The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-12-26


INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE OF TRENTON
It was the night before the battle
the darkest night of the Revolution.
The town Of Trenton was lit up as if
for carnival, and gay forms could be
seen fitting by the windows, and their
boisterous voices often reached the
shiyering sentinels outside. Every
one abandoned himself to revelry, and
harbored no thought Of danger. Now
and then an officer reflected for a mo
ment, that perhaps a disciplined army
might afford them considerable trouble,
but what was to be feared from the
poor, ragged, half-starved Continen-
tai soldiers 2 They were far away !;
and even should they dare to make a
demonstration, the diciplined Hessians
would rally at the call to arms, and
ann hilate them in an instant, No,
danger was not worth the thought
In small, unpretendlng house,
where the State Bank building now
stands, lived an elderly lady and her
only daughter. They were both pa
triots, and the mothers darling son
was serving 10 the Continental army
Upon entering the town, three of the
.Hessian officers took NJ, their quarters
with this Mrs Manton, without the
formality Of an invitation. II was
ont of her power to refuse them even
if she wished; but it. was not her dispo-
sition to deny shelterto even her enc
mics, aud consequently she made no
objection to their presence,
The officers were all yonng, swear
ing, disslpated men, who Immediately
took possession of the best room, on
the second floor, which, fronted the
street Here, on the afternoon of the
day before the battle, they commenced
drinking. Not drinking as they usn-
ally did, in moderation, but with the
determination of getting dead drunk
and celebrating Christmas eve in a
manner that would be long remember
ed. BY nightfall, they were only
slightly eXhilarated-inst enough to
sin & songs, and talk boistefousIy,
and swear terribly Several times
those who were passing along the
streets paused and looked up at the
jewellers, and then with knowing
smile passed on.
Late in the evening, just as one had
finished a song, another asked:
wonder where the girl is p"
Whom do you mean ?''s
why, Rnth, tlie old woman's
daughter, Of course. Let MS have her
in here to sing song"
Good agreed; but suppose she
has retired Pr
/" Hang the difference | We will have
her for all that. "
Who VIII bring her p
:" I will, of course, volunteered the
one who made the proposition.
go then and bring the rebel
maiden hither Y cried the others in
chorus.
The man arose to leave the apart
ment, but suddenly paused and looked
at his companions, as he heard the
low tones of what appeared to be a
conversation. ~ n
Hal she is praying y said he.
One of their number slipped TO the
door and opened it. Then they lists
ened, and the low, earnest, pleading
tones of Ruth were heard She pray
ed that her brother might be preserved
in the dangers which now encompassed
him, that God would aid the feeble
patriots in their holy struggles, and
open the eyes of those who were in
their house to the injustice Of their
oppressive course. While still en-
gagged insdpplication, Ruth was start
ledsb by footstep, and, looking up,
discefned, in the gloom Of the chamber,
the outlines Of the figure Of man
standing before her.