he stood musing on the banks of the Delaware, amid his excited but suffering soldiers, the vote investing him with these extraordinary powers passed Congress. The following day he recrossed the river and marched to Princeton. But at this critical juncture the term of service of several of the regiments expired, and the troops, worn down with fatigue and exposure, were determined to go home. Washington, in this emergency, promised them ten dollars bounty if they would remain six weeks longer, though he did not then know where the money was to come from. He also made a strong appeal to officers and men. He praised their fidelity and gallantry, acknowledged they were entitled to an honorable discharge, but begged them to think of the sad condition of their country should they take it at the present juncture. He bade them remember they were standing on the very spot they had rendered immortal, and where they had covered themselves with glory. He spoke of the gratitude of their country and the mortification of the enemy, and then told them all they had achieved would be vain if they disbanded and left him without an army. The enemy would immediately re-occupy his posts and march without obstruction to Philadelphia. The officers were moved by this noble appeal, and in turn pleaded with the men, and by this means more than half were persuaded to remain. Washington, with an empty military chest, then wrote to that noble patriot, Robert Morris, who was to his country in its financial troubles what the former was to her in the field, for immediate help. Morris borrowed on his own personal credit fifty thousand dollars, and dispatched the amount without delay to head-quarters, and in the note announcing its departure, bade Washington call on him again when in trouble and he should have more.

In the meantime Cadwallader and Mifflin had succeeded in crossing the Delaware, each with some eighteen hundred men, and formed a junction with Washington at Trenton.

While the latter was thus concentrating his troops at Trenton, Howe, on whom this sudden and bold irruption had fallen like a thunder-clap, immediately ordered off reinforcements to New Jersey. Cornwallis, who, supposing the campaign was closed, had taken passage for England, was directed to repair with all haste to his post, and soon a formidable army assembled at Princeton. On the 2d of January, 1777, Cornwallis put his columns in motion, and before daylight in the morning was in front of Trenton. Washington, who had ascertained from scouts in what overwhelming numbers the enemy was moving against him, withdrew his forces over the Assanpink, and planted batteries so as to command the bridge and the different fords in the vicinity. His position now became one of extreme peril. To make a successful stand there on the banks of the Assanpink was impossible, for so soon as Cornwallis should discern how small was the force opposed to him, he would by the mere weight of numbers crush it at once. To deliver battle, under the circumstances, would insure the utter overthrow of the army. Victory could not be dreamed of, while retreat was impossible, for the ice-filled Delaware was surging in rear, and before the enemy's cavalry the half-disciplined militia would become a herd of fugitives. One can hardly imagine what great object Washington had in view to compensate for the hazardous position he had voluntarily taken, for he now stood with his hands tied. Nothing was to be done except meet his fate manfully, unless fortune or Heaven interfered in some unlooked for way in his behalf. One thing, however, was evident: he must gain time or be lost hopelessly. The night might bring relief, and he therefore sent forward detachments to harass the enemy's march and detain him as long as possible from reaching the Assanpink. Colonels Reed and Howard, and Captain Forest with the artillery, aided as they closed fiercer and sterner with the foe by Morgan and Miller, caused the

vanguard to halt and the massive columns to close up in order of battle. Waiting for the artillery to scour a wood in which the two latter officers lay concealed, and kept up an incessant, galling fire, the British were delayed two hours. This in all probability saved the American army. Washington stood on the shores of the narrow Assanpink and watched with the most painful anxiety the steadily approaching fire. The gallant regiments that had thrown themselves so resolutely in the path of the enemy were being gradually forced back, and as they approached the banks of the stream Washington rode across and thanked them for their heroic conduct. He called on them to dispute every inch of ground, and retire only when necessary to save their pieces. A loud and cheering shout ran along their ranks, and the next moment their volleys were again telling on the enemy. But at length, being driven to the river, the order was given to defile over the bridge to the main army. The advance columns of the British followed eagerly after, and as they reached the shore attempted to force a passage, both at the fords and the bridge. But the well planted batteries of the Americans swept the heads of the advancing columns with such a deadly fire that they recoiled before it, leaving the stream filled with the dead. Between every discharge the whole army cheered."

At length Cornwallis arrived with the remaining artillery, when a terrific cannonade was opened on the American lines. Battery answered battery, and the deep thunder rolled away over the plains, carrying consternation to the inhabitants. It was now sunset, and Washington expected every moment to see the heavy columns under the protection of their artillery move to the assault. Had this been done, there is but little doubt that the American army would have been annihilated. Cornwallis, however, being ignorant of the force opposed to him, and not liking to make a decisive effort in the dark, resolved to wait till morning and renew

I Certify that the pamting of Washington in 1772,executed by Anson Dickinson Es from the original picture by Peale in my possession, is a tarhiul resemblance of the original, the only orig mal of the later latna prior to the revolution.

Irlington House July 18 1832

Gurp HP Custis