The New York herald., 1876-12-27

very long faccs and many OF them have suddenly de.
veopcd wonderful amount OF affection and en- husasn
for the cause of independence. We too good
humor to-day to quarrel with any one. and We feel
something like sympathy lor even these recrcant
Americans The Hessians are terribly cast down by
their defeat. and they have some reason TOR ihoy
made a very poor Tight Their Commander. Colonel
Rahl, Is wounded badly. He viii not recover.
TREASON
II seems that traitor camp gave inior-
nation Of the intended movements TO the enemy, but
Bahl would not believe that Washington would at
tempt 10 carry out hrs purpose in such weather He
was unpleasanty convinced of his tins morning.
in our own camp has somewhat modified
our enthusiasm. IL is particularly serious, because
was only known TO small number Of tho highest OH
GERS IN the army, and some ono OF them must be tho
traitor Whoever he Is Genera. Washington is re-
solved to seek him out and punish him.
STORY or THE BATTLE.
II was three O'Clock before the last of tho troops had
crossed the Delaware this morning. and another hour
was occupied IN perfccting the final organization. Tho
first division, commanded by General Greene, was
divided into three brigndcs under the command OF
Generals Surfing Mercer and stevens; the second
DIVISION commanded by General sullivan. divided
into two brigades under the orders OF Gencrnls 81.
Clair and Glover.
We began our march about four A. N. In the midst
OF fearful storm of slect and snow, which beat
directly IN our faces. SO great was tho cold that
even the exertion OF marching not suf
for the cutting northeast wind searched ous
every rent ragged garments and they
ana some at all; but nevertheless they ploddcd
along the slippery road with dogged courage that
truly admirable The advance was made in one COL
umn steep hills ultl the Trenton road
reached which runs tor some three miles through low
hs and forests OF hickory maple, black oak and ash.
At Birmingham the two divisions separated General
sullivan contiDung TO march along the river road,
while Washington passed INTO the Pennington pike.
DEsoLATioy.
From this point the Dad runs over comparatively
level pam broken by long swclls with heavy fringe
OF trees bordering The fields. There was not the
np
widely apart looked as though thcy had been deserted
The storm had driven every living thing to seek shell
ter Even with daylight there came no sign OF lifc
On every side expanded vast sheet OF
white snow, dotted here and there with farm
houses, tho duh white OF the fields broken hero
ana there by patches OF leahcss trees, whose bare
branches and bleachcd boughs werc horribly
suggestive OF death by starvation
COLD STEEL REcoMMEyDED.
When approaching quite close to the town an aide.
from General sullivan that the arms and ammunition
Of his soldiers had got wetted. General Washington
stcpcd quietly to .on this report and replied, with
bayonot, and penetrate into :he town; for tho town
must be taken, ana am resolved to take IT," The
way IN which this reply was given lett no room TO
doubt the Generals meaning, and the aide. decamp
made haste TO get back with his ssage
DEVOTION.
General Sullivan, having the shortest route,
halted to allow tho divisions strike simutanc-
ously and when the camp got the soldiers
attcntively listened to General reply and
when they heard 1t those among them who sup
Piled with baycnets hxed them on their guns without
waiting Tor any orders thus desiring 10 show their
readiness to carry out their Generals wishes under all
conditions II was now nearly eight o'clocs, and
broad daylight Tho storm had cleared OIL. yet there
was nothing to Indicate that our advance had been dis
covered
THE FooL's PARADISE.
Neither vdcttc nor patrol had been encountered by
sent ahead TO keep lookout Tor the
II was evident that they suspected nothing and were
snugly shut their quarters, little dreaming Of tho
unpleasant surprise in store Tor them. The attack
made by Captain Anderson IN the early part OF tho
night no doubt threw them OIL their guard, and, the
patrols sent out pursuit OF tho attacking party had
found no enemy. they concluded there was no danger.
Even the night watch of the Ynger regiment
had boon withdrawn, es up to daylight no evidence
had been discovered OF our presence. The first glimpse
we caught OF tho enemy tho tollgate on tho
Termination road, where The sentry OF the advanced
post astonishod al the sudden appearance OF
tho column that Tor moment he hcstated 10 give the
alarm.
Whatever doubts he had suddenly set at rest,
and moment later General Grecne's advance
vigorously driving the Hessan north picket before IT,
Tnc firing OF our men was quickly answered by tho
hearty cheering OF suvan's troops as they rushed
on the encmcs' picket tho Masonic lodge.
and the action soon became general The ground
prise, and sullvans soldiers were abo to ap-
proach quite close to tho Hessian picket before
their presence was discovered win wild cheer
they rushed, with ievccd bayoncts the astonshe ed
Germans The latter were SO completely taken by sur
prise that they had tnc 10 form for rosistancc
after dschargng lew iilo,rectcd shots, they beat
has'y retreat to avoid the bayonets OF men, VINO,
led by gallant stark resolved TO do or die.
The sulen resolution the night had gwen place
savage energy similar to that which impels iamish-
ing wolves 10 attack their prey regardless OF conso-
auenccs The right wing aud centre of the Con.
tnental army engaged and pushing
the first advantage vigorously. Sullivan's men were
behaving splendIdy, driving everything before them.
A company OF Yagers that came support the
flying picket, terrified at tho fury oi the attack,
broke, aitor show OF resistance, aud fed in the ut
confusion across the Assanpink. closely pursued
BY ST. Clair's brigade while SGvan with tho
remainder OF his division kept after the knypnauscn
rcgm down State street and beyond Green street,
where tho Hessans rallied and offered stubborn ro-
sstance.
THE mEssIAys DEMoRALzEn
Washington pushed forward vigorously through
King and Queen streets the chief streets OF the town.
that the Hesslnns were swept before his advance,
altogether unable 10 form or ofer any serious
resistance. Sullivan, in tho meanwhile, pursued his
advantage and advanced by the road INTO Second
street, and by this movement the Hessians OF from
aii retreat by the Assanpink Bridge The Hcssians,
quite demorazed by tue suddcnncss and fury Of the
attack and acting without concert or ORDERS we're un-
able offer effective resistance, but maintained .
heavy but illdirected fire our troops. Their main
force had not yet been engaged aud had there been
cool and decided man in command no could still have
organized desperate resistance.
GALLANT FEAT
At this critical moment small party
OF our men, under the command of Captains
James Monroe and William Washington, made
standing In trout OF Rahl's quarters aud succeeded in
dismountlng them and rendered them useless to
INC enemy. rms gallant action was performed with
slight loss, though both officers wounded
severely however "A moment later Forest opened
tho two lIcssian regiments with SIX guns at pretty
close range. General Washington himself directed
the 1re OF this battery, aud occupied place in the
front and right OF our lIne not moro than 900
yards from the enemy.
WASHINGTON IN DANGER
Tho bullets at tins point came pretty thick, but for
tunstely the aim OF the Hessians very indifferent
IL is marvel how General Washington escaped as no
offered a conspicuous mark Tor the enemy the
bullets fell tbicky around him. yet no renamed unin-
iured, though his horse wounded under him.
Rahs indccisona at this moment lost MIN all hope OF
escape With the two regiments that renamed intact
he withdrew orchard east OF the town. evidently
with Tho intention OF making effort 10 the LEFT
wing OF Washington's army and gam the road TO
PRINCETON
rAJLs
In order 10 check tnis movement Hands rcgimont
o riilenlcn was thrown ID his 'front.' and opened hre
with good elect. Had Rahl at moment attacked
vigorously the thin line OF rlcmcn VINO oppos-
ing him he might still have succeeded IN extricatinx
HIS force and securing his retreat But the soldiers
were In reality better disposed TO fight for tho town
than 10 clear passage through troops. Ever
they have arrived IN this country they have de-
voted themselves industriously 10 piundcrng tho
Inhabitants. and they are naturally unwilling TO aban-
don the results OF thoir industry without struggle
TncY ilcrninrn unNcd nh Ii unnk nm Ihar