Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-06-23

contrary TO bis wish, was captured;
Il Fort Lee, hastily evacuated, and
that portion of his army not re-
quired for the forti6cation and de.
| Tense Of the Highlands of the Hud-
son was compelled to retreat with
bleeding feet from the Hackensack
to the Delaware.
The British spread themselves
over New Jersey aud threat ened
Philadelphia, while our army, main
Ily made,uD5 of rustics, enlisted for
short periods, was daily dwindling
away. Those that remained were
dispirited. The, people, too, were
/ discouraged, and many sent in their
submission to the English General.
Congress, also, shared the general
gloom, called on the States to fix
days for fasting and humiliation,
and adjourned to Baltimore. 1t was
an hour of popular despair. "As
things appear to me-, said Robert
4 Morris, "the prospect is gloomy" !"
There were but a few stout hearts
that did not quail. Among these
was John Adams, who, looking Sc
renely confident through the gloom,
which, like funeral pail, had set
tied upon the country, Bobly ex-
claimed: Though greater disap-
pOintments should be met; though
France should hold back (from CIV
ing her aid to the patriots); though
Philadelphia should fall, l do not
doubt of ultimate success"
Amidst the thick gloom of this
almost universal despair, Wash
ington's quiet courage shone sub
timely beautiful. His confidence
seemed to grow and blossom in the
soil of misfortune. His suffering
army drew inspiration from his un-
yielding spirit. After the ludicrous
capture of the gasconading General
Charles Lee, by a handful of the
British dragons at BaskinFidge, the
couhsTg, x6ieh lad beer dazzled by
the false glare of Lees imaginary
military ability, concentrated its
hopes ON the chosen chief as the in
strument appointed by Providence
to secure its liberties.
These hopesl were (yery speedily
strengthened by brilliant dash up
on the Hessians stationed at Tren-
ton. Believing that the American
army was powerless, and that their
triumph was all but complete, the
British had scattered their forces,
and gone into winter quarters at
such distances apart as to be incapa-
BILE of being suddenly massed. This
fact furnished Washington a grand
opportunity to prove that he was by
30 means a conquered general; and
i be Improved it by a movement which
astonished the military world, and
caused fresh tide of patriotic life
to sweep through the hearts of his
countrymen.
1t was, on Christmas afternoon,
I776, that Washington moved to-
ward the banks of the Delaware
with 2,4OO wasted patriots, whose
march was traced "by the blood on
the snow from the feet of the men
who wore broken shoes" 1t was
twilight when they reached the
shore. The wind was high, the
cold intense, the river full of large
masses of ice, drifting violently in
the rapidly flowing current. To
attempt, crossing seemed madness,
4 fbut9 Washington did not hesitate.
"Who will lead us on ?'lhe demand
ed. The hardy men of Marblehead
responded. Under the dim light of
the clouded moon the troops entered
the boats. aaisr =,
Ateleven o'clock it began to snow,
still they kept crossing, defiant alike
of the storm and the terrors of the
ice e-foes. At three in the morning
they had all crossed. But then they
were nine miles from Trenton. They
bad to march over rough roads,
made almost impossible by the sleet
which had succeeded the snow, Be
fore them was the prospect Of bat
tie with body of men, able-bodied,
unWearied, veterans in the art of
war, and completely armed. Sure
ly, the men who made that perilous
march deserved success!
When this devoted band came
near Trenton, Sullivan, who COM
manded one OF Its two divisions,
sent word to Washington that their
arms were wet. To this discourage
| ing message, our determined chief
/ replied: GThen use the bayonet and
penetrate into the town. l am re-
solved to take it." When Sullivan's
men heard this reply they sternly
fixed their bayonets without waiting
for a command, and marched on.
1t was now daylight. The Hes
slams were unalarmed, until their
picket on the Lexington road was
attacked by the men of Washing
toms division. The. van of Sulh-
I vans brigade then gave three cheers
and rushed with fixed bayonets up
!, on the pickets on the river, compell-
ing them andytheir supports which
came rushing from de barracks, to
flee across the Assanpink. The Hes
slams, now fairly alarmed, swarmed
into the street, and tried to form.
Rail, their commander, reused from
his last nights debaueh, came out
from his quarters mounted his horse
and, reeling in his saddle like one
scarcely awake, shouted:
, "Forward, march; advance ad,
vance," -lA3bfs'' NE-s'.A
But the Americans were already
} in line of battle, and Forests bat
, terry of six guns began tolpour in q
deadly FIRE at only three hundred
Yards distance. Washington him
i self directed their fire, sitting on
his horse near the front. His horse
was wounded, but he remained un
hurt. Rails troops shrinking from
, this CALLING fire, soon retired to an
, orchard, as if desirous of retreatine
> in the direction of Princeton. Bnl
t Col. Hands regiment, promptly
: thrown across their front, checked
: this movement. They then faced
4 about, when. an impetuous charge