Evening star., 1937-12-19

ill-clad," and as one of Washing
tons officers later stated: Their
route was easily traced, as there was
a little snow on the ground which
was tinged here and there with
blood from the feet of the men who
wore broken shoes" Truly. it may be
said, Those were the times that
tried mems souls
The Delaware was filled with float
ing ice. and the current was swift.
About IL o'clock pm. it began to
snow, heavily mingled with hail and
accompanied by high winds. An idea
Of the gigantic and almost super
human difficulties encountered in
crossing the less than 1000 feet Of
water is demonstrated by the fact
that Cadwalader and Ewing, who
were TO cross the river with their
commands simultaneously, at other
designated points, utterly failed to
do 50. As it was. it took Washing
ton nine hours to accomplish what
was expected could be done in half
the time. But doing the impossible,
as Washington did, is what has pro-
duced the worlds great men, and, in
this connection, brought about Amer
lean independence.
1t was am. December 26 when
the army was formed on the Jersey
shore for its march Of eight miles
to Trenton, then a small village con-
tanning about 100 houses.
Washington had anticipated that
the Hessians would be celebrating IN
truly German convivial style Christ
mas night, and that they would, most
naturally, be easily surprised the fol-
lowing morning after their usual ca
rouse, and Washington's surmise was
correct.
Upon reaching Trenton around
about 8 o'clock the picket lines
were all driven in or dispersed. Col.
Rail, the Hessian commander, was
awakened from his slumbers, but it did
not take him long to reach the street.
where he soon found his soldiers panic
stricken. Due to the wet conditions,
many of the Hessian firearms would
not explode, but the Americans had
kept the fire pans of their guns dry
with parts of their clothing or blankets,
and thus did more effective work.
However, the enemy did not surrender
until overpowered, or, as Theodore
Roosevelt would have said, whipped
to a fraZZle."
Col. Rail was mortally wounded
and paid the penalty for his folly.
He was carried to his headquarters
and there visited by Gen. Washington
and Gen. Greene. Rail begged Wash
ington for kind treatment to his men
and Washington spoke few words
of consolation to the wounded soldier
who passed away December q. His
remains lie in an unknown grave in
Trenton. He died deceived by his
own vanity and super-consciousness
of security and contempt for the
Americans. He is recorded as having
said: What need Of intrenchments?
Let the rebels come; we will at them
with the hayonet." He had made the
mistake Of not having planted single
cannon for his protection.
The battle of Trenton was quick
and decisive; some say 1t lasted IS
minutes; other say longer. One thou
sand soldiers were taken prisoners,
together with 1900 small arms, six
brass field pieces and all the German
standards. Washington's ragged citi-
zen soldiers had defeated the best
drilled troops of Europe.
Four American soldiers were wound
officers and two privates. OF
the former was 1t. James Monroe,
afterward President of the United
States Another illustrious patriot
at this battle was Capt. Alexander
Hamilton, whose statue stands at the
south front of the United States
Treasury Building. He afterward be-
came the Secretary and confdant to
Gen. Washington. Few who gaze on
his statue associate him with the
American Revolution. He was more
than a financier; he was soldier and
q patriot.
Some folks have little regard for
but let me assure you it is q
grand thing for one to know that he
is descended from such men as those
who fought for American freedom. es-
pecially If he, himself. Il willing to
fight for It's retention.