LONDON GAZETTE.
March 12, 1777
Extract of a letter from General Sir William Howe to Lord
George Germaine, dated New York, January 5, 1777.
In consequence of the advantage gained by the enemy at Trenton, on the 26th of
last month, and the necessity of an alteration in the cantonments, Lord
Cornwallis deferring his going to England by this opportunity, went from hence
to Jersey on the first instant, and reached Princeton that night, to which
place General Grant had advanced, with a body of troops from Brunswick and
Hillsborough, upon gaining intelligence that the enemy, on receiving
reinforcements from Virginia, Maryland, and the militia of Pennsylvania, had
repassed the Delaware into Jersey.
On the 2d, Lord Cornwallis having received accounts of the rebel army being
posted at Trenton, advanced thither, leaving the 4th brigade, under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Mawhood at Princeton, and the 2d brigade with
Brigadier General Leslie at Maidenhead. On the approach of the British troops,
the enemy forward posts were driven back upon their army, which was formed in
a strong position, behind a creek running through Trenton. During the night of
the 2d, the enemy quitted this situation, and marching by Allentown, and from
thence to Princeton, fell in, on the morning of the 3d, with the 17th and 55th
regiments, on their march to join Brigadier General Leslie at Maidenhead.
Lieutenant Colonel Mawhood, not being apprehensive of the enemy
strength, attacked and beat back the troops that first presented themselves to
him, but finding them at length very superior to him in numbers, he pushed
forward with the 17th regiment, and joined Brigadier General Leslie. The 55th
regiment retired by the way of Hillsborough, to Brunswick, and the enemy
proceeding immediately to Princeton, the 40th regiment also retired to
Brunswick.
The loss upon this occasion to his majesty troops is 17 killed, and nearly 200
wounded and missing; Captain Leslie, of the 17th, is among the few killed, and
for further particulars I beg leave to refer your Lordship to the enclosed
return. Captain Phillips, of the 25th grenadiers, returning from hence to join
his company, was on this day beset between Brunswick and Princeton, by some
lurking villains, who murdered him in a most barbarous manner, which is a mode
of war the enemy seem, from several late instances, to have adopted, with a
degree of barbarity that Savages could not exceed.
It has not yet come to my knowledge how much the enemy has suffered, but it is
certain there were many killed and wounded, and among the former a General
Mercer, from Virginia.
The bravery and conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Mawhood, and the behavior of the
regiments under his command, particularly the 17th, are highly commanded by
Lord Cornwallis. His Lordship finding the enemy had made this movement, and
having heard the fire occasioned by Colonel Mawhood attack, returned
immediately from Trenton; but the enemy being some hours march in front, and
keeping this advantage by an immediate departure from Princeton, retreated by
Kingtown, breaking down the bridge behind them, and crossed the Millstone
river at a bridge under Rocky hill, to throw themselves into a strong country.
Lord Cornwallis seeing it could not answer
any purpose to continue his pursuit, returned with his whole force to
Brunswick, and the troops upon the right being assembled at Elizabeth town,
Major General Vaughan has that command.
Return of the killed, wounded and missing, of the following corps of his
Majesty forces in the Jersies, Friday, January 3, 1777.
17th Regiment, 1 Captain, 12 rank and file, killed; 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1
Ensign, 4 serjeants, 46 rank and file, wounded; 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, 23 rank
and file, missing. 40th Regiment. 1 Lieutenant wounded; 1 Ensign, 3 serjeants,
1 drummer, 88 rank and file, missing. 55th Regiment. 1 Serjeant, 4 rank and
file, killed; 1 Ensign, 1 serjeant, 2 rank and file, wounded; 1 Captain, 1
Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 1 serjeant, 2 drummers, 66 rank and file, missing.
Total. 1 Captain, 1 serjeant, 16 rank and file, killed; 1 Captain, 2
Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 5 serjeants, 48 rank and file, wounded; 1 Captain, 1
Lieutenant, 2 Ensigns, 5 sergeants, 4 drummers, 187 rank and file, missing.
W. HOWE.
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