Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-04-01

kets useless by Wetting the printing
and powder. He wishes TO know what
is to be done, sir
Return instantly and tell him he
must use the bayonet. When he hears
the firing he is to advance and charge
Immediately. The town must be tax
en-, and l intend to take it,
Every good, SIR" said the young
man, saluting.
''Can you get through the snow in
time?"
eyes, sir" he replied promptly. 81
can get through anything if your ex-
cellency will give the order"
The general smiled approvingly. It
was evident that young mans first les
son had been a good one. His empha-
sis, he was glad to see, had not been
misapplied.
When Martin rejoined Sulliyan's col
umn, which had been halted at the
crossroads, the men who had witnessed
his departure were eagerly waiting
ais reply they began slipping the bayo-
nets over the muzzles of their guns
without orders. So eager were they to
advance that Sullivan had difficulty in
restraining them until the signal was
given. Such were their temper and
spirit that in the excitement Of the mo-
ment they rocked little of the freez-
ing cold and the hardships of their ter
rible march The retreating army was
at last on the offensive. They were
about to attack now, and no attack is
so dangerous as that delivered by men
from whom the compelling necessity
of retreat has been suddenly removed.
1t was about 8 o'clock in the morn
ing when they came in sight Of the
town. The village Of Trenton then con-
tanned about 100 houses, mostly frame,
scattered along both sides Of two long
streets and chiefly located on the west
bank of the Assunpink, which here
bent sharply to the north before it
flowed into the Delaware. The Assam
pink was fordable in places at low wa
ter, but it was spanned by a substan-
tial stone bridge, which gave on the
road followed by Sullivan, at the west
end of the village. Washington came
down from the north and entered the
village from the other side. About half
a mile from the edge Of the town the
column led by him came abreast of an
old man chopping wood in a farmyard |
by the roadside
(which is the way to the Hessian
pickett" said the general.
L don't know replied the man sui |
lenly.
You may tell" said Captain Forest,
riding near the general at the head Of
his battery, ''for this is General Wash
ington."
The mans expression altered at once.
God bless and prosper you!" he
cried eagerly, raising his hands to
heaven. There! The picket is in that |
house yonder, and the sentry stands
near that tree"
The intense cold and heavy snow had |
driven the twenty-five men who com
posed the advance picket to shelter,
and they were huddled together in one
Of the rude huts which served as a
The snow deadened the
sound of the American advance, and
the careless sentry did not perceive
them No warning was given until the
lieutenant in command Of the guard
stepped out of the house by chance
and gave the alarm in great surprise.
The picket rushed out, and the men
lined up in the road in front OF the
.olumn, the thick snow preventing
them from forming correct idea of
he approaching force. The advance
uard of the Continentals, led by Cap
ain William A. Washington and Lieu
enant James Monroe, instantly swept
own upon them. After scattered
olley, which hurt no one, they fed
recipfately back toward the village,
wing the alarm and rallying on the
lain guard, posted nearer the center
E the town, which had been speedily
rawn up, to the number of seventy
We men. Meanwhile Sullivan's men,