Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-02

w HAT was Ills name SdIu Vle Oiu Uldu
fixing his eye steadily upon the speakers
face.
"Charles Greedy" said the matron, she'd
ding an unexpected tear.
"Charlcs Greedy I" said tho old man
springing up" why no was Life Guards
man, and died by my sidc-l buried him ut
the hour of twill. by the milestone"
"And thou ar!" said the matron earnestly.
"Old Hugh Maxwell, a corporal Of WASH
ington's Lite Guard at your SERVICE" said
| the stranger guest.
Oh well do know thee" said the
matron, weeping" it was thee who gave
me directions where to find him, and deliver
ed to me his dying sigh. This is an unI,ap-
ny day TO me, Hugh Maxwell, but thy pres
ence lends an interest to it that had no lea
Of enjoying. William and Anne, thy grand
father died on Hugh Maxwcl|'s breast in
ba.tlc-lct us bless God that We are permit
ted to entertain tho gallant soldier on the
anniversary of that day Of glory"
| And the son brough, forth the family bible,
and tho widow Greedy prayed after the man
Nor Of the Quakers, amid her little congre-
CATION.
| When the service was over, and the break
fast cqupage had been removed, the son
and the daughter cacI, drew seat beside the
old veteran, while their grandmother careful
ly wiped iicr spectaclos and took moderate
pinch Of Maccouba. Then seating herself
as straigh, as drill sergeant inner cushion
cd seat in the corner, she turned her pcU
car toward the old corporal and looked out
of the window.
"Tcl us about the battle Of Trenton and
Of Princeton, MIR. MAXWELL said the grand
children in one voice. The old man looked
inquiringly at the widow Greedy.
"Thec may tell it, though it may be a
sad tale 10 INC, said the natrOn, and Hugh
Maxwell, after resting his head upon his
hand for moment, began his accoun, Of
tho
BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON.
The twcn,y-filth of December, l776, was
a gloomy day in the American camp. An
army of thirty thousand British soldiers lay
scattered along the opposite side Of the free
ang Dslaw a; S, Nix R'""; aH f the
commanded the British cantonment, and
Lord CORVALLIS was on the march from Now
York to reinforce him.
The British soldiers were flushed with
, success. They had driven us through the
Jerseys. New York Island and the North
River were in their power. They had track
ed us by our bloody footprints along the
gloomy, though snow-clad hills: and they
looked eagerly forward to the day when the
head of the illustrious Washington should be
\ placed upon Temple Bar, and the mob OF
|. London should cry out while they pointed a.
: it, "there rests the head of Traitor."-
n The banner of England Aoatcd heavily in
Y the wintry air, and the ur-clad IIcssian pa.
: ccd his rounds on the dismal hills, with his
v bayonet cleaning in the stormy light; vid.
o cites were seen galloping along the hillside.
d and the vallies echoed with the martial air!
@ England. But in our camp all was sadness
u Five thousand men, alarmed, and worse
e clad, without tents or even camp utensils, sa
crouchng over their lonely watch-frcs.
But this was not all. The crafty British
If General had offered pardon to all who
would desert the American cause, and many
men Of property, aye even members o
,fl Congress, rccreantt to honor and principle
20 pock.tcd their patriotism with the proclama
|. ton, and bascly betrayed their country il
,g the hour other peril. Members of Congress
y did l say Yes, those that had been mem
% bers: and let me repeat their names, les
percIance they may have been forgotten il
r. the age Of steam power and speculation.-
y Galloway and Allen deserted, and joinc
IN the enemies Of freedom in the fall of 1776.
c. Such was the state of things at this pei
" iod. All was silence in the American CAM
re The spanglcd banner hung dropping owe
to our head quarters, and the sentinel by tn
re low doorway stood leaning in melanchol
~ mood upon his rusty aud fliniess gun. I'll
= commander-in in chef held counsel of wa
he At the close oft he gave his opinion-Il
he had heard OF the scattered cantOnment
ut the British army.
nv "Now,"sa,d he striking his hand upon a
r. order Of battle, and pointing from the wndo
IS of the little farmhouse toward tho wild rive
snow is the time to clip their wings"
n. was a master thought; the council Of W;
he concurred with their leader, and each men
h Der retired silently to prepare for immedia
III action.
NJ The regiments were mustercd-thc sent
nels were called ina hasty meal was d
M voured-tllc evening shut in will, darhne
"a and storm-the word was given, and VIC b
rii gan to march. One party moved down, O
M remained stationary, and one passed up TO
,er point above Trenton. ! was with WaslIin
er- ton. No one in the ranks knew where
his was TO go-all was mystery; until A.,
wheeled down The steep bank Of the Del
non ware.
ave "Onward !" was the word. "Cross I
of river y Numbered along the line, and o
roe, fieezinglegions moved on.-Who shall d,
om- crbe the pains and the perils of that ter
.utv bic march Who shall reward the mol
for spirits, who trusting in their illus,rious leat
and moved onward, amid famine, nakedne
rted and the winters storm? Surely at this d
the generous nation will not let the poor
,led veteran die who has his scars-but no c
mo- tfcate-to testify to the glory Of than nj
better feed an imposter that starve he
ring But to my tale. Upon high bank, Wa
nix ington, and Knox, and few staff Office
lite wrapped in scanty military cloaks, sat uI