Volume 7, Number 2

Welcome to this issue of your Colorado River Chapter, Red, White and Blue Newsletter. This Newsletter is an official publication of the Colorado River Chapter, AZSSAR.

We hope you enjoy this Newsletter and the updates and information it provides.

Chapter Meetings

Next Chapter Meeting September 10thMohave Community College

Kingman

Colorado River Chapter rotates meetings between Kingman and Lake Havasu in hopes that one locationwill be more appealing to you than the other.

Our meeting location in Kingman is Mohave Community College, 1971 Jaegerson Ave, Kingman, which is about 4-5 miles north of I-40. The meeting room is in the Library Building in a really nice conference room across from the Library.

Our meeting location in Lake Havasu is Mohave County Library in the K-Mart Plaza at 1770 North McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City.

October 2016

Chapter Officers for 2017

Compatriots – on 15 September I sent an email to all Chapter members asking for assistance in filling Officer Positions in our Chapter for 2017!

Positions identified were: President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Registrar/Genealogist, Chaplain and Sergeant-at-Arms.

I have heard from a few members as to their interest in holding a position for 2017, but we are in need of other members to step up and support your chapter.

Please consider trying a position for 2017 or at least advise that you cannot!

Timeline for new Officers:October 8th - Slate of Officers discussed at meetingNovember 12th – Officers voted on at meetingDecember 10th – 2017 Officers sworn in

Our members make the Chapter and we need your help!

You can email me your response at jimmieb@frontiernet.net or call me at 928-692-6636.

Jimmie BodenhamerRegistrar/Genealogist

New Member

At our 10 Sept meeting in Kingman, Chapter President Don Reighard inducted one of our newest Compatriots, Richard Bernard Barnard of Bullhead City.

Richard's Patriot ancestor is Jonathan Barnard who served in the Massachusetts Continental Line and took the Oath of Allegiance, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1777.

Chapter President Don Reighard swears RichardBernard Barnard into the Colorado River Chapter

Co-Sponsor Michael Boop who presented Richardhis Rosette pin and Richard Barnard with Don

Reighard, with Constitution plaque and AmericanFlag in background.

October 8th Meeting in LakeHavasu City

Our October 8th meeting in LHC will have two important events occurring:

First, another of our new Members, Robert Dallas Peterson of LHC, will be sworn into our Chapter;

Secondly, our State President Stephen Miller and other State Officers will be attending to discuss our Chapter and the upcoming London Bridge Days parade in LHC.

Please try to attend!

Campaigns and Battles of theAmerican Revolution

(1775-1783)

Our series on Battles of the American Revolution continues with this issue’s installment – Battle of Princeton (New Jersey Campaign). I hope you find itinteresting and informative!

Battle of Princeton (New Jersey Campaign)

3 January 1777

This battle occurred in and around the village of Princeton, NJ and the weather during this battle was clear and cold which would impact the fighting.

Princeton at the time was a sleepy village about 12 miles north of Trenton, while the surrounding area was rural countryside consisting of open, gently rolling fields with intermittent farmsteads and forested areas.

Other fighting in this battle occurred at Stony Creek which was about 2 miles southwest of the village of Princeton.

For British interests, it was a cold evening on 2 Jan 1777 when British General Cornwallis and 5,500 British soldiers finally reached Trenton, NJ. Cornwallis' movement to this distant outpost in the dead of winter had been triggered by General Washington’s surprise attack against the isolated town one week earlier on 26 Dec 1776.

As you will recall, Washington’s surprise attack on Trenton decimated Col Rahl’s Hessians, who at the time were the highly touted heroes of the Battle of White Plains (28 Oct 1776), and killed Col Rahl in the process

Cornwallis had overall responsibility for positioning and defense of a string of British posts in the colony of New Jersey. But prior to the American attack on Trenton he like many others had felt that after the

debacle in the New York campaign the American army was on its last legs.

Cornwallis was also angry that the first decisive Patriot victory of this war had been waged against soldiers of his command. So it was Cornwallis' goal by this movement to destroy the American army and General Washington. In addition he was angry that this British defeat at Trenton, had caused him to haveto cancel his leave during which he planned to visit England.

Cornwallis, at the time of the Patriot attack in Trenton, had been with his army in the Princeton areawhere they were quartered for the winter. When news arrived of the attack in Trenton he made the decision to move his men in an effort to reinforce Trenton while hoping during the move that he could trap Washington’s army again.

The British movement to Trenton had begun on the morning of 2 Jan 1777, when Cornwallis with 6,700 soldiers started marching from Princeton to Trenton. To protect Princeton he left 1,200 soldiers, which comprised three regiments, and a small contingent of dragoons under command of Colonel Mawhood. As the British column moved south General Leslie and a force of similar strength were dropped off at Maidenhead, (now Lawrenceville), which was midway between Princeton and Trenton. Both British commanders had been given orders to rejoin Cornwallis’s main army on 3 Jan 1777.

Cornwallis also had an additional 5,000 soldiers posted across New Jersey at other outposts. However, Cornwallis felt confident his strength and arrangements were sufficient for the immediate task at hand. As the British column continued to move toward Trenton, their scouts spotted a Patriot line of battle a few miles above Trenton. Cornwallis was forced to spend precious hours deploying soldiers and skirmishing with Americans who continued to pull back from Trenton in good order.

To the Patriots' credit they did a fine job of delaying his march, and as a result, as previously stated, he was not able to reach Trenton until it was nearly dark.

Washington’s army on the other hand had taken up positions southeast of the Town below the AssunpinkRiver (as shown on map). A light feint by British soldiers to test the resolve of Americans guarding the bridge demonstrated that the Patriots intended to obstruct any British attempt to cross the bridge.Cornwallis, in the meantime, established a defensive line from Trenton, stretching east along the northern bank of the Assunpink River facing the Americans onthe opposite shore.

The Patriot army also was aligned in defensive positions along a ridge overlooking the small river and Trenton beyond.

Cornwallis, reviewing local intelligence gathered, was sure that if he presses ahead against the Americans with a superior force that Washington would be trapped between Assunpink and Delaware Rivers.

The British felt that the Americans were in a box of their own choosing, hemmed in by two rivers, freezing weather and difficult terrain, so rather than pressing them Cornwallis bedded his men down for the night intending to wage a bottle tomorrow.

For the Americans, Washington had assumed that thesudden and heavy blow delivered against the Hessians in Trenton after Christmas 1776, would have serious repercussions and it appeared it did by Cornwallis' actions.

Washington knew Cornwallis was not about to sit on his hands until spring before he would swiftly want topunish the American army, and the Crown could not risk another similar defeat or the boost it would provide to the cause of independence.

When word arrived that Cornwallis was at Princeton with a large army intent on finding and crushing the American army Washington dispatched a sizeable force of his own to block the road from Princeton to Trenton in order to effect his concentration below theAssunpink River. These actions succeeded when Cornwallis wasted valuable time in skirmishes with the Americans, (as previously mentioned), thus delaying his arrival in Trenton until darkness.

The American army Cornwallis had skirmished with consisted of the Brigade of General Fermoy, comprised of Colonel Hand’s Pennsylvanians, Colonel Haussegger’s German battalion, Colonel Scott’s Virginians, and a pair of light field guns.

Cornwallis’ approach to the American positions on the road to Trenton sent General Fermoy riding to therear, but Colonel Hand stood tall and demonstrated tohis men his tactical ability.

It was Hand’s stand that forced the British to deploy into battle formation, which, as previously stated, slowed down their advance to a crawl, and burned away several hours of daylight.

At the same time German allies fled quickly and Haussegger was captured by the British. Hand finally began to numbly withdraw after some light skirmishing and fell slowly back toward Trenton.

Washington, by this time, had established his army’s primary position south of the Assunpink River, whereHand finally joined him later that afternoon near dusk.

Cornwallis' halfhearted thrust at the bridge over Assunpink was thrown back easily as the sun set on 2Jan 1777.

After this series of moves by the Americans and British, both armies were now facing one another across the Assunpink River in what could be roughly described as conventional battle lines.

Although Washington had narrowly avoided what could have been a disastrous attack during daylight, he knew he was in a terrible strategic situation. His army of mostly green Militia could not withstand a direct attack from the British as his right flank was vulnerable and the Delaware River on his left might as well be the ocean for he did not have enough boatsto effect a speedy escape.

Retreat for the Americans south along the river would buy them hours or perhaps a day or two of relief before Cornwallis caught him, but a fight seemed inevitable, and Washington had no intention of fighting Cornwallis on his terms.

Under the cover of darkness on 2-3 Jan 1777, Washington prepared his army for a strategic envelopment of Cornwallis’ weak left flank. In orderto guarantee secrecy, only Washington and his senior commanders knew the details of the march and its objective.

Soldiers began wrapping wagon wheels with rags to keep them quite during the movement, and 400 men were ordered to remain behind to keep fires burning to deceive the enemy. At about 1:00 am, on 3 Jan, 4,600 soldiers began marching east along Sandtown Road in a broad arc across Miry Run and then northeast on Quaker Road toward Princeton.

Washington had ordered General Mercer and 350 Infantry to act as a blocking force two miles southwest of Princeton on the Post Road at Stony Creek Bridge, Mercer’s objective was to prevent Cornwallis or Leslie from reinforcing Mawhood and to prevent an escape from Princeton toward Trenton.

Once Mercer got in place, Washington intended to move the rest of his army north and east along Black Road and close rapidly with the unsuspecting 1,200 man garrison.

On 3 Jan 1777 Cornwallis awoke to two unpleasant facts: Washington and his army had slipped away during the night and artillery and small arms fire could be heard in the direction of Princeton. Mes- sengers soon arrived with news that Washington was assaulting Mawhood.

Exactly what went through Cornwallis’ mind when he realized he had been utterly outgeneraled by Washington will never be known, but realization could not have pleased him. Cornwallis, with commendable speed, ordered his army to move rapidly northeast to catch the Patriots between his own soldiers and Mawhood’s men.

The fighting Cornwallis heard was in fact musketry and artillery fire of Mawhood’s infantry and Patriot Militia sprinkled with Continentals in and around an orchard south of Post Road one and one-half miles west of Princeton.

Washington did not know it but Cornwallis had ordered Colonel Mawhood to send 800 of his men toTrenton that morning, and had Washington been 30 minutes later he would have missed his objective entirely. As he drew near Stony Creek, Mawhood spotted General Mercer’s column to the south marching northeast toward the bridge to take up his blocking position. But for reasons still unclear, both commanders changed the direction of their march.

Mawhood’s moved to the southeast and Mercer moved northeast. The two opponents made a dash for a large orchard, with Mercer’s men getting there first. This left the British to form in an open field on a slightly lower ground between Post and Back Roads.

This left most of the 55th Regiment of Foot on a patchof high ground farther to the east, which kept them from playing a significant role in the fighting, since the frost-laden fields made it easy for the Patriots to spot the bright scarlet uniforms worn by Mayhood’s 17th and 55th Infantry Regiments (and the British had left the 40th Regiment behind in Princeton).

American and British soldiers deployed quickly into line and began killing one another at a range of only 50 yards while unlimbering a pair of field pieces each. However, one advantage the British had is theywere fresh and alert, and the Patriots had marched all night in freezing temperatures.

After only one volley, Mawhood ordered a bayonet charge, as Mercer was fighting on foot after his horsewas injured, and he was mortally wounded in a meleethat left him with at least seven stab wounds.

Unable to withstand the British bayonet charge, Militia soldiers retreated south toward Back Road. At the same time Mawhood spotted the head of another Patriot column arriving on the field behind Mercer’s men, and he ordered his men to fall back and take a defensive position.

The unit arriving was commanded by Colonel Cadwalader, who immediately tried to engage the British infantry with Militia in the open, but the attack failed and he began falling back in disorder,

and at this point the Princeton fight was not going well for the Patriots.

As all this fighting was going on General Washingtonarrived on scene! He had been riding toward Princeton with Sullivan’s Division on Back Road when he too heard the heavy firing. He and a few of his aides rode cross-country so he could evaluate the situation.

Washington rode into the midst of the disorganized Militia, encouraging them to stand firm, align themselves, and fight the enemy. He did so to within 30 yards of the British front rank. Luckily for Washington, reinforcements from Sullivan’s command belonging to the Rhode Island Continentalsfrom Colonel Hitchcock’s brigade, Hand’s experienced Pennsylvanians, and Virginians under Scott, had also trotted across the same field to throw back Mawhood’s advance.

The presence of these veterans helped Washington keep the Militia in line as did a pair of Patriot artillery pieces that had been firing since nearly the beginning of this action.

The combined Patriot attack triggered an intense firefight at a very close range which nearly envelopedMawhood’s infantry (17th and 55th) before the British line began to break apart and lose cohesion. Some British soldiers scattered in the direction of New Brunswick, while others, including Mawhood, broke through the lines headed for the bridge and Trenton.

The Americans gave chase and secured 50 British prisoners before Washington recalled his men and continued advancing toward Princeton. The British 17th Regiment had been involved in most of the fighting and suffered the majority of the British casualties. This entire fight lasted less than an hour.

The “battle” that followed was anti-climactic, as the Patriot army flooded into the area to find about 200 British soldiers, most from the 40th Regiment and a few from the 55ht Regiment, barricaded inside Nassau Hall, a thickly walled building that served as the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). A single round from one of Captain

Hamilton’s field pieces brought about their surrender.Princeton now belonged to the Patriots.

Washington had never planned to try and hold the town and his men were too exhausted to do so. His goal all along had been to launch another surprise attack against a New Jersey outpost. The route of Mawhood and capture of Princeton accomplished his goal. However his goal of marching eighteen miles northeast to capture the British supply depot at New Brunswick was beyond his reach.

The Patriot infantry were freezing, exhausted after forty hours of marching and fighting on slim rations, and many were already dropping to the ground to sleep.

Knowing Cornwallis would already be marching in his direction. Washington ordered his men to secure food, supplies, and equipment, round up their prisoners, and move as fast as possible to the American base in the wooded hills at Morristown, NJ.

Washington left behind a detachment of soldiers to destroy Stony Creek Bridge to delay the British army,but Cornwallis simply sent his men across the icy stream and pressed ahead. Even though Cornwallis had marched with speed and his vanguard spotted thetail of Washington’s army evacuating Princeton, he could not catch the victorious Patriots.

With Washington continuing to move, Cornwallis had little time to absorb the shocking defeat at Princeton. Cornwallis feared the Americans were marching towards New Brunswick so he drove his army another eighteen miles to secure the post.

Washington in fact had marched west of New Brunswick to reach Morristown by 6 Jan 1777 where he sent up a winter encampment in this pro-Patriot stronghold.

Washington’s New Jersey Campaign changed the face of the American Revolution. He had driven the British out of most of New Jersey in the dead of winter with an ill-fed and woefully outnumbered army composed largely of inexperienced Militia.

The Crown’s troops had been pushed from every partof New Jersey except Amboy and New Brunswick.

The loss of General Mercer by General Washington was a blow as he lingered on until 11 Jan 177 when he died at the Thomas Clarke house where he was being cared for. He was considered a rising star in the Patriot army.

Casualties; British: 28 killed, 58 wounded, and 187 missing/captured; American: 23 killed, and 20 wounded.

Source: A Guide to the Battles of the American Revolution by Savas and Dameron.

NEXT: Battle of Fort Ticonderoga (Saratoga Campaign), 30 June – 7 July 1777

Princeton Battlefield State Park

Another Revolutionary War trip you can take to the Princeton Battlefield State Park which is located in the city of Princeton, Mercer County, NJ at 500 Mercer Road.

Battlefield map overlooking park grounds

Monument to General Hugh Mercer in front ofThomas Clarke House where he was cared for until

his death

General Hugh Mercer Plaque

Thomas Clarke House, Museum and Visitors Centerbuilt in 1772.

Chapter Member Birthdays

October 2016

Michael Boop – 12th

November 2016

None

Membership

If you need assistance with a membership issue, or know someone interested in joining the NSSAR, please provide me the contact information and I will work the issue for you.

Jimmie Bodenhamer, Registrar/Genealogist, Colorado River Chapter AZSSAR, 5805 N Cedar Ridge Lane, Kingman, AZ 86409-9345, jimmieb@frontiernet.net, (928) 692-6636.

Chapter Officers

Donald Reighard – President – (928) 680-4087

Ray Lackey – Vice President – (928) 754-1941

Mike Boop – Secretary – (928) 753-7968

Ray Lackey - Treasurer – (928) 754-1941

Jimmie Bodenhamer – Registrar/Genealogist – (928) 692-6636

Michael Boop – Sergeant at Arms – (928) 753-7968

Calendar of Upcoming Events

October 1st

Chapter Newsletter Mailed

October 8th

Chapter MeetingLake Havasu City

Visit by State President

October 10th

Columbus Day

October 29th

London Bridge Days ParadeLake Havasu City

October 31st

Halloween

November 6th

Daylight Savings Time Ends

November 11th

Veterans Day

November 12th

Chapter MeetingKingman

November 24th

Thanksgiving Day

December 1st

Chapter Newsletter Mailed

Newsletter Editor

Hope you enjoyed this newsletter and I look forward to any comments or suggestions. Jimmie Bodenhamer, Editor, jimmieb@frontiernet.net. Needanother copy of this Newsletter? It is on our AZSSAR website link.