 They would go around Cornwallis' army. They would circumvent that army. They would march the 12 miles to Princeton. And they would strike the smaller British force in Princeton under Lieutenant Colonel Mahood, the same force that Cornwallis had left there. And if it worked, the Patriots would have two stunning victories under their belts. So the plan commenced that night. Washington's men cleverly kept fires burning and used picks and shovels to make noise. And that gave the British the impression they were digging in for the next day's battle.