George Washington hailed as 'American Joshua'

George Washington depicted atop Monument to the Battle of Princeton

Frederick the Great of Prussia called these 10 days "the most brilliant in the world's history."

After winning the Battle of Trenton, Christmas night, George Washington's small force met General Cornwallis' 8,000-man British army. The night before the battle, Washington left his campfires burning and silently marched his army around the back of the British camp at Princeton, New Jersey.

At daybreak, Jan. 3, 1777, Washington attacked.

When the British fought back, American troops under John Cadwalader began retreating.

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General George Washington quickly rode to the front to stop the retreat. He ordered his men to follow him as he rode to within 30 yards of the British.

Quickly turning and facing his men, Washington yelled, "Halt!" and, "Aim," then, "Fire!"

The British returned by firing a volley, filling the field with a cloud of smoke.

Many thought Washington was surely shot, as he was exposed to fire from both sides, but when the smoke cleared, Washington was seen waving to his men to charge forward.

Three British regiments were captured, and enthusiasm swept America.

President Calvin Coolidge stated Oct. 28, 1925: "Distinguished military critics have described Washington's campaign of Trenton and Princeton as a military exploit of unparalleled brilliancy."

Yale President Ezra Stiles described General Washington in an Election Address before the Governor and General Assembly of Connecticut, May 8, 1783: "Congress put at the head of this spirited army the only man, on whom the eyes of all Israel were placed. ... This American Joshua was raised up by God and divinely formed by a peculiar influence of the Sovereign of the Universe, for the great work of leading the armies of this American Joseph ... and conducting this people through the severe, the arduous conflict, to liberty and independence.

"In our lowest and most dangerous estate in 1776 and 1777," Stiles continued, "we sustained ourselves against the British army of 60,000 troops commanded by Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, and other the ablest generals Britain could procure throughout Europe, with a naval force of 22,000 seamen in above 80 British men of war.

"This was sealed and confirmed by God Almighty in the victory of General Washington at Trenton, and in the surprising movement and battle of Princeton; by which astonishing effort of generalship, General Howe and the whole British army, in elated confidence and in open-mouthed march for Philadelphia, was instantly stopped, remanded back and cooped up for a shivering winter in the little borough of Brunswick. Thus God turned the battle to the gate; and this gave a finishing to the foundation of the American Republic."

Ezra Stiles continued: "Who but a Washington, inspired by Heaven, could have struck out the great movement and maneuver of Princeton? … The United States are under peculiar obligations to become a holy people unto the Lord our God."

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