The Penn's Grove record., 1923-03-09
LIFE OF WASHINGTON
Continued from page 2

~, III d HlOIlenI, DOJn parJleS 1eIl ike
heroes. At the first onset the Ameri-
cans gave way; but sensible that all
was at stake. Washington snatched a
STANDARD, and advancing on the en-
envy, called to his countrymen to
follow; his country men heard and
rushed on to the charge. Then flash
and clash wen the muskets and bay
onets-Here the servants of George,
and there the sons of liberty, wrapped
in clouds and flame, together plung'd
to mutual wounds and death.
"God save the king!" the British
heroes cry'd,
"And God for Washington" Column
bias sons reply'd.
The name of Washington impaired
its usual animation to the troops. The
enemy gave way in all quarters, and
were pursued four miles. The vlctors
returned with 400 prisoners; the bayo-
net had stopped 100 on the field. But
they fell not alone. The gallant Mer-
Ger, and SO of his brave country men,
sleep with them. But the strife of the
heroes was but for a moment; and
they have forgotten their wounds. To-
gether now they feast in Paradise
and when meet their eyes of love, their
joys are not dashed by the remem-
brance of the past.
The British officers gave Washington
full credit for such fine strokes Of
g~eneralship, and began to look
thoughtful whenever his name was
mentioned.
The enemy now January 15th)
drew in all their forces to winter
r quarters at Brunswick, where WASH
ington continued to thin their num-
beers by cutting off their forag1ng
p~arties; so that every load of hay, or
dish of turnips they got, was at the
price of blood.
Thus, gloriously, in ten days, was
turned the tide of victory IN favor Oh
America, by him whom Heaven, IN
mercy. not to America alone, but TO
Britain, and to the world, had raised
nm here to found a wide empire OF
liberty and virtue. The character Oh
Washington was exalted to the high
est pitch, even throughout EGroPe,
where he was generally styled the
American Fabius, from the famous
Roman general Of that name, who OPP
nosed Hannibal with success. A dis
t~inction to which he was justly en-
titled. from the invincible firmness
with which he rejected every tlnesse
of the British generals; as also from
that admirable judgment with when he
shifted the defence of the nation to the
genius and abilities of the people, and
70 the natural advantages Of the coun-
trv. thereby not allowing the enemy
to profit by their great superiority OF
numbers discipline, and artillery, ana
oone+on+lv c]uttinp them off by
skirmishes and surprise.
The ministerial plan OF this year
Q77T was to reduce the Americans
bv cutting off all communication be-
tween the northern States! 10 effect
this, General Howe, with 10000 men,,
was to 90 round from New York to
head of Elk. and thence march on, u
north. through Philadelphia; While
Burgoyne, with 10000 men setting out
from Canada, was to pass along down
the lakes. and thence due south to
meet his brother Howe; the straight
line. formed by the junction of these
two gentlemen, was to possess such
~virtues. that it was supposed no Amer
lean could be found hardy enough to
set foot over it!
Accordingly, July %, General Howe
left Sandy Hook, sailed up the Chesao
neake. and landed at the mouth OF
Fix river. marched on, with but little
i~nterruption, except at Brandyw1ne, to
Philadelphia. Into this elegant city,
ON the 26th of September, 1777, he en-
tered in triumph; fondly s%upposlng,
in America, as in Europe, the cap
ture of the city was the same thing
as the reduction of the country. But
instead of finding himself master OF
this great continent, whose rattle
snakes alone in the hand of heaven,
could scourge his presumption; it was
with no small difficulty he could keep
possession of the little village OF Ger
mantown. For, on the morning OF the
4th of October, Washingtn made an
attack on him with such judgment and
fury, that his troops gave way IN
every quarter. The tumult, disorder
and dispair in the British army, says
Washington, were unparalleled But
in the very moment of the most deer
sive and glorious victory, when some
of provincial regiments had more
prisoners than men, the Americans,
through the mistake of a drunken
officer. began to retreat! Washing
TOMS grief and modification were in
eXpresslble.
BuI Willie Nv was oiiiiOg Ing WV
bv land, he did not lose sight of their
fleet. which was now forcing its way
up the Delaware, to keep open to the
army a channel of supplies. They ar
rived, without molestation, within 9
miles of Philadelphia, at a marsh
called Mud-Island. On this poor, harm
less spot, the f%ttest, however, that
nature in this peaceful land of Friends
could furnish, Washington had order
ed a fort to be thrown up, the COM
mand of which, with 230 men, he as,
signed to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel
Smith. On the eastern of Jersey side
a strong redoubt, the command of
which, with 2O5 men, was given to
Colonel Greene. These with some
chevaux-de-frise sunk in the river, and
a few gallies, formed all the barrier
that Washington could present against
the British navy. The strength of this
barrier was soon put to a fiery trial.
Great preparations were made to at