Princeton in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Site of Moulder’s Battery
Photographed By Gary Nigh, August 2008
1. Site of Moulder’s Battery Marker
“Battle of Princeton” painting courtesy of the Princeton University Libraries
Inscription.
Site of Moulder’s Battery. . At the height of the January 3, 1777 Battle of Princeton, British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood, attacked aggressively, forcing the American brigades to fall back. The Americans rallied around a small artillery battery, lead by Captain Joseph Moulder. Moulder’s Battery consisted of “two guns handled by some twenty boys recruited from Philadelphia’s dock area,” supported by the Delaware Militia company of Captain Thomas Rodney. With great skill and bravery Captain Moulder directed intense and accurate fire from the American guns which prevented the British Forces from advancing across the field., This defense was a major factor in the American victory being crucial in buying time for Washington to arrive on the field and organize a counterattack., Artist James Peale, a soldier with the American forces at Princeton, chose in 1784 to illustrate this critical moment of the engagement in his painting of the Battle of Princeton. Peale’s landscape, painted on this hill, focuses on Moulder’s battery and the left wing of the American forces in their attack on the British 17th and 55th Regiments. In the background are the William Clarke House and barns, now gone. The Mercer Oak would be just to the left of the barn at the center of the painting., Created by Chris Wang BSA Troop 88, Princeton, NJ - 1998
At the height of the January 3, 1777 Battle of Princeton, British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood, attacked aggressively, forcing the American brigades to fall back. The Americans rallied around a small artillery battery, lead by Captain Joseph Moulder. Moulder’s Battery consisted of “two guns handled by some twenty boys recruited from Philadelphia’s dock area,” supported by the Delaware Militia company of Captain Thomas Rodney. With great skill and bravery Captain Moulder directed intense and accurate fire from the American guns which prevented the British Forces from advancing across the field.
This defense was a major factor in the American victory being crucial in buying time for Washington to arrive on the field and organize a counterattack.
Artist James Peale, a soldier with the American forces at Princeton, chose in 1784 to illustrate this critical moment of the engagement in his painting of the Battle of Princeton. Peale’s landscape, painted on this hill, focuses on Moulder’s battery and the left wing of the American forces in their attack on the British 17th and 55th Regiments. In the background are the William Clarke House and barns, now gone. The Mercer Oak would be just to the left of the barn at the center of the painting.
Created by Chris Wang BSA
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Troop 88, Princeton, NJ - 1998
Erected by State of New Jersey, Division of Parks and Forestry.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1825.
Location. 40° 19.785′ N, 74° 40.469′ W. Marker is in Princeton, New Jersey, in Mercer County. This marker is in the middle of a large open area in the Princeton Battlefield State Park, close to the Thomas Clarke House. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Princeton NJ 08540, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. “Battle of Princeton” painting courtesy of the Princeton University Libraries
Photographed By Gary Nigh, August 2008
3. “Battle of Princeton” painting courtesy of the Princeton University Libraries
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 6, 2013
4. American Troops at Moulder’s Battery
The artillery crew of Capt. Joseph Moulder are seen here.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, February 28, 2009
5. Marker on Princeton Battlefield
Photographed By Gary Nigh, August 2008
6. Site of Moulder’s Battery Marker
Courtesy of Princeton University Library
7. Battle of Princeton by James Peale
This is the background photograph on the marker.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, November 14, 2019
8. Battlefield panorama from the Moulder’s Battery Marker site
Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2008, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 4,649 times since then and 90 times this year. Last updated on May 11, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2008, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. 4. submitted on April 6, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on February 15, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on August 12, 2008, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. 7. submitted on August 12, 2008. 8. submitted on January 21, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.