The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-10-02
REVOLUTIONARY IL EMANEsCENCEs

Trusting in Providence ever
Come what here may--Ir is BEST?
REVOLUTIONARY IL ENTENESCENCES.
Tho actors in the great Revolution which
freed the American colonies from the British
crown, have almost all passed away, and the few
that remain are following with rapid pace. In
n very short time no living witness of that event
full struggle will stand among us to animate our
patriotism, 10 shoulder the crutch and show how
fields we're won" or to remind us of the sacra-
fees with which our political inheritance was
gained.
In their absence it would be well if our his
torical "reminiscences were more ample and more
surely laid up, of those minute details which re-
veal the pervading spirit of a people struggling
10 be free, mole perfectly, perhaps, than those
great events which are commonly seized upon
by the grave historian. A history which should
take us into the cabins and the hearts of the
hunblest of the people, as well as into the TENS
of generals and the council board of statesmcn;
which should reveal to us the beatings of the
common heart in its c~ountry's cause, and show
lis how sober matrons, hlushing maidens, and
even the children of the nation gave their earli-
est thoughts and prayers for that %country's saliva.
ton such a history would lie the one we want.
But that is beyond our reach and our hopes.
Sill, something has been done towards garner
ing up a treasury of revolutionary incident which
may hereafter be drawn upon for the Illustration
and establishment Of our national history.
No State in the Union is richer in patriotic re-
collections than the State of New jersey. For
several years it was the theatre of the revolu-
tionary war, and in that struggle her losses both
of men and property were greater than that Of
any other State, in proportion to the population
and wealth. When General Washington was
rctreating through the Jerseys, almost forsaken,
her militia were at all Times obedicnt to his or
ders, and for a considerable time composed the
strength of his army. There is hardly a town
in the State, that lay in the progress Of inc Bri-
fish army, that was not signalized by ONE en-
terprise or exploit. The military services per-
formed by the soldiers of New Jersey, and the
suffering of the people during the revolutionary
war, entitle her 10 the admiration and warm gra-
timde of her sister States; and by her sacrafices
of blood and treasure in resisting oppression,
she placed herself in the foremost rank among
those who struggled for American freedom.
The fields of Trenton, of Monmouth of Prince
ton, like the plains of Marathon or the pass of
ThermopylB, will never be mentioned without
stirring all the latent patriotism of the American
bosom.
The instances of female patriotism and deep
devotion in New jersey were numerous and
striking; nay, it was universal, and the final sue
cess OF the struggle was very much owing to this
fact. They infused the love of country and the
spirit of patriotic enthusiasm into the breasts of
their lovers, brothers, husbands and sons; they
shamed away lukewarmness and apathy, and not
unfrequently gave examples of heroic endurance
and personal courage worthy of Sparta herself.
Thus, in the spring of TIT, a vonng woman pas
sing a forsaken house in Woodbridge, saw thro'
the window an intoxicated Hessian soldier, who
had struggled from his party. There being no
man within a mile oftown, she went home, dres-
sed in mems apparel, and armed with an old fire.
lock, returned to the house, entered it and took
the hessian prisoner, whom she soon stripped of
his arms and was leading him of, when she fell
in with the patrol guard of a New jersey regi-
mont stationed near Woodbridge, to whom she
delivered her prisoner. Such was the heroic
temper of the time, so pervading the spirit OF
lofty, self-sacrafcing patriotism. And what
could stand before it? No wonder that the most
distinguished British statesmen of that age decla-
red in Parliament that no amount of military
force sent to America could possibly subdue it.
A fire was kindled that could never be extin-
guished, a spirit of freedom was aroused that all
the artillery of England could not intimidate.
The villages and cities of the colonies might be
burned, their little army anihilated, their crops
destroyed, and their commerce cut off, but all
this availed nothing towards the subjugation Of
a people whose men were crossing ice-bound
rivers barefoot in pursuit of the enemies of free
dom, and whose virgin daughters were leading
Hessian mercenaries captive to American quar-
tiers.
After the war was over the same warm-hcart-
ed patriotism continued TO display itself; an affec-
ting and striking instance Of which occurred al
Trenton, when General Washington reached
that city, on his way to New York, then the seal
of Government 10 enter upon the duties of tho
Presidency, TO which he had just been chosen
The venerable Marshall, in his life of Washing.
ton, has recorded with feeling the reception a
Trenton, and quite recently some additional ant
interesting particulars Of the event have beer
furnished by a Trenton family. In addition e
the usual demonstrations Of respect and attach
ment which were given by the discharge Of can
non, by military corps, and by private persons O
distinction, the gentlef sexpFepared in their owl
taste tribute Of applause indicative Of the crate
full recollection in which they held their deIive,
rance twelve years before from a formidable en-
amy I'm The hrid0a ovnr tho creak which nae