Battle of Princeton -- During the American Revolutionary War Lt. General Charles Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles Mawhood in Princeton, New Jersey. Following a surprise victory at Trenton on early in the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington of the Continental Army decided to attack the British in New Jersey before entering winter quarters. On December 30, he crossed the Delaware River back into New Jersey as immortalized in the famous painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. His troops followed on January 3, 1777. Because of his swiftness, Washington was able to attack and defeat the troops at Princeton and leave before Cornwallis arrived with reinforcements.