NJ, USA
Night March from Trenton to Princeton
January 2, 1777
On the night of January 2-3, 1777, Washington executed one of the war's most audacious maneuvers. With Cornwallis's army camped across the Assunpink Creek preparing to attack at dawn, Washington left his campfires burning, muffled his wagon wheels with rags, and marched his entire army around the British flank on a back road toward Princeton.
The march covered roughly twelve miles in freezing conditions. Soldiers who had fought at the Assunpink that afternoon marched through the night without rest. The road had frozen solid after a brief thaw, which made the march possible but punishing. By dawn, the army was in position to strike Princeton. Cornwallis awoke to find his quarry gone.
People Involved
Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (1732-1799) who personally led the attack at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, rallying his troops at a critical moment to turn the tide of the engagement.
Scottish-born physician and Continental brigadier general who was bayoneted by British troops at the Battle of Princeton and died nine days later. Mercer's stand at the orchard south of town bought time for Washington to bring up reinforcements.