Washington's stealthy Christmas Eve crossing of the Delaware, which had resulted in the killing or capturing of nearly a thousand Hessians, has not only significantly boosted the army's morale; it also brings Cornwallis out of New York.

He reassembles an army of more than six thousand men, and marches most of them against a position Washington has taken south of Trenton.

Leaving a garrison of twelve hundred at Princeton, Cornwallis now attacks Washington's position on January 2, 1777, and is three times repulsed before darkness sets in.

During the night, Washington once again stealthily moves his army, going around that of Cornwallis with the intention of attacking the Princeton garrison.