Ten Facts About Battle of Princeton-- Part 3: Mawhood;s Spaniels and George Washington Killed?

4.  BRITISH LT.COL. CHARLES MAWHOOD RODE INTO BATTLE WITH SPRINGER SPANIELS AT HIS SIDE.

Mercer's Americans soon saw the British advance from two British regiments, the 17th and 55th Foot.  Mawhood himself could be seen  atop his "brown pony" and with a pair of his favorite spaniels bounding at his side.

To say the least, Mawhood delighted in acting nonchalant at all times, but even so, he was a highly capable officer and really proved his mettle at the Battle of Princeton.

5. MANY BRITISH SOLDIERS THOUGHT THEY HAD KILLED GEORGE WASHINGTON DURING THE BATTLE

During the early stages of the battle, a British bayonet charge broke Hugh Mercer's line.  He tried to rally his troops, but got surrounded by enemy soldiers who shouted "Surrender you damn rebel!"  Mercer, a veteran of European wars and a fierce patriot refused to do so.  

After a brief  struggle, Mercer was bayonetted repeatedly and left for dead.  Given that he  was well-attired (as opposed to the rags of the regular American soldiers, a high-ranking officer and refused to surrender, many British soldiers thought he was George Washington.

--Cooter

Ten Facts About the Battle of Princeton-- Part 2: The Two Forces Almost Didn't Meet

From George Washington's Mt. Vernon site.

Continued from December 22, 2021.  I seem to have forgotten this thread, but will finish it now.

3.  THE OPPOSING FORCES ALMOST MISSED EACH OTHER

Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood, the British commander at Princeton, had been ordered by  Cornwallis to bring reinforcements to Trenton.  He left a small garrison at Princeton and began his march to Trenton down the Post Road just before dawn.

Washington's army was marching northward on a parallel, but lesser-known road that crossed Thomas  Clark's farm .  The road was  largely out of view of the Post Road.

Washington had sent a small force under Hugh Mercer to seize and destroy the Stony Brook bridge on the Post Road.  This detachment was seen by British scouts and Mawhood, now aware of a threat to Princeton wheeled about and approached Mercer's force at the Clark Farm.

Had this chance meeting not occurred, Mawhood would have been well on his way to Trenton and Washington would have found a very small enemy at Princeton which he could have easily overwhelmed.

--Cooter