The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-07-08

Wofos, that ne was worthy OF w ashlng-
tons consideration. The commander
in-chief saw that some immediate steps
must be taken, not only to save Phiia-
delphia-which he learned by the dis
patches brought by Doolittle, the enc
my were determined to possess-but to
arouse the spirit of the nation, that now
had sunk to the lowest depth of des-
pondency. He resolved to anticipate
the British, and cross the frozen Dele
ware, on the night of the 26th of De-
cember, where he learned that a large
body of Hessians were encamped. He
followed up his plan with eminent sue
cess; for the attack being totally unex-
pected, more than nine, hundred of the
enemy were taken prisoners of war:e He
re-crossed the river again, and, though
his shadow of an army was weary and
exhausted, he determined to make an
attack on the British forces at Prince
ton Here he had the good fortune to
kill sixty and take three hundred pris-
oners more. This good fortune served
to dispel the gloom that had settled
over the American cause.
1t is an undoubted fact, that Malachi
Doolittle held Colonel's commission
in the army before the close of the war,
which took place when Great Britain
acknowledged the Independence of the
United States, November SOth, 1882.
On the banks of the river Baritan.
some ten years after the incidents de-
tailed In our story, there stood fine
house, built in the style of the Eliza
bethan period-the residence of Col.
Doolittle and family, who was now one
OF the wealthiest farmers in the whole
country. He was one of the most hos
pitable ofmen, and neither friend or
stranger could pass his door without
being asked to take mug of the Coils
good cider; or if it happened to be
about tea time, cup of tea and slice
of short cake, made by the fair hands
OF his wife Molly. There was an old
man too, who sat in the cosiest place
by the fire-side, who, for a long time
after the close of the war, would advo.
cate the cause of the King and talk
about having somebody arrested for
stealing a sorrel horse-at which his
daughter would wink slyly at her hus-
band-but he finally came to the con-
clusion, as peace and plenty crowned
the land of freedom, that George
Washington was not too much of a
rebel after all.
There was an old lady too, who ap-
peared to never grow tired of Draisinu
her son-in-law; and little boy, the
very image of his mother, who, at the !
close of many summers day, would
climb upon his fathers knee. and saw.
with tone of earnest entreaty:
" Now, pa, do tell me about Ensign
Spencer, and General Washington and
the Hessians, and how you hooked
grandpa's horse and listed for SOL
dier."
Willingly, my son." the Col. would
reply, /" but / have related the story SO
often, / should think you knew it by
heart" Yet Col. Doolittle, for the es-
pecial benefit of his son and heir, often
related the story over and over again.
Such is one of the many incidents
connected with the dark hours of the
Revolution. Though purchased with
the blood of thousands, it left the legacy
of freedom to mankind, and few in
hose e times times that tried mems souls"
acquired greater fame IN tie American
cause, than Malachi Doolittle. the
olacksmlth's apprentice.