The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-13

ed-many without shoes, whole compan
les destitute of blankets, they yet pressed
bravely on against the storm, tiiougl
drenched to the skin, shivcring at every
blast, and too often marking their foot
steps with blood. Old as | am now, tht
recollection is still vivid in my mind
God forbid that such suiferings SHOULD
ever have to be endured again
The dawn at last came, but the storm
still ragged The trees were borne down
with sleet, and the slush was ankle deer
in the roads. The fields we passed
were covered with wet and spongy snow
and the half buried houses looked bleak
and desolate in the uncertain morning
light. 1t has been my lot TO witness few
such forbidding scenes. At this instant
a shot was heard in front and messen-
ger dashed furiously up to announce that
the outposts of the British were being
driven in.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT" cried Washing
ton himself, galloping up to the head of
the column, "push on, my brave fell
| lows-on."
The men started like hunters at the
cry of the pack as their Generals voice
was seconded by a hasty fire from the
rhemen in the van, and forgetting every
thing but the foe, marched rapidly, with
silent eagerness, toward the sound Of the
conflict. As they emerged from the wood
the scene burst upon them.
The. town lay but short distance a.
head, just discernible through the twilight,
and seemingly buried in repose.-The
streets were wholly deserted, and as yet
the alarm had not reached the main body
of the enemy. A single horseman was
seen fleeing moment through the mist
he was soon lost behind clump of trees
and then re-appeared, dashing wildly
down the main street of the village.
had no doubt he was messenger from
the outposts for reinforcement; and if
suffered to rally once we knew all hope
was gone. TO the forces he had left we
now therefore turned our attention.
The first charge of our gallant CONT
nentals had driven the outposts in like the
shock of an avalanche. Just aroused from
sleep, and taken completely by surprise,
they did not at first pretend 10 make a
stand, but retreatcd rapidly and in disor-
der, before our vanguard. A few mo-
ments, however, had sufliced to recall
their reeling faculties, and perceiving the
insignificant force opposed to them, they
halted, hestated, rallied, poured in hea-
Wy fire, and even advanced cheering to the
onset. But at this moment our main bo-
dy emerged from the wood, and when my
eye first fell upon the Hessian grenadiers,
they were beginning again to stagger.
"On--on-push on, continentals on the
-" shouted the officer in command.
The men with admirable discipline still
forbore their shouts, and steadily pressed
on against the now flying outposts. In
another instant the Hcssians were in full
retreat upon the town.
.''By heavens - calculated an aid-de-
camp at my side, as rolling fire of mus
kerry WAS all at once heard at the dis
lance of half mile across the village,
"there goes Sullivan brlgade.-the DAYS
our own"
"Chargc the artillery with detach-
ment from the eastern regiment" shouted
the General as the battery of the enemy
was seen little to our right.
The men leyelled their bayonets, march
cd steadily up to the very mouth of the
cannon, and before the artllerists could
bring their pieces to bear, carried them
with a cheer. Just then the surprised
enemy was seen endeavoring to form in
the main street ahead, and the rapidly in
creasing fire on the side of Sullivan, told
that the day in that quarter was fierccly
maintained. A few minutes of indeci-
sion would ruin all.
"Press on--press on there" shouted
our commander-in-chief, golloping to the
front, and waving his sword aloit,
"charge them before they can form, and
follow me-"
The effect was electric. Gallant as had
been their conduct before, our brave troops
now seemed to be carried away with per-
feet enthusiasm. The men burst into a
cheer at the sight of their commanders
daring, and, dashing rapidly into the town,
carried every thing before them like hur-
ricanc. The half formed Hessians open
ed desultory fire, fell in before our inn
petuous attack, wavered, broke, and intwo
minutes were flying pell-mel through the
townsville our troops, with admirable
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