[December 26, 1776—January 3, 1777]
On December, the sixth
And the twentieth day,
Our troops attacked the Hessians,
And show'd them gallant play.
Our roaring cannon taught them
Our valor for to know;
We fought like brave Americans
Against a haughty foe.
The chiefs were kill'd or taken,
The rest were put to flight,
And some arrived at Princeton,
Half-fainting with affright.
The third of January,
The morning being clear,
Our troops attack'd the regulars,
At Princeton, we do hear.
About a mile from Princeton,
The battle is begun,
And many a haughty Briton fell
Before the fight was done.
And what our gallant troops have done
We'll let the British know;
We fought like brave Americans
Against a haughty foe.
The British, struck with terror,
And frighted, ran away:
They ran across the country
Like men in deep dismay,
Crying to every one they met,
"Oh! hide us! hide us! do!
The rebels will devour us,
So hotly they pursue."