11. The second battle of Trenton began with a skilled delaying action
When Cornwallis encountered Hand’s advanced units he attacked with British light infantry, supported by Hessian jagers. The Americans took cover behind trees, stone walls, and in ravines. Their hot fire forced the British main columns to stop their advance and shift formations into battle lines. When they advanced upon the positions they found the Americans gone. Returning to columns they resumed the advance, only to again encounter the rifle fire of the Americans. As they grudgingly gave ground to the British the riflemen wore down the enemy troops with their pestering fire which the British for the most part could not return. The American rifles had a longer range than the British muskets, and the latter could not fire in column. By mid-afternoon, the British troops were exhausted, but they had arrived within a half-mile of Trenton.
The American delaying forces stopped the British advance at a hollow outside the town until the British unlimbered artillery and began bombarding the position. They then withdrew through the town, using houses and other buildings as cover, until they reached the bridge over Assunpink Creek. There they were charged by Hessian jagers, and a confused melee erupted, with hand-to-hand combat on the bridge and nearby. Washington rode into mass of struggling men, calling for the Americans to withdraw to his fortified positions. As Hand’s men withdrew into the trenches, American artillery opened up on the Hessians and British troops, which had by then been under fire for most of the long day. Cornwallis arrived with the main body of British troops, surveyed the American lines, and despite it being nearly twilight decided to assault the American positions.