Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-10-06
For Love of
Country
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.
Ambor Of The Grip Of Honor" The
Soufherners," ~Sir Henry Morran,
Buecsneer," "A Doctor Of
Philosophy" Etc.
Copyright. 1898, bu Charles Sertbner's Son


town. st. Glars brigade held the
bridge. The regiment Won Knyphausen
lost a few precious endeavor-
ing TO extricate its guns, which had
become mired in the morass near the
bridge, and then charged upon st. Clair.
But ii was too late. Won Dechow was
seriously wounded. and when the regi-
ment saw itself taken in the flank by
Sargeant's brigade il retired in disor-
the fords.
At this juncture Rail reformed his
scattered troops in the apple orchard.
He seems to have had an idea of re-
treating toward Princeton at first, with
the two regiments still under his com
mand. At any rate he also lost pre-
cious moments by hesitation. 1t was
even then too late to effect a success.
full retreat, for Washington. foreseelng
the possibility, had promptly sent
Hands Pennsylvania Iitemen along
the Pennington road back of the town
to check any move in that direction.
As fast as the other brigades OF
Greene's column came up they We're
sem down through the streets of the
town, until Stirling. in the lead, Joined
Sullivan's men. Rahl's brigade was
practically surrounded, though he did
not know it. The commander com
pletely lost his head, though he was q
courageous man, brave to rashness, and
a veteran soldier who had hitherto dis.
tinguished himself in this and many
other wars. The town was full OF
plumber gathered by the troops, the
Hessians having been looting the coun
try for weeks, and he could not aban
don it without a struggle. The idea OF
flying from a band of ragged rebels
whom he had secuted was intolera-
BILE. He had been, he now felt, more
han culpable in neglecting many warn
ings of attack and had %lamentably fail
ed in his duty as a soldier In refrain
ing from taking the commonest pre-
cautions against surprise. He had re-
fused to heed the Urgent representa-.
tons of Von Dechow and other of his
high officers. Now his honor was at
stake; so he rashly made up his mind
to charge.
I'VE will retake the town. All who
are my grenadiers, forward! he cried
%intrepidly.
The men. with fixed ~bayonets, ad.
vanced bravely, and he led them gal
lantly forward, sword In hand. The
Americans fired a volley. Forests bat
terry, which enfladed them, poured In
q deadly fire. Rail- In the advance.
upon his horse, received a fatal wound
and fell to the ground. The Cont
nentals, cheering madly, charged for
ward with fixed bayOnets. The Hes
SLAMS stopped. hesitated, wavered.
Their chief was gone. The battle was
lost. They broke and fed! Disregard
ing the commands and appeals Of their
officers. they turned quickly to the
right and ran OF into the face Of
Hands riiemen, who received them
with another volley. Many Of them
fell. A body Of Virginia troops. led by
Talbot. nOw gained their left faux. the
Philadelphia city troop encircled their
rear. The helpless men stopped, com
pletely b~ewildered, huddled together In
q confused mass. Washington, seeing
imperfectly and thinking they were
forming again. ordered the guns from
Forests battery. which had been load
ed with canister, to be discharged upon
them at once.
"Sir, they have struck cried Sey-
mour the keen eyed, preventing the
men from firing.
Struck cried the general in sur
prise.
Eyes, sir. Their colors are down."
$50 they are" said Washington.
clasping his hands and raising his eyes
to heaven. Then. putting spurs to his
horse. he galloped over toward the
men. The firing had ceased in every
direction, and the day was his own.
The three regiments were surrenderhg
at discretion, two to him and the other
to Lord Stirling. AS Major Wilkinson
galloped up from the lower division
for instructions Colonel Rail, pale and
bleeding and supported by two ser
geants, presented his sword. which
Washington courteously declined to re-
SCifCs ihC SChCidi thCh kuNC OIucTS
that every care and assistance should
be afforded the unfortunate soldier,
who died the next day In a room in
Potts tavern.
This Is indeed a glorious day for our
country" said the general to Seymour.
1t was, In fact, the turning point In
the history Of the nation. The captives
numbered nearly 1000 men. with 100
stand Of arms. six ~fieldpleces. twelve
drums and four colors, including the
gorgeous banner Of the Anspachers,
the Won Lossburg regiment.
or the Continentals only two were
killed and four wounded, while up
ward Of a hundred Of the Hessians
were killed and wounded, among the
killed being Rail- and Won Dechow. the
FIRST and second In command. The
whole Of this brilliant affair scarcely
occupied an hour.
AS none of the other divisions had
got across, It was scarcely safe for
Washington to remain on the east side
Of the river in the presence Of the
vastly superior forces Of the enemy,
which would be concentrated upon him