The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-06
Sketch Of the Participants
in the Battle Of
Trenton.
MOST REMARKABLE MAN IN THE ARMY
Major General Sullivan, Colonel
Knox. General Stirling, Cap
tain William Washington
and Other Fearless Men.

10 Ant9kSSps 0ottAo VI AASAsSA
ratified and made q reality the Deelara-
zion of Independence that was but a
theory before, aud opened the door for
the later achievements that culminatad
In tbs surrender at Yorktown. In view
Of these facts the folio win & sketch of the
participants In the battle Is treighted
with patriotic concern.-
There were 6 number Of very distin-
guished officers of the American army
at the battle of Trenton. Besides the
Communicating hisi. General Wash
lngton, the next officer was Major
General Nathaniel Greene of Rhode
Island, who has been termed the most
remarkable man. all things considered,
among tn e soldiers of the Revolution"
and it has been said that there was mo
one whose reputation aud advancement
can with IN ore justice be attributed ex-
clusively 20 personal merit. "His biog-
raphy. which has been written In u
clear, incisive. always interesting style
by Francis Vinton Greene, presents a
picture of campaigns which extended
from New port to Georgia, aud involved
the larger part OF tbs military history Of
the Revolution.
The man of whom Historian Sparks
wrote as of one who may be justly re-
garded as the most extraordinary man in
the Army of the Revelation" ia a fas-
cinating individuality. impressing itself
on all students or readers Of American
history. He was undoubtedly among the
very first of the now often noted class Of
self made men," rising. as he did, from
obscurity, favored with scarcely more
than a rudimenrary education 10 his
youth, to a position of exalted trust, Ia
which position he acquitted himself
not only creaitaely. 1ut with
ering regard for duty, srd seemingly
opportunities for personal RgRrau die
ment. The biographer calls attepti on to
the fact that Greene and Washin gtop
were the only generals who served con.
tinually throughout the eight year RS of
the Revolutionary War.
TRUE SOLDIERS TO THE CAUSE.
There was also Major General John
Sullivan of New Hampshire, a lawyer by
profession, but q true soldier to the
American cause. In all ths various
cabals which at times afflicted the
American cause, no one ever accused the
gallant Greene or the soldierly Sullivan
Of taking part in these intrigues.
Then the book seller of Boston, Colonel
Henry Knox. gained his commission as
a general officer on the battlefield Of
Trenton.
There was the Pennsylvania soldier,
st. Clair, and the old soldier Stark, who
pushed the New Hampshire boys through
what is now State street, driving the
Hessians ''pellmell" as he said.
Then there was General Lord Stirling,
William Alexander by name, but Wash
| ington always called him 'ny lord"
because he claimed landed estates and
a title from the English crown. which
the British Government would not &C.
knowledge. but American lawyers con-
| sidered that he made his title good.
| He was a resident Of Somerset county,
and commanded the New Jersey
| Continental line at the beginning of the
war. He was considered a very excellent
soldier by General Washington, and wa
| well up to the front when the surrender
! took place. In a letter to Governor
| Livingston after the battle he spoke OF
arm, but he q the pleasure to receive
the swords OF b Hessian o Ulcers. and
| hoped soon to be we'll en- ouEh to give
them another drubbing.
Captain William Washington, o rela-
tive OF the general. apd Lieutenant
James Monroe. afterward President,
| were both wounded in the battle.
The nineteen year old artillery officer,
| Alexander Hamilton. was one of the
brightest young men in th Q Continental
| army, ana it is well known how effective
his guns were at the juncture of the five
roads in Trenton.
BRAVE coLoNEL GLOVER.
Colonel Glover, the brave aud Intrepid
Massachusetts officers. must not be for
| gotten with his magnificent regiment.
| probably the best drilled regiment in
the whole army. He took charge of
the ferrying Of the Continental army
across the icy Delaware. and during the
| battle was stationed about where Turner
Hall now is, and prevented the escape of
the British army.
Col. Hardy's gallant rif1emen were
here also, and so were the sturdy Vir-
| gln1a Scott and his fine com mand.
Col. Hazlet5 Of Delaware, AID his regi-
| ment, the "Blue Hens Chickens" as
| they called themselves. fought bravely
In the battle, and he himself vas killed
at Princeton. An historical fact 10 regard
to the blue Heirs Chickens" might be
| recorded here. One Of the companies of
| the Delaware regiment was made up of
men who loved cock fghting, aad they
carried game cocks with them, and wheu
they had nothing else to do amusedthem.
selves In that way. The favorite strain
was the little blue game COCKS, whicn
were considered che best fighters. From
that circumstance the company took the
name of the blue Hens Chickeps;' it
was finally adopted by the regiment. and
eventually was applied to all citizens Of
| Delaware.
One of tho most soldierly young men of
the Americ IN army was Colonel Thigh
man, of Maryland. and his grandson will
be pre- sent as the guest OF the State on
the 10Th. Colonel 1ilghmsn was the man
who brought the news Of the surrender
at Yorktown to Philadelphta, and walked
up the the old Quaker City a hundred
and twelve years ago.
FEARLESS L SOLDIERS.
And then there were the fearless old
soldiers Colonel Weedun of Virginia and
| Colonel Stone of Maryland. Colonel
Durkee aud Colonel Webb. of sConnecti-
cut, were two officers who fought all
through the war.
Captain Forrest was here with his
Philadelphia battery, aud Captain
| Moulder, also OF Philadelphia, made
havoc Of the British lines in front Of the
old Presbyterian Church on what 10 now
State street.
The Philadelphia City Troop must not
be overlooked, with their Quaker soldier
commander. Captain Morris. They were
q lot OF fox hunters, who used to have
good times IN South Jersey. The Troop
was composed of rich yonng men and
they were considered the gay young gal.
lants OF Philadelphia, the great ,ommer.
cial centre of colonial times. It Is sin
cerely hoped that the City Troop will find
that they can bring the tattered rem
nants of their old batsle flag that was