Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-11

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Sold s~varywbsrs In boxes Toe. 25c.
among the coterle Of general officers,
the men in the ranks being eager for
battle, vel though the odds were
strong against US. There was no de-
lay, no hitch in the promptness of ad-
vance. The department of the Quar-
termaster-General had every plan
worked out In detail, and, within two
days, the entire army had crossed the
river, and pushed forward to within a
few miles Of Trenton. Morgan, with
six hundred men, was hurried forward
to the reinforcement of Maxwell, and,
relieved from my duties at the ferry,
l was permitted to join hIs column.
l know not when, during all my
army life, l was moro deeply i'm
pressed with the awful solemnity of
war, than as l watched these ~volun-
teer soldiers land on the Jersey shore,
and tramp away through the dust. In
those ranks were sick and wounded
scarcely able to keep up; occasionally
one would crawl aside but the moment
he was able would Join some new body,
and resume tho march.
They were animated By a stern pur-
pose which yielded power. Such as
these were not to be trihed with. 9th
ers might scof at their ragsedness OF
line, their carelessness of discipline,
their nondescript garments, and vari-
ETY. OF equipment, but to one who had
een such In battle-who had been
with them at Trenton, Brandywine,
and Germantown-tbey yer warriors
not to be despised. stern, grim fight
ers. able to hold their own against
England's best drilled battslions. I
watched them hhe past-Wayne's, Var
NUNS, Scott's brisades. and Jackson's
and Grayson's Notwithstanding
tho brown, dust-caksd faces, tho eager
eyes, the sturdy. t~ireless tread, the
well oiled musksts. Boys, men. gray
boards, all alike exhibited In their
faces the same expression. They were
anticipating battle against q hated foe,
and counted hardship as nothing COM
pared with the JOY Of conflict. Every
step brought theft closer to the
grappls Of arms-to that supreme test
Of strength, courage, endurance, for
which they had left their homes. They
might be poorly drilled, addressed.
variously armed. yet these were fight
ing men.
1t was midnight when Morgan led us
up the steep bluff, and out upon the
sandy road. We advanced silently.
and in struggling column through the
camp fires for several miles. the re-
cumbent soldiery OF other commands
sleeping on the ground. At Hopewell,
Washington was holding another coun-
ell with his officers. AS we swung
past We could perceive his tall figure
| standing In the glow of a fire, and
there arose from the lips of our men
a sudden, Involuntary cheer, breaking
strangely upon the solemn sllepoe Of
the night. The group about him were
startled and looked about, and he
paused a momen shading his eyes.
What troops are these?" he asked.
his voice cutting across the distance.
A hundred answered him:
"Morgan's riHemen!"
Good, my lads!" and even at that
distance / could see his face brighten.
There will be work for you at dawn"
With a rolling cheer. echolng down
our ranks from front to rear, we an
swered, swinging the guns over our
heads, as we swept forward into the
dark night. There might be discus
sion, dissension about that council fire,
but there was none IN the hearts Of
those who were going u to die. AL
ready rumors were flying about re-
aarding Lees un~willingness to engage
in battle. | saw him as / trudged
past, standing beside Wayne, the fire
light on his face, although his head
was bowed. Even to our cheers he
once glanced up, and, as we
passed beyond the radius Of light, |
laid my hand upon the name OF Nor
gan's horse.
Us 1t true that Charles Lee thinks
We should let Clinton go without fight
ing?" l asked soberly. That was ru-
mored at the ferry"
otis enough" he answered, his
eyes upon the dark column Of plod-
ding men. And he seems to have
others with him. l know not what has
put the coward into the fellows of
late. Saint Andrew! the odds are no
greater than We have met before. But
therell be no lighting, lad, l fear, IN
less Washington takes the bit in his
teeth and orders It. I'm glad the boys
cheered him; twill give the mar new
heart"
you favor the joining Of issue7"
why not? Were we ever in better
fettle? A retreating army Is always
half whipped, and we can choose our
ground. Why, lad, it's reported Clin-
toms line stretches out full twelve
miles, with train of baggage wagons
and battery horses, and camp follow
era appuOh For n diUfoipp Twill he