Combat· American Revolutionary War
Battle of Assunpink Creek (Second Trenton)
On January 2, 1777, Washington's army held prepared positions on the southern bank of Assunpink Creek at Trenton, New Jersey, against a British force under Major General Cornwallis advancing from Princeton.
Cadwalader's troops, with Major Samuel Nicholas' Continental Marines among them, started for Trenton at one in the morning. Troops under Colonel Edward Hand disputed the British advance for hours before retreating to the south side of the creek. American artillery then drove back British Light Infantry approaching the creek below the bridge. Hessian grenadiers next attempted to force the bridge, and Cadwalader's light troops, Nicholas' Marines among them, were ordered to its support. The attack was repulsed. Captain Mullan and Captain Porter's Marines are both recorded at the bridge that day. The two sides continued an artillery duel until mid-evening. Washington then ordered the campfires kept burning until daylight, and an hour after midnight his troops filed off toward Princeton. There, on the following day, Nicholas' Marines took the right of Cadwalader's line.
Record no. 131