The loss of the Americans, in killed, was somewhat less, but in their number was included General Mercer, a valuable officer, who had served with the Commander-in-chief during his early campaigns in Virginia, and was greatly esteemed by him.

Colonels Haslet and Potter, Captain Neal of the artillery, Captain Fleming, and five other valuable officers, were also among the slain.
On the return of day-light, Lord Cornwallis discovered that the American army had decamped in the night; and immediately conceived the whole plan.

Alarmed at the danger which threatened Brunswick, he marched with the utmost expedition for that place, and was close in the rear of the American army before it could leave Princeton.
The situation of General Washington was again perilous in the extreme.
His small army was exhausted with fatigue.

His troops had been without sleep, all of them one night, and some of them, two.

They were without blankets, many of them were bare-footed and otherwise thinly clad, and were eighteen miles from his place of destination.