The Ambush of Geary was a skirmish Hostile_encounter of the American Revolutionary War Military_operation fought Hostile_encounter on 14 December 1776 near Ringoes in Amwell Township , Hunterdon County , New Jersey .

Cornet Francis Geary , the leader of a company of dragoons , was shot Use_firearm in an ambush Attack set up Attack by local militiamen .

Geary , the son of Admiral Sir Francis Geary , was operating Control from a station at Pennington when he was killed Killing in the ambush Attack .

Geary , the son of Admiral Sir Francis Geary , was operating Control from a station at Pennington when he was killed Killing in the ambush Attack .

Making Manufacturing a casualty Death of Geary was one of a number of militia actions that resulted in Causation a reduced Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale scope of British reconnaissance Scrutiny , contributing Causation to the eventual success Earnings_and_losses of George Washington 's crossing Motion_directional of the Delaware and success Earnings_and_losses at Trenton .