The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-05-19
= ographi&s.
John Cadwalader.
GcoarINUED.I
BY W. D.

posing him still on the Jersey side Gen. Cad
walader crossed with about fifteen hundred men,
and pursued the panic struck enemy to some
distance below Burlington. The merits and
services OF Gen. Cadwalader, induced the Con-
greSs early In l778, to compliment him by an
unanimous vote with the appointment of General
OF Cayelry which honor he declined under the
impression that ne could be more useful to his
country In the sphere in which he had been act
ing. The victory at Trenton had most bannv
effect, and Gen. Washington, finding himself at
the head of a force with which it was practicable
to attempt something, resolved not to remain in
active. Inferior as he was to the enemy he vet
determined to employ the winter in endeayoripp
to recover the whole, or part of New JERSEY.
The enemy were now collected in force at
Princeton, uuder Lord CORVALLIS. where some
works were thrown up; (near where the Theo-
logical Seminary now stands.) The large can
non standing in the South Campus, of the Prince
ton College, was one of the pieces taken from
the aforesaid breast-work. Generals Mifain and
Cadwalader, who lay at Bordentown and Cross
wicks, with three thousand and six hundred
militia, were ordered to march up in the night of
the LIST of January, l777, to join the commander
in-chief, whose whole force, with this addition.
did not exceed FIVE thousand men.
He formed the bold and judicious design of
abandoning the Delaware and marching silently
in the night, by circuitous route, along the left
flank OF the enemy, into their rear at Princeton.
where he knew they could not be very strong.
BE reached Princeton early in the morning of
the third, and would have completely surprised
the British, had not party, which was on their
way to Trenton, deserted his troops when they
were about two miles distant and sent back ru-
mors to alarm their fellow soldiers in the rear
sharp action ensned, which however was not
of long duration. The militia of which the ad-
vanced party was principally composed soon
gave way
General Hugh Mercer was mortaIly wounded
while exertng himself to rally his broken troops.
The moment was critical
General Washington pushed forward, and
placed himself between his own men and the
British, with his horses head fronting the latter
The Americans, encouraged by his example,
made stand, and returned the British FIRE. A
party of the British fed into the College, and
were attacked with field pieces After receiving
few discharges they came out and surrendered
themselves prisoners of war. One of the cannon
| balls entered the south wall of the college, and
struck off the head of splendid portrait of George
III, which hung in the old chapel room. THE
writer has frequently seen the place in the wall
which was mended, after that fatal shot
In this action upwards of one hundred of the
enemy were killed on the spot, and three hundred
taken prisoners. The Americans lost only few.
but Colonies Haslet and Potter, two brave and
valuable officers, from Delaware and Pennsyl-
vania, were among the slain. General Mercer
died the next day from his wounds General
Cadwalader's celebrated duel with General Con-
way, arose from his spirited opposition to the in
trigues of that officer, to undermine the standing
of the commander-in-chief.
The anecdote relative to the duel, in Anec-
dotes Of the Revolutionary War," by Alexander
Garden, of Charleston, South Carolina, is not
entirely correct 1t win be recollected that
General Conway was dangerously wounded, and
while his recovery was doubtful, he addressed a
letter to General Washington acknowledging
that he had done him great injustice.
Among many obituary notices of General Cad
walader, this patriotic and exemplary man. the
following outline of his character. in the form of
monumental inscription, is selected from an old
Philadelphia paper, of the oath of February.
1886:
In memory of