The New York herald., 1876-12-26
The Advance Upon Trenton as Il Would
Have Been Described by Herald
War Correspondents.
A RIVER OF RUNNING ICE.
The Calm and Majestic Bearing Of
General Washington.
A LANDING EFFECTED IN JERSEY.
An Important Battle Doubtless
in Progress.

NcCoxKHYs FERRY Wxsr BANK or TIE DELAwAREl
Dec 25 l776-7:30 r. NJ. !
The following account is despatched by a special
courier aud contains the latest details regarding tho
projected attack upon the British position at Tren-
ton:-
The Continental army, 400 strong, with twenty
pieces of artillery, Is mustered here attempt the
passage OF the Delaware The night promises be
siormy and the cold extreme but the troops are IN
excellent spirits and confident OF victory. General
Washington hopes to make this movement undscov-
cred and to strike The enemy at Trenton about mid
night The British force occupying the town
Of three Hcssian regiments under the command OF
Colonel RahL II Is expected that they will be tired
with the enjoyment OF the Christmas festivities and
thrown completely of their guard Should the
ing Of the be accomplished happily, aud all poss-
BILE precautions have been success the
Continental forces viii strike Trenton about midnight.
The point selected to attempt the passage OF the Della
ware is some nine miles from the town Of Trenton.
Near this point the river makes a sharp bend, and
broad fiat projection OF land sheltered the Penn
syvana side by low hills allows our army TO assem-.
BILE without danger OF observation except bluffs
Immediately in our front These not occupied by
tho enemy. on the Jersey side the banks rise TO a
considerable heish and the hills rear
OF them form OF irregular half moon, com plctey
commanding the crossing. II these hills were
destruction to attempt the passage. No doubt
tho enemy know tins and do dream that
any passage is likely TO be attempted at this point
on this unbele depends In great measure the
ofthe present movement Although the banks a this
side OF the river low enough TO render the cmbAr
katoh OF under ordinary circumstances easy
enough, the sudden falling OF tho river and
the consequent breaking up OF the Ice
has left the edges OF tho banks ragged
Wi stil ri notn of
gerous to stand In places large sheets of
ice several yards square standing edge where
they broke on when the water in the river fell while
In others the ice has merely cracked OF and fallen
down. forming an inclined, slprery plane, over which
the surcst ioossd soldiers cannot safely pasA
WEATHER
The severe cold OF tho last twenty-iour hours has
filled the river with floating ice, and
tanned that the movement cannot be made successfully
account OF the momentariy increasing difficulties
some OF The officers are OF opinion thai n s MOI sae
TO proceed, and have counsslied tho commanding
general to abandon his intention OF attackAS Trenton
Tor the present A storm ~ coming on. and u would
seem that the elements are warning the patriots TO
desisi. General Washington however, Is resolute IN
his purpose, and the work Of cmbaSfing the troops
has been begun, but the progress slow. Although
the men are shiverng IN The ranks ths excitement IS
Intense.
wAsHISGrox's RESOLVE
On the attack tonight General Washington has re-
solved TO risk the tate OF his country. success
brings with It renewed hope and the promise of nnal
victory; defeat The humiliation OF ali hope,
this river cutting on all retreat condemns Us, II
General Washington has just written despatch TO
General Cadwaiader to urge him not TO fail HIM this
supreme hour. There Is a terrible rumor circulating
among the higher officers that both Reed and Putnam
have abandoned their part OF the undertaking THIS
is probably true, Tor General Washington Is very SILENT
aud there is about his look nxcdness and rigldlty
which tells that he has taken some supreme decision
tonight with letters from General Gates When the
General asked h'm where Gates was, hc
nspe ne%s sadsnv ns asvesa
bers OF the sian, threw General Washington
completely on his guard and he repealed in tone OF
mingled surprise ana CONSERVATION, ION his way to
Congress i" IL is evident Gates was expected 10 be
elsewhere. Nothing, however, shakes the Generals
resolution. When he gave out the password he had
made up his m.nd 10 RISK everything on TINS move
nent ana he win succeed or perish With treachcry
and FAINT hcartedness among the generals oi the
army II Will be impossible TO continue The struggle
something must be done to The OF indcpcn
deuce. and II will be done tonight or America will
know Washington more. As each company pre-
lares 70 enter tie boats General Washington IN per;
hope you viii light Ike men,"
BAD NEWS
Hall an hour ago General Washington received an
important despatch from Putnam Reed When he
read II his lace became ngid marble. twas feared
orders to push the work OF ierrying tho
troops across with renewed energy and, what.
changed GENERA washngons re.oa.on TO carry oS. oU.
the undressing. The password for the night is
Victory or Death, and the hercely lowing riycr
with Its ghostlike blocks OF ice and frozen snow
pnasize with appalling force this legend OF despair
The General eeis that the time has come 10 strike a
blow u the cause OF Independence Is to be saved.
Here we are surrounded wh enemies; rccrcant Ameri-
cans notify the British commanders OF our overy
movement, and unless the Continental troops
Unexpectedly their chance of success Is very doubtful
CROSSING THE DELAwAR1
The boatmen are doing wonders and are bravey bat
ting against the contcndng elements aud with good
success Uriah Slack William Green and David Lam
ing in charge oi the batcaux and boats. They
working with supcrhunan energy second the wishes
OF the Commsn snder Chief, but in spite OF all their
efforts they cannot ferry the troops the
time carry the original plan Of surprising the
Hessisrs under cover of the night The storm
creascs apssc and the binding downpour OF siect and
snow renders the passage OF the river hourly more
dangerous and difficult Huge blocks OF floating ice
sneamoer ,,i me river, and % Is on,y Sy unceasns
swift and strong carries everything with H. and hurs
with terrific force blocks OF ice against the boats.
threatening TO swamp them every moment: but The
gallant sailors OF Marplehcad are not TO be frightened
by The prospect OF watery death, and the sight OF
shcr splendid courage keeps up the spirits oi the
troops Tho soldiers, poor devils stand the frozen
bank with their arms in their hands and display
heroic iortiiude They mostly old soldiers and
have unbounccd faith IN their commander
SUFFERING or rHR TROOPS
There IL a high wind anu the otter frost bites
through the thin and taitered uniforms of the men,
The poor fellows VINO came Ia with wilkinson left the
track OF their passage marked with the blood that
no~cd IRON their unprotected feet but the soldiers
viii follow Washington 10 the end, whatever that
be These men are the slie OF the torces
though 20 look at them ono would not think But
they have been tried on many fields and ali deter
mlnel men. None Others would stand patiently dur.
ing the long hours exposed storm that chs TO
the very bones waiting their turn to embark. q he
boats drawn up close the shore possible
the have Chamber over the before they can
reach them, aud staud shvcring while the boat Is
whirled away BY the rapid current Their position is
prccarous IA the extreme. Tor the ice blocks
RED down wth such force that the laden boats abso-
uts reel under the shock and threaten to keel
consigntnK the TO certain death. Scarcely have
she boaen escaped IRON being crushed by one block
when they have to head Oh another-a push here
aud shove there send the boats along, the poor
soldiers balancing themselves as best tney TO
the constant changes in The boats position.
IL pretty hard work TO Keep from falling
Ihe cAcitcucnt prevents the men from feel
lug The eau.ns nsr,hesster that has just sprung
up Most Of the troops already and Colonel
kuox, who has been unrcmtting IN hs Efforts 10 get
artillery the with their heavy caissons
BY dint OF energy has nnsy accomplished hrs task.
rHE ORGANIZATION.
orders have been ,s>usd Tor the formation OF two
distinct columns the forces reach the Jersey