It brought hope to every patriot heart. The British were
amazed at the daring feat, and Cornwallis decided not to leave America for
a time. Instead, he advanced with a large force upon Trenton, hoping to
capture Washington's army there.
At nightfall, January 2, 1777, he took his stand on the farther side of a
small creek, near Trenton, and thought he had Washington in a trap. "At
last," said Cornwallis, "we have run down the old fox, and we will bag him
in the morning." In the morning again!
But Washington was too sly a fox for Cornwallis to bag. During the night
he led his army around Cornwallis's camp and, pushing on to Princeton,
defeated the rear-guard, which had not yet joined the main body. He then
retired in safety to his winter quarters among the hills about Morristown.
During this fateful campaign Washington had handled his army in a masterly
way. He had begun with bitter defeat; he had ended with glorious victory.
The Americans now felt that their cause was by no means hopeless. It was
well that they had this encouragement, for the year that began with the
battle of Princeton (1777) was to test their courage and loyalty to the
uttermost.
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