 In response to the loss at Trenton , General Lord Cornwallis left New York City and reassembled a British force of more than 9 @,@ 000 at Princeton to oppose Washington . Leaving 1 @,@ 200 men under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood at Princeton , Cornwallis left Princeton on January 2 in command of 8 @,@ 000 men to attack Washington 's army of 6 @,@ 000 troops . Washington sent troops to skirmish with the approaching British to delay their advance . It was almost nightfall by the time the British reached Trenton . After three failed attempts to cross the bridge over the Assunpink Creek , beyond which were the primary American defenses , Cornwallis called off the attack until the next day . 
