New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-25


his Christmas drinking and smoking to pay proper
attention to the safety Of his masters most valuable
troops Whether with his wits about him he would
have made stand it is impossible to say; but he
would have had plenty of time for nm
orderly retreat. They brought the Colonel,
pale and bleeding, prisoner supported by file OF
sergeants to Gen. Washington to give mp his sword.
He asked for honorable treatment in the best
English which Inc could muster; was considerably
treated and taken to his headquarters to de- In
addition to the prisoners there we're captured iour
stands Of coors twelve drums, six brass eid-peces
and thousand stand of arms and accouterments
Washington Immediately commenced marching his
prisoners back to McKenkey's Ferry, and had them
all before night safe on the other shore OF
the Delaware. Until they were oil passed
over, he kept his men, save those who
were necessary, upon the jersey side. One report
says that the Americans had two prvates killed and
two frozen to death Great as his had been,
Washington was not entirely satisfied with 1t. ."
am confident so he wrote to the Congress, that
could tho troops under Gems. Ewing and Cad
wallader have passed tho river, should have been
enabled with their assistance to have driven the
enemy from all their posts below Trenton. But the
Numbers had with mo being inferior to theirs be-
low>and strong battalion of light horse being at
Princeton above NE, | thought it most prudent to
return the same evening. with the prisoners and
artillery we had taken.r Col Baylor, his first aid
de-cs.mp had the honor of bearing the dispatches.
and for his spirited behavior was recommended to
the particular notice Of Congress.
Til. subsequent movements i'll tho vicinity OF
Trenton are not so well known to tho American
reader After retreating over the Delaware the
Continental army remained there for several days,
and then returning took possession OF trenton III
there quartered until the 2d OF January, l''|. Inc
British at that time had collected large force at
Princeton and body of FRONT 600 to 1000 men was
moved upon Trenton. Washington, aware OF their
approach had posted his troops, almost equal to the
enemy, upon the bridge crossing the Assunplnk.
About sunset the enemy marched into Trenton, ana
three times attempted 10 force the bridge, being r.
often repulsed with great loss estimated at from 100
TO 800 killed Night coming on, Gen. Washington
kinlled his camp-fires and silently retreated To
Princeton where in a council of war, it was deter
mined to beat up the enemy's quarter. The enemy's
fires were kindled only about $50 yards from
the American camp This night march and
flank movement from Trenton to Prince
ton was another testimony to Washngton's emf
nent strategic abilities. I'VE found Princeton" re-
ports Washington, about sunrise, with only three
regiments aud three troops of light horse IN 1t. TWO
of which were on their march to Trenton. these
three regiments, especially the two first, made
gallant resistance, and in killed. wounded, ana prs
oners must have lost 800 men-upward OF one huhd-
red of them were left dead on the held-and, with
what have with me, and what were taken IN pur-
suit and carried the Delaware, there are near
three hundred prisoners, fourteen of whom are
officers. all British" Washington had intended
when he set out from Trenton to push on to New
Brunswick, but he felt that he must, however re-
luctantly, Tenquish the attempt. He says that with
six or eight hundred fresh troops he might have
destroyed all the enemys stores ana magazines ana
taken their military chest containing 10000. He
thinks this " would have put an end to the war"
Well might he add: "The militia are taking spirits,
and am told. are coming in fast from this State
Tho success at Princeton crowned these brilliant
operations and failure then would have rendered all
previous good fortune unavailable, since the enemy
was Formidable In front, while Corvallis 5000
strong was in the rear
In 1889 when the Republic had been established,
and he elected its first Chief Magistrate, IN his jour
ney from Mount Vernon to New-1oTk to assume his
otice, Washington again passed through irent"n the
scene Ito use the words of MarshalI " OF his deep
anxiehes and his triumphs." Over the Assunpink
bridge where his troops had made their noble stand
ON the evening previous to the battle of Princeton,
an arch Of flowers and evergreens had been erected
Upon either side dressed III white and carrying Das-
kets in their hands, a company of young women
were arranged, who sang welcome and strewed
their floral offerings at the feet of the new President.
Washington listened, evidently with deep emotion.
The contrast was indeed great between this scene of
prosperity, of comfort and OF safety and
that dark and stormy December night
when the patriot leader with his little
band of half-naked and half-staIyed followers
stealthly crept forward 10 grappe with the inSo-
lent foe In a note addressed to the ladies of
Trenton Washington dwelt upon the astonishing
contrast between his former and actual situation at
this spot-the elegant taste with which 1t was
adorned for the present occasion, and the innocent
appearance of the whte-robed choir who met him
With a cOugratu.atory song"
The scene is nov greatly changed a large and
hourishing city covers the ground of these gallant
exploits one by one tie memorials of that memoir
able morning are disappearing; yet 50 long a.
American history il written ami read the battle OF
Trenton Will be- remembered as the turning point IN
the struggle for independence.