The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-07-23

the drlit-lCc, still we advanced. At length
the cannon and tumbrilS were landed, and
the last soldier stood upon the opposite
shore.
Shivering with cold, and pale with hun
ger and fatigue, our column formed and
waited for the word Washington and
his staff were at hand. "Brskly, men,
briskly,' said he, as he rode to the head
of the line; and then the captains gave
the word from company to company, and
the army marched on in silence. A Sc
cret movement of an army at night keeps
the drowsy awake, and the hungry from
complaining. Man is an lnquisIlye ami
nal, and the only way to make him per-
form apparent impOsslblltles, is to lead
him after he knows not what. Columbus
discovered America i'll a cruise after So
Iomon's gold nine, and the vast field of
chemistry was laid open to human ken, in
a search for the clcXir of life, and the phi
los0phcr's stone.
All night our troops moved down on
the west bank of the river, and as NOR
ming spread her gay mantle over the east
crn hills, we reached Trenton.
The IIessians, under Rawlc. slept
No one feared Washington, and the mou-
siachcd soldier dreamed Of the Rhine and
the Elbc, and the captain slept careless
y at his inn. But suddenly the cry
was raised: ale comes he comes -
Our frosty drums beat the charge; the
shrli flies mingled in with merry strain,
and our hungry army, with bare feet, en-
tered the city. Like the scandinavian
hordc-in impotuosity and necessity
before the eternal city, we rushed up the
streets, and attacked the surprised enemy
at every turn. The startled foe cndeayor-
ed to defend themselves but before any
body could collect, charge Of our inlan-
try cut them to pieces. Their colors also
were absolutely hacked Off their standard
staff, while they advanced in line, by 4
IselgeanLs sword, and their officers were
cut down or taken prisoners. Our vlcto-
nv was complete. One thousand men
were killed and made prisoners, and the
artillery, consisting of nine pieces, was
captured. was the effect of the bat
tie of Trenton upon the enemy but to
us the consequences were the reverse.
Our hungry men were fed, our naked
were clothed, the rank and file were arm
ed, and officers promoted.
The same evening we rCcrosscd the RI
yer, but it was not the terrible stream Of
the previous night, The footprints Of
boots and shoes were left on our trail, and
the drums beat merry call, while the bu-
giles answered sweet and clear.
In few hours the lIcssian tents slrou-
ded the captors on the site of our cncamp-
ment; and Rawes's officers had the plea
sure Of drinking their own wine in their
own tents. with General Washington and
his subaltcms, as prisoners OF war. SO
well planned was this attack that we lost
but nine men, and two of them were fro
zen to death after being wounded. On
the Goth Of December, ZIG, we again
crossed the Delaware. and at one o clock
p. NJ, our eagle noatcd over Trenton,
The emery Christmas Of our eve
ming party astonishcd and aroused the
kings Generals. Lord CORVALLIS hast
cncd to form junction with General
Grant at Princeton; and on the "a Of in.
Iuuarv l17T, the British army marched