FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF AN EYE WITNESS
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON.
Whose bullet on the night air sangan



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had scarcely put my foot in the stirrup be-
fore an aid-de,camp from the commander-inchiel
galloped up to me with a summons to the side
I Of Washiu gton bowed in reply, and dashed
up the road The general in chief was already on
horseback, surrounded by his staff. and on the
point of setting out. He was calm and collected,
as if in his cabinet. No sooner did he see me
than he waved his hand as a signal to halt
checked nv steed on the instant, and lifting my
hat, waited for his commands.


"You are native of this country 2"


"Yes your excellency."


"You know the roads from M'Conley's fer
ry TO Trenton-by the river and Pennington
the byeroads and all" r.


"As well as l know<my alphabet" and pat.
ted the neck of my impatient charger.


"Then may have occasion for you-you will
remain with the staf-ah that is spirited ami:
NAL you ride, Lieutenant Archer" he added
smiling, as the fiery beast made demivolt. that
set half the group in commotion.


"Your excellency-"


"Never mind" said Washington smiling a.
gain, as another impotent spring OF my charger,
cut short the sentence, 81 see the heads OF the
columns are in motion-you will remember"
and waving his hand. he gave the rein to his
steed, while fell back bewildered into the
staff


The ferry was close at hand, but the intense



We all. however, hoped on the morrow to re-
deem our country by striking signal blow. and
every heart beat high with the anticipation Of
victory. Column after column Of our little ar
my defiied at the ferry, and the night had scarce
ly Set in before the embarkation began.


At last we crossed the Della ware. The whole
night had been consumed in transportation Of the
men and artillery. and the morning was within
an hour or two of dawning before the last detac h.
Ia L.. I
horse on the little bank above the landing place,
paused instant to lock back through the
obscurity on the scene. The night was dark,
Wild and threatening clouds betokened an
approaching tempest-and could with difficulty
penetrate with my eye, the fast increasing gloom.
As put my hand across my brows to pierce
into the darkness gust Of wind, sweeping down
he river whirled the snow in my face and mo-
mentarily blinded my sight. At last dscerned
the opposite shore amid the obscurity. The
landscape was wild and gloomy. A few desolate
looking houses only were in sight, and they
scarcely perceplible in the shadowy twilight
The bare trees lifted their hoary arms on high.
groaning and creaking in the gale. The river
was covered with drifting ice. that now jImmed
with crash together. and then foated slowly a
part leaying scarcely space for the boats to pass.
The dangers OF the navigation can better be i'm
agined than described, for The utmost exerlions





being crushed. Occasionallya stray fife would
be heard shooting shrilly over the waters, min
Cling ftebly with the 6ercer piping of the winds.
and anon :he deep roll OF the drum would
boom across the night, the neiehs ola horse
would float from the opposite shore, or the crash
of the iamming ice would be heard like tar off
thunder The cannoneeFs beneath me were
drawing piece of artillery up the ascent, and
the men were rapidly forming on the shore be-
tbo, lou did Tf ctiPPi


Plunging my rowels into my steed, l whir.ed
him around into the road and went off on gal
lo2 to overake the generals staff.


1t was now four o'clock, and so much time
had been consumed that it became impossible 10
reach our destination before daybreak, and conse-
quently all Certainty of a surprise was over. A
hasty council was therefore called on horseback
to determine whether to retreat or not. A few
minutes decided It. All were unanimous 10 pro-
cecd at every peril.


"Gentlemen," said Washington, after they
had severally spoken, then We all agree-the
attack shall take place-general." he continued,
turning to Sullivan. "your brigade shall march
by the river road, while l will take that by Pen
nington-let US arrive as near eight o'clock as
possible But do not pause when you reach
their outposts-Grive them in before their ranks
can form, and pursue them to the very centre OF
the town. shall be thereto take them in the



tIes And now gentlemen, to our posts" In
five minutes we were in motion.


The eagerness of our troops to come up with
the enemy was never more conspicuous than on
the morning ofthe eventful day. We had scarce
ly lost sight of Sullivan's detachment across the
intervening fields, before the long threatened
storm burst over US. The night was intensely
cold; the sieet and hail ratified necessarily upon
the mems knapsacks; and the wind shrieked,
howled, and roared among The old pine trees
with terrific violence. At times the snow fell
perpendicularly downwards-then it beat hori-
zontaIy into our faces with furious impetuosity
and again it was whirled wildly on high,
edGying around and around and sweeping away
on the whistIng tempest far down into the
gloom. The tramp of the men-the low orders
OF the officcrs-the occasional rattle OF a musket
were almost lost in the sbril voice of the gale,
or the Deep sulIen roar Of the tortured forest
Even these sounds at length ceased. and we con.
tinued the march in profound silence. increasing
as we drew nearer TO the outposts Of the enemy.
The redoubled violence OF the gale, though it
added 10 the suferings Of our brave continentals.
was even hailed with joy, as it decreased the
chances of our discovery, aud made US once more
hope high for a successful surprise. Nor were