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Honor the “Heroes of Princeton”

Honor the “Heroes of Princeton”

A Place of Remembrance

Remembering the Sacrifice. Preserving the Legacy.

On the frozen morning of January 3, 1777, in the fields just outside Princeton, New Jersey, ordinary men stood their ground against the world’s most powerful army. Under the command of General George Washington, these soldiers—Continental troops, militia, and young volunteers—fought with courage and determination. They did not know they were changing history. But they were.

The Battle of Princeton was a turning point in the American Revolution. After victories at Trenton and now Princeton, Washington’s army had proven its resilience, and hope was restored to the American cause. In the wake of these victories, enlistments increased, morale surged, and the path to independence became more certain.

Yet, victory came at a cost. Many gave their lives in defense of freedom. Their names are largely unknown. Their stories often unrecorded. But their legacy lives on in the very soil of the Princeton Battlefield.

Why We Remember

Honoring those who fought at Princeton isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about understanding the price of freedom. It’s about connecting new generations to the values of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism.

These men were farmers, blacksmiths, students, and shopkeepers—ordinary individuals who risked everything for a cause greater than themselves. By remembering them, we continue to uphold the ideals they fought for.

Honor a Hero

HEROES OF PRINCETON ​

Let us never forget the souls who tried—and triumphed—on this battlefield.

  Henry Delatush

Unit/Regiment: Crosswicks Burlington Milita with Brother in law Nicholas Van Winkle
Submitted by:  Cyndy Mack

Service Description:   Henry Delatush was in several Battles in the area and had farms in the area, he would take turns going out to battle with his brother in law Nicholas VanWickle

Andrew Keen

Unit/Regiment: Washington headquarters (New Hope)
Submitted by: Barbara Ritter

Captain Daniel Neil

Unit/Regiment: Eastern Co of Artillery, New Jersey Line, Continential Army
Submitted by: George Shelton Daugharty

Service Description: Captain Neil commanded the Eastern Company of Artillery that had been assigned to General Hugh Mercer and his men for the Battle of Princeton. Captain Neil, along with a number of other heroic American officers serving with General Mercer, was killed during the bayonet charge of General Mawhood’s British regulars. Captain Neil was killed while continuing to have his men fire their cannons, despite the fact that many other men were retreating in the face of the American line having been broken during that portion of the battle.

Captain William Heyser

Unit/Regiment: Commander of a German Company from Maryland
Submitted by: Gerald Powell

Service Description:I have seen indicate he fought in the Battle of Trenton against the Hessians both as part of the operation where Washington Crossed the Delaware in the sneak attack on the Hessians in Trenton in late December 1776 and in early January 1777 against the British forces in the Battle of Princeton. The descriptions indicate he was wounded in either the Battle of Trenton or Battle of Princeton and taken to a hospital in Philadelphia.

Ludwig Dorman

Unit/Regiment: 10th PA
Submitted by: Molly Plunkett

Service Description: My Fifth Great Grandfather, Ludwig Dorman fought in the Battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, Monmouth and Elizabethtown.
During his career he served in the 10th PA Regiment under Col. Humpton and Hubley of the Pennsylvania Line for four years, as well as the Flying Camp under Col. Oldenbruck.

Ludwig Dorman

Unit/Regiment: 10th PA Regiment and Flying Camp
Submitted by: Mary D’Amore (DAR, Princeton Chapter)

Service Description: Ludwig Dorman was a private in the 10th PA Regiment of the Pennsylvania line for four years and fought in the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, Monmouth, and Elizabethtown according to his pension papers.

He also was in General Mercer’s Flying Camp, and in Captain Oldenbruck (Oldenbrooks) Company.

Brigadier General Hugh Mercer

Unit/Regiment: Mercer’s Brigade, Greene’s Division
Submitted by: Willis Mercer

Service Description: While leading 350 soldiers toward Princeton on January 3, 1777, Mercer’s brigade encountered two British regiments and mounted unit on the farms of William and Thomas Clarke. A fight broke out at William’s orchard and Mercer’s horse was shot from under him. Getting to his feet, he was quickly surrounded by British troops who mistook him for George Washington and ordered him to surrender. Outnumbered, he drew his saber and began an unequal contest. He was finally beaten to the ground, bayoneted seven times, and left for dead. He was carried to the home of Thomas Clarke died nine days later. His encounter with the British is captured in the John Trumbull painting, “The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777.”

James Williamson

Unit/Regiment: 12th Pennsylvania Regiment
Submitted by: Melanie Gold

Service Description: In the fall of 1776 James Williamson received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant and, along with Capt. Peter Withington, raised a company of regular enlisted troops in and around Reading, Pennsylvania, that became the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment. After marching to Philadelphia, Captain Withington returned home with an illness, and Williamson was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. They arrived at Trenton on the day of the cannonade, then that night marched to Princeton and was engaged in the battle as part of the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade under Gen. Thomas Mifflin. Williamson was among the soldiers in Mercer’s brigade who engaged with the British early in the battle. After Princeton, they marched to winter quarters in Morristown.

Major Samuel Meredith

Unit/Regiment: Philadelphia Associators
Submitted by: Ben Strong

Service Description:Major Samuel Meredith served in the 3rd Battalion of the Philadelphia Associators. His unit was under the command of Colonel John Cadwalader. The Philadelphia Associators crossed the Deleware on December 25th in insufficient numbers to attack Trenton due to the ice flows on the river. The 3rd Battalion was in combat soon afterwards at the Battles of Assinpink Creek, and Princeton. They would also fight at the battles of Brandywine and Germaintown.

John Hendy

Unit/Regiment: Ensign, General George Washington’s Army Submitted by: JoAnn Culp Youngman 

Service Description:John Hendy began service at 17 in 1774 as a militia private in Northampton County, PA. In early December 1776, he received an Ensign’s commission in Washington’s army and marched with Capt. Benjamin Schoonover’s company to join the forces at Trenton.
On January 2, 1777, he was attached to General Mifflin’s brigade and marched to Princeton, arriving the next morning for the Battle of Princeton. During the battle, Hendy personally carried the mortally wounded General Hugh Mercer to the Thomas Clarke House, recalling Mercer’s words: “Cheer up my boys, the day is ours.”
After the battle, Hendy marched with the army to Morristown, stopping at Pluckemin, NJ, where they buried British officer Captain William Leslie with honors. He then rejoined Washington’s main army at Morristown.

John Allen

Unit/Regiment: Northumberland Militia. 2nd Battalion. 2nd Company.
Army Submitted by: Janice Hill

My great-great-great-grandfather, John Allen, was born in 1757 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1774, his family moved to White Deer, near Fort Augusta. On December 11, 1776, just before his 19th birthday, he joined the Northumberland Militia and served for five years.

Following news of the Battle of Trenton, his regiment joined Washington’s forces in time for the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. Though inexperienced, they supported Washington’s attack and marched overnight to Princeton, enduring two sleepless nights and three days without food.

John’s company was ordered to destroy a bridge at St. Pink to disrupt British communication. Under fire, they succeeded—an action believed to have contributed significantly to the American victory. John continued serving under Washington until June 1777 and later noted in his pension application that he was “acquainted with Mr. Washington.”

Afterward, he served as an Indian scout across central Pennsylvania and was commended for bravery, earning a lieutenant’s commission three times. Around 1799, he moved to Butler County, where he lived until his death in 1845 at age 88.

Lieutenant James Read

Unit/Regiment: Continental Navy detached to the Philadelphia Associators
Army Submitted by: Ben Strong

Service Description:

Lt. Read was detached from the Continental Navy and served as an infantryman during the Ten Crucial Days Campaign and at the Battle of Princeton. He was in the thick of the fighting near Mulder’s battery and was amazed and inspired by Washington’s actions on the field of battle on January 3rd, 1777. He would also serve at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown before returning to the Continental Navy. 

James Read with the Philadelphia Associators later commented to his wife, “O my Susan! It was a glorious day and I would not have been absent from it for all the money I ever expect to be worth. I happened to be amongst those who were in the first and hottest of the fire and I flatter myself that our superiors have approved of our conduct. ‘ Then he could not help writing, I would wish to say a few words respecting the actions of that truly great man Gen. Washington, but it is not in the power of language to convey any just idea of him. His greatness is far beyond my description. I shall never forget…, when I saw him brave all the dangers of the field, and his important life hanging as it were by a single hair with a thousand deaths flying around him. Believe me I thought not of myself. He is surely America’s better Genius and Heaven’s peculiar care.”

Joseph Whitmore

Unit/Regiment: 12th Continental Regiment (Col. Moses Little)
Army Submitted by: Scott Osborn

Service Description:

Good afternoon! I would like to submit my 5th great grandfather, Joseph Whitmore, to be added to the muster roll based on information that I found on Fold3 and in the National Archives. He filed for, and received, a pension (W22592) for his Revolutionary War service as a member of the 12th Continental (Massachusetts) which was granted on May 16, 1818. He enlisted in January 1776 and served one year and six months, participating in the battles of White Plains, Trenton (I assume the 2nd one since Cadwalader’s men didn’t make it over the Delaware), and Princeton. He served in Captain Gideon Parker’s company under Colonel Moses Little. Furthermore, his service is recognized by the DAR (A125003). He was born in Dudley, MA on July 13, 1755 and passed away in Deer Island, Maine on June 14, 1841.

Abraham Cox

Unit/Regiment: 2nd New Jersey Regiment
Army Submitted by: Phil Snow

Service Description:

Peter Withington

Unit/Regiment: 12 th Pennsylvania Regiment
Army Submitted by: Scott Wagner

Service Description:

Did not participate in battle of Princeton. However he contributed by funding and training his regiment. He became ill in Philadelphia as his troops arrived just before the battle of Trenton was sent back home to Reading where he shortly passed away from his illness. He contributed to the battle of Princeton by helping fund the troops who participated in the battle. He may be considered an early casualty of the war.

George Lighthiser Jr.

Unit/Regiment: Capt. Rudulph Neff under Col. Robert Lewis, 2nd Battalion, Philadelphia Co. Militia., under Sergeant Samuel Wells
Army Submitted by: Robert Reid

Service Description:

George Lighthiser Jr., eldest son of George Lighthiser Sr., both served in the American forces and were present at the Battle of Princeton (Jan 3, 1777). Sr. served in Capt. Graybill’s Company, German Regiment under Col. Nicholas Haussegger, while Jr. served in Capt. Rudolph Neff’s Company, 2nd Battalion, Philadelphia Associators.

George Jr. fought in the Crossing of the Delaware (Dec 25, 1776), the Battle of Trenton, Assunpink Creek (Jan 2, 1777), and Princeton. Later records (PA Archives, 5th Series) list him as a dragoon in Col. Armand’s Legion (1781–1783), where he also participated in the Battle of Yorktown.

Accounts from Andrew Keen’s 1833 pension confirm that George Jr. was part of a detachment guarding Washington’s pay wagon and was present at Princeton, fighting within 20 yards of General Hugh Mercer when he fell. Both George Sr. and Jr. crossed the Delaware at McKonkey’s Ferry on Christmas night, 1776, with Jr. actively engaged in the fighting near the Thomas Clarke farm against British forces under Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood.

Michael Leonard

Unit/Regiment: Captain John Chilton’s Company/3rd Virginia Commanded by Col. Thomas Marshall
Army Submitted by: Phil McCall

Service Description:

See Muster Roll for this Company for returns December 1, 1776 to March 7, 1777. Originally from Pa. and apparently was transitioning down the Great Wagon Trail to Rowan [currently Davidson] County, NC and joined the 3rd Virginia in Culpeper County. His father and brothers plus Uncles and cousins fought from Pa. through NC and up into Kentucky. Big family of German males immigrants and first generation soldiers.

Michael Leonard shows consistently on the rolls of Virginia Regiments until 1780, then shows us as a soldier in Salisbury District, Rowan County, NC under Captain John Lopp after 1780.

John Allen

Unit/Regiment: Northumberland Militia. 2nd Battalion. 2nd Company.
Army Submitted by: Janice Hill

Service Description:

John Allen (b. 1757, Chester County, PA) joined the Northumberland Militia in December 1776, just before turning 19. After news of the first Battle of Trenton, his unit marched to support Washington, arriving for the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. Though inexperienced, they supported the army and endured two nights without sleep and three days without food.

Allen’s company helped destroy a bridge at Assunpink Creek, disrupting British communications—an action considered important to the American victory at Princeton. He continued serving with Washington until June 1777 and later noted he was “acquainted with Mr. Washington.”

After the campaign, Allen served as an “Indian spy” on the Pennsylvania frontier, earning multiple lieutenant commissions and recognition for bravery. Around 1799, he settled in Butler County, PA, where he lived until his death in 1845 at age 88.

Amos Cogswell

Unit/Regiment: 12th Pennsylvania Regt.
Army Submitted by: Ron Cogswell, Arlington, Virginia

Service Description:

In honor of my great-great-great-great (‘4G’)-uncle, Amos Cogswell (1752-1826), who fought at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, and was a founding member of The Society of the Cincinnati. This gift also honors the ‘Eight Sons of Haverhill (MA)’—the sons (including Amos) of my 5G-grandfather Nathaniel Cogswell (1701-1783) and the Matriarch Judith Badger (1724-1810). All eight sons served in the Continental Army and survived the war. This includes Moses Cogswell (1757-1811), who served as a Prize Master on the Privateer Putnam and endured time as a POW in Nova Scotia and England before being exchanged in 1781. We give to preserve the ground where Amos fought and to honor the Eight for their call to duty that secured our independence. 

 
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“These are the times that try men’s souls...”

– Thomas Paine, writing days before the Battle of Princeton