The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1823-1824, 1824-03-04

Uhr,ty Fit lie n,smciy at thy fame, D " afieh |
and OF thy ,,eyo,edness TO the cause ct Thy toa
try, shall live for ever, and teach tie 'teeo"rI
how to die for freedom. The yco |
many in the vicinity OF ,he battle ct Lexington
leaving the half unfinished firrrow, and nbnndtuii
of the prayers and tears o' w"e'' motheIs, Sn.
daughters. we're seen snstcling in haste their
Hreiocks. rushing TO the scene If aci"n, and
marking the backward STEPS OF the enemy with
the dead and dying.
Ho.,ilities are now commenced frul,less re
monstrances and unavaling petitions TOR redress
are laid aside: revenge is echncd from norm to|
south, and England declared an unnatural step
mother, proving upon the vitais ct her children.
War is now deemed inevitable, and aleganceI
considered an unmeaning sound.
The battle OF Bunker's Hill soon followed i
where the valour OF the undlciplined, and sell
devoted troops of New England, descended hkel
an avenging blast from heaven ON lhe murderer
of their cOuntrymen.
The wound is too deep TO he healed; the co..
onics mus, he severed from the mother counry;l
armies are ordered BY Congress TO be organized,
and the whole country assumes an attitude OF de
fence and determined opposition.
But now il is asked in the Legislative Hall, who|
shall command our armies, and lead them TO vic
,ory and freedom none are willing to name the
lman, and profound silence reiHns. At length
the venerable Franklin slowly rOhe-pour'raye'
the situation OF our couniry-her resources, andI
prospects OF success under the guidance OF all
able and experienced commander ct her forces.l
lie spoke Of one who had been already tried
I'm war, who was mature in years, and posses
Of the confidence Of his countrymen; OF a capa-
city to plan, and judgment and prudence t.
carry those plans into execution, winch WOULD
he most likely to eveniua,e in the independence,
IT America-All view him AS an oracle, and arel
anxious that he should name the MANTLE no
inmates the hero Of Monongahrla, and jPushing-
tan is UNANIMOUSLY chosen Commander IA Chi II
uf the Americaa armies.
lie accepts the command with that kind of diff
fdence in his abilities, which frequently accom-
panes the possession OF true merit, and pledges
himself that no extttion Of his shall he wanting
to bring the present struggle to a successful is
sue and at the same time, as An earnest OF his
AVID devotion to the common
cause dsclaims all intention III demanding Or re-
lcevng pectniary reward for his services He
repairs Immediately ~ the seat of war, and by
his presence and strict observance of order and
discipline, huilt up the faith of the wavering, and
re anlma,ea the hopes OF the sanguine in the
lcamse Of their country
Owing to the inierio,i,y of the American forces
in numbers aud requisite supplies, they could
only act on the defensive while the invaders
were constantly receiving fire sl accessions OF
troops, Under the conduct of able and experience.
ed commanders and for a time, the enemy babe
\ fa to look dow all opposition, and to annihi
late forever, the hopes Of our country.
Washington was by superior numbers, defeat
led at Long Island, and compelled TO abandon
New England. Bit soon after, watching the fla
vourabc moment for action, he turned upon HE
pursners, and the vanquished became the victors
! On the plains of Trenton (where now, peace
and independence rcigns, and where busy null
Itiude of manufacturing citizens are usefuy EN-
lpoyed in producing those articles. for which, W.
were then entirely dependant ON England,) one
Thousand British veterans laid down their arm.
to the American forces under the command Of
Washington.
4 The classic Wales Of Princeton, were also, about
\ this time, the scene of bloodshed and battles
land here, again, SUCCESS crowned the arms o.
,lfreemen.
These successes inspired the dropping hopes
u md restored the confidence OF the Americans.
FL The news Of our heroic actions, and Our man
) y declaration of independence, WAS heard on th'
o,her side of the Atlantic, and procured us TO
,reign friends. 6 HAS chosen troops are sent t.
c aid the rising Republic. to burst asunder thu
shuckels of despotism, and to establish the right
Iof man in the regions OF the west.
Lives there vet war.worn soldier, who mil,
dIgled in the fights of Trenton and Princeton, who's
3 pulse does not beat high at the remembrance q
those scenes' and can he forget, or fail TO vene
J. rate the memory of the Ina,chless man, VIII
planned the attack, ai.l led him, in spite of tn
b warning elements, through the frozen torrent
e Iof the Delaware, to battle and to victory.
Il And where is the gallant youth, who, calm
|. to mind he devotencss of his ancestors, in til
y cause OF liberty and equal rights, that does nc
It resolve, should the occasion require it, to marc
dim the front rank of freedoms defenders, and en-
a ulale the deeds Of his sres
n Often has the pensive student, when treadin
= the academic groves of the now Peacefu Prince
Is ton, sworn by the memory OF Hazelett and O
c Mercer, who there fell in the lap of victory, +
transmit to fhture ages, unsulicd and unimpsirct
g those liberties their vaour obtained.
If Washington now encountered the force Of tn
enemy at Brandywine, where bravery and conf
Offence were compelled to Weld the hand won he
dno,lrs Of Trenton and Princeton, to superior fore
. and discipline. Repulscd. but undisma,ed, on
Ichiet was soon able TO act on the defensive an
although he could not defeat, 10 arrest the enemy
plans of subjugstion, and confne his operation
elto limited section Of country, and unimportar
" Iadvantages.
But the time at length arrived, when Wasl
ylington was able to pursue the pursuers, and wit
n 5000 brave Americans, and 5000 chosen troop
I, of France, under the conduct of the Marquis d
d Lafayette, to invest the flower Of the British a
e my which lay enlrenched at Yorktown, Virgins
E. After sustaining vigorous siege of several day
to the enemy capitulated, and became prisoners
81 war. Thus terminated this decisive csmpag
as which realized the independence of Americ
ST. In the course of the next year, peace was col
as cluded, and these colonies acknowledged