The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-08-25
Miscellaneous.
The Battle of Trenton,
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF AN EYE WIT
NESS.

rounded by his staff and the point of setting out
He was calm and collected as If in his cabinet No
sooner did he mo than ho waved his hand as n sig
nal to. halt checked my sieed on the instant, and
lifting my hat, waited for his commands.
you are native of this country?'
'Yes-your eXcelency.'
'You know the road from M'ConIey's ferry to
Tronom-by the river and PenningtOn byeroads
and all?'
'As well us knew my own alphabet, uud pattod
the neck of my impatient charger.
Then may have occasion for you--you will re-
main with the stoI-ah that is spirited animal you
ride, Lieut.. Archer he added, smiling as the fiery
beast made demvolve that set half the group in
commotion.
Your Excelency-'
Never mind said Washington, smiling again,
another impatient spring ofmy charger cut short the
sentence, 81 SEQ the heads Of the columns in
ton, you will remember, and waving his hand, he
gave the rein to his steed-while fell bewidercd 10
the staff
The ferry was close at hand, but the intense cold
made the march any thing but pleasant We all how
ever, hoped on the morrow to redeem country,
by striking signal blow, and every heart beat high
with anticipation Of victory. Column after column Of
our little army defed the ferry, and tho night had
scarcely in before the last detachment had been
embarked. AS wheeled my horse on the little
bank above the landing place, paused an instant to
look back through the obscurty Of the scene. The
night was dark, wild and interchangeable clouds
betokening approaching tempest, and could with
difficulty penetrate with my eye the increasing gloom.
AS put my hands my brows to pierce into the
darkness; q gust OF wind sweeping down the river.
whred the into my face and MON eutarily blind
ed my sight. Al last discerned the opposite side
amid the obscurity. The landscape was wild and
gloomy few dcsolate looking houses only
in sight, and they scarcely perceptbe in the shadowy
twilight. The bare trees lifted their heavy arms on
high, grooming and creukng in tho gale. The river
was covered with drifting ice that now jammed with
crush together, and hoatcd slowly apart, leaving
scarcely space for the boats pass The dangers Of
the navigation can better be imagined than described
for the utmost eXeriiUps could Just pres the fra:l
structures from being crushed. Occasionally stray
fife would be heard shooting over the waters, min
ged feebIy with the fierce piping of the Withstand
anon the deep roll Of the drum would boom ncross
the night, the neigh Of horse would float from the
opposite Shore or the crush Of lmming ice would be
heard like FAR OF thunder The cannoneers beneath
me were dragging piece Of artillery up the ascent
N~
low as they landed. 1t was stirring scene. AT
this instant band of tho regiment struck up
enliyening air, and Punging my rowes into my
steed whirled him round in the road and went of
in gallop 10 overake the staff of the commander-in
chief.
1t was now ten O'Clock, and much time had
now been consumed that it became impossible to
reach our destination before day break, and
quently all certainty Of a surprise husty
council was therefore called on horseback to deter
mine whether 10 retreat not. A few minutes de-
cded All were unanimously to proceed at any peril
Gentlemen, said Washington, afe, they had sever
ally spoken, then we all agree; the attack shall take
place-Gencral, he continued, turning to Sullivan
your brigade shall march by the river road, while |
take that by Ponpington-let arrive O..
clock as possible. But do not pause when YOU reach
the outposts-drvc them in boGoro their ranks
form, and pursue them 10 tie very centre of the town
shall be there to take them in the ilank-the rest
we must leave TO the God of battles. And now gem
tlemen TO our posts In five minutes in
ton.
The eagerness of our troops TO come up with the
enemy, was never more conspicuous than in the
morning Of that eventfu day. We had scarcely lost
sight of Sullvan's detachment the intervening
fields, before the long threatened storm burst ovoi u.s.
The night was intensely cold; the see and RAIN rat
tied necessarily upon the mems kuapsacks; and the
wind shrieked, howled and roared among the old pine
trees with terrific violence At times the snow fell
perpendcuarly downwards-then it boat horizontally
into our faces with furious impetuosty, and again it
was whired wildly high, eddying round and round,
sweeping away ON the whstling tempest far down in
the gloom. The tramp of the men-tho low orders
the ofiicers-the occasional rattle of musket were
almost all lost in the sh voice of tho gale, or the
deep sulen Of the tortured forest. Even the
sounds at length ceased, and we continued the march
in profound silence, increasing we drew near the
outposts of the enemy. The redoubled violence oil
the gale though it added to the suffering Of our brave
continentas, was hailed with joy, it decreased the
chances of our discovery, ard made once more
hope for successful surprise Nor those suff
erings light. Through that dreadful night nothing
but the lofty patriotism of freeman could have