The Litchfield County post., 1828-12-25
BATTLE OF TRENTON.


 The following description will probably be new to most of our readers. Its vivid de- tails, although extracted from work ol I fiction, are agreeable to the truth of histo. Try. An event that raised the dropping confidence and courage ofthose who fought and prayed for our cause, which before had assumed an appearance almost despe- rate.
 "The night was intensely cold, and we were delayed many hours longer thanhad heen anticipated, by an accumulation of ice in the river. And here, ifyou would get good notion of the countenance of Washington at this time-the most event. full and trying period of his life.--I would recommend you to study picture just painted by MT. Sully of Philadelphia, on this subject.
 He has been ssingularly happy-and when I recollect the face of Washington as he refined up half an hour within pistol shot of me, it appears to me that some man must have painted it who was with us at the time. Before we came down to the ferry, there was an awful darkness and re- pose 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 boat had put off, kept his eyes upon it; it was full of loftier, more animated, youthful and heroic expression, encourage ment and confidence.
 At last, though not until three o'clock in the morning, we were landed upon the Jersey shore, aud by five had taken up our line of march. .......- .,
 Our whole army past softly and silently by two or three officers posted. on the road side, continually waving their swords with d motion as if to enjoin the most death- like stiffness and death-like it was, for nothing could be heardabut the blowing of horses, ajolting sound now and then in the we, snow, where the artillery wagons and carriages cut through into the snow.
 A few moments after, a toop of Virgi- nians, under Captain Washington, (after- wards so distinguished at the south, para ded in beautiful style through the heavy snow, and brought us intelligence which tended to accelerate our march. Before his arrival we had hoped, as afterwards found, to surprise the enemy at Trenton, while yet overpowered with the festivities of the preceding night, and make his nor ming sleep, the sleep of death-but now the hope was abandoned, for Capt. Wash ington had abandoned his picket, exchan- ged few shots with the enemy, and left him prepared; for what is remarkable, he had heard vague rnmor of our intended attack. a4.
 Yet this very affair which threatened at first to be SO disastrous, the frolic of Cap tain Washington, was probably the chief reason why we succeeded in surprising the enemy at last, for as that was not followed up, he retired to quarters after waiting as we afterwards found, thinking the whole a Virginia row.
 Our troops were now thrown into divi,- ions. We'were separated from our father who was detached under Sullivan and St. Clair to take the river road, while we, un- der Washington himself, Green, Morris, and Stephens, pushed onward thro' what is called the Pennington road.
 1 A few moments afterwards, just while l thought my heart had lost its motion en- tirely, for felt in looking about me and seeing the dark array of substantial and motionless creatures, horse and wagons, as if the whole army were an apparition- a cavalcade of dead men marching from one burial place to another, ! heard shot so near me that my horse leaped out ofthe rank.
 !. This was followed by loud deep cry two or three words--a volley-and then shot after shcLas if a line of sentinels slee. J hing on their posts. had suddenly started