USA > New Jersey > Historical collections of the state of New Jersey : containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical desciptions of every township in the state. > Part 36
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The following, relative to the battle of Princeton and death of Gen. Mercer, is from "The Custis' Recollections of the Life and Character of Washington :"
It was immediately after the sharp conflict at the fence,-between the advance guard of the American army, led by Gen. Mercer, and the British 17th regiment,-and the retreat of the Americans through the orchards to
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Clark's house and barn, that Gen. Mercer, while exerting himself to rally his broken troops, was brought to the ground by the blow of a musket. He was on foot at this time,-the gray horse he rode at the beginning of the action having been disabled by a ball in the fore leg. The British soldiers were not at first aware of the general's rank. So soon as they discovered he was a general officer, they shouted they had got the rebel general, and cried, "Call for quarters, you d-d rebel !" Mercer, to the most undaunted cour- age. united a quick and ardent temperament ; he replied with indignation to his enemies, while their bayonets were at his bosom, that he deserved not the name of rebel ; and, determining to die as he had lived, a true and hon- ored soldier of liberty, lunged with his sword at the nearest man. They then bayoneted him, and left him for dead.
Upon the retreat of the enemy, the wounded general was conveyed to Clark's house, immediately adjoining the field of battle. The information that the commander-in-chief first received of the fall of his old companion in arms of the war of 1755, and beloved officer, was that he expired under his numerous wounds ; and it was not until the American army was in full march for Morristown, that the chief was undeceived, and learned, to his great gratification, that Mercer, though fearfully wounded, was yet alive. Upon the first halt at Somerset Court House, Washington dispatched the late Maj. George Lewis, (his nephew, and captain of the Horse Guard,) with a flag and a letter to Lord Cornwallis, requesting that every possible attention might be shown to the wounded general, and permission for young Lewis to remain with him, to minister to his wants. To both the requests his lordship vielded a willing assent, and ordered his staff surgeon to attend upon Gen. Mercer. Upon an examination of his wounds, the British sur- geon observed, that although they were many and severe, he was disposed to believe they would not prove dangerous. Mercer, bred to the profession of an army-surgeon in Europe, said to young Lewis, " Raise my right arm, George, and this gentleman will then discover the smallest of my wounds, but which will prove the most fatal. Yes, sir, that is a fellow that will soon do my business." He languished until the 12th, and expired in the arms of Lewis, admired and lamented by the whole army. During the period that he languished on the couch of suffering, he exonerated his ene- mies from the foul accusation which they not only bore in 1777, but for half a century since,-viz., of their having bayoneted a general officer after he had surrendered his sword and become a prisoner of war,-declar- ing he only relinquished his sword when his arm had become powerless to wield it. He paid the homage of his whole heart to the person and charac- ter of the commander-in-chief, rejoiced with true soldierly pride in the tri- umphs of Trenton and Princeton, (in both of which he had borne a con- spicuous part,) and offered up his fervent prayers for the final success of the cause of American Independence.
We shall give a single anecdote of the subject of the foregoing memoir, to show the pure and high-minded principles that actuated the patriots and soldiers of the days of our country's first trial :
Virginia at first organized two regiments for the common cause. When it was determined to raise a third, there were numerous applications for commissions ; and these being mostly from men of fortune and family in- terest, there was scarcely an application for a rank less than a field-officer. During the sitting of the House of Burgesses upon the important motion, a
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plain but soldierly-looking individual handed up to the speaker's chair a scrap of paper, on which was written, " Hugh Mercer will serve his adopted country, and the cause of liberty, in any rank or station to which he may be appointed." This from a veteran soldier, bred in European camps-the associate of Washington in the war of 1755, and known to stand high in his confidence and esteem-was all-sufficient for a body of patriots and statesmen such as composed the Virginia House of Burgesses in the revo- lution. The appointment of Mercer to the command of the 3d Virginia regiment, was carried instanter.
The battle of Princeton, for the time it lasted, and the numbers engaged, was the most fatal to our officers of any action during the whole of our rev- olutionary war-the Americans losing one general, two colonels, one major, and three captains killed-while the martial prowess of our enemy shone not with more brilliant lustre, in any one of their combats during their long career of arms, than did the courage and discipline of the 17th British regi- ment, on the 3d of January, 1777. Indeed, Washington himself, during the height of the conflict, pointed out this gallant corps to his officers, ex- claiming, " See how those noble fellows fight ! Ah ! gentlemen, when shall we be able to keep an army long enough together, to display a discipline equal to our enemies !"
The regular troops that constituted the grand army at the close of the campaign of '76, were the fragments of many regiments, worn down by constant and toilsome marches and sufferings of every sort, in the depth of winter. The fine regiment of Smallwood, composed of the flower of the Maryland youth, and which, the June preceding, marched into Philadel- phia 1,100 strong, was, on the 3d of January, reduced to scarcely 60 men, and commanded by a captain. In fact, the bulk of what was then called the grand army, consisted of the Pennsylvania militia and volunteers, citi- zen soldiers who had left their comfortable homes at the call of their coun- try, and were enduring the rigors of a winter's campaign. On the morn- . ing of the battle of Princeton, they had been eighteen hours under arms, and harassed by a long night's march. Was it, then, to be wondered at, that they should have given way before the veteran bayonets of their fresh and well-appointed foe !
The heroic devotion of Washington was not wanting in the exigencies of this memorable day. He was aware his hour was come to redeem the pledge he had laid on the altar of his country, when first he took up arms in her cause-to win her liberties or perish in the attempt. Defeat at Prince- ton would have amounted to the annihilation of America's last hope : for, independent of the enemy's force in front, Cornwallis, with 8,000 strong, was already panting close on the rear. It was, indeed, the very crisis of the struggle. In the hurried and imposing events of little more than one short week, liberty endured her greatest agony. What, then, is due to the fame and memories of that sacred band, who, with the master of liberty at their head, breasted the storm at this fearful crisis of their country's destiny ?
The heroic devotion of Washington on the field of Princeton, is matter of history. We have often enjoyed a touching reminiscence of that ever- memorable event, from the late Col. Fitzgerald, who was an aid to the chief, and who never related the story of his general's danger, and almost miraculous preservation, without adding to his tale the homage of a tear.
The aid-de-camp had been ordered to bring up the troops from the rear of
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the column, when the band under Gen. Mercer became engaged. Upon re- turning to the spot where he had left the commander-in-chief, he was no longer there, and, upon looking around, the aid discovered him endeavoring to rally the line which had been thrown into disorder by a rapid onset of the foe. Washington, after several ineffectual efforts to restore the fortunes of the fight, is seen to rein up his horse, with his head to the enemy, and in that position to remain immovable. It was a last appeal to his soldiers, and seemed to say, Will you give up your general to the foe ? Such an appeal was not made in vain. The discomfited Americans rally on the instant and form into line. The enemy halt, and dress their line ; the American chief is between the adverse posts, as though he had been placed there a target for both. The arms of both lines are levelled. Can escape from death be possible ? Fitzgerald, horror-struck at the death of his beloved commander, dropped the reins upon his horse's neck, and drew his hat over his face, that he might not see him die. A roar of musketry succeeds, and then a shout. It was the shout of victory. The aid-de-camp ventures to raise his eyes : oh ! glorious sight, the enemy are broken and flying; while, dimly amid the glimpses of the smoke, is seen the chief, " alive, unharmed, and without a wound," waving his hat, and cheering his comrades to the pursuit.
Col. Fitzgerald, celebrated as one of the finest horsemen in the American army, now dashed his rowels in his charger's flank, and heedless of the dead and dying in his way, flew to the side of his chief, exclaiming, " Thank God ! your excellency is safe ;" while the favorite aid, a gallant and warm- hearted son of Erin, a man of thews and sinews, and " albeit unused to the melting mood," gave loose to his feelings and wept like a child for joy.
Washington, ever calm amid scenes of the greatest excitement, affection- ately grasped the hand of his aid and friend, and then ordered-" Away, my dear colonel, and bring up the troops : the day is our own !"
RICHARD STOCKTON, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born at the ancient family seat of his forefathers, near Princeton, Oct. 1, A. D. 1730. He gradu- ated at Princeton College in 1748, and devoting himself to the study of law, soon rose to eminence. Being possessed of a competent fortune, he visited Great Britain, where he was received with much attention ; and while there, rendered valuable services to the College of New Jersey. On the opening of the Revolution, he adopted with ardor his country's cause, and rendered her important services in various stations. On the 30th of November, 1776, he was, together with his friend and compatriot, Mr. Covenhoven, (at whose house he was temporarily staying) captured by a party of refugee royalist3; dragged from his bed by night ; plundered of his property ; carried to New York ; thrown into the common jail, and treated with such barbarity, as to lay the foundation of the disease which terminated in his death, February 28th, 1781. Mr. Stockton's fortune, which had been ample, was greatly diminished, both by the depreciation of the continental curren- cy, and the ravages of the British troops. His complicated afflictions hastened his death, which took place at his seat, near Princeton. His remains were carried to the College- hall, where a funeral discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. S. S. Smith. They were afterwards interred with those of his ancestors, in the Friends burial-ground, near Prince- ton. "He was an accomplished scholar and statesman, a persuasive speaker, and an exemplary Christian."
WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE, a Commodore in the American navy, was born in this town, May 7th, 1774. His father, a respectable physician in Princeton, removed to New York while he was yet a child, and he was left under the care of his grandfather, John Taylor, Esq., of Monmouth co., where he received his education. He entered the sea- service as an apprentice, on board of a merchant vessel, from Philadelphia. At the age of eighteen, while mate of the ship Hope, on her way to Holland, the crew, taking ad- vantage of a violent gale of wind, rose against the officers, seized the captain, and had nearly succeeded in throwing him overboard. Young Bainbridge, hearing the alarm, ran on deck with an old pistol, without a lock, and being assisted by an apprentice-boy and
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an Irish sailor, rescued the captain, seized the ringlcaders, and quelled the mutiny. 'In July, 1798, he unexpectedly received the command of the United States schooner Retali- ation, 14 guns, to act against France. In 1800, he received a captain's commission, and was appointed to the command of the frigate George Washington, in which he was sent to Algiers, with presents which the United States had agreed to inake that state. While at Algiers, he was compelled by the Dey to carry his ambassador and retinue with pres- ents, to the Grand Seignior, at Constantinople. The George Washington arrived at this place on the 12th of November, and when the Turkish officers were informed it was a United States ship, they replied they knew not of such a nation. Captain Bainbridge, by explaining that America was the New World, was enabled to give them some idea of this country. In 1803, he was appointed to the command of the frigate Philadelphia, which proceeded to the Mediterranean, and joined the American squadron under Com. modore Preble. While cruising before the harbor of Tripoli, the Philadelphia grounded, and her crew werc obliged to surrender themselves prisoners. After a confinement of nineteen months, Colonel Lear having negotiated a peace with Tripoli, they were released.
Soon after the declaration of war with Great Britain, in 1812, Commodore Bainbridge took the command of the Constitution, on the 29th of December ; while running down the coast of Brazil, he fell in with the British frigate Java ; after an action of two hours, the Java's fire was completely silenced, and her colors bcing down, Bainbridge supposed that she had struck ; he therefore shot ahead to repair his rigging, but while hove-to for that purpose, discovered that her colors were still flying, although her maininast had gone by the board. He, therefore, bore down again upon her, and having come close athwart her bows, was on the point of raking her with a broadside, when she hauled down her colors, being completely an unmanageable wreck, entirely dismasted, without a spar of any sort standing. On boarding her, it was found that Captain Lambert, her commander, was mortally wounded, and the Java so much injured, that it would be im- possible to bring her to the United States ; and after the prisoners and baggage were re- moved, she was blown up. The Java carried 49 guns and upwards of 400 men, and had, in addition to her own crew, upwards of 100 supernumerary officers and seamen, for dif- ferent ships on the East India station-among whom was a master and commander in the navy, and also Lieut. Gen. Hislop, and his two aids, of the British army. The Java had 60 killed and upwards of 100 wounded. The Constitution had 9 killed and 25 wounded. After peace was declared, he superintended the building of the Independence, a ship of 74 guns, and had the honor of waving his flag on board of the first line-of- battle-ship belonging to the United States that ever floated. He died in Philadelphia a few years since.
The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the Princeton graveyard :
M. S. reverendi admodum viri, AARONIS BURR, A. M. Collegii Neo-Cæsariensis præsi. dis. Natus apud Fairfield, Connecticutensium, 4 Januarii, A. D. 1716.
S. V. Honesta in eadem colonia familia oriundus, collegio Yalensi innutritus, Novarcæ sacris initiatus, 1738: Annos circiter viginti pastorali niunere fideliter functus. Collegii N. C. præsidium, 1748, accepit, in Nassoviæ aulam, sub finem 1756, translatus. De- functus in hoc vico, 24 Septembris, A. D. 1757, S. N. ætat. 42. Eheu, quam brevis ! Huic marmori subjicitur, quod mori potuit, quod immortale vendicarunt cæli.
Quæris, viator, qualis quantusque fuit ? perpaucis accipe. Vir corpore parvo ac tenui, studiis, vigiliis, assiduisque laboribus, macro. Sagacitate, perspicacite, agilitate, ac sol- ertia, si fas dicere, plusquam humana, pene angelica. Anima ferme totus. Omnigena literatura instructus, theologia præstantior ; concionator volubilis, suavis, et suadus ; orator facundus. Moribus facilis, candidus, et jucundus, vita egregie libcrais ac bene- ficus ; supra vero omnia emicuerunt pietas ac benevolentia. Sed ah ! quanta et quota ingenii, industria, prudentia, patientia, cæterarumque omnium virtutum exemplaria, marmoris sepulchralis angustia reticebit. Multum desideratus, multum dilectus, humani generis deliciæ. O! infandum sui desiderium, gemit ecclesia, plorat academia ; at cælum plaudit, dum ille ingreditur in gaudium Domini dulce loquentis, euge bone et fide- lis serve.
Abi, viator, tuam respice finem.
M. S. reverendi admodum viri, JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M. Collegii Nove. Casares præsidis. Natus apud Windsor, Connecticutensium, 5 Octobris, A. D. 1703. S. V.
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Patre reverendo Timotheo Edwards oriendus, collegio Yalensi educatus, apud Northamp- ton sacris initiatus, 15 Februarii, 1726-7. Illinc dimissus, 22 Junii, 1750, et munus barbaros instituendi accepit. Præses aulæ Nassovicæ creatus, 16 Februarii, 1758. De- functus in hoc vico, 22 Martii sequentis, S. N. ætatis 55, heu nimis brevis! Hic jacet mortalis pars.
Qualis persona quæris viator ? Vir corpore procero, sed gracili, studiis intentissimis, abstinentia, et sedulitate, attenuato. Ingenii acumine, judicio acri, et prudentia, secun- dus nemini mortalium. Artium liberalium et scientiarum peritia insignis, criticorum sacrorum optimus, theologus eximius. Ut vix alter æqualis, disputator candidus ; fidei Christianæ propugnator validus et invictus ; concionator gravis, serius, discriminans ; et, Deo favente, successu fælicissimus. Pietate præclarus, moribus suis severus, ast aliis equus et benignus, vixit dilectus, veneratus-sed ah ! lugendus moriebatur.
Quantos gemitus discedens ciebat ! Heu sapientia tanta ! Heu doctrina et religio ! Amissum plorat collegium, plorat et ecclesia ; at, eo recepto, gaudet cælum. Viator, et pia sequere vestigia.
Sub hoc marmore sepulchralı mortales exuvia reverendi perquam viri SAMUELIS DA- VIES, A. M. collegii Nov-Cæsariensis præsidis, futurum Domini adventum præstolantur.
Ne te, viator, ut pauca de tanto tamque dilecto viro resciscas, paulisper morari pigeat. Natus est in comitatu de Newcastle, juxta Delaware, 3 Novembris, anno salutis repa- ratæ, 1724. S. V. Sacris ibidem initiatus, 19 Februarii, 1747, tutelam pastoralem ecclesiæ in comitatu de Hanover, Virginiensium suscepit. Ibi per Il plus minus annos, ministri evangelici laboribus indefesse et, favente numine, auspicato perfunctus. Ad munus præsidiale collegii Nov-Cæsariensis gerendum vocatus est, et inauguratus, 26 Julii, 1759, S. N. Sed, proh rerum inane ! intra biennium febre correptus candidam animam cælo reddidit, 4 Februarii, 1761. Heu quam exiguum vitæ curriculum ! Corpore fuit eximio ; gestu liberali, placido, augusto. Ingenii nitore, morum integritate, munificentia, facili- tate, inter paucos illustris. Rei literaria peritus ; theologus promptus perspicax ; in ros- tris, per eloquium blandum, mellitum, vehemens simul et perstringens, nulli secundus. Scriptor ornatus, sublimis, disertus. Præsertim vero pietate, ardente in Deum zelo et religione spectandus. In tanti viri, majora meriti, memoriam diuturnam amici hoc qualecunque monumentum, honoris ergo et gratitudinis, posuere. Abi, viator, ei æmulare.
Memoria sacrum reverendi SAMUELIS FINLEY, S. T. D. collegii Neo-Cæsariensis præsi- dis. Armnachæ in Hibernia natus, A. D. 1715. In Americam migravit, anno 1734. Sacris ordinibus initiatus est, anno 1743, apud Novum Brunsvicum Neo-Cæsariensium. Ecclesia Nottinghami Pennsylvaniensium, munus pastorale suscepit, 14 kal. Jul. 1744; ibique, academia celeberrimæ diu præfuit. Designatus præses collegii Neo.Cæsariensis officium inivit id. Jul. 1761. Tandem dilectus, veneratus, omnibus flendus. morti accu- buit Philadelphia, 15 kal. Sextilis, A. D. 1766. Artibus literisque excultus præ cæteris præcipue innituit rerum divinarum scientia. Studio divina gloria flagrans. summis opi- bus ad veram religionem promovendam, et in concionibus, et in sermone familiari operam semper navabat. Patientia, modestia, mansuetudo miranda animo moribusque enitue- runt. Oh charitatem, observantiam, vigilantiam, ergajuvenes fidei suæ mandatos fuit in- signissimus; moribus ingenius, pietate sincera, vixit omnibus dilectus, moriens triumphavit.
Reliquia mortales JOANNIS WITHERSPOON, D. D. LL. D. collegii Neo-Cæsariensis præ- sidis, plurimum venerandi, sub hoc marmore inhumantur. Natus parochio Yestrensi, Scotorum, nonis Februarii, 1722, V. S. literis humanioribus in universitate Edinburgensi imbutus ; sacris ordinibus initiatus, anno 1743, munere pastorali per viginti quinque an- nos fideliter functus est, primo apud Beith, deinde apud Paisly. Præses designatus aulæ Nassovice, anno 1767. In Americam migravit, anno 1768, idibusque Sextilis, maxima expectatione omnium, munus præsidiale suscepit. Vir eximia pietate, ac vir- tute ; omnibus dotibus animi præcellens; doctrina atque optimarum artium studiis, pen- itus eruditus. Concionator gravis, solemnis, orationes ejus sacræ præceptis, et institutis vitæ præstantissimis, nec non expositionibus sacrosanctæ scripturæ dilucidis, sunt re- pletæ. In sermone familiari comis, lepidus, blandus, rerum ecclesia forensium peritissi- mus ; summa prudentia et in regenda, et instituenda juventute, præditus. Existiinationem collegii apud peregrinos auxit ; bonasque literas in eo multum provexit. Inter lumina clarissima, et doctrina, et ecclesia, diu vixit. Tandem veneratus, dilectus, lugendus omnibus animam efflavit, 17 kal. Dec. anno salutis mundi 1794, ætatis suæ 73.
Hoc tumulo conditur Quod mortale fuit viri admodum reverendi SAMUELIS STANHOPE
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SMITH, S. T. D., LL. D. Nuper Collegii Neo-Cæsariensis Prisidis. Et ejusdem sac. rosanctæ Theologia et Philosophie moralis Professoris. Natus Pequeæ Pennsylvanien- siuni, A. D. MDCCL. Evangelii ministri insignis, filius ipse insignior ; Literis human- ioribus in Aula Nassovica imbutus : In eadem Tutor tres annos ; ordinibus sacris initi- atus A. D. MDCCLXXIV. Academia Hampden Sydniensis apud Virginienses, Fun- dator, et primus Rector Inde revocatus ejus Alma Matre, ad munus Professoris A. D. MDCCLXXIX ; vice Præses creatus A. D. MDCCLXXXVI ; Denique Præsidis digni- tate exomatus A. D. MDCCXCV ; Quibus muniis omnibus præclaris et gravissimis sat- isfecit, quanta ipsius laude, quantoque bono publico, alumni permulti studiosi et sibi de- vinetissimi ubique testantor. Sed eheu ! aliis inserviendo ipse consumitor. Laboris fractus assiduis morbisque creberrimis. Sceptrum Academicum alteri dedit A. D. MDCCCXII, Atatis sue LXIX. Theologia Philosophia omnique doctrina excultus ; In docendo peritus, in scribendo ornatus. In concionando perpolitis, gravis et valde diser- tus ; Beneficentia, hospitalitate, urbanitate, venustate prætans. Ecclesia, Patrice, Lit- erarum, Collegii Decus. Hocce marmor, In memoriam operarum ejus, dotuinque ex- imiarum. Et reverentia sua, Curatores Collegii Neo-Casariensis Ponendum atque inscribendum curaverunt.
WALTER MINTO, LL. D., Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy in the College of New Jersey, was born in the county of Meroe, in Scotland, Dec. 5th, 1753; and died in this town Oct. 21st, 1796.
LAUS DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO.
Intra hoc sepulchrum, depositæ sunt spe resurrectionis beata Reliquia Mortales JOHANNIS MACLEAN, M. D. Viri admodum venerandi ; omnibus dotibus animi præ- cellentis. Qui Glascuæ Scotorum natus, Kal. Marti A. D. MDCCLXXI. In Ameri- cam migravit Anno MDCCXCV. Physica Naturalis Scientia penitus instructus et Arte Chemica præcipue florens. Earum Artium in Academia Nassovica Professor designatus est. Prid. Kal. Oct. ejusdem anni Professoribus ac Juventuti in Collegio Mire dilectus, atque observatus. Evita eheu ! decessit omnibus plorandus Idibus Februarii. MDCCCXIV.
In memory of Guy CHEW, a Mohawk Indian, who departed this life April 19th, 1826, aged 21 years 8 months. This youth continued in Pagan darkness until his 18th year, when, under the patronage of the U. F. M. Society, he was sent to the mission school at Cornwall, Conn. Here he remained three years, experienced the renewing grace of God, and became eminent for his benevolence, piety, and desire to proclaim the gospel to his countrymen. While preparing for this blessed work, he was by a mysterious Provi- dence called away in the morning of his days. Reader, pray for the Indians.
The celebrated Col. Aaron Burr was buried in the Princeton graveyard near his father, President Burr. He was interred with the honors of war ; the professors and students of the college, and some of the clergy and citi- zens, united with the relatives and friends of the deceased in the proces- sion. Col. Burr was born at Newark, Feb. 6th, 1756. Both his parents died before he reached the third year of his age, and left him in the posses- sion of a handsome estate. While under the care of Dr Shippen of Phila- delphia, when but about four years old, having some difficulty with his pre- ceptor, he ran away, and was not found until the third or fourth day after- ward : thus indicating, at this early age, a fearlessness of mind, and reli- ance on himself, which characterized the subsequent acts of his life. At the age of ten he ran away from his uncle, Timothy Edwards, for the pur- pose of going to sea. He entered Princeton College, and graduated at the age of sixteen years, receiving the highest academic honors of the institu- tion, though his moral character at this period could not be considered of the highest order. On the breaking out of the revolution, Col. Burr, im- pelled by military honor, joined the American army, and was a volunteer in Arnold's celebrated expedition through the wilderness to Quebec. He was afterward for a short period in the family of Washington, but becom
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