Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-19

Il
IL half lay up a steep NIL,
k where the men We're much
49, exposed and suffered terribly.
.lfte. that for three miles or so II
wound in and out between the hills
and through forests Of ash and black
oak. which afforded some little shelter.
| The storm ragged with unabated fury,
| and the progress of the little army was
very slow. The men We're III good
spirits. however. and they cheerfully
toilcd OH over the roads covered with
deep drifts, bearing as best they might
the driving tempest. 1t was in the
morning when they reached the little
village of birmingham. where the two
columns divided. General Greene's col
umn. accompanied by Washington.
taking thu longer or inland road. called
the Pennington road, which entered
the town from the northeast, while
Sullivan's column followed the lower
road. which entered the town from the
west by way of bridge over the AS
/ Ia.
detOur to make. Sullivan had orders to
wait where the crOssroad from How
| lands Ferry intersected his line of
march until the first column had time
to effect the longer circuit. so that the
two attacks might be delivered tOgeth-
er. General Washington himself rode
| in front of the first column. 1t was
still frightfully cold.
About daybreak the general spied an
| officer on horseback toiling through
the snowdrfts toward him. AS the
horsemen drew nearer he recognized
| young Martin.
What is ii now. sir?"
General Sullivan says that the
storm has rendered many Of his mus
kets useless by wetting the printing
and powder. He wishes to know what
is to be done. SIR"
Return instantly and tell him he
must use the bayOnet. When he hears
the firing he is to advance and charge
| Immediately. The town must be tax
en. and intend to take IT,"
Very good, sir" said the young
man, saluting.
Can you get through the snow In
| time?'
"Yes. sir" he replied promptly. II
can get through anything if your ex-
cellency will give the order"
The general smiled approvingly. 1t
was evident that young mans first les
son had been good one. His empha-
sis, he was glad to see, had not been
misapplied.
When Martin rejoined Sullivan's COL
umn. which had been halted at the
crossroads. the men who had witnessed
his departure were eagerly waiting
his return. AS he repeated the gener-
ais reply they began slipping the bayo-
nets over the muZZles of their guns
without orders. So eager were they to
advance that Sullivan had difficulty in
restraining them until the signal was
given. Such were their temper and
spirit that in the excitement of the mo-
ment they rocked little Of the freez-
ing cold and the hardships OF their ter
rible march. The retreatinS army was
at last on the offensive. They were
about to attack now, and no attack is
so dangerous rs that delivered by men
from whom the compelling necessity
of retreat has been suddenly removed.
1t was about ) o'clock in the morn
Ing when they came in sight of the
town. The village of Trenton then con-
tanned about 100 houses, mostly frame
scattered along both sides of two long
streets and chiefly located on the west
bank of the Assunpink. which here
bent Sharply TO the north before 1t
flowed into the Delaware. The AsSun-
pink was fordable in places at low wa
ter. but it was spanned by subStan-
tial stone bridge. which gave OH the
road followed by sullivan. at the west
end of the village. Washington came
down from the north and entered the
village from the other side. About half
a mile from the edge of the town the
column led by him came abreast of an
old man chop;+ng wood in u farmyard
by the roadside.
(which 10 the way to the Hessian
pickett" said the general.
Il don't know" replied the man sui
lenly.
You may tell" said Captain Forest,
riding near the general at the head or
his battery. "for this is General Wash
ington.
The mans expression altered at once.
God bless and prosper you" he
cried eagerly, raising his hands to
heaven. There! The picket is in that
house yonder, and the sentry stands
near that tree"
The intense cold and heavy snow had
driven the twenty-five men who COM
posed the advance picket to shelter.
and they were huddled together in one
of the rude huts which served as a
guarihouse. The snow deadened the
sound of the American advance, and
the careless sentry did not perceive
them. No warming was given until the
lieutenant in command of the guard
stepped out of the house by chance
and gave the alarm in great surprise.
The picket rushed out, and the men
lined up In the road in front Of the
column, the thick snow preventing
them from forming a correct idea OF
the approaching force. The advance
guard Of the COntinentals, led by Cap
| tain William 4. Washington and Lieu
tenant James Monroe. instantly swept
down upon them. After scattered
volley, which, hurt no one. they fled
precipitately back toward the village,
giving the alarm and rallying on the
| main guard. posted nearer the center
| of the town. which had been speedily
| drawn up, to the number of seventy
| five men. Meanwhile Sulliyan's men,
| with Stark at the head, had routed the
| pickets Oh the other road in the same
| gallant style. This picket was COM
posed of about fifty Hessian chasseurs
and twenty English light dragons,
under command Of Lieutenant GrOt.
hausen of the chasseurs. They all fed
so precipitately that they did not stop
to alarm the brigade which they had
been stationed to protect, but rapidly
galloped down the road and, crossing
the bridge over the Assunpink, made
( good their escape toward Bordentown
Grave suspicious of cowardice attached
thereafter to their commanding officer