The New York herald., 1876-12-27
THE TRENTON CENTENNIAL.
How the Anniversary of the Battle
Was Celebrated.
A GRAND SHAM FIGHT.
Crossing Of the Delaware and the
Attack on the Town.
EXCITING AND PICTURESQUE SCENES
The Heroes Of the Day Enter
tained by the Citizens.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST.
How the Battle Was Fought
in 1776.
EXCITING AND PICTURESQUE SCENES.
The Heroes Of the Day Enter.
tained by the Citizens.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST.
How the Battle Was Fought
in 1776.
TRENTON. Dec. 2o. 1870.

Trenton came off to-day quite successfully The pro.
gramme, which included sham battle, carried out
with commendabe promptitude and precision and tho
people of Trenton naturally much elated the
events OF last night and to-day.
CROSSING.
Sixteen gallons OF whiskey had preceded the noble
army of Washington to Taylorsville, Washington's
Crossing. THIS the number generally stated, but
1t may have been less II about half-past
one this morning when the company arrived at
McConkey's Ferry, being all pretty we'll exhausted by
thor march from Trenton over the slippery, snow
bound road. They stopped at wollcry's wheelwright
shop, and after having thoroughly refreshed their
weary bodies they crossed the bridge thence to
back the river in the best style Of Washing
ton and to march to Trenton. few had Jagged be-
hind, however, at tho inn and still before the
huge stove taking gentle libatons such Washington
and his host probably never dreamed or
..Do you think Washington had as good whskey
thiss" ono of tho men asked, smackng his lips
"Much better.'' the other responded, I'VE don't be-
gin 10 drink as good stun now as they used to-"
But the Orderly Sergeant burst upon tho lag
ging rear guard round the stove "Boys, they're half
a mile ahead of you-you've had enough-come along"
and with that he hurried them out OF the coscy cheer
full warmth Of the dirty but to them gladsome inn
into the grim, slcety, whirnC, snowy. dark night
After halt OF a lew hours in the village of Taylors
Eether by tho assembly beaten two drums BY Drum
Major Jacob Boose and q worthy aid whose name his
tory fails to record and with the gallant Captain
Lowell at their head marched out with flying flag and
two beating drums emulate tho devotion and forttude
which hundred years ago won for Washington and his
ragged army immortality This much about the 70.
vele which the two drunmers beat, they must have
awakened every sleeper within radius Of lvo miles
Had Washington's drummers made only half
the noise they would certainly
have surprised tho Hcssians. Ono OF th.se
drummcrs a remarkable fellow He said he had
seventeen medals, and his present ambition to
make tho best drums tho world and to furnish them
q reasonable price TO tho State militia of
Jerseyi The somewhat tired with
their long march from Trenton through a drIz-
cling storm and frozen roads, but they puckcd
up courage and bravey shoudered their muskets and
moved down to the rivers edge. The night dark,
cloudy intensely cold light fall of drizzed
into the mems fnces and mpcdcd their progress The
original idea in boats and initiate nearly
possible washington's achievement, but this was
found 10 DO Impossible, as the firmly frozen
from bank to bank. There nothing it but
TO pass afoot, and this couragoously under
taken amid the encouraging cheers OF Inhabitants
OF Taylorsville and its vicinity who chose, however
the prosaic passage BY the bridge themselves. A
descendant of Murhead, who bad acted as General
Washington's guide had arranged to act guide on
tho present occason but either ho thought night
too cold or found hts bed too pleasant to leave; he
faed to put in appearance in time initiate the
achievement and renew the service OF his foreiatheE
In this dark hour OF his counrys need there appeared
on the saviour in the dusky person OF Henry
Hill, colored-a gentleman who was fcclingy de-
scrbcd by some who knew him as "a
pretty tail specimen OF darky, but who
carries in his breast the soul OF a heron
This devoted child OF Air,ca arming himself with an
axe, went forth and sounded the leo In order TO dis
cover safe passage for SO numerous body OF men
Company b, OF the Exton Guards, and by using due
diligence succeeded in describing zg-zag course
which might be followed with safety. Returning TO
up lamp and led tho way over
also supplied with lamps. Captain Lovctt Did his
put themselves IN single le, and, telling Jacob Boose
vance. Then as a flock geese that riso from tho
fcns and wing their way in serpentine hlc did Com
o. 'nc hS1n n% ,ne
the snow covered river, with tdniboW
battant and flag uniurled, amid the cheers Of assem-
bcd rustcs The dark, sinuous line moved across Tho
white field and IT would not have been difficult 10
imagine that Company - OF the Exton Guards were the
ghosts ofthc heroes come back torevisit the
scene OF their former glory. The waving Of tho lamps
by the guides the slow moving OF the dark, silent
line peculiarly ghostkc, and II was with some
thing like relief that them arrive AT the Jer-
scy shore and lct satisfied that they were things of
flesh and blood The patriotic citizens who had been
watching ior this event in the atmosphere
of Nelson's bar went forth into the chill night
ana gave .re ing r% Then lbeTe
short halt and Company b, Of the Exon Guard having
refreshed the inner man with some decoction set
out on their notable enterprise OF capturing trenton
from tho hated Hessians
MARCH TO TRENTON.
Oh what weary march II was over the slippery
road, which seemed half ice half snow Yc shades OF
Washington forgive the amount OF swearing that was
done by the men they lost their ioothod and came
near pumping down upon The road But patriotism
urged on, and on they went through the driving
snow, The whirling sieet ana the Having wnu ~nn una
interrupted by forced mcrriment In sooth, nobody
could bc jolly Ia such night particularly alter hav
ing taken on eight mile march few hours before A.
Yardlycvile, which midway between Taylorsvllie
and Trenton, few Of the heroes out, and resign
ing the glory OF tho march TO comfortable
bed they turned and away happily until they
took the morning train 20 Trenton. For the honor oil
Trenton Il may be that only three or tour OF tno
Extou or Cracker Bakers Guard thus left their CON-
radcs and sprt oil tho Revolution that lowered over
them in tho lurch But surely wnsbington's JOY
when had captured Trenton greater than was
that OF these haliiroz"n men as they hnay ianaeu IN
Trenton IN convrnent proximity 70 oazing n,e ana %
hot cup OF coffee. Oh, how their stiencd limbs ava
relax and how their hearts opened under these grateful
Influences and now they were ready and eager Tor the
fray when, by about nine O'Clock, the exbausting
fatigue OF this six,ecn-me night march had worn on
TuE ATTACK.
little before the hour appointed Tor tue beginning
OF the attack the various military organizations eit
their headquarters and directed their march 10 the
1hc following is list OF tho various organ cations
which took part in tho sham battc:--
CONTINENTAL TROOPS
Exion Guards--Company A, Captain j. Farrell;
Company b. Captain }. ID. vaa Horn; Company c,
Henry O'Hara; Company ID, Captain A. = Lovett;
Company @, Captain Jonathan Coxop; Company II,
Captain David Haas; Company l. Captain Aphonso ).
Hill; Company X, Captain William Doran.
Washington Pioneer Corps Captain q. A. Millettc;
Princeton Continental Guards, Captain a. l.. Green;
Trenton Guards Captain W. II. Bbec.
Artillery Corps--Captan SiaLi, Lieutenant y. Ian
dolt.
Cavalry-Company b, N.G.SN.J., Captain L. $. Nc
Ilyaine.
Hcssian Troops,-Sevcnth regiment infantry N.G.S.
N.J.-Company a, Captain Thomas =. stevens; Com
rnny H. Captain ). NJ. Youmans; Company 9, Captain
CIV Kuchen; Company y, Captain Michael Hurley;