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


cause to sustain and the blessing OF
God to help our efforts we cannot ulti-
mately fail. though indeed il may be
better that give place 10 another man.
more able to save the country" went
on the general solemnly.
Forbid il. heaven" cried Greene
passionately. I'VE ut least in the army
know to whom has been committed
this work-aye. and who has done ii
and will do it too. We will stand by
you to the last. Could you not feel in
the cheers of those frozen men when
you landed the love they bear you?"
Yes. | know that you are with me,
and they too. 'Tis that alone thar gives
me heart. Did you publish the orders
about the capture Of the transport"
"Yes. sir. and it put new heart in the
men, | could see. ! wish we had the
supplies, the clothing especially, now.
Ii grows colder every moment"
Aye. and darker too think we
shall have Snow again before We get
through with the night. wonder how
the others down the river have got
along But who comes here:" contin-
ued the general rs two men walked
hastily up To him and saluted.
Well. SIR he said 10 the first
Message from General Ewing. sir"
Did he get across"
NO sir. The ice was 50 heavy he
bade me say lie deemed ii useless to
try it,
"One piece removed from the game,
General Greene" said Washington.
smiling bitterly. Now. your news,
SIR" 10 the other.
General Cadwalader got part Of
his men across. but the ice banks so
against the east side that not Il single
horse or piece Of artillery could be
landed. So he lslLe me say he has re-
crossed with his men. sir"
And there's the other piece gone
too. Now. what is 10 be done:
General Sullivan having crossed with
the last of his division. at this moment
rode up.
The troops are all across. general
he said.
We'll done. What time is it. some
ene?"
Half after II. sir" answered IA
voice.
Very well indeed We have now
only 10 wait for the guns. But. gentle
men. hav" just heard that Ewing
made no tempt To- cross and tlIJt
Cadwalader. having tried ii. failci.
He could get his men over. but 10
horses ana guns. on accDGat of the Ice
OH the bana. ana therefore hc returned.
and we are here alone. What thii!k
YOU u Ia be- done now
There was Il moments silence.
perhaps we would better recroSs
and try il again OH more favorable
night" finally said De Fermoy In his
broken accents.
Yes. yes: that might be WELL" said
one or two others simultaneously. The
most of them. however. said nothing.
The general waited moment. looking
about him.
"Gertlemen. il is too late 10 retreat.
| promised myself | would not return
without fight and intend 10 keep
hat promise We will carry out the
plan ourselves. rs much Of IL at least
nS we can. | trust Putnam got Griffin
OF and that his skirmishes may draw
out Won Donop. But be that as il may.
We will have II dash nj Trenton and
try 10 bag the game and get away be-
fore the enemy can fall upon us In
force. General Greene. you OF course
have sent ont pickcts?
Yes sir: the first men who crossed
over. a mile up the road. Oh the hill
yonder."
Good. Ha. what was that? Snow.
as | live. and the moons gone too.
How dark il has grown. | think you
might allow the men To light fires In
those hollows and let them move about
Il little They will freeze To death
standing still | wonder they don't
anyway. How unfortunate Is this
snow
Beg pardon. your exccllcncy." said
the first of the two messengers.
What is il. man: Speak out.
"Cap we stay here and take part I'm
your attack. sir
Certainly you may. Fall in with the
men there. Where are your horses"
we left them on the other side. SIR
"Well. they will have 10 stay there
for this time and you'll have TO 80 on
foot with the rest"
Thank you. sir" said the men ea-
gerly. darting of in the darkness.
That's proper spirit. isn't II!
Well. to your stations gentlemen! We
have nothing Ia do now but wait.
Don't allow the men to lie down or
sleep on any account
And wait they did. for four long
hours. the general sitting motionless
and silent OH his horse, wrapped III his
heavy cloak. unheeding alike the whirl-
inc snow or the cutting sleet Of the
storm. which grew iiercer every mo-
mrut He strained his eyes out into
the blackneSS of the river from time 10
time or looked anNiously at the troops.
clustered about the fires or tramping
res,lcsSly up and down in their places
To ward OF The deadly attack Of the
awful winter night. while some OF
Them sou"ht shelter behind trees ana
hillocks from the fury of the storm.
Filled with his OWN pregnant thoughts
and speaking To no one. he waited, and
no man ventlrcd to break his silence.
At half after 3Aiencral Knox. whose
resolute will and iron strength had
been exerted 10 the full AMI whose
mighty voice had been heard from time
to time above the shrek of the fierce
wind. was able to report that he had
got all the artillery over without the
loss of man. a horse or Il gun. and
was ready 10 proceed. The men were
hastily assembled. and leaving
strong detail to guard the boats. at
o'clock I'm the morning the long and
awful march to Trenton was begun.
the general and his stan. escorted by
the Philadelphia City troop In the lead.
The storm was ut its height. All hope
OF night attack and surprise had nee
eSsarily to he abandoned. still the
general pressed on. determined to
abide the issue and make the attack as
soon us he reached the enemy. 1t was
the last effort Of liberty, conceived In
desperation and born i'm the throes or