Battle of Princeton

On January 3, 1777, George Washington attacked British troops under Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood near Princeton, New Jersey. After slipping away from Trenton during the night, Washington struck the British rear and turned early confusion into an American victory with help from Continental units under Hugh Mercer and John Cadwalader. The battle forced British detachments to abandon much of central New Jersey.

Princeton intensified the strategic crisis for British commanders because it followed Washington's December 1776 success at Trenton and showed that the Continental Army could still maneuver offensively. The victory also repaired American morale after the defeats around New York and the retreat across New Jersey. In political terms, Princeton reassured Congress and wavering soldiers that the Revolutionary cause still had credible military leadership.

Princeton helped drive British forces back toward the New Brunswick and Amboy corridor and allowed Washington to move into winter quarters at Morristown. Together with Trenton, the battle extended enlistments and kept the Continental Army intact for the campaigns of 1777.