The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-10-01
(Continued from the other side,

cents, ''Peter can't tell, Peter can
tell" To every importantly came tn
UNMARRIED refrain: Peter can't tell
So often and persistently was thi
repeated that the little fellow becam,
known as Peter Can't Tell" No par
ents or relatives ever appearing h,
was adopted by a kind hearted farmer
of the vicinity. He grew to manhood
married and reared numerous fam
lily, but the name Peter Can'tell which
in the flight of the years found 8
change in spelling and became Pet.
er Cattel,' still chung to him and is
probably the origin of the name of 8
numerous family often met with in
MARTIAL HISTORY.
Interesting as we find this old Co.
lonial history of the Bowman Hill re-
gion, it's martial history is still more
enhancing. Where we look over this
quiet, peaceful landscape with its
green pastures, its waving grain and
its sunkissed forests, we can scarcely
imagine thae it was ever disturbed
bv wars alarms. But it was in this
very vicinity that the stage was set
and the curtain rung up on one of the
most intensely dramatic and import
ant military campaigns ever essayed
by American arms.
bara IN tho hn f1oUad
ground upon which We stand today
that American manhood drank in an
inspiration that carried it to higher
heights Of valor than It ever reached
before o. since.
On August 81, 1776, Washington
fought the disasterous battle of Long
Island where he lost 600 in killed and
wounded, and 1000 prisoners. On the
18th. of November he was obliged to
surrender Fort Washington with $500
men and 80 cannon.
In twelve weeks he lost $500 men,
so per cent of his entire army. New
York was abandoned to its fate, and
Philadelphia was the only remaining
stronghold of American patriotism
1t is said, and truly said, that nothing
succeeds like success. 1t is quite as
true that there is nothing so blightine
and so damning as failure. While
Washington with his hungry, ragged
shivering band of dispirited patriots
was being driven across New JERSEY
by General Howe and his 10000 splen
did troops the flower of England ant
Hesse- we'll fed and warmly clad ant
arrogant, the gray skies of Decembe1
never looked more cherries than wa
the prospect of American liberty. Tor
les multiplied in numbers and doublet
in activity. Expirations of terms o
service and daily assertions rapid.
decimated the patriot ranks. On tn
8th. of December the army crosse,
the Delaware, and on the 9th. en-
camped between Bowman's Hill an,
the river, only few steps from thi
spot. The site was chosen because o
it's sheltered position and its comman
of the river. The general officers too
up their quarters further back iron
the river, in order to be more fre
surprise, and to be nearer their bas
at Newtown. General Washington
was quartered at the Keith house o.
Knowles creek, south of Jerico noun
tain. General Greene was at the Mer
rick farmhouse only few rods away
near the Eagle. General Knox an,
Captain Alexander Hamilton were a
the DIR. Chapman house, north of Jeri
co. Captain VIM. Washington, Captain
James Moore and Lieutenant Jame
Monroe were at the Thomson hous
near the hill. Generals Lord Stirling
and DeFermoy were sent to defenc
Coryell's Ferry. The two generals haC
their headquarters in the old hip-roo
house, known as the "old FORT" Will
their army was encamped in the fielc
othe northward.
THE SURPRISE PLANNED.
On December 10th. General Wash
ington, with Generals Greene an,
Sullivan rode up to Coryell's Ferr!
and with their horses tied under tn
''old chestnut tree, surprise on tn,
Hessian army at Trenton was frs
talked about. Thus this venerable tire,
became famous as marking the spo
where this glorious campaign had it
inception. Later second council was
called to meet at the Keith house
where the plan was further developed
and perfected.
On December oath. General Wash.
ington rode over to the Merrick place
the quarters of General Greene, anc
took supper with him. After SUPPER
General Greene asked the family tc
retire to neighbours. Then came the
other generals, and one of the mos
important councils of war was held
Every detail of the stern task of the
next two days was gone over and ev
cry man knew his duty.
PATRIOTS SHELTERED SOLDIERS
Many of the old farm houses fol
miles around have their traditions
of having sheltered a part of Wash
ington's army. People are won't tt
smile in incredulity when this i:
mentioned. We need to remember tina