The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-16
The Trenton Battle Monument.

The Trenton battle Monument.
On Thursday next the monument erected
ut Trenton to commemorate WASHING
TONS victory. gained at that place in 1776
will be formally dedicated. The Presi-
dent and Vice. President. Cabinet officers
and Congressman. many Governors. three
regiments from New Jersey. one from
Massachusetts. the Seventh from New
York. a brigade from Pennsylvania. the
City Troop OF Philadelphia. the Governors
Foot Guards Of Hartford and New Haven.
and the West Point Cadets are expected to
assist in the ceremonies.
Tho monument is OF Maine granite and
was designed by Mr. DUNCAN of New York;
and the bronze statue Of WASHINGTON which
surmounts it, somewhat over twice life
size. is the gift Of the State OF New York,
through legislative action. The statue Is
the work OF Mr.. W. r. O'DoNovAN. Vir-
ginia sculptor and soldier. now OF New
York. and it stands very nearly where Gen.
WASHINGTON stood at an important moment
in the battle.
Measured by the standard OF the civil
war. with its Chickamaugas and Gettys-
burgs. the famous fight at Trenton may
look like little more than sharp skirmish
The patriot army had a total OF men
wounded: the Hessians lost II killed and 80
wounded. But in moral effect a minor COM
bat may surpass a much bloodier engage
ment. and SO it was with Trenton.
1t was victory won In dark hours Of the
Revolution. A few months earlier WASH
INGToN had been defeated with heavy loss
on Long Island by Sir W. HOWE. and had
surrendered New York to the enemy. He
had again been defeated at White Plains.
and soon afterward Fort Washington was
captured with 1900 men. besides loss Of
149 In the battle. CORVALLIS had next
driven him through New Jersey and across
the Delaware. while Congress, In much
alarm. had removed from Philadelphia
to Baltimore; but. fortunately. as De-
cember had come. HOWE contented him.
self with putting his troops in winter
quarters. Finding Col. RAILS body OF
about 1850 Hessians sufficiently isolated
in Trenton to justify attacking it. WASH
INGToN resolved to do SO. On tho 23d Of
December he gave out as the watchword
Victory or Death" The British had heard
rumors OF an attack on the town. but
thought it hardly probable. 1.-The running
ice would make the return desperate or
impracticable," wrote the British command
er in New Jersey. However. on Christmas
eve. GRANT sent word to Donor. who COM
manded the line from Trenton to Burling-
ton. to be on his guard against an attack at
the former point. although it was hardly to
be expected. But RAIL-. a gallant soldier
who with his brigade had won great laurels
at White Plains and Fort Washington,
laughed at the prospect Of attack. and
would not even adopt DoNop's suggestion
Of intrenching himself.
The obstacles that beset WAsHINGToS's
purpose have heightened the admiration of
his countrymen for his resolute accomplish
ment OF it, severe storm Of snow, rain.
and hail set in on Christmas night, which
had been appointed for crossing the Della
ware, and ice in the river delayed the
taking over of the artillery. 80 that instead
Of surprising the enemy in the darkness it
was broad day when WAsHINGToN's army
reached RAILS outposts. But the attack |
had been well planned. the Americans adj |
both on the upper or Pennington |
road. under WASHINGTON own command, |
and on the lower. under SULLIVAN The |
force thus Immediately employed seems to |
have been about 2.400 strong. and the Hes
slams were not only surprised but greatly |
outnumbered. RAIL- was mortally wounded
in the attack. His troops were thrown into
confusion. and more than 900 surrendered,
with very little resistance. Only a small
part OF them escaped from the town.
This capture OF such a body OF troops
and six guns made victory which ap-
peared all the moro brilliant after the pro-
'ious disasters; and although CORVALLIS,
nurryng to Trenton a week later, drove
WASHINGTON out again. yet tho American
,ontrived, on his way to Morristown, to
gain another success over British detach-
nent at Princeton. SO that the new year
broke much less gloomily than had been
With reason. therefore. this memorial is
set up. nearly one hundred and seventeen
years after the battle was fought.