Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-11-13

| now assembled at Princeton, and were
joined by the army from Brunswick
, under Lord CORVALLIS. From this
position the enemy advanced toward
Trenton in great force, on the morning
of the I'd of January, and, after some
slight diminishing with troops detach-
( ed to harass and delay their march, the
van of their army reached Trenton
! about four in the afternoon. On their
approach, General Washington retired
across the Assumpinck, rivulet that
runs through the town, and by some
/ feld-pieces posted on its opposite
banks, compelled them, after attempt
ing to cross in several places, to fall
back out of the reach of his guns
! The two armies, kindled their fires,
retained their position on opposite sides
of the rivulet, and kept up cannonade
until night.
The situation of the American Gen
eraI was at this moment extremely crit
zeal. Nothing but stream, in many
places forbade, separated his army
from an enemy, in every respect its
superior. If he remained in his pres
emf position, he was certain of being
attacked the next morning, at the haz-
ard of the entire destruction of his little
army. Ifhe should retreat over the Del
aware, the ice in that river not being
| firm enough-,o admit passage uponit,
there was danger of great loss, perhaps
of total defeat; the Jerseys would be
in full possession Of the enemy: the pub
lie mind would be depressed; recruiting
would be discouraged; and Philadelphia
would be within the reach of General
Howe. In this extremity, ne boldly de-
termined to abandon the Delaware, and
( by circuitous march along theleft flank
of the enemy, fall into their rear at
Princeton. AS soon as it was dark the
baggage was silently removed to Bur-
/ ngton;and about one o'clock the army,
leaving its fires lighted and The sentinels
on the margin of the creek, decamped
with perfect secrecy. Its movement
was providentially favored by the wealth
er,which had previously been SO warm
and moist, that the ground was soft,
and the roads were scarcely passable:
but, the wind suddenly changing 10
the northwest, the ground was in a
short time frozen as hard as pave
ment. About sunrise, two British. re-
glments, that were Oh their march I'M
der Lieutenant Colonel MANHOOD TO
Join the rear of the British army at Mai
denhead, fell in with the van of the
Americans, conducted by General Mer-
Ger, and very sharp action ensued.-
:, The advanced party Of Americans,
composed chiefly of militia, soon gave
!, way, and the few regulars attached to
them could not maintain their ground.
/, General Mercer, while CALAMITY exer-
ting himself to rally his broken troops,
received mortal wound. The British
! rushed forward with fixed bayonets, land
, drove back the Americans. General
Washington who followed close in the
. rear, now led on the main body of the
!, army, and attacked the enemy with
! great spirit. While he exposed MN,
self to their hottest FIRE, he was so well
supported by the same troops which
) had aided MN lev days before inl'he
J victory at trenton, that The Bilt'sh were
compelled to give way. The 17b re-
; giment which wasln from, forced It's
e y I al, A
: way through part OF the American
7 troops, and reached Maldenhead. The
both regiment, which was IN the rear !
5 retreated by the way OF HlliSborougf
to Brunswick. General Washington
7 pressed forward to Princeton. = parry
Of the British that had taken refuge IN
: the college, after RECEIVING Few as