Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1845-11-15

roun1 w the ROAD, ana wont on on Vu
lop lt oyeHlke the Generals staff
II vas now ten o'clock iInd 80 much
time bad b'cn CONSUMED that 1t became
impossible 10 reach our destination before
daylrook, and consequently all certainty
Iof aiurpuso was over 4 has'y coun
Oil Wa therefore called on horseback IL
determine whether TO retreat or not 4
few moments decided Al .woro nnanIm
Gus TO proceed at every peril
'Gonllemcn,' said Washington, alier
they had seyerally spoken, then we all
agree; the attack then shall take place.
General he continued, turning to SuI.ii
van, your brigade shall march by the
river road while will take that by Pen
Inington--Iot us arrive rs near O'Clock a:
possible. But do not pause when you
reach the oulposts--drye them in before
their ranks can form, and pursue them to
the very centre Of the town. | shall be
there to take them in the hank-the rest
we must leave to the God Of battles.
And now gentlemen 10 our posts, in FIVE
minutes we were in motion.
The eagerness of our troops to come
up TO the enemy, was never more conspic
uous than on the morning Of that event
full day. We had scarcely lost sight Of
SulIvan's detachment across the inter-
vening fields, before the long threatening
storm burst over us. The night was in.
tenseIy cold the sleet and rain ratified
necessarily upon the mems knapsacks
and the wind shrieked, howIed and roar.
ed among the old pine trees with terrific
violence. At times the snow fell perpen-
dicularly downwards-inen it beat horl-
zontally into our faces with furious i'm
petuosity, and again it was whirled vide
Iy on high eddying round and round,
sweeping away on the whistIlng tempest
far down in the gloom. The tramp Of
the men-the low orders Of the officers
the occasional rattle Of musket were
almost lost in the shrill voice o the gale,
or the deep suIen roar of the forest.
Even these sounds at length ceased, and
we continued TO march in profound ST.
lence increasing as we drew near the out
posts OF the enemy. The redoubed VIC
lence of the gale, though It added to the
sufferiugs of our brave contientals, was
even hailed with JOY, as it decreased the
chances Of our discovery, and made us
once more hope for successful enterprise.
Nor were those sulferings light, Through
that dreadful night nothing but the lofty
patriotism of freemen could have
sustained them. Half clothed, many
without shoes, whole companies without
blankets, they yet pressed on heavily
against the storm, though drenched to
the skin, shivering at every blast, and too
often marking their footsteps with blood .
Old as am, the recollection is still vivid
in my mind =. God forbid that such suffer
ings should ever have to be endured again
The dawn at last came; but the storm
still ragged. The trees were borne down
with the sleet, and the slush was ANGLE
deep in the roads. The fields that we
passed were covered with wet spon
snow, and the half buried houses looked
bleak aud desoIate in the uncertain NOR
ming light. 1t ha been my lot 10 wit.
ness but few such foreboding scenes. At
this instant a messenger dashed fuEiously
up to announce that the outposts Of the
British were being driven in.
"Forward. forward" cried Washing.
ton himself galIoping up 10 the head of.
the columns, "push on my brave fellows
ON"
The men started like hunters al the
cry Of the pack, as their Generals voice,
seconded by hasty fire from the rifle
men IN the van, and forgetting every
thing but the foe, marched rapidly in ST.
lent eagerneSs, towards the sound Of the
conflict. As they emerged from the
woods the scene burst upon them.
The town lay but a short distance a
head, just discernable through the twilight
and seemed buried in repose.
The streets were wholly deserted, and
IS yet the alarm had not reached the
main body Of the enemy. A single
horseman was seen however, fleeing a
moment through the mist-he was los! be-
lind cump Of trees, and then reap
dashing wildly down the main
street Of the village. had no doubt bat
hat he was messenger from the out
POSTS for reinforcement, and if suffered
o rally once we knew all hope was gone.
To the forces we now left, we turned our
I:tenton.
The first charge Of our gallant contln-
,ntals had driven the outposts IN the like
hook Of an avalanche. Just aroused
rom sleep, and taken completely by sur,
rise, they did not at first pretend loI0
make stand, but retreated rapidly lnI S
disorder before our vanguard a lew
moments however, had suffered to recall
heir reeling faculties; and perceivlng the
force opposed to them, they Q
lalted, hesitated, rallied, poured in alt