"Death is preferable to life with this dishonor," answered Rahl.
Washington spoke in praise of the bravery of his men, to which Rahl replied, though he was really suffering the agony of death:
"I entreat you, General Washington, not to take anything from my men but their arms."
"I will not," answered Washington; and he kept the promise.
Washington took about a thousand prisoners in this battle, including thirty-two officers. His seizure of artillery and stores, also, was quite large. With prisoners and stores he recrossed the Delaware to his camp.
The fame of this brilliant exploit spread from town to town, reviving the despondent hopes of the many in sympathy with the American cause.
Despatches from Cadwalader and Reed assured Washington that the British army, fleeing from Trenton, had spread consternation everywhere among the enemy. Trenton, Bordentown, and other places were deserted by the foe, who, panic-stricken by the victory of Washington, fled in confusion.
Washington saw that now was his time to drive the British from the Jerseys. He sent to Generals McDougall and Maxwell at Morristown, ordering them to collect as large a force of militia as possible, and harass the retreating enemy in the rear. He wrote to General Heath, also, to come down at once from the Highlands, with the eastern militia; and he despatched gentlemen of influence in different directions, to arouse the militia to revenge the wrongs inflicted upon the people by the Hessians. He said:
"If what they have suffered does not rouse their resentment, they must not possess the feelings of humanity."