Morris tribune., 1905-04-08

part ol Won DOnOp S leaQlng brigade.
en- route for Trenton to assist Corn
wallis in bagging the "old fox' ac-
cording to orders-the Seventeenth
regiment under Colonel MANHOOD
MERGERS troops being screened by the
wood, their character was not visible
to MANHOOD, who conjectured that
they must be body Of fugitives from
the front. Under this impression, and
never dreaming of the true situation.
MANHOOD promptly deployed his regi-
ment and moved off to the left to inter
cept Mercer, at the same time dis
patching messengers to bring up the
other two regiments, the Fortieth and
Fifty-ffth, which had not yet left
Princeton. Both parties rushed for a
little rising ground on the edge of a
cleared field, near the house Of a peace
full Quaker named Clark. The Ameri-
cans were nearer the goal than their
opponents and reached it first. Hastily
deploying his column, Mercer sought
shelter behind a hedge fence which
crowned the eminence and immediate
| ~ opened up destructive fire from
J his rifemen, which temporarily check
| ed the advancing enemy. The British,
excellently led, returned the fire with
| great spirit and with such good effect
| that, after a few yolleys, MERGERS horse
was wounded in the leg and his rider
thrown violently to the ground, Tai
bots was killed under him and several
Of the officers and men fell-among
them the brave Colonel Haslet, who
was mortally wounded.
In the confusion thus unfortunately
caused the Americans could hear sharp
commands of the English officers, then
the rafting of steel on the gun bar
rels, and the next moment the red
coated men broke out of the smoke
and, unchecked by a scattering fire
from the Americans, CALAMITY rushed
up at them with fixed bayonets. There
were unfortunately no bayonets in this
small brigade of the Continental ar
my. A few of the men dubbed their
muskets resolutely as the two lines
met and made stout resistance but
the oncoming British would not be de-
MED, and as the charge was pressed
home the Americans Wavered, broke
and fell back in some disorder before
the vigorous onslaught Of the veteran
troops. Mercer, filled with shame,
strove in vain to rally his men. Dis
daining himself to retreat, and CALAMITY
calling upon them to advance, he threw
himself upon the advancing British |
line, sword in hand, followed by his |
officers, and for a brief space there !
was an exciting melee on the hill A |
blow from the butt end of musket |
felled the general to the ground Tai
bot sprang to his side and swept the |
bayonet away from his heart by blow |
of his sword delivered with a quick |
movement of his powerful arm Mer- /
Ger profted by the moments respite to
leap to his feet.
''Thank you, my lad!' he said.
"Do you get to the rear and rally the |
men, general!' cried Talbot, firing a
pistol at short range into the midst of
the crowding enemy. "I'll hold these
men in play" But the fighting blood
Of the old Scotchman was up, and for
answer he struck boldly at the man +
opposite him.
Surrender. you cursed rebels!' cried
an officer near them.
"Neverr' replied Mercer, cutting
down the man with whom he was en-
gagged, while Talbot did the like to the
one next him. With a roar of rage the
British sprang on the two men. In a
trice one Of the bayonets got past
MERGERS guard and grazed his arm;
another buried itself in his bosom; a
third struck him in the breast The
old man struck out weakly, dropped
his sword and fell, pierced by dozen
wounds, but still breathing. Talbot,
who was as yet unframed, though COW
cred with blood and dust, his hat gone,
stepped across his body.
He might have retreated being
young and active, but that was not
the custom of his family; neither
would he abandon the body of his
brave commander. Besides, every mo-
ment Of delay was precious. Surely
they would be REINFORCED and rallied
He knew the pr0mptness Of Washing
ton too we'll to doubt it for q moment,
and, last of all, what was life without
Kate? One glance he cast to the bright
sky, flushed with the first rays of the
Using sun. and then he stood on guard
The young mans eyes were burning
with the intoxication Of the fight and
lis soul filed with great resolve, but
lis sword play was as cool and as
'apid as it had been in the Sale des
Armes at Paris, where few could be
'ound to master him. The little group
# British paused moment in admira-
ion Of his courage.
Gone at time, gentlemen" he cried, s
miling, and warding off vicious
,ayonet thrust. SIS there none here c
Who will cross swords with me for the {
lonor of his fag|' /
The young lieutenant in command Of L
lat part of the line promptly sprang ;,
onward and engaged The two blades 8,
ing fiercely together and grated along h
lch other a moment later. The men :,