Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-14

| side Inn on me new Jersey bank OF
| the Delaware about nine miles above
Trenton. The boats previously hidden
by the Americans were collected at this
point. opposite McConkey's house. and
at dusk the soldiers began crossing.
Everybody knows. of course, that the
river was full of floating ice" but
Colonel Glover and his fishermen sol
diers from Marblehead did not mind
that. They knew how to guide boats
amid cakes of Ice. These MasSachu-
sets fishermen were placed in charge
of the boats.
The plan of Washington was TO reach
Trenton by o'clock in the morning
and catch the HesSians sleeping off
their Christmas rotations. He counted
upon getting the whole army across by
midnight. Owing to the delay caused
| by the ice and tie storm it was 3
o'clock in the morning when the last
boat load of PATRIOTS reached the Jer-
sey shore. BY 4 o'clock the force was
| formed ready for the march upon
| Trenton Colonel Henry Knox had
/
| flathoats, with horses to pull the pieces
along the road.
| General Washington crossed the riv-
err little before midnight. The in
mates of McConkey's house were astir
| practically all night, brewing big jo-
runs of hot and steamng punch, which
the cold and weary Continental officers
| zen iy, al Of 1
| that early i'm the morning hours Wash
ington himself stepped into the inn
and found some of his young officers
| inclined to loiter by the fire and in
dulge in extra potations. There was
more serious work on hand. Washing
ton, 1T is said drank just one stout
''Snifter' and ordered his officers to he
about their business. McConkey's house
still stands. and the place is known
now as Washington's Crossing.
| Washington divided his forces into
two bodies. one to march down the
river road and attack the enemy from
the west the other to enter the town
from the north The commander in
structed all his officers TO set their
watches by his. so that the attack
might be made simultaneously at every
point. 1t was o'clock when the on
emy's outposts We're encountered aud
driven in. firing from behind trees and
fences as they ran.
Colonel Rail had been up all night.
with other officers, carousing and play
ing cards at the house of Il Tory.
Though the attack was made three
hours later than had been intended
1t was still practically surprise. Rail
buckled on his sword and CALAMITY
tried to rally his demoraIized forces
but 1t was too late. Already the light
horse and 800 Hessians had taken flight
and escaped. Knox had planted his
cannon to sweep the principal streets
and the attack from all points was
furious. Colonel Rail fell mortally
wounded, and little later lie sur
rendered his sword to Washington
The American commander took nearly
n thousand prisoners. with many stand;
of arms, cannon and other equipment
The victory was complete. Cornwallis
deferred his trip TO England. remain
ing here to surrender to Washington a
Yorktown five years later.
The next day Washington's army re
crossed the river. taking the HessiaI
prisoners to Newtown. On the Doth
his forces having been increased by tn
arrival of other troops, lie made TIN
passage of the Delaware Cor the fourtl
g time in month, reoccupying Trenton
2 until forced to retire to Princeton b.
e the maneuvers of CORVALLIS. In cross
$ ing ard recrossing the river and fight
. ing the battle of Trenton Washington
D lost only seven men. Two were killed
J four were wounded and one frozen t
Z death.
i The famous picture "Washingto1
n Crossing the Delaware" was painted i
q 1851 by Emanuel LeutZe. who wa
g born in Wurtteml erg in 1916 and die
s ut Washington in 1868. having settla
e permanently in America. Leutze pain
: ed several other American. historica