The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-10-05

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67SSfES3 ed the village of Sandtown,
80 where it turned to the north
west again, and it was not until that
point was reached that the surprised
soldiers realized the daring nature of
the maneuver and the character Of
that night march, which they had at
first considered another hopeless re-
treat 1t was astonishing, then, with
what spirit and zeal the soldiers
tramped silently over the frozen roads;
the raw, green militia We'd with the
veterans in the fortitude with which
they sustained the dreadful fatigue Of
the severe march. The long distance
to be traversed on account of the de-
tour to be made rendered it necessary
that the men be moved at the highest
possible speed. The road itself being
new one, lately cleared, the stumps
and roots of trees not yet grubbed up,
made it difficult to transport the artil-
lery and the wagons; but the tired
men cheerfully assisted the tired
horses and the little army made great
progress. The morning of Friday,
Jan. 5, dawned clear and cold, with
the ground covered with boar frost.
About sunrise the army, with Wash
ington again in the lead, reached the
bridge over Stony brook about three
miles from the village of Princeton.
Leading the main body across the
bridge they struck off from the main
highway through byroad which was
concealed by grove Of trees in the
lower ground and afforded short cut
to the town. .
General Mercer was an old friend
and comrade Of the commander in
chief; he had been a companion of
Prince Charles Edward in his romantic
invasion of England in '45, member
of Braddock's unfortunate expedition,
and wounded when that generals army
was annihilated, and some time CON-
mander Of Fort Duquesne after it's
capture by General Forbes. He was
detailed, with small advance party
comprising the remnants Of Small
woods Marylanders, Haslets Della
wareans and Flemings Virginians and
Il small body Of young men from the
first families of Philadelphia, to the
total number of 300, to continue up
the road along the brook until he
reached the main road, where he was
to try and hold the bridge in order to
intercept fugitives from Princeton, or
check any retrograde movements Of
the troops which might have advanced
toward Trenton. The little band had
proceeded but short distance on their
way when they unexpectedly came in
sight of a column Of the enemy.
1t was the advance Of the British,
part of Won Donop's leading brigade,
en- route for Trenton to assist Corn
wallis in bagging the "old foy" ac-
cording to orders-the Seventeenth
regiment, under Colonel Mawhood.
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 q
little rising ground on the edge of a
cleared field, near the house of peace
full Quaker named Clark. The Ameri-
cans were nearer the goal than their
opponents and reached it first. Hastily
deploying Lis column, Mercer sought
shelter behind hedge fence which
crowned the eminence and immediate
~ opened up destructive fire from
his rlhemen, 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 volleys, 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 MORALLY wounded.
In the confusion thus unfortunately
caused the Americans could hear sharp
SOAA1AA'AAIao W LAS AuSlASu LUou
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 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, filed 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 brief space there