Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-07-26
A CHRISTMAS BATTLE NIGHT.
Major s H. NJ Byers of Des Moines Before the
Sons of the American Revolution April 49, 1906

later and nobler New Highlander in "Evange-
line
However, greater in its results than this
French war in America has seldom been waged
anywhere. 1t made America Engish-not French.
1t laid the foundations of a great Empire in
the East, and finally set the head of Eng
lands best sovereign the crown of Empress of
India with two hundred millions of subjects. Let
us skip on to 1916. The battle of Lexington has
occurred. Bunker Hill has been fought; the Bos.
ton tea party is over; and Washingtons
troops have lost the battle of Long island. More
than this: Fort Washington the Hudson has
been stormed and taken; Fort Lee has been aban-
doned Still more: Washington himself was with
his little bare footed army being driven through
the Jerseys TWAS sorry beginning for liberty
in America Not single important battle had
been won 1t was q hundred miles to n place OF
safety beyond the Delaware river in Pennsyl-
vania. There were four rivers to cross, and all
the land was full of tories. No man knew whom to
trust in all the Jerseys. The tories among the
farmers and along the route of retreat were al
most as dangerous to Washington as CORVALLIS
with his 5000 Hessians following at his heels.
After three weeks chase with his barefooted
"rapscallions, as they were called by the red
coats pursuing them, the little column, only 1900
strong, at last got across the Delaware into an
other state. 1t had been like chase of well-fed
and fleet hounds after famshed and impng
wolf. When Washington stopped and looked
back over the river that had saved him from de-
struction he saw nothing but gloom and storm.
In front everything was dark and lowering The
country paralyzed; congress was incompetent;
half the people were disloyal.
There was little bread and pay for the sold
iers Hundreds deserving daily. The time
of all was nearly up, and in few weeks, days
ha no ahopl md oil
moment there by the Delaware he the only
public man who had complete confidence in the
final outcome of the Many doubted; a few
dared The immortal Declaration of Independ-
ence had been adopted by majority of only
vote of the thirteen states; six states hung back
| and doubted Only once even Washington's
strong heart too, for moment halted.
II think the game is pretty nearly up" he
| wrote. He must have wondered what would hap
pen to him were it up entirely. Still, if worst
comes to worst he proposed fleeing to the mount
aims of Virginia and conducting predatory
fare from their fortresses. His appearance was
now 'pensive and solemn in the extreme" said
one who sat at table with him. No wonder, for
he had much to lose: character, fortune, country,
perhaps life. The situation of every loyal man
in America most critical. 1t was indeed the
critical moment of the Revolutionary The
| situation might have been better, had one man
been loyal to his commander. That man was
General Lee who, instead of rushing to the front
with his army of re-enforcements ordered, day
after day hung as far away as possible. He pre-
! ferred lounging in the neighhorhood OF the Hud-
son fighting with Washington in the Jerseys.
But in the midst of all these trials surrounded
| with nothing but gloom, George Washington's
mind was bent on wrenching victory out of dis
aster, and on planting freedom where it should
grow forever. He knew one thing, the sympathy
of liberty loving people the world over with
him.
| He looked about him for a spot where single
blow might count as a hundred. CORVALLIS help
ed him to what he wanted. That general had
stopped his pursuit of Washington at the Della
ware river. Washington had made it impossible
for him to follow across into Pennsylvania by
securing all the boats of every description for
miles up and down the stream. 81 have chased
them out of the Jerseys, anyway" said Lord
CORVALLIS to himself. 'They are used up and
harmless lot of ragamuffiins"
i Thinking thus, his lordship put his army in
environments along the Jersey side of the river,
built huts, and settled down for the winter with
view of capturing Philadelphia.
! Washington solemn-looking and gloomy as he
| seemed, saw his chance 1t was to suddenly cross
back over the Delaware on some dark night and
destroy one OR more of the enemy's isolated de-
tachments. The largest of these was snugly rest
ing in the town of Trenton. not a dozen miles a
/ way. The force consisted almost wholly OF hired
Hessians. His plans were secretly, quickly made
i ''For Heavens sake, keep this to yourself" he
wrote to an officer in Philadelphia who was to
cooperate with him, "as the discovery OF it may
4 prove fatal to My men are to be provided
with three days cooked rations; with which and
their blankets they are to march, for, If we are
successful, which Heaven grant, wemay push on"
He selected Christmas, believing the Hessians
would be disspating on that day, and of their
guard. Gates, who had been asked to join Wash
ington in the daring enterprise, slipped of to
Philadelphia on almost the very day the move
ment ready. He was there to intrigue with
congress against his commander. Lee had trihed
and dwadled along in East Jersey till one morning
he was captured by some British scouts 1t ended
his career. His shoeess column came on, those
+ who had not deserted to their homes on the way,
and we're to help Washington in his attack.
, Washington had but 2400 men to dash over the
| river with him. A few hundred other troops
were to cross at other points above and below
: simultaneously and march on other British camps
scattered along the river. These columns failed
, to get over the weather was too bad, the Ice
: floating too thicky
d Washington's little column went down to the
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