The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-09

Continued from First Page)
trudged through storm and torrent;
but from here. in the hour OF VIC
tory, went out winged messengers
TO let all men know that liberty was
safe in the keeping of ner sons.
Roads of Despair.
Point me the field of strife, to
which have converged more roads
that led through encouragement,
calamity, and all justification for
despair: and point me, next, that
field from whence radiated so many
highways of the buoyant heart, the
confident hope, the indomitable pur-
pose, the Will to win: take down
the tones, thumb all the blacklist,
all the fairest pages, and tell ME
where you read of nobler, finer
ave. or more fruitful-sacrifices of
men for their fellows:
Here, among you to whom the
traditions of those events are a sa-
cred trust, is no place for recount
ing the encouragement of the pa
triot cause, the low ebb of CONT
mental fortunes, the seeming that
final disaster could not long be de-
layed. Almost from the day, in the
preceding summer, when the great
declaration had been issued, m1sfor-
tune had followed on misfortune's
heel-Long Island, the loss of New
York, the surrender of the Hudson
forts, the retreat across New Jer-
sey, the refuge in Pennsylvania. 1t
was all leading toward the seem
ingly inevitable end. The army
was crumbling, only civil authority
pretended to maintain any central
organization. The enemy delayed
to finish his task. only because be
was so certain of his quarry that
haste would be unseemly.
WashingtOn's Defiance.
And then the flash of Washing
tons defiance The crossing of the
Delaware in storm and ice foes;
the march, and the delays which
made it impossible to effect a night
( attack and a complete surprise;
Washington's stern and fateful de-
cision to press on and stake every
thing on the issue; finally, the at
tack, and the victory.
Brilliant as was the accomplish
ment, Washington, on the Jersey
side was faced presently by the su-
perior strength of the now CONSOLE
dated British forces. At last his
rival was sure of 1.-The old fox"
Then came the strategic withdrawal
by Washington, at night, in secret,
from his line on the Assunplnk
creek, the thanking march to Prince
ton. and the second surprise and de-
feat of the enemy. In the narrative
Of those magnificent winter days of
marching and fighting, surprises
and victories, one finds the tluest
Presentation of the indomitable
spirit which sustained, and, at last,
won the revolution.
ct is not often that the precise
importance and significance OF a
particular military detail can be so
accurately appraised, as1t can re-
garding the midwinter campaign
Of Trenton-Princeton The promul-
CATION of the declaration of indie
pendence had moved the British au-
thorities to especially determined
efforts for quick suppression of the
revolution. To them, it was vitality
important that the fires of revolt
I ing of nationality had risen to make
the colonists realize the substantial
unity of their cause and their inter-
ests. The strategy of the British
INVASION of New Jersey has been
bitterly criticized many times, but
must always be remembered that
here is an intimate relationship
between political conditions and
military operations, and that in this
case the political situation was GER
9in to depend very greatly on
military developments. The de-
struetion of Washington army
would almost have snuffed out tho
revolution.
Seizes Opportunities
1t would have given demonstra-
uon of the overwhelming prepond-
erance of the British power, which
even the most stout hearted patriot
would have found difficult TO deny.
on the other hand. Washington per-
eelved both the military and the po-
nucal opportunity presented him in
me disposition of the enemy $
FORCES. There was a desperate
enance to win telling victory
Il "uicn would convert the rev JeF-
sey campaign into disaster for the
enemy; and there was also the
possibility OF winning a political
victory by demonstrating the capac-
| ny OF American leadership and
american soldiers to outwit and
outhght veterans OF European bat
tlefelds.
l Washington, who was at once
a soldier. politician and statesman,
" recognized all these possibilities.
he seized the. opportunity, he turn
Cd 1t completely to his, own advant-
age and thereby inspired his army
and the country behind him with
new confidence in themselves.
Tears afterward, Lord CORVALLIS
aad the members of his staff, were
gwen dinner by General Washing
son, following the surrender al