On January 4, Washington marched his weary soldiers north to Kingston, then up the east side of the Millstone River to Somerset Court House (now Millstone). At Pluckemin, someone discovered the body of Captain Leslie in a captured baggage wagon, along with a letter to him from Continental Army surgeon Dr. Benjamin Rush, who had been a friend of the Leslies while studying medicine at Edinburgh, Scotland. Willie Leslie was buried with full military honors at Pluckemin churchyard, and after the war Dr. Rush paid for a suitable headstone.

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On January 5, the Continental Army completed a 70-mile trek as its first units reached Morristown, where Washington established winter quarters on the 6th. From there, with the Watchung Mountains protecting his eastern flank, Washington effectively controlled most of New Jersey for the time being. Cornwallis pursued him only as far as Kingston, then retired to New Brunswick, his only secure base in New Jersey other than Amboy.

In his assessment of the Battle of Princeton, Washington reported that the enemy 'in killed, wounded and prisoners must have lost near 500 men. Upwards of 100 of them were left dead in the field, and with what I have with me, and what was taken in the pursuit and carried across the Delaware, there are near 300 prisoners, 14 of which are officers, all British.' He was unable to ascertain his own casualties because of the continued pursuit, but estimated that the'slain in the field was about 30.'

In a letter to the Secretary for the Colonies, Lord George Germain, that was partially reprinted in the London Gazette on March 12, Howe recorded his losses at: '1 Captain, 1 sergeant, 16 rank and file, killed; 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 5 sergeants, 48 rank and file, wounded; 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 2 Ensigns, 5 sergeants, 4 drummers, 187 rank and file, missing.' His total was 276. As for Washington's men, Howe stated, 'It has not come to my knowledge how much the enemy has suffered, but it is certain there were many killed and wounded, and among the former a General Mercer, from Virginia.' He also noted that 'The bravery and conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Mawhood, and the behavior of the regiments under his command, particularly the 17th, are highly comm[e]nded by Lord Cornwallis.' Even Washington observed that the British regiments had made 'a gallant resistance.'

Some estimates have Continental Army losses as high as 100 or 150, some as low as 40. By any estimate, the Americans achieved a convincing success in spite of their failure to capture–or even confirm the existence of–the 70,000 pounds. News of their victory at Princeton, coupled with that at Trenton, spread worldwide. In London it brought out ever more criticism within Parliament and among a public already having grave doubts about the war. By February 1778, following the Franco-American treaties, Prime Minister Frederick, Lord North, was making an attempt at peace, but his plan was vague and did not include American independence.

After Princeton the cause of American independence, once regarded as nothing but an ideal, became a distant but obtainable goal. The French, always ready to do whatever damage they could to the British, felt confident enough in the rebellion's prospects to send supplies to America. After news arrived of an even greater American victory at Saratoga in October 1777, the French would go further, officially recognizing the United States and committing to an alliance.

But that was yet to come. In the meantime, Washington settled his troops in Morristown for a harsh winter. Had Trenton and Princeton not given his men a morale-sustaining taste of victory, the Continental Army very well might have disintegrated. Now Washington began seeing new enlistments. The army, and therefore the cause, was still alive.

As for Howe, his star was fading, but he managed to hold on to his command and even succeeded in capturing Philadelphia, also defeating Washington at the battles of Brandywine Creek in September and Germantown in October. After the capitulation of Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, however, Howe offered his resignation, fearing that he would be blamed for yet another military disaster. The offer was accepted, and after being replaced by Lt. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton on May 8, 1778, Howe sailed home to England on May 25.

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