The army was again melting away, and only by urgent appeals were some veterans retained, and enough new men gathered to make a force of five thousand men.

With this army Washington prepared to finish what he had begun.
Trenton struck alarm and dismay into the British, and Cornwallis, with seven thousand of the best troops, started from New York to redeem what had been lost.

Leaving three regiments at Princeton, he pushed hotly after Washington, who fell back behind the Assunpink River, skirmishing heavily and successfully.

When Cornwallis reached the river he found the American army drawn up on the other side awaiting him.

An attack on the bridge was repulsed, and the prospect looked uninviting.