The Turning Point of the American Revolution

At no time during the American Revolution was the cause at a lower ebb than in the winter of 1776-77. The American Army under Washington had just experienced a series of defeats so staggering that few believed that the revolution could exist until the coming of spring. Almost certain defeat had just been escaped at Brunswick, where, by a mistake on the part of General Howe, the attack of General Cornwallis had been delayed until it was too late. Washington by the aid of the delay had succeeded in perfecting his arrangements for the abandonment of New Jersey, and by the time of the arrival of the Hessian vanguard, the troops were safe on the other side of the Delaware River. 

Even this escape, Washington realized, was only a temporary delay of the ordeal that was sure to follow in the near future. Discouragement over recent defeats, and lack of clothing, food and arms resulted in the reduction of many of the regiments to less than 100 men. To add to the discouragement, directly across the river were Howe’s well-drilled and splendidly equipped regiments of regulars, which were at the time the finest body of soldiers in the world. Washington himself realized the desperate plight of the little band of American patriots as is indicated by a letter written at that time to his brother in which he said: “No man, I believe, ever had a greater choice of difficulties and less means to extricate himself from them.” Congress, already having received word of Washington’s almost certain defeat in his present position, and unable to do anything, had fled from Philadelphia, at that time the capital of the Colonies, to Baltimore. 

At this time, if General Howe had followed up his list of victories with one final and crushing blow, of which he was perfectly capable with his overwhelming advantages, the American Revolution would have most certainly come to an end. As it was, however, Howe, feeling that victory was sure, decided to encamp in New Jersey over the winter months and to end the revolution at his convenience when the more pleasant spring months arrived. The delay proved disastrous for the British. Washington was not slow to improve the opportunity afforded him by the enemy’s inactivity. Knowing that a sudden and unexpected victory was the only hope of reviving the drooping spirits of the American soldiers, the General sought for an opening through which to strike.

Stationed in Trenton under the command of Colonel Rall were three regiments of Hessians. Either confident that the American troops would not dare attempt such a foolhardy enterprise, or else feeling that they were not capable of crossing the Delaware under the existing weather conditions, Colonel Rall made no preparations for the protection of Trenton during the winter months. Here, then, Washington decided to strike.

“Sending orders to Cadwalader to cross the Delaware at Bristol, and to Ewing to cross at Trenton Ferry, he, himself, with 2400 Continentals, the flower of his army, passes over nine miles above the town at McKonkey’s Ferry. The weather was frightful, the river was filled with floating ice, a cold northeaster was blowing in the face of the troops. Of the three American detachments, that of Washington was the only one to reach the Jersey shore and upon it tell the entire task of taking the town.”

Once on the Jersey shore, the little army formed two columns, one of which followed the river bank and the other took the main highway to Trenton. The crossing had taken place at night but it involved nine hours and it was broad daylight when the troops arrived at Trenton, but fortunately the Hessians were unsuspecting and the surprise was complete.

Rall, after the first attack, tried to rally his troops in the street, but the volleys of cannon ball and shot which came pouring through the town prevented the British from bringing their cannon into action and they were finally forced to yield. The Hessians lost 100 in killed and wounded, including Colonel Rall himself, who died a few days after the battle from injuries received in the fight. Among the prisoners taken were 30 regimental officers, 92 sergeants, 29 musicians, and 740 privates. Included in the supplies that fell into Washington’s hand were 6 fine cannon, 40 hours, 12 drums, 15 standards and 1000 muskets. And all of this was accomplished without the loss of a single Continental soldier. 

After this crushing defeat the British generals decided to retaliate, and Cornwallis joined Grant and collected a total of over 8000 British troops, the flower of the English army, which they proposed to hurl upon Washington’s motley assemblage of 5000 untrained soldiers. Washington, by the aid of a few daring spies, learned of the plans of the foe, but it was too late to retreat and he prepared for the worst. He began to lay plans for the defense of Trenton. Detachments were sent out to guard the various roads and to delay the oncoming foe as much as possible. Cadwalader succeeded in doing this to some extent by destroying one of the main bridges, but the men under Cornwallis advanced to the banks of the Assunpink and were ordered to camp there over night. It was here that Washington performed one of the greatest feats of generalship in history. 

Pretending to be preparing to encamp for the night, he pitched his tents, increased the size of the guard and lighted fires along the frontier of the rows of his tents. Cornwallis, believing that his enemy was within his grasp, gave little or no attention to the operations across the creek. Behind the glare of the fires, the colonial army was beating a fast retreat with muffled cannon wheels and silent march. All through the night the troops moved in a large circle around the British encampment towards Brunswick, where the English supplies were located. When morning came Cornwallis arose ready for the morning’s attack, but was surprised to find that the enemy had escaped during the night. Washington engaged the British forces at Princeton and won a victory which was crushing in its completeness. It turned the tide in the American Revolution. Frantic efforts were made to overtake the patriot forces before they could reach Brunswick. The small forces at Brunswick made preparations to oppose the oncoming Continental troops, but Washington, believing that the time required for the enterprise would result in the arrival of the larger British forces, turned off the main road and did not go to Brunswick. 

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Dean West Introducing President Harding for the Degree of Doctor of Laws on the Steps of Nassau Hall

Photograph by Orren Jack Turner

In the entire campaign around Princeton, it is generally agreed that less than 30 Americans lost their lives, but of this number most were officers and one was General Mercer, whose ability as a general was second only to that of Washington himself. General Mercer was shot down while trying to rally his men during a retreat from the British soldiers at the time when they were advancing on Princeton. He was found wounded by the Hessian soldiers, who, at first did not recognize that he was a general, but later, upon discovering his identity, demanded that he recall his troops and, upon his refusal, bayoneted him repeatedly and left him for dead. Later he was found by one of his own men and removed to a nearby house, where he died some days later. The site where General Mercer was wounded is not far distant from the location of the Washington Monument. 

The victory at Princeton had two results; the entire country regained hope and thousands of soldiers who formerly believed the cause futile enlisted in Washington’s army, thus making it possible for the Continental Army finally to triumph over the British forces.