Princeton Battlefield
Encyclopedia
The Princeton Battlefield is where American and British troops fought each other on January 3, 1777 in the Battle of Princeton
during the American Revolution
. The battle ended when the British soldiers in Nassau Hall
surrendered. This success, shortly after Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and capturing the troops at the Old Barracks
in Trenton, helped improve American morale.
Part of the battlefield is now a state park, while other portions remain under threat of development.
located in Princeton Township, Mercer County, near Princeton
, New Jersey
. The park preserves part of the site of the Battle of Princeton
(January 3, 1777), which was a victory for General Washington's
revolutionary forces over British forces. The park is maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
, and is located on Mercer Road (Princeton Pike), about 1.5 miles south of Princeton University
and 3.8 miles north of Interstate 295/95.
Highlights of the park include the Princeton Battlefield site; the Clarke House Museum; the site of the Mercer Oak
, a tree which stood in the middle of the battlefield until recent years; the Ionic Colonnade designed by Thomas U. Walter
(architect of the U.S. Capitol); and a stone patio marking the grave of 21 British and 15 American soldiers killed in the battle. A poem was written for the site by Alfred Noyes
, Poet Laureate of England
.
The park's hiking trails lead to the Delaware and Raritan Canal
and to the 588 acres (2 km²) adjacent property of the Institute for Advanced Study
.
The Princeton Battle Monument
is located in town near Princeton University
on non-adjacent park property at Stockton Street and Bayard Lane.
During the battle Hugh Mercer
was brought to the Clarke House and treated unsuccessfully by Benjamin Rush
.
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The battle ended when the British soldiers in Nassau Hall
Nassau Hall
Nassau Hall is the oldest building at Princeton University in the borough of Princeton, New Jersey . At the time it was built in 1754, Nassau Hall was the largest building in colonial New Jersey. Designed originally by Robert Smith, the building was subsequently remodeled by notable American...
surrendered. This success, shortly after Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and capturing the troops at the Old Barracks
Old Barracks
The Old Barracks Museum, also known as Old Barracks, in Trenton, New Jersey, are the only remaining colonial barracks in New Jersey. It is the last of five such barracks authorized by the colony in 1758 to house soldiers in the French and Indian War. It housed about 300 soldiers at a time...
in Trenton, helped improve American morale.
Part of the battlefield is now a state park, while other portions remain under threat of development.
Princeton Battlefield State Park
Princeton Battlefield State Park is a 200 acres (81 ha) state parkState park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in Princeton Township, Mercer County, near Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The park preserves part of the site of the Battle of Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
(January 3, 1777), which was a victory for General Washington's
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
revolutionary forces over British forces. The park is maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
, and is located on Mercer Road (Princeton Pike), about 1.5 miles south of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and 3.8 miles north of Interstate 295/95.
Highlights of the park include the Princeton Battlefield site; the Clarke House Museum; the site of the Mercer Oak
Mercer Oak
The Mercer Oak was a large white oak tree that stood in Princeton Battlefield State Park in Princeton Township, New Jersey. The tree was about 300 years old when it was torn by strong winds in March 2000. It is the emblem of Princeton Township and appears on the seal of the township...
, a tree which stood in the middle of the battlefield until recent years; the Ionic Colonnade designed by Thomas U. Walter
Thomas U. Walter
Thomas Ustick Walter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was an American architect, the dean of American architecture between the 1820 death of Benjamin Latrobe and the emergence of H.H. Richardson in the 1870s...
(architect of the U.S. Capitol); and a stone patio marking the grave of 21 British and 15 American soldiers killed in the battle. A poem was written for the site by Alfred Noyes
Alfred Noyes
Alfred Noyes was an English poet, best known for his ballads, "The Highwayman" and "The Barrel-Organ".-Early years:...
, Poet Laureate of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The park's hiking trails lead to the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
and to the 588 acres (2 km²) adjacent property of the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
.
The Princeton Battle Monument
Princeton Battle Monument
The Princeton Battle Monument is located in Princeton, New Jersey, adjacent to Morven and Princeton's borough hall. The Monument commemorates the January 3, 1777 Battle of Princeton, and depicts General George Washington leading his troops to victory and the death of General Hugh...
is located in town near Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
on non-adjacent park property at Stockton Street and Bayard Lane.
Clarke House Museum
The Thomas Clarke House Museum was built in 1772 by the third generation of Quakers at Stony Brook. The house is furnished in the Revolutionary period and contains military artifacts and battle exhibits, as well as a research library.During the battle Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer was a soldier and physician. He initially served with British forces during the Seven Years War but later became a brigadier general in the Continental Army and a close friend to George Washington...
was brought to the Clarke House and treated unsuccessfully by Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Christian Universalist, as well as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania....
.