The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-03
TODAY IN HISTORY
3.

The visitor today to the quiet little
university town OF Princeton, n j.. would
find II hard to realize the stirring events
that were enacted there 1873 years ago.
Princeton today is a college town. hidden
away from all the life and hustle which
has since invaded the nearby territory,
and little Is left to mark the battle that
took place there less than six months
after the Declaration OF independence was
signed.
Following closely after Washington
ton, driving out the British. Lord Corn
wallis Withdrew ito Princeton, feeling that
here he could bag the old fox" as he
saw ~ to call General Washington. Was
In spite Of the continuous strain upon
Washington and his army for the few
preceding weeks. they put up q most des
peratc fight. and succeeded In. driving out
the British. and the result of the battle,
so quickly following the success Of the
Continental army AT Trenton. saw the
crisis of the Revolution safely passed.
The effect OF these two Victories, conf
ing so close together, spurred congress
Into renewed energy and Washington was
vested with increased powers tha, almost
made him dictator in the new world,
and measures were taken for greatly in
creasIng the army.
The Princeton battlefield is close TO
mile from the center OF the present coll
lege town, and its spot Is today marked
by one OF the bandsomest estates in that
section Of New Jersey. Over the ridge.
and beyond the dairy OF this estate. still
stands the little old Quaker meeting house
from which Washington directed the bat
tie. and between that and the dairy Is
the spot where General Mercer was killed.
The British mistook Mercer. when he fell
under their bayonsts, for Washington, and
dubbed him about the head and body un-
III he was covered with bruises. And
Just as his men. almost overwhelmed at
his loss. were beginning TO fall back
Washington himself rode into their midst,
q m fT,S
British lines were cut and one part was
running towards Trenton and the other
making equally good time over the road
towards New Brunswick, with the ''old
fox well on their heels.
At this battle of Princeton Washington
displayed that marvellous physical courage
which characterized him. ana which Cen
eral BraddoClI many years before had
designated "a charmed lifc" When he
vas riding in front OF the wavering troops
within thirty yards OF the enemy, one Of
his aides is said to have drawn his cap
over his eyes that he might not see his
chieftain die. Next moment cloud Of
smoke developed rider and horse and hid
them from view. A SILVER OF dreed ran
through the patriot ranks, but as the
smoke cleared away and the commander
sat unhurt, n wild shout of joy arose
from the army.
Princeton has another distinction that
Of having been the scat of government for
some months during 11S3 When congress
was driven OUT Of Philadelphia by mutt
nous soldiers! they proceeded 10 this
picturesque village. where they met in
Nassau ball from June until the early
part of November. and il was here that
news was received. OH October 81. of the
final signing of the definite treaty OF
peace with England.
Today Is the birthday Of Marcus Tul
ltus Cireo l0i Il. c.. Douglas Jerrold
GS03). the noted English dramatist and
Lucretta Mott u195) pioneer in the