Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-10-23
From the independent Me, senarr.
WASHINGTON CROSSING TIE DEL
AWARE.

u w hhIS.
II In no one instance, was the fortitudc OF
Washington so fully tested--the courage his
presence always inspired among the soldiers,
and the influence he had over the army, more
strikingy exemplifed, than in crossing the
Delaware, and at the Battle Of Trenton. 1t
was cold December night, that the weary
and heart broken army halted on the banks OF
the Delaware That night was cheerless,
dark and tempestous, and was strictly anala-
gous to the forlorn aspect OF our country's for
tune. Ere they had prepared to cross the
river, the sky lowered, and the storm came
ON; the snow and hail, beat with merciless
violence OIL the half-clad, hai-starycd soldiers,
and its wailngs was, in tancy's ear, the knell
of forlorn hopes and the dlrge of Liberty
| that Liberty for which they had SO long been
! STRUGGLING The stream was impctuous, and
its surface covered with ice, and an attempt
to cross It at that time, was at the Imminent
risk Of their lives, and its Accomplishment APP
| parently beyond the bounds of human possi-
| bIllty. Yet by the assistance of Providence
and the tirmness of Washington, ii was done,
and the glorious result of that day, is record
| ed in the annals Of our country's fame. The
| following touching description OF the sltua-
ton of the soldiers, on the day previous to the
engagement, and an elegant picture OF the
battle, is of an interesting character being
connected with the most important crisis OF
our country'S fate, and related, rs 1t Is, by
one who was an actor in the scene.
| "From where we landed on the Jersey
shore, to Trenton, was about nine miles and
on the whole line of march, there was scarce
ly word uttered, except the orders given by
the officers. We were well nigh exhausted !:
many Of us frost bitten, and the majority OF Us
so badly shod, that the blood gushed from our
| frozen and laceratcd feet, at every trcad.-
| Yet we upbraided not--compancd not, but
! marched steadily and firmly, though mourn
| fully, onward, resolved to persevere to the ut
| most-not for our country, alas. that we had
| given up for lost, not for ourselves-life for
| us no longer wore charm, but because such
,caS the TW Of our ChieE--it was for Wash
| ington alone, we were willing to make the
sacrifice. When we arrived in sight of the
encmy's encampments, we were ordered to
| form line, when Washington reviewed US.
Pale and cnaciated: dispiritcd and exhausted: ::
! we presented most unwarlike and melan-
| choly aspect. The paternal eye of our Chief
was quick to discern the extent of our suffer-
| ings and acknowledge them with his tears,
but suddenly checking his emotions, he re-
minded us of our country, and all we held
uCdl, us Stuheu VII tilc Ddltlc. hS
| he spoke, we began to gather ourselves up
| and rally our energies every man grasped
his arms more firmly, and the clcnchcd hand ::
| the compressed lip-the stcadast look, and
! the knit brow, told the souls resolve. Wash
! ington observed us well then did he exhort
us with all the fGrvor Of his soul, "On yon-
der field to conquer, or die the death of the
brave"
"At this instant, the glorious sun. as if in
prophetic token of our success, burst forth in
all It's splendor, bathing in liquid light, the
blue hills of Jersey. The faces, that but a
! few moments before were blanched with de-
spair, now glowed with martial fire and ami
maton. Our Chief, with exultation, hailed
the scene then casting his doubts to the
winds, and calling on the "God of Battles, ~
! and his faithful soldiers, led on the Charge
| For more than twenty minutes, not n gun
, was fired-the sabre and the bayonct did the
work of destruction; it was a hurricane of
| fire, steel and death. There did we stand
! foot to foot, and hilt to ht, with the sacred
| foe, and where we stood, we died or conquer
| ed."
| Such was the spirit which animated the
hearts of the veterans of the revoluton-and
such the Patriotism that contended for the
Liberties, which we are now enjoying and
the renewed vigor which the fortunes of the
! day, at Trenton, inspired in the hearts of the
/ soldiers, was fully manifested by their intrep-
4 idity in the engagement with the enemy at
Princeton, on the ensuing day.