New-York tribune., 1877-01-04
PRINCETON'S CENTENNIAL.
AN IMPRESSIVE CELEBRATION.


PRINCETON, N. j., Jan. 3.-This queen
| among New-Jersey towns may well centennial
| crown Of many jewels 1t was o prominent battle
fed Of the Revolution. II then possessed the largest
college building In the Colonies, old Nassau Hall, and In
the advance Of these CO years has had large share
in the direction Of American intelligence and culture
| It's new and monumental buildings evidence that
what 1t has given coming back in material benefits
| To-day 1t celebrated the centennial anniversary OF
WashngtOns mastery strategic victory and retreat IN
sham battle, which successful spectacle, and
filed with enthusiasm the townspeople and guests FROM
| the neghbOrng country The good feeling, patriotic
fervor humor and decent orderlness Of the occasion
were admirable, and worthy ancient and dignihed
seat Of learning Tho opening Of the second term OF
Princeton College. and tue Timely addresses, political
| and historical, Of Dr. McCosh and Prof. Cameron
| rounded out the interest Of the celebration.
The battle of Princeton, fought the morning OF Jan.
g. 1777 followed close upon the victory Trenton. This
latter bold exploit brought tho vain British Lords Howe
and Cornwas partially to sense of the power Of their
Impoverished adversary. In brief Washington recrossed
the Delaware after the battle OF Trenton fought Dec 26
| and then, Dec. 3d. after he had been clothed
| with those powers which led his enemies to call
| him "Dictator Of America" he gathered 5000
wretchPdly equipped troops at Trenton aud on Jan.
was attacked by CORVALLIS who hastened with an
almost equal number of regular troops from Princeton
| Washington driven across the Assanpink Creek
about nightfall CORVALLIS satisfied to wait till
morning before seizing his prey. Washngton's camp
fires covered most brilliant and daring flank movement
Princeton, which held by three regiments OF
| regular troops A new road below Kings Road made
hard by sudden cold enabled patriot band TO march
| the 1S miles with artillery between midnight aud
dawn The attack was strategic, as at Trenton, and
by two divisions Gen. fell like hero the head
OF one and Washington displayed much personal valOr
in leading the fight after Mercers defeat In 20 minutes
Princeton in his hands, with 200 prisoners of war;
| Cnr hast lied In %
attack the storehouses at Brunswick and to return to
Morristown.
The Newark and Pennsylvania militia who took part in
to-day sham battle an hour ahead o. the appointed
time-1l a m-and entertained the town with parade
Meanwhile there incident and strategy ut Princeton
Junction, three miles distant, by branch road THE
TgIBuYE's war correspondent aud Capt Peter Wilkes
with his veteran Company b. and Capt. YOumans with
Company OF the 7th N. j. N. Co. from Trenton found
these the Junction and train Scouts reported
the branch train off the track Peter Wilkes snufd the
impending and addressed his troops Patriots"
lie cried shall the canpaigu break down for want OF
transportation Viii you dare anything, will you
walk 3" Tie silence omlnous it was broken by the
order march," The correspondent dashed ahead of
heavily weighted by of Bancroft and
contemporary newspapers The snow on the railway
track was Deep the wind cutting, aud Hbernian soon
cried Running ID tie easiest walking here,' which led
10 a doublequick tn tram the way to the juno
ton whisted dersivey aud brushed everybody into
four feet OF SNOW When the canal bridge reached
IL was found that the battle had not been begun This
was satisfactory, but not the fact that the returning
reached the Princeton depot at the same time Win
the foot-sorc warriors.
The picturesque town, with its cluster OF college
buildings Oh ll, beautiful in its mantle OF snow
Nassaust extending westward quarter VI mile from
the college campus, meets Mercerave. at an oblque
angle on the i side This way ran the old road to
Trenton. All Princeton. including Dr. McCosh and the
II will
and the adjacent country, were moving at
little after noon up NassaIi-st. and "a short way
down Mcrcer-ave. The battle began on tho hi
across Stony Brook. Gen. Mercer (Co. W. c. Vande
water Postmaster of Princeton), with Companies and
OF the PRINCETON Continental Guards intercepted the
British troops vino marching to reinforce Cornwall
lis at Trenton and taken by surprise. Col Nav
hood (Co w. Aen), with the British 17th Companies
c. II, 1st n j. N G., from Newark, and Companies
b and q 7h NJ N g., from Trenton) met the attack
and rereated slowly down the Princeton side OF the hill
where Merceravc. Ghen Kings Road crosses ravne
Gen Washington tGen. Drake OF Elizabeth with the
reserves Company c, Elizabeth Phil. Kearncy Guard,
and Company b. Pennsylyan Mlitia), came to Gen.
Mercer's support
The hattie in The ravine as seen and heard from Mer
cer-avc and Nassaus full of vigor and excitement
There were only companies OF unattractive
appearance and cOOrs OF the uniforms and stars ana
stripes and the British "jack" shone brightly on the
background of snow Gen. Washington rode at the head
OF the Contnentals WHO advanced firing by yoeys, 200
yards behind the rctreatinS British Col NAV
hood (Col. Allen) had his army In state OF
decentralization, the representation being effective His
ONLY anxiety was thai they should appear worse scared
and not use up their ammunition before reaching the
college campus The crowd was eager with delight
and excitement Trivial mishaps TO the Britons were
numerous such as awkward plunges in the snow or a
bump from musket Tie patriots Jeered Tue Bftlsh
and cbeered the Contnenals. Capt Peter Wilkes With
his veterans distinguished themselves notably at Nassau
ST. where instead Of firing by voleys, they began nrng
Inv Ale with great dramatic effect. Col Allen dashed FOR
var on his horse To save the ammunition Capt wilkes
at This critical moment disputed his superior officers au
thority but after few shots more joined tie retrci
| Tne Rr,iIsb were chased ntO the college campus,
wberc they formed skirInsh line front OF the library
building detachment had ftgned 10 De driven OUT vi
tn ",d Nassau Hall which the British used as barrack
and hospital and was intercepted by deployinS com
pany. Gen. Washington formed an opposihs sni. ts
hood of old veterans very picturesque and thrilling
to the surrounding crowds, and only needed tne ooohs
"f cannon To perfect the counterfeit OF war in earnest
some CIV iais who got between the lines were taken
| prisoners. When the atmosphere was su'phur"us anu
| iI,e crowd dtalened Gen Washington Gen Drake led
h,ilout charge which was upToar Itself, and became
o-haud contest The British capituiaeu III nne
stle dress pladc ranks formed, the baud struck
mn Yankee Doodle" the COntinenals led tie parade
and the British followed wit arms reversed Inc rnii
Kearncy Guard carried Gen Phil kearneys old battered
one OF tnc spurs ny Gen. John S,is"i'H wneh no
Afrr the ba tie which terminated at 1:30 O'CLOCK the
| troops we're gwen Il bOuntl dinner ut the new Un-
vrriIy Hotel connected with the college ana model OF
| arcbtectnrc and good appointments An address and
poem mad been intended for the evening" nut hc ausS
ieU through and poet could not be Obtained III the
sbort time ayailable Before dinner arms were sacke
i'm the street and Princeton under military ruo nd
y. III.
DIR M'Cosu's ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS.
| The college-opening ceremonies began at 3
n m and wcr, neld in the chapel Only about 100 o.
the 40 students present the work Of the term moi
ho,,n no until to-morrow, and many beng absent III