length, by the roll of the American drums, and the sound of musketry, he started to his legs, hurried to his quarters, mounted his horse, and in a few moments, was at the head of his troops, vainly attempting to atone for his fatal neglect. In a few moments, he fell to the ground mortally wounded, and was carried away to his quarters. All order was now at an end; the Hessians, panic-struck, gave way, and endeavored to escape by the road to Princeton; but were intercepted by a party judiciously placed there for the purpose, and compelled to surrender at discretion, to the number of about a thousand men. Six cannon, a thousand stand of arms, and four colors, adorned the triumph of Washington. In this moment of brilliant success, purchased at the expense of others, he was not unmindful of the duties of humanity; but, accompanied by Greene, paid a visit to the dying Hessian leader, and soothed his passage to the grave, by the expression of that grateful and generous sympathy, which one brave man owes to another, even when engaged in opposite causes.
The divisions under Ewing and Cadwallader, had not been able to cross, as was proposed, owing to the accumulations of floating ice, and the impossibility of landing the artillery. Had Ewing been successful in what was marked out for him, the party of light horse that fled from Trenton, would have been intercepted and captured; and Cadwallader would likewise have done good service at Burlington.
In this attack upon the Hessians, the Americans lost only four or five men, two of whom were frozen to death a proof of the intense severity of the night. Washington, on the evening of the 26th of December, recrossed the Delaware, carrying his; prisoners with him, and their arms, colors, and artillery. Although the enterprise failed in several of its parts, it was completely successful, so far as it was under the immediate direction of the commander-in-chief; and it had a happy effect on the affairs of America. It was the first wave of the returning tide. It filled the British with astonishment; and the Hessians, whose name had before inspired the people with fear, ceased to be terrible. The prisoners were paraded through the streets of Philadelphia, to prove the reality of the victory, which the friends of the British government had denied. The hopes of the Americans were revived, and their spirits elevated: they had a clear proof that their enemies were not invincible; and that union, courage and perseverance, would ensure success. The British also discovered, that they had to deal with a commander no less daring than he was cautious and prudent, whose steady determination no defeat could shake; who, on the one hand, was prepared to retreat, if needful, even to the fastnesses of the Alleghanies; and on the other, was ready to take advantage of the least oversight on their own part, to convert defeat into victory.[1]
- ↑ It was towards the close of the year, that Congress earnestly recommended the observance of a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer to God. in order to beseech Him, both to pardon the sins of the people, and to mercifully send His blessing upon the American arms. See Holmes's "Annals," vol. ii., p. 255.
