New Jersey appeared to be completely subdued, and some of the best judges of the public sentiment were of opinion that immense numbers in Pennsylvania also were determined not to permit the sixty days allowed in the proclamation of the Howes to elapse, without availing themselves of the pardon it proffered. Instead of offensive operations the total dispersion of the small remnant of the American. army was to be expected, since it would be rendered too feeble by the discharge of those engaged only until the last day of December, to attempt any longer the defense of the Delaware, which would by that time, in all probability, be passable on the ice. While every appearance supported these opinions, and Howe, without being sanguine, might well consider the war as approaching its termination, this bold and fortunate enterprise announced to him that he was contending with an adversary who could never cease to be formidable while the possibility of resistance remained. Finding the conquest of America more distant than had been supposed, he determined, in the depth of winter, to recommence active operations, and Lord Cornwallis, who had retired to New York with the intention of embarking for Europe, suspended his departure and returned to the Jerseys in great force for the purpose of regaining the ground which had been lost.

Meanwhile Count Donop, who commanded the troops below Trenton, on hearing the disaster which had befallen Colonel Rahl, retreated by the road leading to Amboy and joined General Leslie at Princeton. The next day General Cadwalader crossed the Delaware with orders to harass the enemy, but to put nothing to hazard until he should be joined by the Continental battalions, who were allowed a day or two of repose after the fatigues of the enterprise against Trenton. General Mifflin joined General

Irvine with about 1,500 Pennsylvania militia and those troops also crossed the river.

Finding himself once more at the head of a force with which it seemed practicable to act offensively Washington determined to employ the winter in endeavoring to recover Jersey.

With this view he ordered General Heath to leave a small detachment at Peekskill, and with the main body of the New England militia to enter Jersey and approach the British cantonments on that side. General Maxwell was ordered, with all the militia he could collect, to harass their flank and rear, and to attack their outposts on every favorable occasion, while the Continental troops, led by himself, recrossed the Delaware and took post at Trenton. On the last day of December the regulars of New England were entitled to a discharge. With great difficulty and a bounty of $10 many of them were induced to renew their engagements for six weeks.

The British were now (1777) collected in force at Princeton under Lord Cornwallis, and appearances confirmed the intelligence, secretly obtained, that he intended to attack the American army.

Generals Mifflin and Cadwalader, who lay at Bordentown and Crosswix, with 3,600 militia, were therefore ordered to join the Commander-in-Chief, whose whole effective force, with this addition, did not exceed 5,000 men.

Lord Cornwallis advanced upon him the next morning, and about 4 in the afternoon the van of the British army reached Trenton. On its approach General Washington retired across the Assumpinck, a creek which runs through the town. The British attempted to cross the creek at several places, but finding all the fords guarded, they desisted from the attempt and kindled their fires. The

Americans kindled their fires likewise, and a cannonade was kept up on both sides till dark.

The situation of General Washington was again extremely critical. Should he maintain his position he would certainly be attacked next morning by a force so very superior as to render the destruction of his little army inevitable. Should he attempt to retreat over the Delaware the passage of that river had been rendered so difficult by a few mild and foggy days which had softened the ice that a total defeat would be hazarded. In any event the Jerseys would once more be entirely in possession of the enemy, the public mind again be depressed, recruiting discouraged, and Philadelphia a second time in the grasp of General Howe.

In this embarrassing state of things he formed the bold design of abandoning the Delaware, and marching by a circuitous route along the left flank of the British army, into its rear, at Princeton, where its strength could not be great, and after beating the troops at that place to move rapidly to Brunswick, where the baggage and principal magazines of the army lay under a weak guard. He indulged the hope that this manœuvre would call the attention of the British general to his own defense. Should Lord Cornwallis, contrary to every reasonable calculation, proceed to Philadelphia, nothing worse could happen in that quarter than must happen should the American army be driven before him, and some compensation for that calamity would be obtained by expelling the enemy completely from Jersey and cutting up in detail all his parties in that State.

Gordon's account of what followed the resolution of Washington to march to Trenton, as well as of the deliberations in both camps is, as usual, lively and dramatic:

"Sir William Erskine, according to report, advises Lord Cornwallis to an immediate attack, saying: 'Otherwise Washington, if any general, will make a move to the left of your army; if your lordship does not attack, throw a large body of troops on the road to your left.' The attack is put off till the morning. His lordship might act upon what is said to be a military principle, that the strongest army ought not to attack toward night. Meanwhile Washington calls a council of war. It is known that they are to be attacked the next day by the whole collected force of the enemy. The matter of debate is, 'Shall we march down on the Jersey side and cross the Delaware over against Philadelphia, or shall we fight?' Both are thought to be too hazardous. On this General Washington says: 'What think you of a circuitous march to Princeton?' It is approved and concluded upon. Providence favors the manœuvre. The weather having been for two days warm, moist, and foggy, the ground is become quite soft, and the roads to be passed so deep, that it will be extremely difficult, if practicable, to get on with the cattle, carriages, and artillery. But while the council is sitting, the wind suddenly changes to the northwest, and it freezes so hard, that by the time the troops are ready to move, they pass on as though upon a solid pavement. Such freezings frequently happen in the depth of winter upon the wind's coming suddenly about to the northwest. This sudden change of weather gives a plausible pretext for that line of fires which Washington causes to be kindled soon after dark in the front of his army, and by which he conceals himself from the notice of the enemy, and induces them to believe he is still upon the ground, waiting for them till morning. The stratagem is rendered the more complete by an order given to the men who are intrusted

with the business to keep up the fires in full blaze till break of day. While the fires are burning the baggage and three pieces of ordnance are sent off to Burlington for security, and with the design that if the enemy follow it the Americans may take advantage of their so doing. The troops march about 1 o'clock with great silence and order, and crossing Sanpink creek,* proceed toward and arrive near Princeton a little before daybreak.

The three British regiments are marching down to Trenton on another road about a quarter of a mile distant. The center of the Americans, consisting of the Philadelphia militia, under General Mercer, advances to attack them. Colonel Mawhood considers it only as a flying party attempting to interrupt his march, and approaches with his Seventeenth regiment so near before he fires that the color of their buttons is discerned. He repulses the assailants with great spirit and they give way in confusion; officers and men seem seized with a panic which spreads fast and indicates an approaching defeat.

Washington perceives the disorder and penetrates the fatal consequence of being vanquished. The present moment requires an exertion to ward off the danger, however hazardous to his own person. He advances instantly, encourages his troops to make a stand, places himself between them and the British, distant from each other about thirty yards, reins his horse's head toward the front of the enemy, and boldly faces them while they discharge their pieces; their fire is immediately returned by the Americans, without their adverting to the position of the general, who is providentially preserved from being injured either by foe or friend.

* Assumpinck creek, spelt variously by different writers. Spark spells it Assanpink.