Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-13


Delaware. On the sth of Dec, III,
with less than three thousand troop.
half fed, partly clad, and withou
tents to shelter them from the vbitih
winter air, he landed on the Pennsyl
vania shore. Before the last OF then
had reached that shore the flying an,
disheartened patriots saw the well
provided and victorious British sol
diers enter Trenton with fiyin,
banners.oiH Place yourself upon tn
frozen banks of the Delaware witt
this fragment OF a fugitive army
Look across upon the enemy. Fol
low his victorious march from Long
Island through the city of New Yorl
and across the State of N. j., you Sc,
from your standpoint a long and un
broken succession OF unmitigateC
disasters.
1t is now the Sth OF Dec. All thi.
has occurred since late summer. Tel
me, now, were not the expectation:
of the veteran Cornwallis and the
shrewd Grant well founded? Car
you have any other expectation your
self than the speedy overthrow of the
Federal capital and cause? But
there is one by your side who be-
lieves in providence, prayer and the
ultimate success of righteous cause
1t is he who afterwards knelt to pray
in the darkness of Valley Forge
CORVALLIS had been ordered to waii
for the freezing of the river. He
then should cross, crush the small
force Of fugitive rebels, seize their
capital, and proclaim the suppression
of the rebellion. But, alas for his
hopes. that he should wait for trifles
Nothing is impossible with God. >
"All things are possible to him that
believeth." A mighty river filled
with floating ice is before him. The
air is thick with falling sleet and
snow; but Washington looks mot at
the things that are seen, but at the
things that are not seen" 1t is early
morning following Christmas. The
sharp rattle of musketry is suddenly
heard upon the streets OF Trenton.
The Hessians rush forth from night
long carousals into the presence of
investing lines of well formed and de-
termined patriots. More than thou
sand are prisoners of war. Before
night Washington, taking with him
prisoners and booty, has the perilous
river again between himself and his
but exasperated enemy.
Such events remind one of the pas
sage of Jordan and the fall of Jericho.
On New Years day Washington is
again across the icy torrent of the
Delaware, and upon the streets of
Trenton. The next day he is con-
froDted by powerful and superior
force. At nightfall they are within
pistol-shot, separated by narrow
stream. The situation of the Ameri-
cans is extremely perilous. The ice
in the river is increasing every hour.
Retreat in any other direction, i'm case
of surprise, is almost impossible. The
enemy feels sure of an easy and COM
plete victory in the morning. But
one way OF escape remains-to steal
away in the darkness OF night. In
that case the heavy cannons must be
The ground is too soft
to allow their removal. About mid
night council of war is being held,
when a higher council interposes.
The wind suddenly changes. 1t be-
comes intensely cold, and in short
time the ground is so hard frozen as
to bear the weight of the heaviest
guns. The morning light reveals the
deserted camp of the Americans.
And soon after, the booming of dist
ant canaon announces the victory OF
Princeton. The patriots escape a hot
pursuit, and establish safe retreat
Tor the winter at Morristown. When
spring came but two posts remained
10 the enemy in the State OF New Jer
sey, where a corporal's guard had
been deemed sufficient to keep the
peace. So the arm OF the Lord was
revealed from the first to the last OF
he war. In the winter of 1871, Gen.
Morgan, after his victory at the Cow
pens, was retreating toward Virginia,
pursued by Cornwallis. The latter
the Casawba two hours after
Morgan had crossed. Feeling sure
If the prey he deferred crossing until
During the night a heavy
.ain filled the stream to overflowing.
While thus delayed his antagonist
'eached the Yadkin, and was joined
by Greene with his staff. When he
inally arrived at the Yadkin, the
Americans had just landed on the op-
,osite side. Here he was again ar
'ested by she rising waters. At Gull
ord G. H., Greene was joined by his
main body, and continued his flight.
he crossed the Dan into Virginia
safely. The next day Cornwallis ar
lived. Bot for the third time the ris-
ng waters interposed "a barrier, and
he Earl gave up the pursuit in de-
,pair. Having been invested by the
Americans and French at Yorktown,
he following October he attempted
,n the night of the 10th, to cross the
York river in boats to Gloucester, OPP
,osite, and by forced marches escape
20 New York The waters were calm
when the troops began to embark;
Dut suddenly a furious storm burst
Ipon and dispersed the boats, and
he attempt was abandoned. Three
lays thereafter Cornwallis and his
army were prisoners, and the war was
ended. ~
Again the hand of God appears in
he establishment of a republican
'orm OF government over this new
born nation. BY whose far reaching
iesign did such form of govern
nent prevail, if not by His whose
hand alone had led the patriots to in