The scale is turned and Colonel Mawhood soon finds that he is attacked on all sides by a superior force and that he is cut off from the rest of the brigade. He discovers also by the continued distant firing that the Fifty-fifth is not in better circumstances. His regiment, having used their bayonets with too much severity on the party put to flight by them in the beginning, now pay for it in proportion; near sixty are killed upon the spot, besides the wounded. But the colonel and a number force their way through and pursue their march to Maidenhead. The Fifty-fifth regiment being hard pressed, and finding it impossible to continue its march, makes good its retreat and returns by the way of Hillsborough to Brunswick. The Fortieth is but little engaged; those of the men who escape retire by another road to the same place.

It was proposed to make a forced march to Brunswick, where was the baggage of the whole British army and General Lee, but the men having been without either rest, rum, or provisions for two days and two nights were unequal to the task. It was then debated whether to file off to Cranberry in order to cross the Delaware and secure Philadelphia.

General Knox* urged their marching to Morristown, and informed the Commander-in-Chief that when he passed through that part of the country he observed that it was a good position. He also remarked that they should be upon the flank of the enemy and might easily change their situation if requisite. By his earnest importunity he prevailed and the measure was adopted.

General Greene was with the main body, which was advanced, and had entered the Morristown road without

* Knox was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general on the day after the battle of Trenton.

having been made acquainted with the determination. Just as that was concluded upon the enemy were firing upon the rear of the Americans.

Lord Cornwallis had been waked by the sound of the American cannon at Princeton, and finding himself outgeneraled, and apprehensive for his stores and baggage, had posted back with the utmost expedition. The army under General Washington marched on to Pluckemin, in their way to Morristown, pulling up the bridges as they proceeded thereby to incommode the enemy and secure themselves. By the time they got there the men were so excessively fatigued that a fresh and resolute body of 500 might have demolished the whole. Numbers lay down. in the woods and fell asleep, without regarding the coldness of the weather. The royal army was still under such alarming impressions that it continued its march from Trenton to Brunswick, thirty miles, without halting longer at least than was necessary to make the bridges over Stony brook and Millstone passable."

In the battle of Princeton rather more than 100 of the British were killed in the field and near 300 were taken prisoners. The loss of the Americans was considerably less, but in their number was included General Mercer, an officer of extraordinary merit, who had served with Washington in his early campaigns in Virginia, and was greatly esteemed and beloved by him. Mercer fell in the first charge against Mawhood which was repelled, and in which the bayonet was so mercilessly used, as above noticed in our quotation from Gordon. Mercer, himself, after being dismounted and knocked down with the butt. of a musket, was repeatedly bayoneted and left for dead. on the field. After the battle was over he was found by

Washington in a letter says thirty privates were killed.

his aide-de-camp, Major Armstrong, and conveyed to the house of Mr. Clark, where he expired on the 12th of January (1777), in the fifty-sixth year of his age. His remains were subsequently removed to Philadelphia and buried with military honors in the grounds of Christ Church. A monument was voted to his memory by Congress, which was never erected, but recently the citizens of Philadelphia had his remains removed to Laurel Hill Cemetery, with great funeral pomp, and placed beneath a splendid marble monument raised by subscription among themselves.

Besides General Mercer the Americans lost at Princeton, Colonels Haslet and Potter, Captain Neal of the artillery, and Captain Fleming, who commanded the First Virginia regiment, and four or five other valuable officers. "Colonel Haslet had distinguished himself by his bravery and good conduct in the battles of Rhode Island and Chatterton's Hill, and in several hazardous enterprises."*

The bold, judicious, and unexpected attacks made at Trenton and Princeton, had a much more extensive influence than would be supposed from a mere estimate of the killed and taken. They saved Philadelphia for the winter, recovered the State of Jersey, and, which was of still more importance, revived the drooping spirits of the people and gave a perceptible impulse to the recruiting service throughout the United States.

The utmost efforts were now directed to the creation of an army for the ensuing campaign, as the only solid basis on which the hopes of the patriot could rest. During the retreat through the Jerseys, and while the expectation prevailed that no effectual resistance could be made to the British armies, some spirited men indeed were

*Sparks, "Writings of Washington;" "Life of Washington."

animated to greater and more determined exertions, but this state of things produced a very different effect on the great mass which can alone furnish the solid force of armies. In the middle States especially the panic of distrust was perceived. Doubts concerning the issue of the contest became extensive, and the recruiting service proceeded so heavily and slowly as to excite the most anxious solicitude for the future.

The affairs of Trenton and Princeton were, however, magnified into great victories, and were believed by the body of the people to evidence the superiority of their army and of their general. The opinion that they were engaged in a hopeless contest yielded to a confidence that proper exertions would insure ultimate success.

This change of opinion was accompanied with an essential change of conduct, and although the regiments required by Congress were not completed they were made much stronger than was believed to be possible before this happy revolution in the aspect of public affairs.

The firmness of Congress throughout the gloomy and trying period which intervened between the loss of Fort Washington and the battle of Princeton, gives the members of that time a just claim to the admiration of the world, and to the gratitude of every American. Undismayed by impending dangers they did not, for an instant, admit the idea of surrendering the independence they had declared, and purchasing peace by returning to their colonial position. As the British army advanced through Jersey, and the consequent insecurity of Philadelphia rendered an adjournment from that place a necessary measure of precaution, their exertions seemed to increase with their difficulties. They sought to remove the despondence which was seizing and paralyzing the public