The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-02

PEuNSYLVANIA'S GIFT.
A Memorial Tablet For the
Trenton Battle Monu-
ment.
CROSSING OF THE DELAWARE
Governor Pattison Will Formally
Present 1t to the State On Ded-
ication Day-A Reyolu-
tionarY Sketch.
ROSsING OF THE DELAWARE
Special to the JERSEY ctr News.

TRENTON, Oct. Q, 1S93.--On the occa-
sion of the uuvsillng of the Trenton
Battle Mondment on October 10, Gov
ernor Partison, of Pennsylvauia. on
behalf of that State. will present to New
Jersey memorial tablet to Oe placed on
the west side of the monument. The
engraving on the tablet will portray the
crossing of the Delaware by Washington
and his brave band of patriots on that
bitterly cold Christmas night 30 fraught
with glorious results to the American
colonies.
The FALL OF 1T76.
The fall mouths OF l776 were very dark
for the Continental cause. After the
battle of Long Island. on August 27,
which resulted disastrously for the
American army, q hasty retreat was
made by General Washington across
the East River to New York city.
On November is. Fort Washington.
held by 1900 Americans. was taken
by assault, and the garrison
were compelled to lay down their arms
between the regiments Of Rail- and Won
Lossberg. The contrast in the situation
of these German regiments or that day,
aud their condition forty-four days
thereafter. was truly wonderful. A week
later. Fort Lee, on the west bank of the
Hudson River, was abandoned because
Lord CORVALLIS. with a large force, hai
gained its rear and made it unteuabie.
IA very large quantity of com nlisssry
stores, guns, ammunition aud camp
equipage. which the Continental
army could not spare without distress,
here fell tuto the hands OF the enemy.
The sarmy was then posted on the west
bank of the Hackensack River; 1t had
scarcely four thousand men fit for duty,
aud they were greatly In need OF tents,
shoes aud blankets. On the 23d of No
yenber General Washington concentrate
ed his force at Newark, and on the 235h
he left that city and began his memora-
BILE retreat through the Jerseys. AS the
American column passed through New
Brunswick, battalion after battalion left
the army, their term of enlistment hav-
ing expired. When the American arm
left Trenton. weary. ragged, well nign
dlsheRrtened, they were reinforced by
German battalion. by three battalions of
Philsd delpnia Associators. the Pniladel-
phia Troop Of Light Horse, a battery of
artillery. aud two small regiments Of
New Jersey militia
BRITISH OCCUPY TRENTON.
During the afternoon of December z,
and up to daylight ON Sunday morning,
December 8, small boats were constantly
crossing the Delaware, at Trenton ferry,
a short distance below what Is now the
Pennsylvania railroad bridge, and at
Beatty's ferry, few yards above the
present. Calhoun street bridge. In this
way the entire American army reached
the westsbank OF the river. A few hours
after brigade of the British army en-
tered Trenton and went to cross the
river, but could find no boats. New Jer-
sey was now virtually in possession Of
the British, and the condition of the
State was deplorable.
As, soon as the American army had
reached the Pennsylvania side OF the
river, they were arranged along the
shore from Mckonkey's ferry, now Titus
VILE, to Dunk's ferry, short distance
below Bristol with deJachments ac New
town., and various other places ia Bucks
county. All this time the Kings troops
made no effort to cross the river. The
posts of Trenton and Bordentown, the
most important positions nearest the
American army, he garrisoned with Ger
man troops. the services of these men
had been bought of Frederick H., Land
grave of Hesse-Cassei, of Charles l.,
Duke Of Brunawick, or Frederick. Prlncs
OF Waldeck, and other of tue petty rulers
Of Germany, for 81 4s. eacn British
money.
WASHINGTON PERPLExED.
Three regiments of Hessiau infantry. a
small detachment OF artillery, tttLy Hos
sian yagers and twenty dragons OF tue
Sixteenth British Regiment, about four
teen hundred men, were quartered in
Trenton.
General Washington realized that
something had to be attempted. as he
wrote his brother, ''If every nerve is not
strained think tue game Is pretty nearly
up" He added: "You eau form no idea
of the perplexity of my situation; no
man, | believe, ever lad q greater choice
OF difficulties and less means to extricate
himself 'front.' HEM" He was full of
cheer to the 1lfep, as he encouraged them
during their Suffering, and with firm
conntenance bkde them look with conf
dence to brighter day. He prepared for
a STINT ultaneous attack on the commands
Of Won Donop, at Moorestown. in Bur
lingten county, and Rail, in Trenton. 1t
is with the latter force that this sketch
has TO do.
BY TWO O'Clock on the morning of
Christmas, some regiments Of the main
army were moving toward McKonkey's
ferry. and bythree in the afteruoon all
those detalleA for this service We're on the
march, tlngihg the light snow which Fad
falten with ptood from their feet Each
soldier had three days cooked rations.
and each carried forty rounds of ammu-
milton.
CROSSING THE RIVER.
The men were placed iii Durham boats.
in row galleys, and in every kind of craft
IL
waters of the Delawar The river on
Monday and Tuesday had been clear, but
by noon on Wednesday,, the 25th, was
filled with moving cakes of ice, and tine
current was swift and dangerous. AS
soon as it was quite dark. the troops came
down to the river to begin the crossing.
Thus hastily has been recited the
events that led " TO the crossing OF the
Delaware on that bitter Christmas night.
THE TABLET.
The tablet to he presented is of bronze.
in bas-Eelief. A bill was passed by the
first session OF I the Pennsylvania Lsgis.
latursx xappropHating 81, 500 for The plac-
ing OF broDze tablet on the monument
erectedson the battlefield of Trenton.
The Pennsylvania troops engaged in the
battle ~ Trenton gave good account of
themselves. The Philadeiphia City
Troop tcted az body guard for General
Washington, Snd their loyalty aud fu-
trsDidHy were frequently remarked. On
the oc4asion Of the dedication. Peunsyl.
vania troops will come here again TO aid
in coIftnemoratlng the glorious deeds Of
the heroes of old.
The Unwilling Ceremony viii be At
tended by Many Noted Men.
Special to the JERSEY City NeaUs.
TRENTON, Oct. 2, 1898. Barker Gum
Eiere, Jr.. returned from Washington
Saturday evening where he had gone to
make arrangements for entertaining Con-
gressienal visitors on the occasion Of the
unveiling Of the Trenton battle monu-
ment on the 10th inst. Vice President