Overview and Summary of the Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Trenton had been a surprising and a significant victory for the Americans and a crushing defeat for the Hessian army. American morale rose and the patriots were ready to face another conflict, fighting for their independence from British rule. General William Howe sent Lord Charles Cornwallis with a strong military force to destroy the American rebels. George Washington and the main part of the Continental Army was encamped on the south side of the *Assanpink. Lord Charles Cornwallis was positioned on the other bank at Trenton. George Washington left some of his troops to build some fortifications over the Assanpink and led the major force toward Princeton, New Jersey. General Charles Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles Mawhood in Princeton. George Washington was able to mount a night attack and defeat the British troops at Princeton and get out before General Charles Cornwallis could arrive with reinforcements. George Washington then led his army to the safety of highlands of New Jersey where he set up a winter encampment at Morristown. The weather conditions that winter were terrible but the coming of warmer weather also brought an additional 9,000 soldiers when new troops volunteer to fight. The British abandoned nearly all their posts in New Jersey and retired to New York. The Siege of Fort Stanwix & Battle of Oriskany was the next bloody conflict. General William Howe and General George Washington would fight again at the Battle of Brandywine.