The New York herald., 1877-01-04
PRINCETON'S SHAM BATTLE.
THE coMMEMoRATIoN OF wAsHrNGToN's VIC
roRY-THE BRITISH AND coNTINENrALs FIGHT

AND DINE ToGETHER-No GORE SPILLED.
The centenn nal OF tho battle OF Princeton cele
brated yesterday with great spirit and eciat by tho
patriotic Prncetonlans The sham battle was rather
small affair compared with that OF Trenton. Only
about 325 men participated in it, but as only two OF
thess we're seized upon by the police after the battle
for too liberal celebration Of the day and locked up,
the commemoraton may be regarded a success. Com
pany B, First regiment Pa n G., arrived Mon
day evening from Philadelphia at half-past nine
O'Clock They proceeded to Cooks Hall. where
they ''camped down. the floor, and thus
tasted the hardsnips OF even u sham military hlc
Yesterday mornings train brought the four companies
from Newark who represented the British troops, aud
tho from who enacted the Contincntals
(what would Washington have said had he seen the
two contending hosts come comfortably down upon
Trenton in the samo railroad cara Princeton only
furnished the Washington Continental Guard, about
forty men, arrayed IN the old Continental uniform, and
two companies so-called "ragamunins, whose COS
tunes ranged from fur caps TO sovepipcs, and from
listers to navy blue overshrts.
QUEER CAUSE DELAY.
Tho battle was to have been begun at eleven O'clock
but there a slight delay, owing to the failure OF
Mr. Briuer one of Committee Of Arrangements, to
get the cartridges in time.
s.You see, +" said that good natured and easy going
gentleman, ..wc thought could get the cartridges
from the Trenton Arsenal and at the last moment
found therc were there and had to go to Now
York Tor them And he added, laughingy, 'By
George! thought we were not going TO have any
battle at all
Tho cartridges having arrived, the troops having
brcakias'ed aud wiped Their Ups 10 readiness ior % ,ne
Nav whood, commander of the red coats having AMIGA
biv taken their last drink together the troops both
English and Contincntals, were formed on Nassau
street, between the college grounds and the University
Hotel and marched in double file down 10 the oattc
WnQ tnnf frnnrp
j. Madison Drake OF Elizabethh surrounded by his
staff, riuing at the head OF the ,, Continental M
ark, who represented Colonel Mawhood, OF British
military renown, commanding about $50 men. BY this
time Princeton was pretty well hllcd with strangers
who had come witness the show, and Nassau street,
which Is the main thoroughfare, presented lively
aspect. The buildings were decorated with nags ana
arms and very respectable crowu OF curious sight
seers thronged the sidewalks and popped their heads
out of the windows. The snow was banked up four
feet high both aides OF the roadway, leaving only
clear track fof seighs In the middle, through which
the two armies dehed Company G, Phil kearney's
Guard OF Elizabeth; Company b, FIRST Pennsylvania
aud Company b, Princeton Contincntals, formed the
main column OF Washinston's army.
POPULAR CELEBRATION.
The last mentioned company was commanded by
Captain John II. Margerum, gentleman in the stove
and business All classes OF the people were repre-
sented in this patriotic celebration. Captain A. L.
Green of Company A. Princeton Continenais is sash
and bind maker, and Captain james Leggett, OF Com
pany c, industrious and reliable blacksmith Of
the town. The composition OF General Washingt0ns
sali. was a lawyer; Colonel ". G. vandewater
(who represented Colonel Aercer, commissary of
subsistence, was the Pos master OF Princeton;
Aaron Allen, Mayor and chief Of ordnance, an under
taker and James Lyons lieutenant colonel and chief
OF artillery, a harness maker Only one member OF
the stall aiIcd obey the country's summons in the
hour OF It's supreme peril and this was A. NJ. Cum
mins, Quarterinaster general, who Is an Old gentle
man, and having only one horse which he would like
riuc, and that not being ready, excused himself
Hence IT was that Washingon's army WAS without
quarermaster general, aud that not even this could
daunt their courage proves their patriotisni
THE
and decidedly good looking man. with long, sum
lace and sandy mustache, who is the editor of the
Daily MONITOR of Elizabeth. He was not dressed in
Wasnington's uniform, but In that OF the present
militia, and his breast gtcred with dozen medals
many OF which were Oravely in the last
Colonel Mercer Colonel Vandcwatcrl VINO perished
In the battle, was stout, red-faced, heavily mus
tncned man who proved mselt equal to the task Of
beng bay thirteen times IN accordance with the
facts history, and yet appearing hale and hearty at
the afternoon collation. u, the University Hotel
white bearded old gentleman; but he as well as his
troops dd not wear the red coats, but were plainly
haplted IN the militia uniforms.
THE MARCH THE BATTLE PIELD
The march to the battle ground began at about half
past eleven. and was cnlivened Dy the playing 0i
Wnklers brass band the cheers oil the spectators ana
the frequent tumblng down Of soldiers In the ruts OF
by correspondents farmers and tag and
bobtail preceded and followed the column The Old
battle held is about Two mics distant, and is now cut
up into stake about fifteen feet high displays
crossIse a board with the simple 'cgend,
BATTLE FIELD,
and within about 200 ieet another stake marks the
spot where Mercer ieil victim TO BRUSH bayonctS
ancient oak whose gaun arms were yesterday
heavily covered with snow. Close by sui STANDS
William Ciarks old house into which Mercer
was carried wounded, and where he died
The low two story house is partially rebuilt
but stlil looks old fashioned and the room Is stiil
snown in when died. Tho carpet is lifted and
the very blood stains are pointed outthe only trou
be is that the VISITOR not being usually provided with
n IN see
them. IL here that the battle was really iough
but The snow being too deep and The marching too
troublesome the Two hosts stopped about half mile
this side The historical spot so that they might
hgnt without getting their feet wetter than they al
Browns farm house. Washington lurked behind lit
tie distance to come to Merccrs rescue
TERRIBLE pArTLE
And now the banging the nuskcts began. Merccr
was repulsed but Washington, with his brave Ones
calamity TO his rescue and soon routedth British
minions or dcspotsm. Here Colonel Mercer was to be
bayoneted thirteen times and carried moraiy wounded
William Carks house but asst was bitterly cold this
feature of the old time battle was omitted he British
started on a double quick and scarcely stopped
until they reached hardware store at the junction Of
Mercer streets. The sight OF the
metal ~ the shop window seemed TO put mettc into
their souls; they halted and iuriously charged
upon Washng,ons army, who not only
narsssed by the enemy but also by tho
seigns OF tho newspaper correspondents, which
dashed 10 and iro and greatly impcded the
pursuit OF the Brush runaways AT one time a
catastrophe seemed imminent, when tho sleigh Of
SPECIAL artist, which lowered close about General
calamity was happily avcrtcd crowd OF street
boys also ran after the two armies and enlivened the
scene by their merry outcries, while the inccssant
beating OF the drums produced an Intensely military
and thrilling effect. The British company at the old
barracks having also been driven I'M ough Stock
ION street the rout OF the enemy was complete,
and British rctreatcd to tho college grounds where
the erccst engagement OF all took place. and they
finally surrendered at about hapast one O'Clock.
Tho brass band OF the Continental army Vhe BRUSH,
alas had none) then played Yankee Doodle" ana
ila Columbia the British reversed their arms, and
viclors and captves marched gayy round the town
and took a cornwall dlnncr at the University Place
Hotel Both we're chilled to the marrow, ana II was
very pardonabc they were nentiy bent on refresh
ing tho inner man.
CELEBRATION nBLD.
A civic celebration 10 have taken place; but, as
none OF the prominent speakers invited could attend,
The battle was simply supplemented with parade
through the city after dinner. Washington, on the
night of the Sd Of January slept on the frozen ground