The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-09-21

Jerseys until he had crossed into Penn
sylvania, only escaping further pursuit
and certain defeat because he had had
the forethought to seize every boat up
on the Delaware and it's tributaries for
miles In every direction and bring
them with his army to the west bank
of the river, 50. that Howe was unable
to cross. The English general had
threatened, however, 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 on to Philadelphia and establish
himself in the rebel capital Making
that most serious of mistakes for q
military man Of despising his oppo-
nents, Howe had scattered his army
for convenience in quartering in va
rious small detachments along the riv-
err The small American army, supple
mented by the 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 to be a
speedy reversal OF conditions, and the
world was to learn how dangerous a
man was leading the Continental
troops. Washington, to whom a re-
treat was as hateful as it had been
necessary, had long meditated an at
70 0G vJ7hn ~,
Of success might present itself. The
necessity for q change was apparent
not merely for the material result
which would flow from victory, but
for the moral effect as we'll. The fan
cied security of the enemy, their ex-
posed positions, disconnected from
each other, and the contempt they felt
for his own troops, were large factors
IN determining him to strike then, but
another factor had still more weight,
and that was the fact that the time of
the enlistment of nearly the whole of
his own army expired with the end of
the year, and whatever was to be done
must be done quickly. He therefore
conceived the daring and brilliant de-
sign Of suddenly collecting his scat
tered forces, crossing the river and
falling upon his unsuspecting enemy
at Trenton, where a small brigade of
Hess;ans under Colonel Rail- was sta
toned.
1t would be piece of unparalleled
audaclty. 10 turn, as it were, just be-
fore the dissolution of his army and
cross a 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 at once stamped
Washington as a military genius of the
first order. And with such an army to
make such an attempt! Said one of the
officers Of the period in 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
equipage, without magazines of any
kind, half clothed, badly armed, debili-
tated by disease, disheartened by mis-
fortune" But their leader was lion,
and the lion was at last at 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 a mile be-
low Trenton and seize the bridge and
fords across the Assunpink, to check
the retreat of the enemy and cooperate
with the main attack.
CadWalader's Pennsylvania militia
under Gates was to cross at Bristol or
below burlington and attack Won Do
mop at that point, while Putnam. in
conjunction with him, was to make a
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 of
2,4OO. with eighteen pieces of artillery.
All this was briefly explained by the
general to Seymour and the staff
While they rode slowly along the frozen
road. About o'clock they arrived at
the lord, near which the troops which |
had arrived before them now stood
sh1llver1ng on the high ground by the
river: a few fires were burning in the
ravlnes back of the banks, around
which the men took turns in warming
themselves as they munched their fru-
gal rare from the haversacks. A large
number Of boats had been collected for
tne1r transportation, but the river it
SER 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 stan and the general off,
GERS gathered about him.
There is something moving &, a.