The Battle at Princeton Summary and Analysis

Washington decided to march on with the army and attack at Princeton. Their orders were to seize control of the highway where the road crossed a bridge over Stony Brook. The object was to keep the British from fleeing Princeton and also to stop reinforcements arriving from Trenton. Cornwallis ordered Charles Mawhood to bring two regiments to Trenton. While on their way they saw the Americans. Mawhood decided immediately to attack. The British did so with remarkable speed. Mawhood did exactly what was expected of a British officer in such a situation. He could have gone back but he chose to attack.

The Americans continued onward to Princeton. They outnumbered the British nearly three to one. Eventually the British fell back under heavy fire. Their troops thinned out and victory was nearly complete for the...