PRINCETON, BATTLE OF, Jan, 3, 1777. Cornwallis, with nearly his whole force, came up from Princeton to Trenton, where the American army was stationed, Jan. 2, and took up his position on the w. bank of the Assanpink, a little fordable stream, the bridge across which was commanded by the Americans. Washington, whose army was inferior iii every way to that of the enemy, and whose retreat was impossible on account of the ice iu the Delaware, resolved to attack the remaining British force at Princeton, capture the arms and stores at that point, and seize the British magazines at Brunswick afterward. Washington came to the bridge on Stony Brook, about 3 m. from Princeton, at sunrise, sent on gen. Mercer to take possession of the bridge on the main road to Princeton, and went himself by a shorter way. Meanwhile he had kept the enemy in ignorance of his movements; his baggage had been carried to Burlington, .and a force had been left at the Assanpink to deceive the enemy with a show of defense, but with orders to join the main body of the army at dawn. The British force at Princeton, on their way to Trenton, encountered Mercer's brigade at the bridge. Both detachments endeavored to take pbssession of the same position on a piece of rising ground, which the Americans succeeded in occupying first. The Americans began a vigorous
the British, who soon made a bayonet charge, and drove them from their position. Daring the fight, gee. Mercer was mortally wounded. The British pursued the Ameri cans, but were soon stopped by a force of Pennsylvania militia under Washington, and a body of American regulars. The British began an artillery fire on this force. and mado a determined attempt to capture two pieces of artillery from the militia; and after a fierce struggle, by another bayonet char;.,,t, succeeded in reaching the main road, and started toward Trenton, leaving two field-pieces on the field. The 55th British was put to flight, and went in the direction of Brunswick. The 40th did not arrive in time to take part in the battle; part found shelter in Nassau hall at the college of New Jersey, part retreated to Brunswick. The few who did not escape when the Americans came up, surrendered after exchanging a few shots. Washington marched to Morristown. The British loss was nearly 200 killed and wounded, and 230 prisoners. The American loss was about 37.