The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-28

TRENTON Dec. 70, 1866.
Things IN TFensoM, Nesc Jersey-C rocdcd State Of
the City-OIgin Of TIE The Old battle
Ground-Shom Batte---An Old Rsvotsticnory
Soideir-P Public Baildings, &c.
After observing an UNNECESSARILY long Invitation
and ditto programme Of arrangements. headed
"Come, join in hand brave Americans ALL" to the
"brilliant manner in which the memorable battle
of Trenton, Dec. %, l776-that battle which was
fought in the darkest hour the gloomiest period in
our country's struggle--that battle whose victory
brought forth such radiant sparks Of hope and joy
in the breasts Of those "indignant patriots who in
face Of fortune'e worst extremes dared cry and
fight for hberty-yea whose victory was the turn
ing point in the RevOlutiou-should be celebrated,
I could not by concentrating all my physical
strength conquer feeling, at last almost amounting
to sublime patriotism, to be here and participate in
the ceremonies Of looking on.
SO catching up "a change" and with . bachelor
like propensity, rolling them into bunch and plung
ng 1t to the bottom of my antiquated carpetbag
Ipushed for this spst where, after numerous momen
tous incidents, such as jumping the Jersey City
eryb0at, tumblng over the chain and iOosing my
best handkerchief in the dark blue waters Of your
iver becoming quite carried to "that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveller returns" by
the iairing Of the rough and tortuous road over
which we had 70 pass, reached h9re this morning.
Found the hotels, Of which there are number.
completely thronged with the crowds from the
North, South, East and West, brought here. partly
participants and spectators Of the celebration to-
morrow and were it not for the kindness Of parti
cuar friend" who is quite a philanthropist in his
way, sharing with his room and cot, this in all
human probability, would have been scratched from
the head Of barrel bearing the ever TO DO regarded
marks 4th proof handle carefully"
Bat now the carpet bag q on the nail, and the
cracking wood fire sending thousand sparks up
the black, sooty chimney, III grasp the moment or
sounds the hour for retirement to jot down part Of
what we have seen, heard and picked up today.
This place is situated upon the east bank Of the
Delaware river, at the Falls, and was first settled by
Quakes, about 1875 the region around the Falls was
called by the Delaware Indians, Sankhican, which
signifies .'gun" "freock," from the Circumstance
that tribe of Mohawks who used guns occupied
ever, On both sides Of the Assanpnk Greek (quite
large body of water running through the town., by
Col William Trent, Of Phiadelphis, in TIA. gave It
the name OF Trent Town or Trenton.
would take days to ferret out and pass short time
at each; yet brief as has been the time, l. COM
psny with my friend" have visited some Of
them; yes, we have stood at McConkeyIs ferry (now
Taylorsville), ON the memorable spot where
On Christmas day, in seventy six.
Our gallant troops. with bsyonets fixed,
To Trenton marched away,
and, with Washington, crossed the Delaware on the
night 0fthat to be remembered festival; and In
imagination we could see the river Of floating ice =
the storm Of sleet and snow-the excessively dark
and dreary night-the perils of the voyage-the
boats and batteaax, and the mastering Of the little
army on the Jersey shore ut four O'Clock in the
morning; yes, all the excessive suferiDgs Of that
brave hand upon that night came up before our
memory. This place, however, does not look as i
used to, for a noble bridge of timber, six hundred
feet long, supported by some eight piers Of solid
masonry, spans the river ut this point and adds
much to its beauty.
We have also traced the route pursued by the
division, uncer Washington and his aids, along the
Pennington Road which is now dotted here and
there by farm houses, whose neat and clean ap-
pearance betokens the ease and comfort known to
exist within to the point where they encountered
the out guards Of the enemy when brief but brisk
skirmish ensued, which resulted in their 1.-THE
guards) retreat TO the town closely followed BY the
Americans; and as we walked the road which had
received warm and precious blood from the mangied
limbs OF those men, whose sudden movements and
physical force won the day, "our spirit yearned
with desire intense" TO bring the lost ones back.
But that cannot be. However there Is one consola
tion when we think thus, and that is
Never shall ths lsnd forget
How eush'd the life blood OF her brave
Gush'd warm with hope and courage yet
Upon the soil they fought 70 save.
By my friends" kind attention was also con-
Quoted to the still standing. but weatherbeaten
headquarters Of Rail, the Hessiau commander,
where, we'll attested tradition Gays, he and his troops
were under the influence Of nights carousal after
the Christmas holiday, and to the front room in the
second story. where, when Colonel Rail lie MORALLY
wounded, washington and Greene visited the dy-
ing commander, and, with heart overlooking with
generous emotion In that hour Of splendid triumph,
the American chief offered the brave Rail those con-
solations which soldier and Christian can be-
stow II Is said this attention and kindness from
the mighty chlefain soothed the excessive anguish
Of the expiring hero.
In the cold gray starlight we finished our days
observation by visiting the spot made memorable
by one Of Washngtons most brilliant military feats,
which viii be celebrated tomorrow at dawn, and the
unusual display OF respect and reverence which
greeted him on the occasion Of his triumphal march
from Mount Vernon TO New York.
The picture. gwen BY historians Of this AFFAIR
came up with such vividness 70 memorys
ed with leaves and beautiful flowers
the inscription formed with leaves and flowers on
il Of December &C. l776," and the one beneath, of
The Defender Of the Mothers wiil o ine prosecsos
beautiful young ladies, dressed in white, hearing
baskets Of flowers In each hand on either side the
road: the rosd strewn with flowers as Washington
and his suite approached the arch under which
they passed, and with the joyful murmuring Of The
miniature cataract Of the Assanpink, which lies nj
the foot Of this glorious place. we could hear the
beautiful ode, beginning with
wessms, mighty chief, once more
Welcome 70 this grateful shore,
then sang by the white robed choir"
But this place, with also the hill near by, on
which Washington encamped his army after the
fight have been bereft OF their revolutionary beauty
and sadly marred by the inroad Of improvement and
the "hand Of avarice.r Would that il could be
helped.
These things having been seen and beard by me
today, / returned through the thickly packed
streets with far different feeling from that with
which we started, and now that the heavy tramp
OF the invited soldiery they retire TO rest warn
us It's midnight, We follow their example, wishing
20 be up with the first keen gust which sweeps
across the battle ground.
DncEnBER 26-M.
I have Just returned from witnessing the sham
fight and another but short tour around the city.
Tis not needful 70 give list OF the numerous com
panies which participated in the fight this morning,
nor n Il requisite to give minute account Of II, for
every American Ia oonverssnt with all IL different
features bot II they not they should zee II, with
il thousand YEA tens Of thousand OF spectators
percbed on trees along the entire route, some on
bouse-tope some on awning posts-in fast, In every
conceivable location 10 appreciate It.