, 176, 378, 411 ; ad-
jutant of regiment, a prisoner, 389 ;
biographical note of, 393.
Spencer, Rev. Dr. Elihu, pastor of
Presbyterian Church at Trenton,
98.
Spier, Heinrich, fusilier von Alten-
bockum's company, 165.
5IO
INDEX
Springfield, lo.
Sprout, Ebenezer, major 3d Conti-
nental foot, 356.
Stacy, Mahlon, builds mill on Assun-
pink Creek, 381.
Stark, Col. John, 84 ; rushes into Tren-
ton, 176; colonel 5th Continental
foot, 354; biographical note of, 350.
Steding, Capt. Adam Christoph, regi-
ment von Lossberg, 109, 172, 378;
tries to improve the firing of his
men, 171; prisoner, 389 ; biographi-
cal note of, 391.
Steinbrecker, , private regiment
von Knyphausen, 119.
Stephen, Brig.-Gen. Adam, 17; brigade
of, 30 ; instructions to, and others
from General Washington, 62 ; re-
proof of, changed to praise, 122;
brigade of, in second division, 142 ;
biographical note of, 349.
Sterling, Lieut.-Col. Thomas, com-
manding 42d British regiment, 46 ;
commanding temporary brigade
(British), 431 ; writes to von Donop,
68, 335. 336-
Sternickel, Johann Heinrich, lieuten-
ant regiment Rail, 154, 378, 381 ;
dies a prisoner, 389.
Stevens, Ephraim, sergeant ist New
Hampshire regiment, 168.
Stille, Pontius Delare, house of, at
Trenton, 98 ; headquarters of Hes-
sian guards at house of, 381.
Stirling, General Lord, captured, 2 ;
guards the river at Brunswick and
Amboy, 10 ; ordered to remain at
Princeton, 17 ; keeps boats on Penn-
sylvania side, 28; brigade of, 30;
instructions to, and others, from
General Washington, 62 ; at Beau-
mont's, near McKonkey's Ferry, 73 ;
brigade of, in second division, 142;
ill at Newtown, Pa., 246 ; biographi-
cal note of, 34S ; letters of, to Gov-
ernor Livingston, 219, 394; to
S , 452 ; supposed letter
from, 367.
Stockton, Richard, house of, at Prince-
ton, robbed, 18; British troops at
farm of, 289.
Stockton, Robert, quartermaster,
Washington at the house of, 15.
Stone, John H., lieutenant-colonel ist
Maryland Continentals, 352.
Stony Brook, bridge at, had to be re-
paired, 27.
Stout, Harman, captain loth Pennsyl-
vania, 292 note.
Strieker, George, lieutenant - colonel
German Continental infantry, 352.
Stroebel, Johannes, lieutenant regi-
ment Rail, 378, 382 ; escapes, 389 ;
biographical note of, 390.
Stroud, Jacob, colonel Northampton
County battalion, 433.
Stryker, Henderick 358.
Stryker, John, 358 ; captain Somerset,
N. J., horse, captures English stores,
302.
Stryker, Peter, 358.
Suffolk, Earl of, letter from, to Gen-
eral von Heister, 402.
Sullivan, Gen. John, captured, 2 ; takes
Lee's place, 59 ; marches his troops
to Philipsburg, Easton, and Bethle-
hem, 59; commanding right wing,
142 ; biographical note of, 347.
Swartwout, Cornelius, second lieuten-
ant New York Continental artillery
company, 357.
Taliaferro, William, major 3d
Virginia Continentals, 351.
Taylor, George, colonel Northampton
County battalion, 433.
Taylor, John, major 4th regiment
Hunterdon County militia, 251.
Taylorsville, Pa., 208.
Terhune, Garret, Jr., 358.
Thompson, Thomas, second lieuten-
ant New York State artillery com-
pany, 357-
Tilghman, Tench, letter from, to his
father, James T., 366.
Tindall, Thomas, 96.
Tindall, William, 156.
Tinnicum Ferry, 53.
Tod, William, private Philadelphia
City Troop, 443.
Tompkins, Ensign Robert, 5th Vir-
ginia Continentals, 121.
Tories in New Jersey, 13.
Treat, Samuel, ftrst lieutenant and
quartermaster Knox's artillery, 357.
Trent, William, chief justice, 91, 381.
Trenton, N. J., 12; New Jersey legis-
lature comes to, 13; headquarters
of Washington at, 246 ; Battle
Monument, 159; former names of
streets of, 90; East Front, 179
East Hanover, 180; Hamilton
aveuue, 275; King street, 119
Queen, 179 ; Sunderland's alley
179 ; Third, 180 ; description of,
90 et seq.; description of, by a
Hessian, 483; English in, 484
British army enters, 28, 37 ; Hes
INDEX
5"
sian regiments at, 40 ; British liead-
quarters opened at, 42 ; British
army harassed at, 67 ; quarters of
Britisli army in, 95 et seq. ; places
in, for fortifications selected by Rail,
106; positions in, of English regi-
ments, 1 19; just before the battle,
145; taken by the Americans, 176;
Hessian outposts at, 379; the battle
of, begins, 117; ba,ttle of, not as
complete a success as expected,
231 ; effect of the victory on the
people, 222 ; and of Princeton, effect
of, on people of New Jersey, 305 ;
German accounts of, 187, 204 ; ex-
aminations and reports by Hessian
officers, 229 et seq. ; report of, in
congressional news, 444; accounts
of, in newspapers, 473 et seq. ; by
Sergt. Joseph White, 478 ; fight in
the streets, 1 56 ; names given to
skirmish in, 266; skirmish in, 268.
Trenton Ferry, now Morrisville, 30;
American army crosses at, 27 ;
American troops at, 81.
Trevor, John Taylor, captain 55th
regiment, 280.
Trumbull, Gov. Jonathan, of Con-
necticut, letter to, from Washing-
ton, 64.
Tryon, William, governor of New
York, letters from, to Lord Ger-
main, 223, 373.
Tucker, EUet, 96, 268.
Tucker, William, 96.
TurnbuU, Lieut. Charles, Pennsyl-
vania artillery, 25S note.
Tuthill, Barnabas, major ist New
York Continentals, 355.
Tyler, Dudley, lieutenant 6th Massa-
chusetts Continentals, wounded, 292
note.
Unger, , quartermaster regiment
von Minnigerode, 109.
Van Cleef, Laurance, 358.
Van Cleef, Uriah, 358.
Van Doren, John, Washington at the
house of, 301.
Vandyke, John, second lieutenant E.
N. J. State artillery company, 357.^
Van Emburgh, John, major 2d regi-
ment Middlesex County militia, 251.
Van Lew, Frederick, 358.
Vaughan, Major-Gen. John, on Hack-
ensack River, 5.
Vaupell, Carl Nicholas, lieutenant
regiment von Knyphausen, 170, 180,
378, 384 ; escapes, 390 ; biographi-
cal note of, 393 ; captain, 411.
Veghte, Regneir, 358.
Vessel's Ferry, later McKonkey's, 51.
Von Altenbockum, Ernst Ebenhardt,
captain von Lossberg fusiliers, 95,
378 ; in quarters at the house of
Alexander Calhoun, 146; captured,
175; badly wounded, 389; bio-
graphical note of, 391.
Von Benning, Friedr. Wilh., captain
regiment von Lossberg, 160, 378 ;
killed, 172, 389; biographical note
of, 391.
Von Biesenrodt, Bernhard, captain
regiment von Knyphausen, 177,
378, 411 ; tries to make a stand, 178 ;
reluctant to obey order to surren-
der, 179; tries to escape, 180; re-
fuses to surrender regiment von
Knyphausen, 182; surrenders, 184;
prisoner, 389; biographical note of,
393-
Von Block, Colonel, British army, 67.
Von Bunau, Rudolph, Colonel, 410.
Von Dechow, Friedr. Ludwig, major
regiment von Knyphausen, 99, 119,
378; wounded, 176; advises to sur-
render, 179; dies at Trenton, 389;
biographical note of, 393.
Von der Sippe, Captain, killed, 215.
Von Donop, Colonel, commands a
British corps, 17 ; command of,
saluted with grapeshot, 28 ; marches
to Bordentown, 42 ; placed in com-
mand of two Hessian brigades, 46 ;
delays garrisoning Burlington, 47 ;
on movements of American army,
50 ; makes a reconnoissance to
Mount Holly, 67 ; criticised in Gal-
loway's letter, 75; report of, on
Trenton affair, 225; plans of, after
battle of Trenton, 234; at Allen-
town, 234 ; hears of an intended at-
tack on Princeton, 236 ; arrives at
Princeton, 238 ; letters of, to Gen-
eral Grant, 50, 67, 320, 324, 331,
333, 426 ; to Reed, 76 ; to General
Leslie, 235, 317 ; to Colonel Rail,
317 ; to General Knyphausen, 398 ;
from General Howe, 316; to Rail,
323, 326, 329, 331, 332; from Gen-
eral Grant, 329, 400, 425 ; from
Lieutenant -Colonel Sterling, 335,
336 ; from General Leslie, 424 ; let-
ters of, on exchange of prisoners,
49.
Von Donop, E. F. W., lieutenant Hes-
sian yagers, captured, 292.
512
INDEX
Von Drach, Lieutenant, 411.
Von Drach, Wilhelm, ensign regiment
von Knyphausen, 378 ; prisoner,
390 ; biographical note of, 394.
Von Eschwege, Ernst, captain grena-
dier company, von Linsingen battal-
ion, 69.
Von Eschwege, Friedrich, major regi-
ment grenadiers, 410.
Von Ferry, Werner, lieutenant regi-
ment von Knyphausen, 378 ; pris-
oner, 390 ; biographical note of,
393-
Von Geyso, Lieut. Ludwig, regiment
von Knyphausen, 120, 170, 378, 384;
wounded, 176; escapes, 389; bio-
graphical note of, 393.
Von Gosen, C. V., colonel regiment
von Donop, 229.
Von Grothausen, Lieut. Friedrich Wil-
helm, Hessian yagers, 109, 145, 151,
378, 380; censured, 189; wounded,
dies at Princeton, 265, 390.
Von Hanstein, Ludwig Aug., major,
42, 99, 119; of regiment von Loss-
t'erg. 378 ; prisoner, 389 ; biographi-
cal note of, 391.
Von Hanstein, Captain, von Lossberg
fusilier regiment, 95.
Von Heister, Leopold Philip, lieuten-
ant-general, commander of Hessian
troops in America, blamed for the
defeat at Trenton, 225 ; report of, to
Prince von Hesse, 226 ; letter from,
to Prince of Hesse, 401 ; letter to,
from Earl of Suffolk, 402.
Von Heister, Comet Carl Levin, of
Hesse-Cassel dragoons, 106; adju-
tant to Colonel von Donop, describes
Colonel Rail, 200.
Von Helmold, Max Ludwig, lieutenant
von Linsingen grenadiers, 410.
Von Hessenmuller, Major, regiment
Graff grenadiers, 410.
Von Hobe, Christian Aug., ensign regi-
ment von Lossberg, 378 ; wounded,
172; a prisoner, 389; biographical
note of, 392 ; lieutenant, 411.
Von Kietzell, Car], lieutenant-colonel
regiment von Wissenbach, 410.
Von Knyphausen, Lieutenant-General,
letter to, from Count of Hesse-
Hanau, 227 ; ordered to investigate
conduct of officers, ib.
Von Kochenhausen, F., colonel regi-
ment hereditary prince, 410.
Von Kospoth, Heinrich Jul., major-
general, president of Hessian court-
martial, 410.
Von Kraft, Lieut. Carl, regiment von
Bose, map by, 127.
Von Lengercke, George Emanuel, lieu-
tenant-colonel grenadiers, 410.
Von Linsingen, Otto Christian Wil-
helm, lieutenant-colonel, 410.
Von Lowenstein, Ludwig Wilhelm,
captain regiment von Knyphausen,
170, 378 ; refuses to carry the order
to surrender, 179; prisoner, 389;
biographical note of, 393.
Von Loos, Captain", von Lossberg fusi-
liers, 95.
Von Malet, Ludwig M., captain battal-
ion von Linsingen, 229.
Von Minnigerode, , lieutenant-col-
onel commanding at Bordentown,
190 ; ordered to vacate Bordentown,
-34-
Von Miinchhausen, Capt. Friedrich
Ernst, adjutant to General Howe,
29; describes Rail, 198.
Von Papenheim, August, ensign regi-
ment Landgrave, 410.
Von Rabenau, Lieutenant, Lowenstein
grenadiers, 410.
Von Riess, Johann Friedrich, captain
regiment von Lossberg, 378 ; killed
172, 389; biographical note of, 391.
Von Romrodt, Wilhelm Ludwig, lieu-
tenant regiment von Knyphausen,
190, 378, 382, 41 1 ; escapes, 390 ; bio-
graphical note of, 394.
Von Schaumburg, Count, letter from,
to Baron Hohendorf, on Trenton
affair, 397.
Von Schimmelpfennig, Barthold Hel-
frich, captain regiment von Knyp-
hausen, 180,378,384; escapes, 389;
biographical note of, 393.
Von Stamfurth, L. F., major regiment
du corps, 229.
Von Stein, Captain, 23S.
Von Weisenfels, Friedrich, lieutenant-
colonel 3d New York Continentals,
,355-
Von Zengen, Friedrich, ensign regi-
ment von Lossberg, 172, 378; pris-
oner, 389.
Volprecht, Conrad, bombardier, 166.
Voorheese, Garret, 358.
Voorheese, Jno., 358.
Wachs, F., captain regiment von
Knyphausen, 410.
Wagner, Ciriacus, private von Borch
company, wounded, 118.
Walcott, William, lieutenant-colonel
5th regiment (British), 430.
INDEX
Wall (Mahl ?) a Tory farmer of Bucks
County, i:;5.
Walton, George, 36.
Walton, , member of Congress,
245.
^Valpole, Horace, comment of, on
Washington, 304.
Ward, Andrew, colonel Connecticut
Continental infantry, 354.
Ware, Francis, colonel ist Maryland
Continentals, 352.
Washington, George, his army in
'776-77. I ; withdraws from Long
Island, 2 ; effect of battle of Long
Island on, 2; headquarters of, at
Peter Zabriskie's house in Hacken-
sack, 3 ; begins retreat through the
Jerseys, 4; orders General Schuyler
to send troops from Ticonderoga, 4;
consults with Colonel Reed about
movements of the army, 5 ; suggests
retiring to Virginia, 5 ; feared being
attacked in front and rear, 11 ; urges
Governor Livingston to raise troops,
12; at Trenton, 19; meets Greene's
command retreating to Trenton, 27;
censured for not crossing the Dela-
ware River, 27 ; reported as having
crossed Delaware River at Vessel's
Ferry, 50 ; wonders why Lee does
not join him, 53 ; abused by Lee, 57;
plans an attack, 64; in perplexity
over the situation, 66 ; in camp
above Trenton Falls, 73 ; calls his
general officers together, 84 ; back
at the house of William Keith, on
Knowles's Creek, 84 ; employs John
Honeyman as spy, 87 ; prepares for
an attack, 112; to make the direct
attack on Trenton, 113; first re-
proves, then praises General Ste-
phen, 122; crosses the Delaware'
himself, 134 ; breakfasts at the house
of Benjamin Moore, 141 ; with sec-
ond division, 142 ; horse of, reported
shot, 160; captured Hessian officers
taken to see, 209 ; authorized by
Congress to raise additional troops,
243 ; returns to New Jersey, 245 et
seq.; calls on New Jersey militia to
join him, 251 et seq. ; watches the
skirmish in Trenton from Assunpink
bridge, 264; rallies Mercer's men,
283 ; careless of danger, 286 et seq. ;
after Princeton, 299, 300 ; follows
the retreating ISritish, 303 ; forbids
plundering by the troops through a
proclamation, 374 ; character of, 6 ;
account of, by Lieutenant Wieder-
SI3
hold, 210 ; commented upon by Hor-
ace Walpole, 304; staff of, 83; diary
of an_ officer on the staff of, 360 et
seq.; instructions of, to several gen-
erals, 62 ; orders of, for the march
on Trenton, 113; to Colonels Hump-
ton and Cadwalader, 310; to Cad-
walader, 311 ; to General Ewing,
312 ; General Dickinson, 313 ; report
of, on battle of Trenton, 196, 217;
on Trenton skirmish, 266 ; report of,
to Congress, 435; on Princeton af-
fair, 460 ; proclamation by, 476 ; let-
ters from, at Brunswick, to General
Lee, 13; to Gen. Charles Lee, 53,
54; to General Lee, intercepted,
326; to New Jersey legislature, 6;
to Governor Livingston, 89 ; to
President of Congress, from Prince-
ton, 15; goes to Trenton, ib. ; to
Congress, 32, 244, 245, 429; to
General Gates, 64 ; to Governor
Trumbull, ib. ; to General Heath, 65;
to his brother, 65 ; to Colonel Cad-
walader, 132, 427; to Reed, 340; to
General Putnam, 462; letters to,
from Robert Morris, 65; from Col.
Joseph Reed, 322, 339; from Colo-
nel Cadwalader, 423, 434.
Washington, Wilham, captain Wee-
don's regiment, 115, 121, 144, 164;
wounded, 194.
Webb, Charles, colonel 19th Conti-
nental foot, 356.
Webb, Col. Samuel B., 7th Connecti-
cut, 140, 208; lieutenant-colonel,
and aide-de-camp to Washington,
wounded, 266 note.
Weedon, George, colonel 3d Virginia
Continentals, 213, 351 ; opinion of,
of the situation, 27.
Weltner, Ludowick, major German
Continental infantry, 352.
Welsh, Michael, loth Pennsylvania,
wounded, 292 note.
Wesson, James, lieutenant-colonel 26th
Continental foot, 356.
Westcott, John, ist lieutenant W. N.
J. State artillery company, 357.
Westerburg, , of the Hessian artil-
lery, 157.
Wetter, , private regiment von
Knyphausen, wounded, 118.
White, Sergt. Joseph, account by, of
battles of Trenton and Princeton,
478.
White's Tavern, near Baskingridge,
Somerset County, 55.
Wiederhold, Lieut. Andreas, of regi-
S'4
INDEX
ment von Knyphausen, 107, 119,
378 ; map by, 1 26 ; diary of, 147 ;
compelled to retreat, 161 ; describes
Colonel Rail, 198 ; account of Wash-
ington by, 210; of the battle of Tren-
ton, 2H ; prisoner, 389; biographi-
cal note of, 394; captain, 411.
Wilkinson, Maj. James, aide-de-camp
to General Gates, 57, 183, 185, 290.
Williams, Ennion, major ist Pennsyl-
vania volunteers, 351.
Williams, Rensselaer, tavern of, on
Ferry road, 103 ; picket near tavern
of, 380.
Wills, Solomon, lieutenant- colonel 6th
Connecticut, 355.
Wilmowsky, , captain regiment
von Minnigerode, 190.
Wilson, William, captain ist Pennsyl-
vania Continentals, 265 note.
Winchester, Va., Hessian officers
taken to, 214.
Witherspoon, Rev. Dr. John, president
of Princeton College, 18.
Witt, Frank, City Tavern, 94, 267.
Woelppen, John D., captain German
battalion, 265 note.
Wolcott, Oliver, delegate in Congress
from Connecticut, 1^6,
Woodbridge, 10.
WoodhuU, General, captured, 2.
Woolsey, Ephraim, ist regiment Hun-
terdon County militia, 138 note.
Worth, Samuel, 297.
Yard, Benjamin, 123 note.
Yard, Isaac, house of, 172, 174.
Yardley's Ferry, 30 ; American troops
at, 81.
Yeates, Bartholomew, lieutenant ist
Virginia infantry, killed, 292 ; bio-
graphical sketch of, 455.
York bridge, 43.
York road, 43.
Yunck, Reinhard, lieutenant regiment
von Leitz, 410.
Zabriskie, Peter, house of, Wash-
ington's headquarters, 3.
Zedwitz, Herman, lieutenant-colonel
1st New York Continentals, 355.
Zimmermann, Heinrich, ensign regi-
ment von Knyphausen, 378, 380,
411 ; escapes, 390; biographical note
of, 394.
Zoll, Geo., Herm., lieutenant and ad-
jutant regiment von l^ossberg, 107,
154, 174, 378, 411; wounded at
Trenton, 172, 389 ; biographical note
of, 392.
Zugreis, , private regiment von
Knyphausen, 119.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, u. S. /
ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY
H. u. HOUGHTON AND CO.