232 Trumbull Gallery of Paintings in Yale College. 
Gen. Washington saw his danger. The troops he commanded 
were very inferior in number, as well as in discipline and in arms. 
The Delaware had become absolutely impassable in the presence 
of suchanenemy. ‘To retreat down the east bank, and attempt 
to cross at or near Philadelphia, was equally hopeless; and he re- 
solved to extricate himself by falling into the rear of the enemy, 
and by breaking the line of his communications, forcing him in 
his turn toabandon his favorite attempt on Philadelphia, for the se- 
curity of his own magazines and depots at Princeton and Bruns- 
wick. In execution of this daring and almost desperate plan, 
he took the necessary precaution for keeping up the fires, and ev- 
ery other appearance of still occupying his camp; and leaving 
small parties commanded by confidential officers to go the rounds 
and guard the bridge and fords, he withdrew his troops in the 
dead of night, with the most profound silence ; and commenced 
his march to the east, keeping the creek between him and his 
enemy. 
On the morning of the 3d of January, a little before sunrise, 
and at a short distance from Princeton, the leading division, under 
the command of Gen. Mercer, fell in with the 17th British regi- 
ment, commanded by Col. Mawhood, who had just commenced 
their march to join Lord Cornwallis at Trenton. ‘The meeting 
was equally unexpected to both parties, and both for a moment 
were disconcerted ; but they met on very unequal terms. The 
British had slept warm at Princeton, had breakfasted, and were 
in high spirits, with the expectation of a certain and decisive vic- 
tory; while the Americans, having marched all night, were be- 
numbed with cold, exhausted with fatigue and hunger, and felt 
little anticipation but of defeat. A deadly conflict was unavoid- 
able, and was maintained by the Americans with the courage of 
desperation, until the horse of Gen. Mercer was killed under him; 
and before he could disengage himself, and get upon his feet, he 
was attacked by two grenadiers, and mortally wounded. The 
‘division, upon the loss of their commander, gave way, and for 4 
moment the British were triumphant. 
~ Washington saw the imminence and extent of the danger, and 
the utter irretrievable ruin to the cause of his country, whi¢ 
ould be the consequence of ultimate defeat ; and having formed. 
the troops which followed into a close column, he placed himself 
at their head, and advanced to meet the enemy. A sanguinaly 
