The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-01-06
9istontal.
From The Philadelphia Ledger, Dec. 80.
The Battle of Trenton, Dec. 26th, l77e

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The Battle Of Trenton, Dec. 26th, 177e
Centennial memories to-day are center
ed in the State Of New Jersey. For tb,
successful attack made by General Wash
ington upon the Hessian quarters at Tren
ton, the capture of nearly the whole fore.
OF the enemy there, with large amount
Of the munitions Of war, and the success
ful transfer Of prisoners and spoils across
the Delaware, was really the turning poinl
IN the struggle of the Colonies for inde
pendence. This achievement of the army
confirmed the right which the Colonies
had claimed to the designation of FREE
AND INDEPENDENT STATES, with full
power to do all things which Independent
States may Of right do. Lexington and
Bunker Hill, in 1775, fixed the certainty
that the issue Of arms must decide the
questions between Great Britain and her
Colonies. But what those Colonies were
contending for was not yet determined.
The sanguine and far-seeing, even at this
early period, looked for no less than indie.
| pendence. But in the most minds. pef-
haps, the utmost expectation was that the
show Of armed resistance to political in
justice would compel the Crown to preserve
its Colonies, at the price Of concession to
their not unreasonable elaims-claims for
which they sued as suppliants for long
time before they took any menacing steps
or attitude of defiance.
Though the year 1776 opened with the
burning of Norfolk by the British, that
was deed the consequences Of which re-
turned to plague the inventors, for it sup
piled new strength to the bond which unit
ed North and South, and gave colonies
distaat from each other fellowship in the
community Of suffering The evacuation
Of Boston by the British forces in March
presented new proof that the foreign in
vaders were not inyincible. In June the
repulse of the attack of Sir Peter Parker
on Fort Sullivan, in Charleston harbor,
gave still new life and hope to the Calo-
nists. The proceedings in Congress showed
the influence Of these auspicious events,
and there was rational assurance for the
Declaration Of Independence in the fact
that when it was adopted not British
regiment-not even company-had lodge
ment on the soil of the United States.
But the tide Of success soon ebbed. In
August Washington was compelled to re-
tire from Long Island. In September he
retired from New York City, though with
partial victory sufficient to redeem his re-
treat from the character of fight. In
October the new feet of the Republic was
destroyed on Lake Champlain. In No
yember Washington retreated through the
Jerseys before the advancing British
forces, crossing the Delaware into Penn
sylvania on the sth Of December. On the
18th of the month General Charles Lee,
who had maintained a separate command
in defiance Of General Washington, was
captured by party of British dragons,
and the circumstance produced an amount
of encouragement altogether dispropor-
toned TO the value of the prisoner. On
the 10th Lees detachment, under COM
mand of General Sullivan, crossed the
Delaware, and left New Jersey in possess
sion of the invaders. Such was the dis
NAL condition Of things in December, a
hundred years ago.
1t was apprehended that the British
would pass the Delaware and winter at
Philadelphia; and rumor asserted that their
vessels of war were already at the mouth
of the Delaware, to support the land forces.
Many Of the inhabitants of Philadelphia
left the city, while the patriotic volunteer
ed as boatmen for the river and patrolmen
on land. The burning Of the city was
even spoken Of as a military necessity, in
the last report, Several persons of good
repute, says contemporary diarist, hav-
ing advocated that course. The same au-
thority states that they were summoned
before Congress and "strictly enjoined to
abandon their purpose" General Putnam
who was in command, put the city sub
stantially under martial law, ordered the
inhabitants not to appear in the streets
after ten o'clock, and called upon all per-
sons capable of military duty to hold them
selves in readiness. Whether or not Put
nam was one of the persons of good re-
pute" referred to above, it is on record
that he pledged himself in no event to
burn the CITY,
Congress added to the terror and distrust
by adjourning on the 18th to meet in
Baltimore. Yet, amid all these dispiriting
circumstances Washington was unaagging
in his efforts, and introduced into his plans
the element of daring as we'll as prudence.
He rightly surmised that the British army
would prefer winter quarters to winter
campaign. The British were established
in line Of cantonments at Trenton, PEN
nington, Bordentown and Burlington, with
another line Of posts at Princeton, Bruins
wick and Elizabeth. As early as on the
14th, General Washington began his prep.
arations to break up their repose, and the
British were not without information that
some such enterprise would be attempted.
But they treated as an absurdity the rumor
that an army without ordinary necessaries,
not to say comforts, would undertake any
offensive operations in midwinter. Mean
while Washington watched and worked.
He received the aid of fifteen hundred
volunteers from Philadelphia. He secur-
ed all boats on the Delaware and its tribu-
tnries Armed gondolas moved up and
down the Delaware to keep hope alive in
the friends of freedom and intimidate its
enemies.
1t was not until Christmas that Wash
ington's plans for an attack on the British
posts were matured, delay having arisen
from Lees conduct and other hindrances.
On the 23d Washington wrote as his
watchword, Victory or Death" The
plan of attack contemplated two move
ments on the jersey side, from Morristown
and Mount Holly, contingent upon the ar
rival of assistance from the Jersey militia.
Nothing came of these arrangements.
From the Pennsylvania side Gen. james
Irvine was to cross with FIVE hundred men
at Trenton. From Bristol General Gates
was to cross to Burlington, having under
his command two thousand men. Gen.
Putnam was to cross from Philadelphia.
Washington with about two thousand men