Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-14

been forgotten IN the age OF sham
power and speculation. Galloway and
Allen deserted, and Joined the enemies
OF freedom IN the fall of li76.
such was the state OF things at this
period All was silence in the Ameri-
can camp. The spanglcd hammer hung
dropping over our headquarters, and
the sentinel by the low doorway stood
leaning In melancholy mood upon his
rusty and fiintless gun. The COM
mander-in-chief held a council OF war.
At the close OF 1t he gave his opinion
he had heard Of the scattered canton
ment of the British army.
" Now. said he, striking his hand
upon an order OF battle, and pointing
from the window of the little farm
house toward the wild river, now is
the time 20 clip their wings 1t was a
master-thought; the council Of war
concurrcd with their leader. and each
member retired silently TO prepare for
immediate action.
"rhe regiments were mustered. the
sentinels were called in, n hasty meal
was devoured. the evening shut In with
darkness and storm, the word was
given. and we began our march. one
party moved down, one remained sta
tionary. and one passed up 10 u point
| above Trenton. l was with Washing
| ton. No one in the ranks knew where
he was TO go-all was mystery, until
! ~ Nif'AAh dVMll VIZ EANNh hahA' VI AAA1
/ Delaware.
Onward was the word. Cross the
| river, Numbered along the line and
our freezing legions moved on. Who
] shal describe the pains and the nerils
/ of that terrible march, Who shah re-
ward the noble spirits, who. trusting In
\ their illustrious leader, moved onwird,
amid famine. nakedness and the win
| ters storm? Surely at this day gen
I erous nation viii not let the poor old
[ veteran die who has his scars-but no
/ certificate-to testify TO the glory OF
1 that night. Better feed an impostor
than starve a hero.
But to my tale. Upon high bank
Washington and Knox, and u few stan
/ officers. wrapped in scanty military
] clouks, sat upon their shivering
chargers, aud awaited the progress OF
the broken line.
We moved on. Some on cakes OF
Ice, some on RATS with the artillery,
and some ir little boats. Dark reigned
the night around. and the Wild blast
from the hills swept down the roaring
stream; the water froze 60 our tat
tered clothes, and our feet We're bis
tered and peeled by treadiug upon the
Icy way The snow. like feathers
borne upon n gale, whlrled around us;
the dark waters yawned fearfully be-
fore us At every step we We're in
danger, Now precipitated into the
stream, and now forced to climb the
| rugged sides OF the drift-ice, still we
| advanced. Al length. the cannon and
tumbrils were landed ana the last sol
| der stood upon the opposite shore.
"Shivcring with cold, and pale with
hunger and fatigue. our column formed
and waited FOR the word Washington
and his staff were at hand. 'BrlslSly,
men, brislly,' said he, as he rode 10
the head of tho line, and then the cap
tains gave the word from company 10
company, and the army marched on VA
silence. a secret movement Of an army
al night Keeps the drowey awake, and
the hungry from complaining. Man Is
an inquisitive animal, ana the only
way TO make him perform apparent
impossibilities is 10 lead him after he
knows not what. Columbus discovered
America In a cruise after Solomona
gold mine, and the vast field OF chem
istry was laid open to human ken in
search for the elixir OF life and the
philosophers stone.
IAN night our troops moved down The
west bank of the river and as the
morning spread her gray mantle over
the eastern hills we reached Trenton.
THE Hessians. under Ruwle silent
No one feared Washiugton,-and the
moustached soldier dreamed Of the
Rhine and the Elbe. and the captain
slept, careless. at his inn but sud
denly the cry was raised: He comes
he comesr Our frosty drums beat
the charge, the shrill nfes mingled in
with a merry strain, and or hungry
army, with bare feet, entered the city.
Like the scandinavian hurde--in ln-
petuosity and necessity--bcfore tho
eternal city, we rushed up the streets
anu attacked the surprised army at
every turn. The startled foe endeaV.
ored 20 defend themselves. but before
any body OF them could collect, a
! gbn a. omF Infantry ont fhnrn 10
pieces Their colors We're actually
hacked Off their standard STAFF, while
they advanced In line. by n gergcantl
sword, ana their officers We're cut
down or taken prisoners One thou
sand men were killed and made prls-
onerg and the artillery, consisting OF
nine pieces, was captured. Such was