CHAP. VIII. nearly two thirds would be entitled to their 1776. discharge on the first day of January. There

appeared no probability of prevailing on them to continue longer in the service, and the recruiting business was absolutely at an end. The spirits of a large proportion of the people were sunk to the lowest point of depression. New Jersey appeared to be completely subdued; and some of the best judges of the public sentiment were of opinion, that immense numbers in Pennsylvania also, were determined not to permit the sixty days, allowed in the proclamation of lord, and sir William Howe, to elapse, without availing themselves of the pardon it held forth to them. Instead of offensive operations, the total dispersion of the smal! remnant of the American army might well be looked for, since it would be rendered too feeble by the discharge of those engaged only until the last day of December, to attempt any longer a defence of the Delaware; which would by that time, in all probability, be every where passable on the ice. While every appearance supported these opinions, and the British general, without being sanguine, might well have considered the war as approaching its termination; this bold and fortunate enterprise announced to him, that he had to contend with an adversary, who could never cease to be formidable, so long as the possibility of resistance remained. Finding the conquest of America

further removed than had been supposed, he CHAP. VIII. determined, though in the depth of winter, to 1776. recommence active operations; and lord Cornwallis, who had retired to New York for the purpose of embarking for Europe, suspended his departure, and returned to the Jerseys in great force, for the purpose of regaining the ground which had been lost.

He

Meanwhile count Donop, who commanded the troops now posted below Trenton, and was himself at Burlington, on hearing the disaster which had befallen colonel Rawle, immediately commenced his retreat by the road leading to Amboy, and joined general Leslie at Princeton. The next day general Cadwalader crossed over and took post on the Jersey shore. was ordered to harass the enemy if he could do so safely, but to put nothing to the hazard until he should be joined by the continental battalions, who were allowed a day or two of repose, after the fatigues of the enterprise against Trenton. General Mifflin now joined general Irvine with a detachment of Pennsylvania militia amounting to about fifteen hundred men, and those troops were also ordered to cross the Delaware.

The general, once more finding himself at the head of a force with which it was practicable to attempt something, resolved not to remain inactive. Inferior as he was to the enemy, he yet determined to employ the winter in endea

CHAP VIII. Vouring to recover the whole, or a great part 1776. of Jersey.

With this view he ordered general Heath, who was stationed at Peck's-Kill for the defence of the highlands, on the North river, to leave a small detachment of troops at that place, and, with the main body of the New England militia, to move into Jersey, and approach the cantonments of the enemy on that side. General Maxwell was ordered to collect as many militia as possible, to harass their flank and rear, and to attack their out posts when any favourable occasion should present itself. Having made December 30. these dispositions, he again crossed the Delaware himself with his continental regiments, and once more took post at Trenton. Here he exerted all his influence to prevail on the troops from New England, whose terms of service expired on the last day of December, to continue during the present exigency, and, with infinite difficulty, added to a bounty of ten dollars, many of them were induced to re-engage for six weeks.

January 1.

1777. The enemy were now collected in force at Princeton, under lord Cornwallis, where some works were thrown up; and, from their advancing a strong corps towards Trenton, as well as from their knowledge that the continental troops from New England were now entitled to be discharged, and from some private intelligence, it was expected they would attack that place.

Generals Mifflin and Cadwalader, who lay at CHAP. VIIL Bordentown and Crosswix with three thou- 1777. sand six hundred militia, were ordered to march up in the night of the first of January to join the commander in chief, whose whole effective force, with this addition, did not exceed five thousand men.

As had been expected, the enemy advanced upon them the next morning; and, after some January 2 slight skirmishing with troops detached to Maidenhead to harass and delay their march, the van of their army reached Trenton about four o'clock in the afternoon; while their rear was at Maidenhead, about half way between Princeton and Trenton. On their approach, general Washington retired across the Assumpinck, a creek which runs through the town, behind which he drew up his army. The enemy attempted to cross this creek at several places, but finding all the fords guarded, they halted and kindled their fires. The American troops kindled their fires likewise, and a cannonade, which had commenced on their first appearance, was kept up on both sides until dark.

The situation of general Washington was, now again, extremely critical. If he maintained his present position, it was certain that he should be attacked, next morning, by a force in all respects superior to his own; and the result would, most probably, be the destruction of his little army. If he should retreat

CHAP. VIII. Over the Delaware, the passage of that river 1777. was now so difficult, being filled with ice,

which, in consequence of a few mild and foggy days, was not firm enough to march upon, that a considerable loss, perhaps a total defeat, would be sustained, and, in any event, the Jerseys would once more be entirely in possession of the enemy; the public mind would again be depressed, and recruiting discouraged by his apparent inferiority; and Philadelphia would once more be in the grasp of general Howe. It was obvious that the one event or the other would deduct very greatly from the advantages promised from his late success; and, if it did not render the American cause absolutely desperate, would very essentially injure it.

In this state of things, he formed the bold and judicious design of abandoning the Delaware, and marching silently in the night by a circuitous route, along the left flank of the enemy, into their rear at Princeton, where he knew they could not be very strong. After beating them there, it was his intention to make a rapid movement to Brunswick, where their baggage and principal magazines lay under a weak guard. He had sanguine expectations that this manœuvre would call the attention of the British general to his own defence; in which event very great objects would be accomplished; Philadelphia would be saved for the present; great part of Jersey recovered;