New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-15

had released the army under Sullivan ana ua'es'
which that unspeakable scoundrel had been mold
ing in idleness. and it, joining Washington py
forced marches had sweled his command 10
about 900 men, Yet for these, in their present
demoralized condition. to take the aggressive
against the encamped veterans OF European
wars was proceeding too hopeless 10 be 'hous"'
of by any one but a madman-or genius
This however. was what Washington resolved
to do He babe Ewing, commanding inc oen
ire to cross squarely in front or trenton ne
directed Gates, with the right wing 10 CROSS d.
Burlington and engage Count Donop' lie "ouii
himself cross nine miles above trenton ;
strike the enemys right flank from the rei!iIle
ton road. All were to cross at the sdne .liiie,
inst after dark on the evening or CnrlslhdS
Day AS soon as the plan was impaired W nm INN
Gates did what he could always be depehueu
unon IN do. he sneaked out of camp as quickly
os his legs could carry him and scuttled away
TO Baltimore to fill the ears OF Congress WIN
SANDERS against his chief. Cadwaader sue,
ceeded him in command and prepared 10 luiii
the plans of Washington as best ne couu'
DESPERATE VENTURE.
A strange contrast was presented that Christ
mas Day by the two armies divided by the Del
aware On the New-Jersey shore were luxury
and high wassan On the Pennsylvania shore
was the grimmest Yule-cheer men could know
hostile men and hostile elements. For the
weather was almost inconceivably Indictment.
The snow lay knee deep; northeast hurricane
was raging. laden with sleet and hail; the river.
swollen to the brim a raging torrent hlled
with whrling masses and foes of ice. To cross
such a stream with rude RATS and rowpoats
and then TO march a dozen miles at midnight
was a fearful venture. To do so in the face Oh
powerful foe seemed madness.
But Washington was as resolute as rate ana
relentless as the winter storm. The word was
given and was not to be recalled and he marched
away to the place forever after TO be memora-
bic for his crossing. Cadwalader near Bristol'
tried 10 do his share. But the first boat he
launched was crushed by the Ice ana ne gave
up the attempt Ewing marched down TO the
waters edge looked at the flood, the ice, the
distant shore and turned away without an Ell
fort. Washington. nine miles above. was man
ming his boats Up dashed horseman from the
south Word from Cadwalader and EWING!
From the one, Il have tried and cannot cross
tonight" From the other. Il dare not even
try.' Surely, this was death-blow 10 the VEN
ture 1t would have been, but for the all-fnas-
terng personality Of Washington. Twenty-Five
hundred men were all he had. and some of them
were already dying of exposure to the murder
GUS weather What thoughts Were In MS nlnu
no man may tell. But his words were prompt
and fearless. Man the boats, Colonel Glover.
Forward From 6 o'clock in the evening until
o'clock in the morning they toied and strug-
gled against cold and wind and tide. sed then,
thanks TO the hardy boatmen of Marblehead,
were all landed on the NewJersey shore, with
out the loss Of a man or a gun. Then came the
long and weary march inland. and down the
Pennington road. But in the gray light Of the
early dawn they reached the British lines and at
breakfast time sank down wearied but trium-
plant about the campfres of the routed foe!
THE BATTLE. DESCRIBED BY ONE WHO FOUGHT
IN 1T.
The story Of the battle has been told thou
sand times I'm outline and in detail. But II Is
worth retclling again in the terse words Of one
Of the most gallant leaders of the American
Army. Washington had no more loyal follower.
and few more efficient, than General George
Weedon Of Virginia. This officer. who had been
postmaster at Williamsburg. had been marked
man for years before the war for what the Brit
ish called Ibis most seditious tongue lie was
an intimate and lifelong friend of Washington,
jefferson Page and the other Vrglnlan leaders
He had steadfastly supported Washington at
New-York. and in the flight across the Jer-
seys" and he afterward did great service at
Valley Forge Germantown. the Brandywine.
and Yorktown. commanding the entire volunteer
army at the last-named place. During the whole
as "A friend half AZ an officer reporting the prog
rrss Of the campaign TO the Virginia Govern
mcnt These interesting letters, which have
meyer been made public. are now in the colec-
ton of Mr. George K. Morse. Of this city, and
from one Of them bearing date of December %.
l776 the following extract is taken. verbatim ct
ltcratim:
II can now sit down with some satisfaction
T. ito Ia, my L a.
Xmas this far with more real enjoyment than
eyer did one and the frolicI not yet over. as an
other Expedition into the Jerseys Is this night
set on foot. You will have seen the event of
that the 26th before this reaches you, but |
know that YOU want the particulars. IL az | am
at present unfit for duty. shall endeavor TO give
them to YOU.
Know. then. that on the 25th part Of our
Army was Ordered To cross the Delaware ut
place calrd McConkeys Ferry. the embarca-
tiOn to begin after dark. Agreeable Ia order the
Troops assembled. 1t took us Til three in the
morning To finnish our Crossing We had then II
miles To- Trenton where three Regiments of Hes
slams lay, VIZ: Col. I.orsburgs. KniphOusen's,
and Rails. The weather set In Extremely bad,
however It did not check the Ardour of our
made all other difficulties x hardshps vanish.
I'VE got up by eight next morning. and In 80
private Il manner that the Enemy never sus-
pccted our approach till their out guards were
attacked by our advance, Commanded by Cap
tain VIM. Washington. of the Bird Regt of
Nirg'a. who drove all before him till he and his
LIT. Jas. Monroe, got wounded. The main body
of Troops soon after entered the Town in
two different places. was first directed. The
Enemy Were put into Confusion. and tho they
made several attempts to form. never could
our men entered the Town in trot. & pursued
close that in less than one hour we made
ourselves masters of all their Field pes (sx in
number. Baggage &c. and $40 Prisoners
amongst them thirty Officers none of higher
rank than Col.
The whole loss on our side believe | s,s-
tanned, which was not more than three pri-
Yates killed. and those two brave Officers wound
ed. The Enemies loss killed was also inconsid-
cradle, not more than 80 or 40. their wounded
not many, which Is something Extraordinary
| was honored with His Excellencies Orders to
take charge of the prisoners with my Regi-
ment. and that night returned to our Old Quar-
terra.
THE behaviour OF our people In General far cx-
ceeded anything ever saw. It's worth remark
ing lhaI moi nilic.r priy,t knauun