Creek on 2 January 1777 where they held the lower ford on the left flank. In this position, they repelled the attacks of the British light infantry and Hessian jägers. The regiment, which numbered only 120 men, belonged to a 352-man brigade commanded by Hitchcock. The 2nd Regiment participated in the Battle of Princeton the following day. After Charles Mawhood's initial attack routed Hugh Mercer's advance guard, George Washington rallied the Americans on the hill where Thomas Clark's house still stands. Hitchcock's small brigade joined with forces under Edward Hand, Thomas Mifflin, John Cadwalader, and others to defeat Mawhood. Hitchcock and Hand probably deployed on the American right flank. Hitchcock died of pneumonia on 13 January 1777 at Morristown, New Jersey. That day, Olney was promoted lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island. Israel Angell became colonel while Simeon Thayer became major. The Rhode Island Assembly voted to recruit two full regiments when the terms of enlistment of the 1776 units ran out. By February only 50 men had enrolled but recruiting picked up and 400 men had enlisted by March. Another 1,800 state troops contained the British foothold at Newport. Together with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, 4th Connecticut Regiment, and 8th Connecticut Regiment, the 2nd Regiment served in Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum's brigade. The 2nd Regiment transferred to the Highlands Department on 12 March 1777 and back to the main army on 14 September. Under the command of Varnum, the 2nd Regiment arrived at Red Bank, New Jersey on 18 October. Red Bank On 22 October 1777 Olney fought at the Battle of Red Bank where 500 Americans successfully defended Fort Mercer against the attack of Carl von Donop's 2,000 Hessian soldiers. Donop sent British Major Charles Stuart under a flag of truce to demand the fort's surrender. The American commander, Colonel Christopher Greene of the 1st Rhode Island sent Lieutenant Colonel Olney of the 2nd Regiment to receive the message. Stuart addressed Olney in a tone loud enough for the fort's garrison to hear. He said, "The King of England orders his rebellious subjects to lay down their arms, and they are warned that if they stand battle, no quarter will be given". When Stuart insisted on seeing the fort's commander, Olney replied that they would, "defend the fort unto the last". The British officer pressed further and Olney remarked that, "seeing Colonel Greene was altogether