The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-31
A TEST OF FORTITUDE.
How General Washington Spent a
New Years Day.

New Years Day.
While we are looking forward with
bright hopes towards the advent of a
new year, which, like the ever growing
tree. will add another ring to 1.-THE health
and peace and prosperity of our country,
it is we'll to look back with grateful
hearts to the patriots of the Revolution.
cause of liberty. To them we owe our
present happiness and all the means of
enjoying life and it's best gifts.
About 10 year ago a very unhappy and
anxious New Years Day was spent by
the greatest hero of the time-a day
which we may well contrast with our
own. The winter of 1776 had been one to
try the mettle of the bravest hearts; the
many battles the intense cold, and the
long marches had worn out the bodies
and spirits of the troops. The end of the
year found the Revolutionary army jour
neying through Delaware and New Jer-
sey, and, after two days spent in convey
ing men and artillery over the ice-bound
Trenton, it was with the greatest diff
Guilty that General Washington could
hold his tired soldiers together. Enthus-
iasm was dead and courage was sleeping;
privation. hardship and hunger nearly
broke the ranks of the army, and sore
need tempted the most loyal to desert.
The British troops had assembled at
Princeton, and everything pointed to the
total extinction of the American army.
In despair General Washington had writ
of Philadelphia, who spent his New
Years Day in going from house to house
to solicit aid upon his own credit, with
what result Will presently be seen.
for when General Washington sent out
six Philadelphia light infantry under Col
onel Reed to patrol the country, they re-
turned with the information that Lord
CORVALLIS was marching towards them
with seven or eight Thousand men. This
was confirmed by other reports and fin
1 II Z
was on the march with a thousand
troops, having arrived at Amboy. Wash
ington's situation was critical. What
could he do? To retreat was to brighten
his men and therefore to surrender; to
remain hemmed in by the British was i'm
possible unless reinforced. After several
hours of deep thought the noble general
sends two messengers at post .sDeed to
General Cadwalader at Crosswicks and
to General MifTlin at Borleutown, bidding
them join him with their forces. 1t Is q
desperate command, but it is the. only
hope. and now ne must wait IN patience.
I fancy his thoughts must have cut
quickly through the air on swiftest
wings to a certain low stone house that
crowns Shining hin above shining
river and fondest memories come. to
mind to pain and delight the resolute
soldier under his calm masque. The dav
would have been spent very differently
there Early in the morning part of the
gay company hidden to the hospitable
home to spend the merry season would
have been up and away over hill and
dale to the hunt, while all the snowy
woods made answer to the cry of men
and yelp of dogs. Then would have. fol-
lowed ell the good cheer of an old-fash-
toned Virginia holiday dinner and, per
haps, a party to crown the nights fe5-
tivity with a, dance. No one enjoyed
| more than George Washington handing
the pretty girls through the quiet PAGES
of the minuet. and returning their low
sweeping courtesys with dignified bows;
no one enjoyed more than he the graces
| and charms of brilliant society, and all
| the pleasures of an aTtiStocratic southern
home; and for all of this freSher
keener sense must have been felt during
the dreary hours of encampment. This
had been a terrible day to begin the
fresh scroll of time and now he must
endure the hours of suspense. Towards
evening the happy news came that Cen
eral Cadwalader and General Mfff1tn were
| advancing and before night closed in the
main army was increased by the add
ton of more than three thousand men.
Almost simultaneously came A gift from
Robert Morris-the sum of fifty Thousand
dollars.
With money and fresh troops for a New
Years gift to General WASHINGTON. there
dawned upon him hope and inspiration
that resulted two DAYS afterwards in the
VICTORIOUS battle of rinceton-January g.
l777. E. S.