 On the right , Hitchcock 's New Englanders fired a volley and then advanced again , threatening to turn the British flank . The riflemen were slowly picking off British soldiers while the American artillery was firing grapeshot at the British lines . At this point , Hitchcock ordered his men to charge , and the British began to flee . The British attempted to save their artillery but the militia also charged , and Mawhood gave the order to retreat . The British fled towards the Post Road followed by the Americans and Washington , still angry from the foxhunt call from Harlem Heights , shouted " It 's a fine fox chase my boys ! " . Some Americans had swarmed onto the Post Road in order to block to British retreat across the bridge , but Mawhood ordered a bayonet charge , and broke through the American lines , escaping across the bridge . Some of the Americans , Hand 's riflemen among them , continued to pursue the British , and Mawhood ordered his dragoons to buy them some time to retreat , however , the dragoons were pushed back . Some Americans continued to pursue the fleeing British until nightfall , killing some and taking some prisoner . After some time , Washington turned around and rode back to Princeton . 
