Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-01-02


Chinese fire crackers. While the latter
a'e keeping tho town in perfect up.
roar we cannot help thinking fthe hol.
iday sea'on ef l77s-,he gloomisst pc.
riod Of the Revolutionary War.
The campaign Of l776 opened favor.
ably for the American cause. The Bfi.
tish were compelled TO evacua.c Bos.
ton. Then ceme tho Declaration oil
Independence. The hopes Of the coun.
try were very high, but these were soon
depressed by great misfortunes. On the
9Th OF August, the Americans were to
tally defeated on Long Island. New
York fell into the hands OF the enemy.
Forts Washington and Leo surrendered
The Continental army diminished hour .
ly. The terms of service of those who
had enlisted for six months were expi.
ring, and no inducemcnt could prevail
upon them 10 remain. Many deserted.
The cowardicc OF others was such that
no confidence whatever could be reposed
in them. Exasperated by their bastard.
ly behavior in a skirmish, Gen. Wash.
ihgton once turned his horse to ward the
enemy with the intention Of seeking
honorable death, and was only prevent.
ed by the friendly violence of one his
aids.
The American forces re.reatcd through
New jersey. They were pursued SO
closely by the British that tho advance
guard Of the latter frequently entered a
village as the rear guard of the Ameri.
cans was leaving it.
On the 2Olh Of December the Cont.
mental army was reduced to 5000 men.
The cnemy's force was 10000. Conf.
dent in their vast superiority of mum.
bers. the British ceased to chase their
rclrcatins adversaries, and went into
winter quarters. Their officers thought
the war was over, and many whose hearts
bounded with JOY and cxultation when
the Declaration of Independence was
proclaimed. now trembled at what ap.
peared TO be the certain doom Of their
country.
The admirable frmness OF the Cont.
mental Congress at this c.isiS is Seyond
all eulosy.--No act of theirs be,ray ed
the slightest symptom Of fear. Almost
withou ut an army, without credit, appar.
emily without resources, they still main
tained calm, dignifed attitude, and
took their measures as though infallibly
assured that it was .decreed in Heaven
that they should be victorious.
The army continued its retreat. "Great
God!" said Gen. Reed to Gen. Wash.
iaston, How long do you think Of re-
treating thus 2" 81 don't think my neck
was made for halter" was the reply
"we will retreat boy ond the Delaware
and if necessary beyond the Allesda
MES"
On the night Of tho 25,h Of Decem.
Der, the Americans after incredible hard
ship, recrossed the Delaware. The scene
is admirably painted by LlrpARD, in the
sketch subjoined.-EDIToRs "SPIRIT OF
THE TINES"
e"And now, as the old man, his wife
and daughters cluster around their fire
tell me why does that old mans heat
droop. slowly down, his eyes fill, and hi
hands tremble?' All! thereis one absen
from tho Christmas hearth!
He is thinking Of the absent one-hi
manly. brave boy, who has been gon
from the farm house over year.
But bark! Even as the thought come
over him, TIE silence OF the fire.side i
broken by faint cry--a faint moan
hear over the wastes Of snow from alar
Tho old man grasps lantern, an,
with that young girl by his side. goe
out upon the dark night.
Look there, as following the sound o
that moan, they 60 softly over the lrozel
path; how the lantern flashes over thei
iorms-over a few white PAGES Of ffoze'
snow while all beyond i. darkness!
Something arrests the old mans ey
there in the snow-they bend down, h
and his daughter-they gaze upon til
sight.
| us a h4man footstep painted in til
snow-painated in human blood
i ."My child" whispers the old man
tfcmblingly, "now pray TO heaven fo
Washin gton! For by this footstep stamp
ed in human blood, judge that bis arm
4 is passing near US y
Still that groan quivers in the air. :
Then the old man and the young glr
following the footsteps stained in blooe
go on until they reach that rock, beellin
DER the river. -
,. There the lantern light flashes over I'll
form os half.naked man, crouchin
down in the snow-freezing and bleet
: ing to death
The old man looks upon that hal(.cla