Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-12

winter. Tie SKY was cloudless. how
| ever. and there was bright moon.
CHAPTER XXlII.
A s they rode along slowly the
lIAI general explained his plans.
Nzss:S General Howe had pursued
&&SJ him relentlessly through the
Jerseys until he had crossed into Penn
sylvania. only escaping further pursuit
and certain defeat because he had had
the forcthoueht to seize every boat up
on tie Delaware and its tributaries for
miles in every direction and bring
them with his army TO the west bank
OF the river. SO that Howe WAS unable
to cross. The English general had
threatened. hcwever, TO wait until the
river was frozen and then cross on the
ice and. after brushing aside the mis-
cradle remains of WashingtOn'S army.
march OH to Philadelphia and establish
himself in the rebel capital. Making
that most serious Of mistakes for a
military man of despisng his oppO-
nents. Howe had scattered his army
for convenience in quartering In va
rious snail Gc,achments along the riv-
er. The small! American army. supple
mented by tlIc Pennsylvania militia.
had been placed opposite the different
fords from Yardley to New Hope to
hold the enemy in check in case an at
tempt should be made to force cross
ing.
The fortunes of the country were at
the lowest ebb. But there was 70 he n
speedy reversal of conditions. and the
world was to learn how ,Ingerous n
man was leading the Continental
troops. Washington. to whom a re-
treat was rs hateful as it had been
necessary. had long meditated an at
tack whenever any chance whatever
of success might present itself. The
necessity for change was apparent
not merely for the material result
which would flow from victory, but
for the moral effect as well. The fan
cied security of the enemy. their eX-
posed positions. disco anected from
each other and the conieSipt they felt
for his own troops. were 'rrSi factors
in determining him to strike then. but
another factor had still more weight,
and that was the fact that the time or
the enlistment of nearly the whole OF
his own army expired with the end OF
the year. and whatever was to be done
must he done quickly. He therefore
conceived the daring and brilliant de-
sign of suddenly collecting his scat
tered forces, crossing the river anu
falling upon his unsuspecting enemy
ut Trenton, where small brigade or
Hessians under Colonel Rail was sta
toned.
1t would be piece Of unparalleled
audacity. To turn. as 1t were, just be-
fore the dissolution OF his army ana
cross wide and deep river full Of ice
in the dead of winter and strike like
the hammer Of Thor upon his unwary
foe, rudely disturbing his complacent
dreams. was conception OF exceeding
brilliancy. and it ut once stamped
Washington as Il military genius of the
first order. And with such an army to
make such IN attempt. Said one OF the
officers of the period I'm his memoirs.
An army without cavalry. partially
provided with artillery, deficient In
transportation for the little they had
to carry. without tents. tools or camp
euuipage. without magazines of any
kind. half clothed. badly armed, debili-
tated by disease, disheartcned by mis-
fortune" But their leader was Il lion.
and the lion was ut last ut bay. There
was another factor which contributed
greatly to the efficiency of the army.
and that was the high quality and
overwhelming number Of the Ameri-
can officers.
Orders had been given to the bri-
gades and troops mentioned to concen-
trate at McConkey's Ferry, about nine
miles above Trenton. Another division
under Ewing was to cross mile be-
low Trenton and seize the bridge ana
fords across the Assunpnk. to check
the retreat OF the enemy and cooperate
with the main attack.
Cadwalader's Pennsylvania militia
under Gates was to cross ut Bristol OF
below Burlington and attack Won Do
mop ut that point, while Putnam, in
1,f IN n
diversion from Philadelphia. The move
ments were to be simultaneous, and
the result, it was hoped, would accord
with the effort. The main column,
and the one upon which the most de-
pendence was to be placed, was that
which Washington himself was to ac-
company, which was composed OF vet
eran COntinentals to the number or
2,4OO. with eighteen pieces of artillery,
All this was briefly explained by the
general to Seymour and the stan
while they rode slowly along the frozen
road. About 8 o'clock they arrived at
the ford, near which the troops which
had arrived before thep now stood
shivering on the high ground by the
river A few fires were burning In the
ravines back Of the banks. around
which the men took turns in warming
themselves as they munched their fru-
gal fare from the haversacks. A large
number of boats had been collected FOR
their transportation, but the river IL
self was in most unprOmising condi-
ton, full Of great chunks of ice which
the swift current kept churning and
grinding against each other.
The general surveyed the scene in 81
lence as his staff and the general OFF,
GERS gathered about him.
"There is something moving in the
river, general" suddenly said Seymour.
pointing. his Dracticed eye detecting