Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-03-17

4 river was passed, while ice obstfucted the
way. 1t was q severe night, dark, cold
and stormy. = Yet the intrepid Washington
flinched not. He cheered the desponding
!. hearts ofthe doubling, and filled their souls
\ with the fire of liberty, and braved the
storm himself. Who could resist the ex-
ample ofsuch a spirit, who could deny,
'1iexen when destruction was asineyitable, seem
1ingly, that tobe worthy of freedoms name,
demanded everything IN its cause-peril
and death. ;z@s8 04@ 4 '+ :'.1i'f n
4 Those footprints of blood, o 'er the frozen
earth, and upon the ice.cakes that floated
talong the Deaware's stream, upon the
boats bottom, and every where, were not
1 placed theref for naught. AS the planting
Of a lasting seal upon the fate of the op-
}pressor, it truly seemed. And it so prov
led. Irrevocable, as the decree Of Heaven,
was the pledge for liberty, signed at the
foot of its altar; and the great sacrifice,
(which attended its promotion, could con-
tclade limo other form--'Liberty or Death!'
1t had been signed at the expense Of for
tune and home, and must be sealed with
blood. 5@Ss~-'ra " t '@.
The river crossed, and the worst of the
undertaking was already accomplished.
The Hessian camp was entered with little
resistance, and the astonished foe, surren-
dered without capitulation. Nine hundred
and ten soldiers were taken prisoners, with
six pieces Of artillery and the whole bag
gage ofthe camp. The army then pro-
coed to Burlington, which, with reinforce.
ments, amounted to about 5000 men. 1t
wasthe intention to attack the enemy there,
but they had fled with sudden panic. A
forced march was made to Bordentown;
theenemy there had also decamped, leav-
/ inga large quantity of stores. Then to
} Croswicks. The enemy had still retired,
and their baggage was stationed at about
IS miles distant under guard Of 800 men.
4 70 pursue them even that distance was
. wholly inexpedient. Yet party under
: . took the adventure, but returned bootless.
The advance guard had been on duty four
days, making forced marches, without six
!, hours sleep during the whole time. They
could proceed no iurthar until refreshed.
4 Theeeffect of this victory upon the enc
my was Very great. They scampered
from their posts as though the plague were
> pursuing them, leaving their i'll gotten
! gains; for they robbed the honest Jersey.
: men; beat, and abused men, woman, and
: children, indiscfiminately, during their
2 fshort stay. Cornwallis: so little expecting
. any damage from the ragged Americans
: concluded that the firing at Trenton wa:
7 thunder. Butwhen the five hundred Hes
I SLAMS, and the remains Of his out posts,camt
Y to his camp in disorderly flight, it began t.
y y agitate upon his mind, suggesting the pro
! ! priety ofreturning that ''decent respect,
: which had already been showed him. 2!
= How providential was this triumph OF tn
y ], American arms, at this gloomy hour. Ha
- this undertaking failed !, it is the most prot
. able conclusion that the British yoke woul
have been riveted upon the backs OF III
70 friends offreedon, perhaps, forever. Dis
:. heartened by defeat and by sufferings, sue
!. 80 as rarely is recorded in the history OF an
II nation, they would have bowed the heai
~ y, for q time, at least, to the exactions OF tn
'lu British crown, and subside into lelharg,
70 10 from which that heroic energy which "a
,h' tuated the spirit Of q Washington, and
he az Hancock, could never be aroused.
er- Or But, as Thomas Rodney, says, spea
, ing of this victory, in a letter written
ns Brig. Gen. Caesar Rodney, dated Dec, .
'le l776: aNeser were men in higher spir
.ol than our whole army is; none are sick, a
:u :.n all are determined to extirpate them, I'll
ioa al British, from the Jersey, but ] believe
aeu enemy's fears will do it before we can
! u'e up to them. The Hessians from the &c
eral to the common soldier curse and
-, precate the war, and swear they were sc
saS :l here to be slaughtered; that they will n
alu' a or leave New York dgaih, till they sail
u Europe Jersey will be the most VII
Fe"' gish, colony on the continent; the W
|. ~ - Quakers declare for taking up arms"
,ingI .-.-,. s3 T.,