The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-06-20
InstaHment Is

rsed TO take the oath OF hileBiance
upon Howes offer OF pardon: and tho
British commanders deemed the rebel
lion at an end.
They did noe understand the man
they were fightIng
When he had put the broad Della
ware between his dwindliDg regiments
and the British at his heels. he stop
ped. undaunted. to collect force and
give hIs opponents taste Of his
quality Such an exigency only stir.
fened his temper and aided a touch
OF darIsg 70 his spirit.
Lees Fiasco and Capture.
Charles Lee. his second In command,
hoping 90 make tome stroke for him
self upon tho Hudson. had withheld
full half the army In q safe post upon
the river. in direct disobedience to
ordera, while the british drove Wash
ington southwark through New Jer-
ssy; but Lee was now happily in the
hand Of the enemy. taken at an un-
guarded tavern where he lodged, and
most OF the troops he had withdrawn
found their way at last to Washing
ton beyond the Delaware
Desperate efforts at recruiting we're
made. Washington strained his au-
thority TO the utmost to keep and
equip his force. and excused himself
20 congress very nObly "a charac-
ter TO lose." he said. Fan estate to for
felt, the inestimable blessing OF lib
ertg az stake. and life devoted must
be my excuse"
What he planned and did won him
character with his foes.
Befora the year was out he had
collected ak thousand men. aud was
ready TO strike a blow at tho weak,
extended line Iiessian mercenarlea
toi the most part---whleh Howe had
left to hold the Delaware.
ON Christmas day Washington
made his advance. and ordered a
crossing to be made In three divisions.
under cover Of the night. Only his
own division, twenty-five hundred
strong. effected the passage.
Twas ten hours perilous work to
cross the stormswept river IN the
pItchy darkness. amidst tho hazards
of floating ice. but not man or a gun
was lost. There was nine miles
march through driving snow and sleet
after the landing before Trenton could
be reached, tho point of attack. and
Two men were frozen to death as they
wont.
WashlnGton's Famous Order.
General sullivan sent word that the
Gums we're wet; "rell him to use
he bayonet," said Washington. "for
the town must be taken"
And II was taken->-in tho early
morning. at the point OF the bayonet.
with a loss OF but two or three men
The surprise was complete.
Colonel Rahl. the commander OF the
place. was mortally wounded at the
first onset. and nine hundred Hessians
surrendered at discretion.
When no had gotten his prisoners
safe on the south side OF the river
Washington once more advanced "a
occupy the town
Plays q Perlious Game.
II was porilous place TO be, nc
doubt, with the great unabridged
stream behind him; but the enemy's
tine was everywhere broken. now that
It's center had been taken; had
been withdrawn from the river n
haste. abandoning It's cannon even and
It's baggage at Burlington; and Wash
ington calmly dared TO play the gam,
he had planned
II was not Howe who came TO meel
him. but the gallant CORVALLIS. nj
mean adversary, bringing eight thou
sand men. Washington let him com,
ali the way to Delaware without him
self stirring. except to put small
tributary stream between his men ant
the advancing columns; aud the con
fldent Englishman went TO bed tha
night exclaiming. "At last we hav'
run down the old fox. and wen bal
him IN the morning"
The Fox Escapes.
Then. while a small force kept th'
camp-tlres burning and worked aud
IDLY at the ramparts the cold nigh
through. the fnx was up and away.
lie put the whole OF his force upol
the road TO Princeton and New Bruins
wick. where he knew CORVALLIS
stores must be.
As the mornings light broadenc'
into day January 3. ITO he met tn
british detachment at Princeton In tn
way. and drove II back In a DECISIVE
rout. a keen aSdor coming into hi
blood as he saw the sharp work done
"An old-fashioned Virginia fox-huni
gentlemen" he exclaimed. shoutinl
the view hailoo. Had his troops bee
fresh and properly shod to outstri
CORVALLIS at their heels. he woul
have pressed on TO New Brunswic
and taken the stores there; but
had done all that could be done wit
dispatch. and withdrew straight {
the heights OF Morristown.
The Patriots Winners.
CORVALLIS could only nasten bac
70 New York BY the end OF the mont
the Americans we're everywhere afoo
me pritigh held no posts In Hew &c