The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-10
The Battle Of Trenton


that no justice can be done him or it; my ears
rang for fortnight after, and do yet, when
remember how he galloped about cursing,
swearing, dismounting every FIVE minutes, and
lifting his own artillery, like a giant He was
gallant fellow-full of blood-with all the
New England hardihood. And Greene him
self was there-the only man of all our troops
capable believe, in case of any disaster, to take
the place of Washington; there he sat full of
deep, religious composure-his broad forehead
fronting the place Of embarkation.
At last though not till three O'Clock in the
morning, we were fairly landed on the Jersey
shore, and by FIVE had taken up our line of march.
Our whole army passed softly and silently
by two or three officers, posted upon the road
side, continually waving their words with mo-
ton as if to enjoin the most death like stiffness,
and deathlike it was, for nothing could be head
but the blowing of horses, jolting sound nov ~
and then in the wet snow where the artillery
wagons and gun carriages cut through the
ground-and general rush, deep, heavy, as
water.
A few moments after, troop of Virginians
under captain ashington-afterward so dis
tlngulshed at the south-paraded in beautiful
style through the heavy snow, and brought IN
telgence which tended to accelerate our march.
Before his arrival we had hoped-as I after
wards found-to surprise the enemy at Tren-
ton, while yet overpowered by the festivities of
the preceding highland make his morning
sleep the sleep Of DEATH but now that hope was
abandoned, for captain Washington had encoun-
tered his piquet, exchanged few shots, and
left him prepared for what it is remarkable that
he had heard vague rumor of our intended
attack But this very affair, which at first
threatened to be SO disastrous, the frolic of
captain Washington, was probably the chief
reason why we succeeded in surprising the en-
envy at last; for as that was not followed up, he
retired to quarters after waiting reasonable
time, as we afterwards found, thinking the whole
a Virginia row.
Our troops were now thrown into two divi-
sions. We were separated from our father, who
was detailed under Sullivan and St. Clair to
take the river road; while we under Washing
ton himself, Greene, Morris and Stevens, push
ed onward through wha is called the Penning-
ton road.
A few moments afterwards, just while
thought that my heart had lost it's motion en-
tirely, for felt, in looking about me, and see
ing the dark array of substantial but noiseless
creatures, horses and wagons, as if the whole
army were an apparitiol, cavalcade of dead
men, marching from oneburial place to another,
| heard shot so near me that my horse leap
ed out of my rank; this was followed by loud
cry, two or three words, volley, and then shot
after shot, as if line of sentinels sleeping upon
their posts, had suddenly started up, one after
the other, fired off their pieces, and run in.
Our advance were vel furnished with bay
onets, and they Immediately charged upon the
plquet, and we dashed after them, trampling
them to death with our horses, riding over them
like whirlwind, without speaking a word or
firing shot. This was scarcely done, when
we heard the firing of the other division, at the
opposite quarter; so admirably timed had been
the rangement--and we Immediately gallop-
ed into the centre of the town, horse and foot,
determined to ride the enemy down, or bayo-
net them, before they had time to form. Wash
ington was dreadfully exposed The first piquet
thinking this a second attack of the same lit
tie skirmishing party that had fired into them
before, neglected to give the alarm, and the
outposts, though they fought most gallantly,
retreating step by step, behind the houses, dis
putting every inch, and presenting their bright
bayonets without flash of powder, cutting and
spurring force our horses upon them, and then
the moment we had faced about. blazing away
upon us, and running to the next house-were
driven in
At last we had an opportunity for fair play;
the Hesslans were formed, and forming, with
the whole glittering with bayonets. A tremen
dous struggle was going On at out right, under
the very eye Of Washington, with the enemy's
artillery, which was taken, when, with troop
of horse, Archibald rode down, his cap off, his
sword flashing like a firebrand, in the light and
smoke of the musketry: "Charge! charge!' he
cried, "charge, my brave fellows, and provoke
them to fire. Another trooppanother, and an
other! tbundered down, from the right and left
but with no effect at allupon the invincible Ger
mans, the front rank kneeled all around, while
the rest were forming, and presented their bay
onets, without firing a shota
"By heavens" said Archibald shouting as
if his heart would break to captain Washington:
Il will try them again!'' and, as he said so, he
rode at full speed SO near that it appeared to
me that he could have struck the enemy with
his sword, and fred his pistol into their faces.
Our front rank followed the example, and the
next moment, all the Hessians brought their
pieces up to their cheeks, and poured tremen-
dous volley in upon us. I saw my father fall,
Arthur reel in his strrups, but Archibald, as if
prepared for this very thing, shouted, "wheel
and charge!'
"Wheel and charge" repeated a hundred
voices in our rear, ''wbeel and charge!'
We obeyed and the snow flew; and the swords
flashed; and the next moment, hundred of the
enemy, the whole of his front rank, were tram
pied to death before us, and twenty human
heads rolled upon the ground, among the feet
Of our horses
The infantry under Greene poured in volley
after voley, at the same time; and Knox, hav-
ng brought round his light field pieces to bear
as if they had been blunderbusses, played in
upon them an uninterrupted roll of thunder and
smoke.
1t was impossible to stand it, no human being
could have endured the hurricane of fire and
bullets longer. They threw down their arms,
and then it was, then, when it was necessary
o move aboutathe queter operations of strife, |
hat we began to feel the intense coldness of the
llght, the keen air cutting into our new wounds,
ike rough broken glass.
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