As we celebrate the 350th anniversary of New Jersey this year, it’s a good time to reflect on the 10 Crucial Days that unfolded right here in Princeton and Trenton from December 25th 1776 to January 3rd, 1777. These few days marked the turning point in the American Revolution, and played a large role in securing our liberty.
Much of 1776 was a dismal year for those Americans wanting freedom from British rule:
- A disastrous defeat in Brooklyn would have ended the revolution then and there but for the providence of wind and fog which allowed George Washington’s army to escape the most massive British naval force ever deployed to that time.
- A disheartening retreat through New Jersey, with the British army under General Cornwallis following closely, saved the army from destruction.
- However, spirits were low and so was public opinion so necessary to support the army.
By December 1st the Continental army arrived in Princeton on its way to Trenton and across the Delaware. Princeton, a hotbed of patriotic fervor, then became a ghost town . On November 29th, John Witherspoon, President of the College of New Jersey (as Princeton University was known) closed the school and sent the students home. When the British arrived in Princeton on December 7th they took over Nassau Hall as a barracks and converted the basement into a dungeon. Morven was later taken as the headquarters for General Cornwallis.
By Christmas the Continental Army was in dire straits: food, ammunition and winter clothing were lacking. Many of the enlistments were to expire December 31st and most of the citizen soldiers had resolved to go home . Finally, public support for the Revolution was at a low, and the value of the Continental currency was sinking fast. A victory was urgently needed.
On December 25th George Washington took a desperate gamble. His army crossed the Delaware and surprise attacked the Hessian garrison at Trenton.
They crossed the Delaware at McConkey’s and Johnson’s Ferries about 10 miles North of Trenton just as a Nor’easter was gathering strength and despite extraordinary ice blockages on the river. Traveling south to Trenton, lugging cannon across Jacob’s Creek, the army attacked the Hessians from the north, emerging from the teeth of the raging Nor’easter. The victory was overwhelming.
The British then amassed an 8,000 man army at Princeton and drove southward to Trenton. On January 2nd 1777, entrenched in positions just south of Trenton behind the Assunpink Creek, the Continental army held off 3 British attacks in the twilight hours. The British suffered many casualties as a result of the sharpshooting ability of the American backwoods riflemen in the army.
Sensing the British were to encircle them in the morning, the Continental army evacuated their positions overnight, leaving bonfires burning to make the British believe they remained.
By the morning of January 3rd 1777 the American army was traveling close to Princeton along Quaker Road toward their main attack point at Nassau Hall. At the same time a force of about 700 British troops under the command of Lt. Col Mawhood was marching south to Trenton to reinforce the army of General Cornwallis.
The American and British forces met just outside Princeton near Clarke’s farm and there took place the Battle of Princeton resulting in another decisive victory for the American army.
In the 10 days from Christmas 1776 to January 3rd 1777 the American army had won 3 decisive victories.
Morale here, and public opinion both here and in Europe, were transformed. Suddenly it was possible that British rule here could be ended.
All New Jerseyans as well all Americans can be highly proud of the events that took place here in these 10 Crucial Days, and how our forebears persisted through unimaginable difficulties to victory and freedom.