The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-07-11

PAtt cNAit OHt W
ward Princeton they had surprised a
British outpost composed of a sergeant
and twelve dragons. The sergeant
escaped, but the twelve dragons. pam
ic stricken. were captured after q short
resistance. and Reed and his gallant
young cavaliers returned in triumph to
headquarters. Valuable Information
was gained from this party. Cornwall
lis had joined Grant at Princeton and.
with seven OF eight thousand men. was
assembling wagons and transportation.
preparing for a dash IN Trenton. Con-
firmation of this not unexpected news
came by a student from the college
who had escaped to Cadwalader ana
been sent up TO General Washington.
The situation of Washington was now
critical. but he took prompt measures
to relieve it. Cadwalader from the
C~rosswicks and Mi.lin from Borden
town. with 5000 men. were ordered
forward at es:ee. They promptly obeyed
orders and by another desperate night
march reached Trenton on the morn
ing of the first day of the year.
There was heavy skirmisuing all day
on the I'd. CORVALLIS. advancing
in hot haste from %ES.inceton with 5000
men. was checked. and lost precious
time by q hot rifle fire from the wood
on the banks of the Shabbakong creek.
near the road he followed in his adj
n The skirmisl,ers under Greene.
seconded by Hand. after doing gallant
nux.t. and onxvnYsnn flsnntCnix-nc with
glory by delaying the advance for sew
eral hours. giving Washington ample
time TO withdraw his army across the
Assunpink and post II in n strong de-
fensive position. had retired In good
order beyond the American line. In
the skirmish Lieutenant Won Grothau-
sen. he who had galloped away with
the dragons ut Trenton and had been
under suspicion Of cowardice eyer
since. had somewhat redeemed his
reputation in that he had boldly rid
den down upon the riGemen and had
been killed. 1t was late in the even
Ing when the advance parties crossed
the bridge over the creek and sought
safety behind the lines. I~ndefatigable
General Knox had concentrated thirty
pieces of cannon at the bridge-"A
very pretty battery" he called it.
1t was dusk when the eager Ameri-
cans saw the head Of the British army
coming through the streets. They re-
manned silent while the enemy formed
and advanced to attack the bridge ard
the fords in heavy columns at the
same time. The men came on in q
solid mass for the bridge head. cheer
ing CALAMITY. They were met by
knox's artillery and a steady fire from
the rifiemen. Three times they crashed
on that bridge like a mighty wave.
and three times like a way broken
they fell back before an awful storm
of fire. General Washington himself.
sitting on his white horse, gave the or
ders at the bridge, and the brave enemy
we< repulsed. The position was too
strong to be taken by direct assault
without great loss: besides. ii was not
vital after also reasoned CORVALLIS.
Tie British soldiery were weary. they
had marched all day at a hot pace ANA
were exhausted. They had not lived in
q chronic state Of exhaustion for so
long that they never gave it a thought;
they were not used to it as were the
Continentals. and when the British
were tired they had to rest. They
would be In better spirit on the mo
row..
The creek was fordable in a dozen
places. but CORVALLIS resisted the i'm
%portunities of some of his officers, who
wished to ford it and attack ut oice
He sent urgent messengers off to
Princeton to bring up the 1000 men
left there with Won Lonop and TO bur-
ry up Leslie with the rear guard. six
miles away. When they arrived they
could turn the right flank of the Amer
leans. and ii would be all up with
them then. He thought he had Wash
ington at such a disadvantage that he
could not escape. though the small adj
vantage of position might enable him
to make a desperate resistance even
with his inferior forces.
I'VE will wait" he said to Erskine.
s'until Won Donop IN up. and Les
lie, and then Wen bag the old fox in
the morning!"
So, after brisk firing on both sides
until night closed down. the camptires
were lighted ON both sides of the creek.
and the British officer went to sleep.
calmly confident that he had held the
winning cards and all that was neccs-
sary was that the hand should be
played out In the morning TO enable
him to take the game again. He did
indeed hold the higher cards, but the
'old fox showed himself the better
player.
On the other side of the creek. in the
house of good Mistress Dagworthy.
anxious hearts were debating. Gen
eral Washington had summoned a
council of war; which expressed the
usual diversity of opinion on all sub
jects except an unwillingness to fight,
upon which. like every other council
Of war. Ii was agreed. Indeed the
odds were fearful-l0.000 seasoned.