with this as his dying observation, that he only lamented he had but one life to lose for his country.'"

65. Battle of Trenton.

The summer and fall of 1776 was the most gloomy period of the American revolution. Gen. Washingtor. had been obliged to retreat from Long Island to New York, thence over the Hudson to New Jersey, and through New Jersey to Pennsylvania, vigorously pursued by an enemy flushed with a series of success. The retreat through New Jersey was attended with circumstances of a painful and trying nature. Washington's army, which had consisted of 30,000 men, was now diminished to scarcely 3,000, and these were without supplies, without pay, and many of them without shoes or comfortable clothing. Their footsteps were stained with blood as they fled before the enemy. The affairs of the Americans seemed in such a desperate condition, that those who had been most confident of success, began despairingly to give up all for lost. Many Americans joined the British, and took protections from them. In this season of general despondency, the American congress recommended to each of the states to observe "a day of solemn fasting and humiliation before God."

Gen. Washington saw the necessity of making a desperate effort for the salvation of his country. On the night of the 25th of December, 1776, the American army recrossed the Delaware, which was filled with pieces of floating ice, and marched to attack a division of Hessians, who had advanced to Trenton. The sun had just risen, as the tents of the enemy appeared in sight. No time was to be lost-Washington, rising on his stirrups, waved his sword towards the hostile army, and exclaimed, “There, my brave friends, are the enemies of your country! and now all I have to ask of you is. to remember what you are about to fight for! March!"

The troops, animated by their commander, pressed on

to the charge; the Hessians were taken by surprise, and the contest was soon decided; about 1000 were taken prisoners, and 40 killed, among whom was their commander, (a German officer,) Col. Rahl.

"In this important expedition, Washington divided his troops into three parts, which were to assemble on the banks of the Delaware, on the night of the 25th of December. One of these divisions, led by Gen. Irvine, was directed to cross the Delaware at the Trenton ferry, and secure the bridge below the town, so as to prevent the escape of any part of the enemy by that road. Another division, led by General Cadwallader, was to cross over at Bristol, and carry the post at Burlington. The third, which was the principal division, and consisted of about two thousand four hundred continental troops, commanded by General Washington in person, was to cross at M'Konkey's ferry, about nine miles above Trenton, and to march against the enemy posted at that town. The night fixed on for the enterprise, was severely cold. A storm of snow, mingled with hail and rain, fell in great quantities; and so much ice was made in the river, that the artillery could not be got over until three o'clock; and before the troops could take up their line of march it was nearly four. The general, who had hoped to throw them all over by twelve o'clock, now despaired of surprising the town; but knowing that he could not repass the river without being discovered and harassed, he determined, at all events, to push forward. He accordingly formed his detachment into two divisions, one of which was to march by the lower or river road, the other, by the upper or Pennington road. As the distance to Trenton by these two roads was nearly the same, the general, supposing that his two divisions would arrive at the place of destination about the same time, ordered each of them, immediately on forcing the outguards, to push directly into the town, that they might charge the enemy before they had time to form. The upper division, accompanied by the general himself, arrived at the enemy's advanced post exactly at eight o'clock, and immediately drove in the outguards. In three minutes, a firing from

the division that had taken the river road, gave notice to the general of its arrival. Colonel Rahl, a very gallant Hessian officer, who commanded in Trenton, soon formed his main body, to meet the assailants; but at the commencement of the action he received a mortal wound. His troops, at once confused and hard pressed, and having already lost their artillery, attempted to file off by a road on the right, leading to Princeton; but General Washington perceiving their intention, threw a body of troops in their front, which intercepted and assailed them. Finding themselves surrounded, they laid down their arms. About twenty of the enemy were killed; and nine hundred and nine, including officers, surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The number of prisoners was soon increased to about one thousand, by the additional capture of those who had concealed themselves in houses. Six field pieces, and a thousand stand of small arms, were also taken. Of the Americans, two privates only were killed; two were frozen to death; one officer and three or four privates were wounded. General Irvine being prevented by the ice from crossing the Delaware, the lower road toward Bordentown remained open; and about five hundred of the enemy, stationed in the lower end of Trenton, crossing over the bridge in the commencement of the action, marched down the river to Bordentown. General Cadwallader was prevented by the same cause from attacking the post at Burlington. This well-judged and successful enterprise, revived the depressed spirits of the colonists, and produced an immediate and happy effect in recruiting the American army."*

66. Battle of Princeton.

On the 2d of January, 1777, Lord Cornwallis appeared near Trenton with a strong body of troops. Skirmishing took place, and impeded the march of the British army, until the Americans had secured their artillery and

Holmes' Annals.

baggage: when they retired to the southward of the creek, and repulsed the enemy in their attempt to pass the bridge. As General Washington's force was not sufficient to meet the enemy, and his situation was critical, he determined, with the advice of a council of war, to attempt a stratagem. He gave orders for the troops to light fires in their camp, (which were intended to deceive the enemy,) and be prepared to march. Accordingly, at twelve o'clock at night, the troops left the ground, and, by a circuitous march, eluded the vigilance of the enemy, and, early in the morning, appeared at Princeton. A smart action ensued, but the British troops gave way. A party took refuge in the college, a building with strong stone walls, but were forced to surrender. The enemy lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, about five hundred men. * The Americans lost but few men; among them was a most valuable officer, General Mercer, who, while gallantly exerting himself in rallying the militia, (who were thrown into confusion at the commencement of the action,) received three bayonet wounds, which proved mortal. It is said he was stabbed after he had surrendered. Washington displayed the utmost coolness and presence of mind, with heroic valour; and was remarkably preserved, though, in this battle, his person was exposed to the fire of both armies.

67. Battle of Brandywine.

The British General Howe, with a force of 16,000 men, on the 15th of August, landed at the head of Elk river. It being obvious that his design was the occupation of Philadelphia, General Washington immediately put the American army in motion towards that place, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. The two armies met at Brandywine, in Delaware.

"At day break, on the morning of the 11th, the royal army advanced in two columns; the one commanded by

• Webster.

Lieutenant General Knyphausen, and the other by Lord Cornwallis. While the first column took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made a show of passing it in front of the main body of the Americans, the other moved up on the west side of the Brandywine, to its fork, crossed both its branches about two in the afternoon, and marched down on its eastern side, with the view of turning the right wing of their adversaries. General Washington, on receiving intelligence of their approach, made the proper disposition to receive them. The division commanded by Sullivan, Sterling, and Stephen, advanced a little farther up the Brandywine, and fronted the column of the approaching enemy; Wayne's division, with Maxwell's light infantry, remained at Chadd's Ford, to keep Knyphausen in check; Greene's division, accompanied by General Washington, formed a reserve, and took a central position between the right and left wings. The division detached against Cornwallis, took possession of the heights above Birmingham church, their left reaching towards the Brandywine: the artillery was judiciously placed, and their flanks were covered by woods. About four o'clock, Lord Cornwallis formed the line of battle, and began the attack. The Americans sustained it for some time with intrepidity; but the right at length giving way, the remaining divisions, exposed to a galling fire on the flank, continued to break on the right, and the whole line was soon completely routed. As soon as Cornwallis had commenced the attack, Knyphausen crossed the ford, and attacked the troops posted for its defence; who, after a severe conflict, were compelled to give way. The retreat of the Americans, which soon became general, was continued that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. The loss sustained by the Americans in this action, is estimated at three hundred killed and six hundred wounded. Between three and four hundred, principally the wounded, were made prisoners. The loss of the British was stated to be ratherless than one hundred killed, and four hundre wounded.

Among the wounded were two general officers; the