The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1846-02-07
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON.
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF AN EYE WITNESS.

"Whose bullet on the nj ght air sang"
! had scarcely put my foot in the strrup be-
fore an aid dc.camp from the commander IT..
CHEF galloped up to me with summons to the
side of Washington. The General in chief wa.
already on horseback, surrounded by his staff
and on the point Of setting out. lie was calm
and collected as il in his cabinet. No sooner
du he see me than he waived his hand az a sig
nal to halt. ! checked my steed on the instant
and lifting my hat, waited for his commands.
"You are native of this country!"
yes, your Excellency.
"You know the road from McCookey's ferry
TO Trenton, by the river and Penninglon--th
bye roads and all!"
"As well as know my own alphabet" and
pat'ed the neck Of my impatient charger.
"Fhen may have occasion for you-you viii
remain with the staff; alb! that is a spirited ami
NAL you ride, Lieutenant Archer" he added
smiling, az the fiery beast made demivolve
that set hall, the group in commotion.
"Ynur ExceIlency-
"Never mind" said Washington, smiling .
gam AZ another inpatient spring OF my charger
cut short the sentence. 81 see the heads of the
columns are in motion, you will rem. mber," and
waving his hand, he gave the rein to his steed
while fell bewildered in the staff.
Tne ferry was close at hand, bot the intense
cold made the march anything but pleasant
We ali however, hoped on the morrow to re.
deem our country, by striking elgnaI blow,
and every heart beat high with anticipation OF
victory. Column after column of our little army
dehed at the ferry, and the night had scarcely
set in before the last detachment had been EN-
barked. As wheeled my horse on the little
bank above the landing place, paused an in
slant TO look back through the obscurty of the
scene.
The nigh. was dark. wild and threatening,
the clouds betokened an approaching tempest
and could with difficulty penetrate with my
eye The increasing gloom.
As put my hand across my brow to pierce
into the darkness, gust of wind sweeping
down the river whlred the snow into my face
and momen,ariy blinded my sight. Al last |
discerned the opposite shore amid the obscuri'y.
The andscap. was wild and gloomy, few des.
oate looking houses only were in sight, and
they scarcely percep,lble in the shadowy twi-
light. The bare trees lifted their hoary arms
on high, groaning and creaking in the gale
The river was covered with drifting ice that
now damned with crash together, and floating
slowly apart, leaving scarcely space for the
boats to pass.
The dangers of the navigation can better be
imagined than described, for the utmost exer.
tons could just prevent tho lrail structures
from being crushed.
Occasionally a stray fife would be heard
whlsiling over the waters, mlnglng feebly with
the fiercer piping of The winds, and anon the
deep roll of the drum would boom across the
night, the neigh OF horse would f)at from the
opposite shore, Or the crash Of the tanning ice
would be heard like far off thunder.
49, III rvv,r
piece of artillery up the ascent, and The men
were rapidly forming on the. shore below as they
landed. Il was stirring scene. AT this in.
slant a band OF the regiment struck up
an enlivening air, and plunging my rowels into
my steed. | whrled him around in the road;
and went off on gallop 10 overlake the Gene.
rails staff.
twas now ten O'Clock, and so much time had
now been consumed that it became impossible
to reach our destination before day break, and
consequently all certainty Of a surprise was
over. A hasty council was therefore called on
horse back to determine whether to retreat or
not. few minutes decided. All were unanl.
nous to proceed at every peril.
.Genllemen," said Washington, after they
had severay spoken, "then we all agree; the
attack shall take pace-General," he contin-
ued, turning to Sullivan, "your brigade shall
march by the river road, while will take that
by Pennlng,on-let US arrive as near O'Clock
as possible. But do not pause when you reach
the on, post--drive them 10 before their rapks
can form, and pursue them 10 the very centre Of
the town. | shall be there TO take them in the
| fiank-the rest we must leave to the God OF
Battles. And now, gentlemen to our posts. -
10 five minutes we were IN motion.
| The eagerness Of our troops TO come up TO
the enemy, was never more conspicuous than