 A quick response, they felt, was needed to wipe out any newfound hope for the Patriots. So Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and his force marched down to teach Washington a lesson. They first arrived at Princeton and left 1,400 men under the command of one Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mahud. Cornwallis then headed towards Trenton to confront Washington with 5,000 men. And on January 2, 1777, Cornwallis' men spotted Washington's advance force and a skirmish ensued.