The North-Carolina standard., 1841-02-10

IIoIoiuolnS scenes. At this instant q. Saot wa:
heard In 'front.' and messenger, dashed furiously
up to announce that the outposts of the British
were being driven in. = -
Forward forward" cried Washington. him
[self, galloping up to the head of the column,
'push on, my brave felows-oN" ...e.....
The men started like hunters at the cry ofthe
pack as their generals voice was seconded by a
hasiy fire from the rihemen in the van, and for
getting 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 ahead. just
dlscernable through the twilight. and seeming liy
buried In repose. The streets were wholly
deserted; and as yet the alarm had not reached
the main body of the enemy. "A single horse
man was seen, however, fleeing moment thro'
the mist,-he was lost behind clump of trees,
and then re-appeared, dashing wildly down
the main street of the village. l had no doubt
he was messenger from the outpostS for rein.
forcement; and If suffered to rally one we knew
all hope was gone. To the forces he had left
we now therefore turned our attention.
The first charge of our gallant continentals
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 to make stand, but relreated rapidly
and in disorder. before our vanguard. A few
moments, however, had sufficed to recall their
reeling faculties, and perceiving the insignificant
force opposed to them, they halted, hesitated,
rallied. poured in heavy fire, and even advanc-
ed cheering to the onset. But at this moment
our main body emerged from the wood, and
when my eyes first fell upon the Hessian grena-
diers, they were beginning again to stagger.
"On-on-push on, continentals ofthe-."
shouted the officers in command.
The men with admirable discipline still for
bore their shouts. and steadily pressed on against
the now flying outposts. In another instant the
Hessians were in full retreat upon the town.
by heavensl' CALCULATED an aid-de-camp at
my side. rolling fire of musketry was all at
once heard al the distance of half a mile across
the village, "there goes Sulivan's brigade-lhe
days our own"
:Charge that artillery with detachment from
the eastern regiment" shouted the general as the
battery of the enemy was seen little to our
right.
The men lcvelIed their bayonets, marched
steadily up to the very mouths Of the cannon,
and betore the artillerists could bring their pie
ces to bear carried them with cheer. Just
then the surprised enemy was seen endeavoring
to form in the main street ahead. and the rapidly
increasing fire on the side OF Sullivan told that
the day in that quarter. was 6ercely maintained.
A few moments oil indecision would ruin all.
mander-in-chief galloping to the front, and wa
wing his sword alolt. charge them before they
can Iorm''-"foiiow me-"
The effect was electrical. Gallant as had
been their conduct before, our brave troops now
seemed to be carried away with perfect enthusi-
asm. The men burst into a cheer al the sight
of their commanders daring. and dashing rapid
ly into the town, carried every thing before them
like hurricane The half formed Hessians
opened desul,ory FIRE, fell in before our impetu-
Gus attack, wavered. broke and in two minutes
were flying pel-mell through the town; while
our troops, with admirable discipline, still main
tanning their ranks. pressed steadily up the street,
driving the foe before them. They had scarcely
gone hundred yards, before the banners Of
Sullivan's brigade were seen 1oa'ing through
the mist ahead-a cheer burst from our men--
it was answered back from our approaching
comrades, and perceiving themselves hemmed
in on all sides. and that further retreat was i'm
possible. the whole regiment he hao routed laid
down their arms The instant victory was ours.
and the foe had surrendered, every unmanly ex
ultation disappeared from the countenances OF
our brave troops. The fortune of war had turn
ed against their foes; it was not the part Of
brave men to add insult to misfortune.
We were on the point Of dismounting when
an aid-de,camp wheeled around the corner OF
the street ahead, and checking his foaming charg-
er Mt the side of Washington, exclaimed breath
lessly.
"A detachment has escaped-they are in full
retreat on the Princeton road"
Qnick as thought the commander-in-chief
flung himself into the saddle again, and looking
hastily around the group of officers singled me
out.
"Lieuten mt Archer-you know the roads,
Colonel-,will march his regiment around.
and proven, the enemy's retreat. You will take
them By the shortest route"
l bowed in nowledgement 10 the saddle
bow, and perceiving the colonel was some dis
tance ahead, went like an arrow down the street
to join him. 1t was but the work of an instant
to wheel the men into a neghboring a avenue. aud
before five minutes the muskets of the retiring
foe could be seen through the intervening trees.
had chosen ,cross-path which marking, as it
were, the longest side of a triangle. entered. the
Princeton road short distance above the town,
and would enable to cut off completely the
enemy's retreat. The struggle to attain the
desired point where the two routes intersected
was short, but fierce. We had already advanced
halt way before we were discovered and though
the enemy pressed on with The eagerness of des-
pair, our gallant fellows were fired on their part
with the enthusiasm Of conscious victory. As
IL