The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
FROM TIE MANUSCRIPT or An EYEWITNESS.
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON.
{" Whose bullet on the night air sang.l Z
Ride oe AbUJnc

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON.
Whose bullet on the night air sang"
Bride Of AbydoS.
had scarcely put my foot in the stlrrup
before an ald.de,camp from the comman.
der.in chief galoped up 10 me with sun
nous 10 the side of Washington. bowel
in reply, and dashed up the road. The
general in chief was already on horse
back, surrounded by his stat. and on the
poin. of setting ou!. He was calm and col.
lected, as if in his cabinet. No sooner did
be see me than he waved MS band as q
signal 10 halt checked my steed on the
instant, and lifting my hat, waited for his
commands.
"You are q native Of this country =
"Yes your exce!iency."
{" You know the roads from McConley' S
ferry to TreDton-by the river and Pen
nington-iho byoroads and all. >
-" As well as know my alphabet" and
patted the neck Of my impatient charger.
Then may have occasion for you
you VIII remain with the saif-ah that is
u spirited animal YOU ride, lieutenant Ar.
cher" be added smiling, as the fiery beast
made a demlyoit, that set halt the group IN
commoion.
+" Your excellency-"
/" Never mind" said Washington, stnil.
ing again. as another impo.eut spring 81 my
charger, cut short The sentence, /" see the
heads of the columns are ia motion-you
will remember" and waving his hand, he
gave the rein TO his steed while fell back
bewildered into the staff
The ferry was close at hand, but the
intense cold made the march any thing but
pleasant. We oil, however, hoped on the
morrow 10 redeem our country by striking
signal blow, and every heart beat high
with the Anticipation Of victory Column
after column Of our little army dei!ed at the
ferry, and The night had scarcely set N be-
fore the embarkalIon began.
Atlast We crossed the Delaware. The
whole night bad been consumed 10 ttanspor
ta!lon of The men and artillery, aad tie
morning was within 40 hour or two Of
dawDlug before the last detachment had
been embarked. As | wheeled my horse
on the little bank above the landing place,
1 paused an instant 10 lock back through
the ob.cutty on the scene. The night
was dark, wild. AID threatening clouds
bo,okened az approaching tenpesl--aad
could with difficulty penetrate with ny eye
the fast increasing gloon. As put my
hand across my brows TO pierce INTO tbs
darkness, gust Of wind, sweeping dowr
the river, whirled the snow in nv face arr
momenlarlly bhaded my sight. At last
discerned The opposite shore amid tho CD
srurily. The landscape was Wild an
gloomy. A few desola,o looking house
only were 10 sight, and they scarcely per
cep,iblc il the shadowy twilight. Th'
bare trees lifted their hoary arms On h..h
groaning and creakag 10 the gale. The
river was covered with dnl,ing ice, tha
now jammsd with a crash together, ans
then Goaied slowly apart, leaving scarcely
space for the boats TO pass. The Danger
Of the navigation can better be imagined
than described,-EoT The utmost exerlon
could oitea Just prevent the trail structure
from being crushed. Occasionally a s,ra,
fife would be heard shooting shrilly over To-
waters, miagiHg fae5ly w..a the Eefcer Up
ing Of the Withstand anon the deep roi
OF the drum world boom scross the night
the neighs Of horse would floai from III
opposite shore, or the crash Of the lammu
ice would be heard Ike Ear or thunder
The cannoneers beneath me we're dra~u
piece Of artillery % the ascent, and tn
men we're rapidly forming on the shor
below as they landed. /. was s,irfn
scene.
Piunging my roweis into my steed,
whlhed him around into the road and wer
OF on gallop to oyertake the general
staff.
Il was now fonr O'Clock, and 50 muc
tine had been construed that i became in
possible to reach ogFdcslua,jon before day
break, and consequently all certainty Of
surprise was over. hasly council wa
therefore called on horseback 10 delermin
whether TO retreat or not. A few minute
decided it. All were unanimous 10 procee
at every peril.
Gentlemen" said Washington, aft
they had severely spoken, "then we d
agree---ihe attack shall take place-gei
etal," he continued, turning to Sullivan