The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-05
REvcLUTIoNARx INCIDENT.
Battle of YYeMtoM.
NARRATED By AN EYE WITNESS.

anticipated, by an accumulation OF ice IN the
river. And here, if you would get good no.
tion of the countenance of Washington at this
time-the most eventful and trying moment
Of his life-I would recommend that you
study picture just painted by Mr. Sully OF
Philadelphia, upon this subject. He has
been singuarly happy-and when l necol-
lect the face of Washington, as he reined up
for half an hour, within pistol shot of me, It
appears to me that some man must have
painted it. who was with us at that time.
Before we came down to the ferry, there
was an awful solemnity, darkness and repose
on it. But there, when in sight OF the troops,
as they were severally embarking, every
man of whom, so long as the face of their
commander could be seen, even after the
boats had put off kept his eyes upon it; it was
full of loftier, more animated, youthful
and heroic expression Of encouragement
and confidence You have heard of Gen.
Knox, then Colonel, and Of his stentorian
voice. assure you that no Justice can be done
him or it. my ears rung for fortnight after
at the same hour of the highland do yet,
when remember how he galloped about,
cursing and swearing, dismounting every
1--WE minutes, and lifting at his own artillery
like giant.-He- was gallant fellow-tull
of blood-with all the blunt, strong New
England hardihood. And Greene, too--he
was there--the only man of all our armies
capable, believe, in case Of any disaster,
to take the place of Washineton-there he
sat, f,ll of deep. religious coniposure -his
broij forehead fronting the fires that we're
kindleAnear the place of deharkation.
At last, though not until three o'clock in
the morning, we were fairly landed upon
the Jersey shore, and by 5, had taken up our
line of march. Our whole army passed
softly, and silently, by two or three officers,
poste upon the road side, continually way
iny their swords with a motion as if to enioin
the most deathlike stiffness; and acathlike
II twas, for nothing could be heard but the
blowing of horses jolting sound now and
then in the wet snow where the artillery
wagons and carriages cut though into the
groun1-and a general rush, as of deep,
heavy water
A few moments after. troop of Virgin.
ians, under Cant Washington, afterwards
50 distinguished at the south, paraded in
beautiful style, through the heavy snow. and
brought us intellig ncc which tended to ac-
celerate our march. Before his arrival we
had hoped, as 7 afterwards found, TO sur
prise the enemy at Trenton, while vet over
powered by the festivities of the proceeding
highland make his morning sleep Of death
but now that hope WAS abandoned, for
Capt Washington had encountered his pick
ct, exchanged few shot and left him pre-
pared for. what it is remarkable that he
had heard vague rumor Of. OR intended
attack. Yet this verv af.lir, which u first
threatened to be SO disastrous. the frolc IF
Capt Washington, was probably the chief
reason why he succeeded in surprising the
enemy at last; for, as that VS. not Fal'owed
up, he retired TO qu4rters, attcr waiting n
reasonable time, as we afterwards found
thinking the whole 4 Virginia ,.07y.
Ou9 tr9ons were now thrown into two
divisions. We were separated from our
father who was dct iched unier Sullivan
and st. CT lir to take the river road--whilc
we, under Washington himself, Green, Nor
ris. md Stevens. pushed onward through
what is called the Pennington road.
~ few moments afterwards-iust while
rho't nv heart had 'ost its motion entirely
for felt, in looking about me, and seeing
the dark array of substantial, but noisaless
creatures, horses and wagons--as If the
whole army were an apparition--a cavai-
cade of dead men-mtrchiug from one place
of burial to another:-' heard a shot, SC
near me that nv horse leaped out Of the
rank. This was followed by loud crv-
twp or three words--a vOllev--and then
shot after shot, as if a line of septinels sleep
ing Upon their post had suddenly start. d up
one after the other, fred off their pieces, ant
run in.
.Our advance were well furnished witt
bavonets-and they immediately charget
upon the thicket, and we dashed after then
trampling them TO death, with our horses
riding over them like a whrlwind, withou
speaking word or firing shot. This W.
scarcely done, when we heard the fNing @
the other division, at the opposite quarter
so admirably timed had been the arrange
ment--and we Immediately gallopcd iNt
the centre Of the towa, foot and foot, deter
mined to ride the enemy down, CT bayore
them before they had time to form. Wash
ington was dreadfully exposed. The frs
picket thinking this second attack OF H.
same little skirnishing party, that had fire
into them before, neglected to give the q
larn:-and the ont-posts, though they fougt
most gallaDtlv, retreated step BY step, h.
hind the houses. dis utins every inch, IN
presenting their bright bayonetS, without
fash of powder, wherever we rode IN npc
them-so that We could not, with all our GU
ting and spuring, force our horses upon the
land then the moment that we had face
about, blazing away upon us, and running
the next house-were driven in.
Atlast weh,ld al opportunity for fair pla
the Hessians We're formed, and formin
with the whole glittering with b:yonets.
tremendous struggle was going on at o.
rh 1pG nj \AttCl1 4 putG