233 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 such an enemy. 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 to abandon 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- 

 mimbed 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 a 

 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, which 

 would 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 sanguinary 



