Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-10-03

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON.
FROM THE Manuscript OF AN EYEWITNESS.
"Whose bullet on the night air sang.'
| had scarcely put my foot in the stirrup''
before an aid-de-camp from the comman-
der-In-chhlef gallopped up4to me with
summons to the side of Washington. The
General in chief mas already on horse
back, surrounded bv his staff, and on the
point Of setting out. He was calm and
collected as if in his cabinet No sooner
did he see me than he waved his hat as "a
signal to halt. checked my steed a4aklle
instant, and lifting my hat, waited for his
commands. -
You ARA native of this country
Yes. your Excellency.'
You know the road from, M Conhey's
ferfy.to Trenton, by the river and Penning-
ton-the by roads and all g
AS well as know my own alphabet, ,
and palaed the neck of my impatient
charger. -
Then | may have occasion for you
you will remain with the staff; alb! that is
aspiried animal You ride, Lieut.. Archer.
he added, smiling, as the fiery beast made
demlyolve, that set halfihegroup in COM
motion. -
Your ExcelleDey-'
Never mind said ashington, smiling
again, as another impatient spring of my
charger cut short the sentence. Il see the
heads of the column are in motion, YOU
will remember, sand waving his hand, he
gave the rein to the steed-while fell be-
wIldered in the staff.
The ferry was close at hand, but the in
tense cold made the march anything but
! pleasant We all, however, hoped on the
bmorrow to redeem our country, by striking
a signal blow, and every heart beat high
with anticipation Of victory. Column af,
ter column of our little army de6led~ at the
Terry, and the night had scarcely sci in be-
fore the last detachment bad been embark
ed. AS wheeled mshorsc on the Iittl'
bank above the landing place, / paused al
instant to l9S5f. back through the 59"rrity
OF the scene, The night was dark, Wild
and threatening, the clouds belokened al
approaching tempest, and couIG with dli
<efcul'y penetrate with my eye the increas
ing gloom. AS put my hand across IN,
brow TO pierce into the darkness, gsst.o
wind, sweeping down the river, whrle'
tie snow into my face, and momentaril,
: blinded my sight. At last discerned IL
-opposite shore amid the ob2curity. Tb
} landscape was wild and gloomy. A fes
desoIate looking houses only were in sigh
and they now jammed with crash togeth
er and floating slowly apart, leaving scarce
= Iy space for The boats TO pass. The dar
gers Of the navigation can better be imt
gined than described, for, the utmost exeI
tons could jusfprevent the frail structure
from being crushed. Occasionally a stra
zs1shfe would be heard whistling over the W;
E tiers, mingIing ieebly with the fierce pipin
of tile winds, and anon the deep roll of til
drum would boom across the night, til
: neigh Of horse would float from the OF
posie shore, or the crash Of the jammin
. ice would be heard like far off ,hunde
The cannoneers beneath me were draggir
a piece of artillery up the ascent, and Il
: men were rapidly forming on the sho
below, as they landed. 1t was a stirrll
scene. At this instant, a band Of Il
- regiment struck up an elivening al
and plunging my rowels into my steed,
4" whirled him around in the road, and we
off OH a gaIlop to oyertakc the General
- staff.
It was now ten. clock, and SO mu
time had been consumed that It became ii
= possible to reach our destination befo
day bres..,. ai,d consequently ell certain
of sur, rise was over. A hasty coun
st. was therefore called on horeback, 10 {
: ternline whether TO retreat or not. A fe
F. minutes decided. All were unanimous
proceed at every peril.
'Gentlemen,' said Washington, after III
had severally spoken, then we all agrs
the attack shall take place-General,'
continued, turning to Sullivan, 'your b
gade shall march by the river road, VIII
a. Twill take that by Pennngton-letus arri
v as near O'Clock, as possible. But do !
pause when you reach the outposts-dri
them in before their ranks can form, a
pursue them to the very centre OF the tow
| shall be there 10 lake them in the flank
the rest we mustlaave TO the God of. b
lies. And now gentlemen to our pos
In five minutes we were in motion.
s. The eagerness of our troops TO come
" to the enemy, was never more conspicn'
= than on the morning of that evenlul d.
We had scarcely lost sight of Sulliva
detNSment across the intervening 6e.