The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-11
Battle or Trenton Stole
 Headlines In December l776
Pony Rider Brought Off. Cial News to Excited
 Residents of City

at Trenton by five in the Morn- ing, the Distance being about nine Miles. But the Quantity of Ice, made that Night, impeded the passage of the Boats so much, that 1t was three O'Clock before the Artillery could all be got over, and near four before the Troops too; up their Line of March.
 formed my detachment into two Divisions, one to march up the lowere or River Road, the other by the upper or Benning- ton Road. As the Divisions had nearly the same Distance to march, I ordered each of them immediately upon forcing the out Guards to push directly into the Town, that they might charge the Enemy before they had Time to form. The upper Division arrived at t;ie Enemy's advanced Post ex- actly at 8 O'Clock, and In min- utes after, I found. from the Fire on the Iawer Road, that that Divi- sion had also got up. The out Guard made but a small Opp0si- tion, though, for their Numbers they behaved .ery well, keeping up Q constant retrcating Fire from behind Houses.
 We presently saw their main Body formed; but from their Mo- tions, they seem'd undetermined how to act. Being hard pressed by our Troops, who had already got Possession of Part of their Artil- Iery, they attempted to file off by . Road, on their Right, leading to Princeton; but preceiving their In- tention, I threw Body of Troops in their Way, which immediately checked them. Finding, from our Dispositions. that they were sur- rounded, and they must inevitably be cut to Pieces, if they made any further Resistance, they agreed to lay down their Arms. The Num- Der that submitted, In this Man ner, was g Officer sand 886 Men. Col Rohl, the commanding Offi- cer, and seven others, were found wounded in Town. do not ex- actIy know how many they had killed, but fancy not about twen- ty or thirty, as they never made any regular Stand. Our Loss is very trifiing indeed; only two Off, ficers and one or two Privates wounded.
 I find that the Detachment of the Enemy consisted of the three Hcsslan Regiments of Laadfpatch, Kaiphausen, and RohI, amounting to about 1500 Men, and Troop of British Light Horse; but im- mediateIy upon the Beginning of the Attack. all those who were not killed or taken, pushed directly down the Road toward B0rdens- town. These would likewise have fallen into our Hands, could my Plan have been completely carried into Execution. Gen. Ewing was to have crossed before Day at Trenton Ferry, and taken Pos- session of the Bridge leading to the Town; but the quantity of Ice was so great, that though he did every Thing in his Power to effect it, he could not get over. This Difficulty also hindered Gen. Cadwallader from crossing, with the Pennsylvania Militia, from Bristol; he got Part of Foot over, bat finding 1t impossible to em- bark his Artillery, he was obliged to desist. I am fully confident, that could the Troops under Gen. erals Ewing and Caldwallader have passed the River, I should have been able, with their Assist ance, to have driven the Enemy from all their Posts below Tren- ton; but the Number I had with me being inferior to theirs below me, and 8 strong Battalion of Light Infantry being at Prince ton. above me, I thought 1t most prudent to return the same Eve ming with the Prisoners, and the Artillery we had taken. We found no Stores of any Consequence in the Town.
 In justice to the Officers and Men I must add, that their Be- haviOr upon this Occasion re- fleets the highest Honor upon them. The Difficulty of passing the River, in very severe Night, and their Marcb through a vio- lent Storm of Show and Hail, did not in the least abate their Arr dour; but when they came to the Charge, each seemed to vic with the other in pressing forward. and were I to give a Preference to any particular Corps, should do great Injustice to the other.
 Col. .-ayIor. my first Aid de Camp, will have the Honour of delivering this to you, and from him you may be male acquainted with many other Particulars; his spirited Behaviour, upon every Occasion, requires me to recom- mend him to your particular No- tice.
 have the Honour to be with great Respect. Sir. your most l,,.,s.l.Ia Garvunt