There was mounting in hot haste in New York, and couriers and orders streamed over the frozen roads, and Lord Cornwallis himself galloped10 at full speed for Princeton. The calculations of a certain number of his majesty's faithful troops were to be rudely disturbed, and the comfortable quarters in which they had ensconced themselves were to be vacated forthwith. Concentration, aggregation11, synthesis, were the words; and this time the reassembled army was not to disintegrate12 into winter quarters until this pestilent Mr. Washington was attended to, and attended to so effectually that they could enjoy the enforced hospitality of the surly but substantial Jerseymen through the long winter nights undisturbed. For his part, Mr. Washington, having tasted success, the first real brilliant offensive success of the campaign, was quite willing to be attended to. In fact, in a manner which in another sex might be called coquettish, he seemed to court attention. Having successfully attacked with his frost-bitten ragged13 regiments14 a detachment, he was now to demonstrate to the world that not even the presence of an army could stop him.
Things were not quiet on the Pennsylvania side of the river either; there were such comings and goings in Newtown as that staid and conservative village had never before seen. Our two friends, the sad-hearted, were both busily employed. Talbot had galloped over the familiar road, and had electrified15 the good people of Philadelphia with his news, and then had hastened on to Baltimore to reassure16 the spirits of the frightened Congress. Honest Robert Morris was trotting17 around from door to door upon New Year's morning, hat in hand, begging for dollars to assist his friend George Washington, and the cause of liberty, and the suffering army; and Seymour, become as it were a soldier, and with Philip for esquire, was waiting to take what he could get, be the amount ever so little, back to General Washington. The sailor had been granted a further leave of absence by the naval18 committee, at the general's urgent request, and was glad to learn that he should soon have command of the promised ship of war, which was even then making ready in the Delaware. Honest Bentley—beloved of the soldiery in spite of his genuinely expressed contempt for land warriors—was lending what aid he could in keeping up the spirits of the men, and in other material ways in the camp. Some of the clothing, some of the guns from the Mellish, some of the material captured from the Hessians had gone into the hands and over the backs and upon the feet of the men. But the clothed and the naked were equally happy, for had they not done something at last? Ay! they had given assurance that they were men to be reckoned with.
Fired by the example set them by the Continentals19, the Pennsylvania militia20, under Cadwalader and Ewing and Mifflin, had at last crossed the Delaware and joined Griffin's men. Washington had followed them, and the twenty-ninth of December found him established in new headquarters at Trenton. A number of mounds21 in the fields, covered with snow, some bitter recollections and sad stories of plunder22, robbery, rapine, and worse, told with gnashing teeth or breaking heart by the firesides, were all that remained of their strange antagonists23 in the town. But the little town and the little valley were to be once more the scene of war. The great game was to be played again, and the little creek24 of the Assunpink was to run red under its ice and between its banks.
On the twenty-ninth, Washington's troops began to cross the river again. Two parties of light dragoons were sent on in advance under Colonel Reed, assisted by parties of Pennsylvania riflemen despatched by Cadwalader. They clung tenaciously25 to the flanks of Von Donop. That unfortunate commander had been led away from his camp at Burlington in pursuit of Griffin's gallant26 six hundred. When he returned, unsuccessful, the news from Trenton had so alarmed him that he fled precipitately27, abandoning his heavy baggage and some of his artillery28. It was a work of joy for the pursued to pursue, a reversal of conditions which put the heavy German veterans at a strange disadvantage compared with their alert and active pursuers. They had marched through that country with a high hand, plundering29 and abusing its inhabitants in a frightful30 way, and they were now being made to experience the hatred31 they themselves had enkindled. The country people rose against them, and cut them off without mercy.
It took two days to get the troops across, on account of the ice in the river. And now came another difficulty. The time of the major part of the Americans had expired on the last day of the year, but Washington had them paraded and had ridden up and addressed them in a brilliant, soldier-like fashion, and they had to a man volunteered to remain with him for six weeks longer, or as much more time as was necessary to enable him to complete his campaign before he went into winter quarters. He was at last able to pay them their long deferred salary out of the fifty thousand dollars sent him by Robert Morris, which Seymour and Talbot that day had brought him; and for their future reward he cheerfully pledged his own vast estate, an example of self-sacrifice which Greene, Stark32, Talbot, Seymour, and others of the officers who possessed33 property, at once emulated34. The men were put in good spirits by a promise of ten dollars' bounty35 also, and they were ready and eager for a fight.
Reed, attended by six young gentlemen of the Philadelphia Troop, had been sent out to reconnoitre. Up toward Princeton they had surprised a British outpost composed of a sergeant36 and twelve dragoons; the sergeant escaped, but the twelve dragoons, panic-stricken, were captured after a short resistance; and Reed and his gallant young cavaliers returned in triumph to headquarters. Valuable information was gained from this party. Cornwallis had joined Grant at Princeton, and with seven or eight thousand men was assembling wagons37 and transportation, preparing for a dash on Trenton. Confirmation38 of this not unexpected news came by a student from the college, who had escaped to Cadwalader and been sent up to General Washington. The situation of Washington was now critical, but he took prompt measures to relieve it. Cadwalader from the Crosswicks, and Mifflin from Bordentown, with thirty-six hundred men, were ordered forward at once. They promptly39 obeyed orders, and by another desperate night march reached Trenton on the morning of the first day of the year.
There was heavy skirmishing all day on the second. Cornwallis, advancing in hot haste from Princeton with eight thousand men, was checked, and lost precious time, by a hot rifle fire from the wood on the banks of the Shabbakong Creek, near the road he followed in his advance. The skirmishers under Greene, seconded by Hand, after doing gallant service and covering themselves with glory by delaying the advance for several hours, giving Washington ample time to withdraw his army across the Assunpink and post it in a strong defensive40 position, had retired41 in good order beyond the American line. In the skirmish Lieutenant42 Von Grothausen, he who had galloped away with the dragoons at Trenton and had been under suspicion of cowardice43 ever since, had somewhat redeemed44 his reputation in that he had boldly ridden down upon the riflemen, and had been killed. It was late in the evening when the advance parties crossed the bridge over the creek and sought safety behind the lines. Indefatigable45 General Knox had concentrated thirty pieces of cannon46 at the bridge—"A very pretty battery," he called it.
It was dusk when the eager Americans saw the head of the British army coming through the streets. They remained silent while the enemy formed, and advanced to attack the bridge and the fords in heavy columns at the same time. The men came on in a solid mass for the bridge head, cheering gallantly48. They were met by Knox's artillery and a steady fire from the riflemen. Three times they crashed on that bridge like a mighty49 wave, and three times like a wave broken they fell back before an awful storm of fire. General Washington himself, sitting on his white horse, gave the orders at the bridge, and the brave enemy were repulsed50. The position was too strong to be taken by direct assault without great loss; besides, it was not vital after all—so reasoned Cornwallis. The British soldiery were weary, they had marched all day at a hot pace and were exhausted51. They had not lived in a chronic52 state of exhaustion53 for so long that they never gave it a thought; they were not used to it, as were the Continentals, and when the British were tired they had to rest. They would be in better spirit on the morrow. The creek was fordable in a dozen places, but Cornwallis resisted the importunities of some of his officers, who wished to ford47 it and attack at once; he sent urgent messengers off to Princeton to bring up the two thousand men left there with Von Donop, and to hurry up Leslie with the rear guard, six miles away; when they arrived they could turn the right flank of the Americans, and it would be all up with them then. He thought he had Washington at such a disadvantage that he could not escape, though the small advantage of position might enable him to make a desperate resistance, even with his inferior forces.
"We will wait," he said to Erskine, "until Von Donop comes up, and
Leslie, and then we 'll bag the 'old fox' in the morning!"
So, after brisk firing on both sides until night closed down, the camp-fires were lighted on both sides of the creek; and the British officer went to sleep, calmly confident that he had held the winning cards, and all that was necessary was that the hand should be played out in the morning, to enable him to take the game again. He did indeed hold the higher cards, but the "old fox" showed himself the better player.
On the other side of the creek, in the house of good Mistress Dagworthy, anxious hearts were debating. General Washington had summoned a council of war, which expressed the usual diversity of opinion on all subjects, except an unwillingness54 to fight, upon which, like every other council of war, it was agreed. Indeed the odds55 were fearful! Ten thousand seasoned, well-equipped, well-trained, veteran troops, ably led, and smarting with the late defeat and the check of the day against five thousand or six thousand wretchedly provided soldiers, three-fifths of whom were raw militiamen, who had never heard a shot fired in anger!
Not even a leader like Washington, and officers to second him like
Greene, Sullivan, Knox, St. Clair, Stephen, Stirling, Cadwalader,
Sargeant, Mercer, Mifflin, Reed, Stark, Hand, Glover, and the others,
could overcome such a disparity and inequality.
Cornwallis had only to outflank them, crumple56 them up, roll them back on the impassable Delaware, and then—God help them all!
There was no disguising the critical nature of their situation, and the army had never before been in so desperate a position. It needed no great skill to see the danger now to be faced, but the mistake of Cornwallis gave them a brief respite57, of which they promptly availed themselves. Washington was not a man before whom it was ever safe to indulge in mistakes, and the more difficult his position, the more dangerous he became. Trial, danger, hazard, seemed to bring out all of the most remarkable58 qualities of the man in the highest degree. Nothing alarmed him, nothing dismayed him, nothing daunted59 him; the hotter the conflict, the more pressing the danger, the cooler he became. No man on earth was ever more ready and quick to avail himself of time and opportunity, once he had determined60 upon a course of action. This campaign was the most signal illustration, among many others, which his wonderful career affords. Action, prompt, bold, decisive, was as the breath of life to him; but before coming to a decision, contrary to the custom of great commanders generally, he usually called a council of war, which, on account of his excessive modesty61, he sometimes allowed to overrule his own better judgment62, to the great detriment63 of the cause. Alone he was superb! Given equal resources, the world has not seen a general with whom he could not successfully be matched. In this particular juncture64, fortunately for the country, he insisted upon having his own way.
There were apparently65 but three alternatives before the council. The first was a retreat with all speed down the river, leaving the heavy baggage and artillery, and then crossing at Philadelphia if they could get there in time. But this would be to abandon the whole colony of New Jersey5, to lose the results of the whole campaign, and leave the enemy in fine position to begin again in the spring; and if this were the end, they might better have stayed on the west side of the river. Besides, successes were vital and must be had. Another retreat meant disintegration66 and ruin, in spite of the lucky stroke at Trenton. The second alternative was a battle where they stood, and that meant total defeat,—a thing not to be considered a moment. The army must win or die; and as dying could do no good, it had to win. A brilliant idea, however, had occurred to the commander-in-chief, the man of brilliant ideas. He communicated it to the council, where it instantly found adherents67, and objectors, too. It was the third alternative. A circuitous68 road called the Quaker road, recently surveyed and just made, led in a roundabout way from the rear of the camp toward the Princeton road, which it entered two miles from that town. Washington's plan was to steal silently away in the night by this road, leaving bright fires burning to deceive the confident enemy, and press with all speed toward Princeton, strike Cornwallis' rear-guard there at daybreak with overwhelming force, crush it before that general could retrace69 his steps, and then make a dash for the British supplies at New Brunswick. If it were not practicable to reach that point, Washington could take a position on the hills above Morristown, on the flank of the British, and, by threatening their communications, force the superior army to retreat and abandon the field, or else attack the Americans in their intrenchments in the hills, with a probable result even more disastrous70 to the attacking party than at Bunker Hill. It was a conception as simple and beautiful as it was bold, brilliant, and practicable.
But now the objectors began; it had been snowing, sleeting71, and raining for several days; the roads were impassable, they had no bottom. Objections were made on all sides: the artillery could not possibly be moved, no horses could pull the wagons through the mud, the troops could not march in it. But Washington, with true instincts, held to his carefully devised plan with an unusual resolution. Arguing, explaining, suggesting, convincing, persuading, the hours slipped away, until at ten o'clock at night there came a sudden change in the weather, perceptible even to those in the house. Washington ran eagerly to the door and opened it. Followed by the general officers, he stepped out into the night. It was dark and cloudy, no moon or stars even, and growing colder every moment under the rising northeast wind.
"Gentlemen," he cried gayly, "Providence72 has decided73 for us. The wind has shifted. The army will move in two hours."
At the time specified74 by the commander, the muddy roads were frozen hard. The heavy baggage was sent down to Burlington, and a strong party of active men was left to keep bright fires burning, and charged to show themselves as much as possible and make a great commotion75 by throwing up fortifications and loud talking, with instructions to slip away and join the main body early next day as best they could. At one o'clock in the morning the astonished army started out upon their adventurous76 journey,—another long cold night march. The untravelled roads were as smooth and hard as iron. With muffled77 wheels they succeeded in stealing away undetected.
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1
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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2
laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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3
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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4
jerseys
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| n.运动衫( jersey的名词复数 ) | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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7
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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8
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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9
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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10
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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aggregation
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| n.聚合，组合；凝聚 | |
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12
disintegrate
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| v.瓦解，解体，（使）碎裂，（使）粉碎 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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14
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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15
electrified
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| v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋 | |
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16
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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17
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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18
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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19
continentals
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| n.（欧洲）大陆人( continental的名词复数 ) | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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21
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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22
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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23
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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24
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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25
tenaciously
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| 坚持地 | |
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26
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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27
precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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28
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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29
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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30
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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31
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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32
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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33
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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34
emulated
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| v.与…竞争( emulate的过去式和过去分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
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35
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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36
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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37
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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38
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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39
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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40
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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41
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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42
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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43
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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44
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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45
indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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46
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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47
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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48
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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49
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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50
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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51
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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52
chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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53
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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54
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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55
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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56
crumple
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| v.把...弄皱，满是皱痕，压碎，崩溃 | |
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57
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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58
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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59
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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61
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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62
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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63
detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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64
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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65
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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66
disintegration
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| n.分散，解体 | |
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67
adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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68
circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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69
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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70
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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71
sleeting
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| 下雨夹雪，下冻雨( sleet的现在分词 ) | |
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72
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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73
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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74
specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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77
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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