by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER IX.
THE SURPRISE OF TRENTON.
The Americans, finding that they were not pursued, rallied from theirpanic and took up a position at Harlem and Kingsbridge. So great was thedisorganization among them that had the British advanced at once theywould have taken the place with scarcely any loss, strong as it was bynature and by the intrenchments which Washington had prepared. Greatnumbers deserted, disputes broke out between the troops of the variousStates, insubordination prevailed, and the whole army was utterlydisheartened by the easy victories which the British had obtained overthem. Washington reported the cowardice of his troops to Congress, whopassed a law inflicting the punishment of death for cowardice.
Before leaving New York the Americans had made preparations for burningthe whole town, but the speediness of their retreat prevented thepreparations being carried into effect. Fire was set to it in severalplaces and a third of the town was destroyed.
The position taken up by the enemy was so strong that it was determinedto operate in the rear. Some redoubts were thrown up to cover New Yorkduring the absence of the main part of the British force.
A portion of the British army was landed at a point threatening theretreat of the Americans, and a series of skirmishes of no greatimportance took place. The enemy fell back from their most advancedworks, but no general move was undertaken, although, as the numbers onboth sides were about even and the superior fighting powers of theEnglish had been amply demonstrated, there could have been no doubt asto the result of a general battle. Lord Howe, however, wasted the timein a series of petty movements, which, although generally successful,had no influence upon the result and served only to enable the Americansto recover from the utter depression which had fallen upon them afterthe evacuation of Long Island and the loss of New York.
Gradually the Americans fell back across a country so swampy anddifficult that it was now no longer possible to bring on a generalaction. Their retreat had the effect of isolating the importantpositions of Kingsbridge and Fort Washington. The latter post was of theutmost importance, inasmuch as it secured the American intercourse withthe Jersey shore. The fortifications were very strong and stood uponrising and open ground. It was garrisoned by 3000 of the best Americantroops under the command of Colonel Magaw. Washington was graduallywithdrawing his army, and had already given orders that Fort Washingtonshould be evacuated; but General Lee, who was second in command, sostrongly urged that it should be retained that, greatly against his ownjudgment, he was obliged to consent to its being defended, especially asColonel Magaw insisted that the fort could stand a siege. On the nightof November 14 the British passed some troops across the creek, and LordHowe summoned the place to surrender on pain of the garrison being putto the sword. Magaw had upon the previous day received large numbers ofre-enforcements, and replied that he should defend the fort. Soon afterdaybreak on the 16th the artillery opened on both sides. Five thousandHessians, under the command of General Knyphausen, moved up the hill,penetrated some of the advanced works of the enemy, and took post withina hundred yards of the fort. The second division, consisting of theguards and light infantry, with two battalions of Hessians and theThirty-third Regiment, landed at Island Creek, and after some stifffighting forced the enemy from the rocks and trees up the steep andrugged mountain. The third and fourth divisions fought their way upthrough similar defenses. So steep was the hill that the assailantscould only climb it by grasping the trees and bushes, and so obstinatewas the defense that the troops were sometimes mixed up together.
The bravery and superior numbers of the British troops bore down allresistance, and the whole of the four divisions reached their placesround the fort. They then summoned it to surrender, and its commander,after half an hour's consideration, seeing the impossibility ofresisting the assault which was threatened, opened the gates.
Upon the English side about 800 men were killed and wounded, of whom themajority were Hessians. These troops fought with extreme bravery. TheAmerican loss, owing to their superior position, was about 150 killedand wounded, but the prisoners taken amounted to over 3000.
On the 18th Lord Howe landed a strong body on the Jersey shore underLord Cornwallis, who marched to Fort Lee and surprised it. A deserterhad informed the enemy of his approach and the garrison had fled indisorder, leaving their tents, provisions, and military stores behindthem. Lord Cornwallis, pushing forward with great energy, drove theAmericans out of New Jersey. Another expedition occupied Rhode Island.
Cold weather now set in and the English went into winter quarters. Theirsuccess had been complete, without a single check, and had they been ledvigorously the army of Washington might on two occasions have beenwholly destroyed. In such a case the moderate portion of the populationof the colonies would have obtained a hearing, and a peace honorable toboth parties might have been arrived at.
The advantage gained by the gallantry of the British troops was,however, entirely neutralized by the lethargy and inactivity of theirgeneral, and the colonists had time given them to recover from the alarmwhich the defeat of their troops had given them, to put another army inthe field, and to prepare on a great scale for the following campaign.
The conduct of General Howe in allowing Washington's army to retirealmost unmolested was to the officers who served under himunaccountable. His arrangements for the winter were even more singularlydefective. Instead of concentrating his troops he scattered them over awide extent of country at a distance too great to support each other,and thus left it open to the enemy to crush them in detail.
General Howe now issued a proclamation offering a free pardon to all whosurrendered, and great numbers of colonists came in and made theirsubmission. Even in Philadelphia the longing for peace was so strongthat General Washington was obliged to send a force there to prevent thetown from declaring for England.
During the operations which had taken place since the landing of theBritish troops on Long Island Captain Wilson's company had taken butlittle part in the operations. All had been straightforward work andconducted on the principles of European warfare. The services of thevolunteers as scouts had not, therefore, been called into requisition.The success which at first attended the expedition had encouragedCaptain Wilson to hope, for the first time since the outbreak of theRevolution, that the English might obtain such decisive successes thatthe colonists would be willing to accept some propositions of peace suchas those indicated by Lord Howe--a repeal of all obnoxious laws, freedomfrom any taxation except that imposed by themselves, and a recognitionof the British authority. When he saw that Lord Howe, instead ofactively utilizing the splendid force at his disposal, frittered it awayin minor movements and allowed Washington to withdraw with his beatenarmy unmolested, his hopes again faded, and he felt that the colonistswould in the long run succeed in gaining all that they contended for.
When the army went into winter quarters the company was ordered to takepost on the Delaware. There were four frontier posts, at Trenton,Bordentown, White Horse, and Burlington. Trenton, opposite to which layWashington with the main body of his army, was held by only 1200Hessians, and Bordentown, which was also on the Delaware, was, likeTrenton, garrisoned by these troops. No worse choice could have beenmade. The Hessians were brave soldiers, but their ignorance of thelanguage and of the country made them peculiarly unsuitable troops foroutpost work, as they were unable to obtain any information. Asforeigners, too, they were greatly disliked by the country people.
Nothing was done to strengthen these frontier posts, which were leftwholly without redoubts or intrenchments into which the garrison couldwithdraw in case of attack.
Captain Wilson's little company were to act as scouts along the line offrontier. Their headquarters were fixed at Bordentown, where CaptainWilson obtained a large house for their use. Most of the men were athome at work of this kind, and Peter Lambton, Ephraim, and the otherfrontiersmen were dispatched from time to time in different directionsto ascertain the movements and intentions of the enemy. Harold askedhis f
ather to allow him, as before, to accompany Peter. The inactivityof a life at a quiet little station was wearisome, and with Peter hewas sure of plenty of work, with a chance of adventure. The life ofexercise and activity which he had led for more than a year hadstrengthened his muscles and widened his frame, and he was now able tokeep up with Peter, however long and tiresome the day's work might be.Jake, too, was of the party. He had developed into an active soldier,and although he was but of little use for scouting purposes, even Peterdid not object to his accompanying him, for the negro's unfailing goodtemper and willingness to make himself useful had made him a favoritewith the scout.
The weather was now setting in exceedingly cold. The three men had morethan once crossed the Delaware in a canoe and scouted in the very heartof the enemy's country. They were now sitting by the bank, watching somedrifting ice upon the river.
"There won't be many more passages of the river by water," Peterremarked. "Another ten days, and it'll be frozen across."
"Then we can cross on foot, Peter."
"Yes, we can do that," the scout said, "and so can the enemy. Ef theirgeneral has got any interprise with him, and ef he can get them chaps ashe calls soldiers to fight, he'll be crossing over one of these nightsand capturing the hull of them Hessians at Trenton. What General Howemeans by leaving 'em there is more nor I can think; he might as wellhave sent so many babies. The critters can fight, and fight well, too,and they're good soldiers; but what's the good of 'em in a frontierpost? They know nothing of the country; they can't speak to the people,nor ask no questions, nor find out nothing about what's doing the otherside of the river. They air no more than mere machines. What was wantedwas two or three battalions of light troops, who would make friends withthe country people and larn all that's doing opposite. If the Americansare sharp they'll give us lots of trouble this winter, and you'll findthere won't be much sitting quiet for us at Bordentown. FortunatelyBordentown and Trenton aint far apart, and one garrison ought to be ableto arrive to the assistance of the other before it's overpowered. Weshall see. Now, I propose that we cross again to-night and try and findout what the enemy's doing. Then we can come back and manage for you toeat your Christmas dinner with yer father, as you seem to have bent yermind upon that, though why it matters about dinner one day more thananother is more nor I can see."
That night the three scouts crossed the river in the canoe. Avoiding allhouses, they kept many miles straight on beyond the river and lay downfor a few hours before morning dawned; then they turned their faces theother way and walked up to the first farmhouse they saw.
"Can we have a drink of milk?" the hunter asked.
"You can," the farmer replied, "and some breakfast if you like to payfor it. At first I was glad to give the best I had to those who camealong, but there have been such numbers going one way and the other,either marching to join the army or running away to return to theirhomes, that I should be ruined if I gave to all comers."
"We're ready to pay," Peter said, drawing some money from his pocket.
"Then come in and sit down."
In a few minutes an excellent breakfast was put before them.
"You are on your way to join the army, of course?" the farmer asked.
"Jest that," Peter replied. "We think it's about our time to do a littleshooting, though I don't suppose there'll be much done till the spring."
"I don't know," the farmer said. "I should not be surprised if thegeneral wakes up them Germans when the Delaware gets frozen. I heardsome talk about it from some men who came past yesterday. Their time wasexpired, they said, and they were going home. I hear, too, that they aregathering a force down near Mount Holly, and I reckon that they aregoing to attack Bordentown."
"Is that so?" Peter asked. "In that case we might as well tramp in thatdirection. It don't matter a corn-shuck to us where we fight, so as it'ssoon. We've come to help lick these British, and we means to do it."
"Ah!" the farmer said, "I have heard that sentiment a good many times,but I have not seen much come of it yet. So far, it seems to me as thelicking has been all the other way."
"That's so," Peter agreed. "But everyone knows that the Americans arejust the bravest people on the face of the habitable arth. I reckontheir dander's not fairly up yet; but when they begin in arnest you'llsee what they'll do."
The farmer gave a grunt which might mean anything. He had no strongsympathies either way, and the conduct of the numerous deserters anddisbanded men who had passed through his neighborhood had been far fromimpressing him favorably.
"I don't pretend to be strong either for the Congress or the king. Idon't want to be taxed, but I don't see why the colonists should not paysomething toward the expenses of the government; and now that Parliamentseems willing to give all we ask for, I don't see what we want to go onfighting for."
"Waal!" Peter exclaimed in a tone of disgust, "you're one of thehalf-hearted ones."
"I am like the great majority of the people of this country. We are ofEnglish stock and we don't want to break with the Old Country; but theaffairs have got into the hands of the preachers, and the newspaper men,and the chaps that want to push themselves forward and make their pileout of the war. As I read it, it's just the civil war in England overagain. We were all united at the first against what we considered astyranny on the part of the Parliament, and now we have gone setting updemands which no one dreamed of at first and which most of us object tonow, only we have no longer the control of our own affairs."
"The great heart of this country beats for freedom," Peter Lambton said.
"Pooh!" said the farmer contemptuously. "The great heart of the countrywants to work its farms and do its business quietly. The English generalhas made fair offers, which might well be accepted; and as for freedom,there was no tyranny greater than that of the New England States. Aslong as they managed their own affairs there was neither freedom ofspeech nor religion. No, sir; what they call freedom was simply thefreedom to make everyone else do and think like the majority."
"Waal, we won't argue it out," Peter said, "for I'm not good atargument, and I came here to fight and not to talk. Besides, I wantto get to Mount Holly in time to jine in this battle, so I guesswe'll be moving."
Paying for the breakfast, they started at once in the direction of MountHolly, which lay some twenty-five miles away. As they approached theplace early in the afternoon they overtook several men going in the samedirection. They entered into conversation with them, but could onlylearn that some 450 of the militia from Philadelphia and the counties ofGloucester and Salem had arrived on the spot. The men whom they hadovertaken were armed countrymen who were going to take a share in thefight on their own account.
Entering the place with the others, Peter found that the informationgiven him was correct.
"We better be out of this at once," he said to Harold, "and make forBordentown."
"You don't think that there is much importance in the movement," Haroldsaid as they tramped along.
"There aint no importance whatever," Peter said, "and that's what I wantto tell 'em. They're never thinking of attacking the two thousandHessians at Bordentown with that ragged lot."
"But what can they have assembled them for within twelve miles of theplace?" Harold asked.
"It seems to me," the hunter replied, "that it's jest a trick to drawthe Germans out from Bordentown and so away from Trenton. At any rate,it's well that the true account of the force here should be known.These things gets magnified, and they may think that there's a hullarmy here."
It was getting dusk when they entered Bordentown, and Harold was gladwhen he saw the little town, for since sunset on the evening before theyhad tramped nearly sixty miles. The place seemed singularly quiet. Theyasked the first person they met what had become of the troops, and theywere told that Colonel Donop, who commanded, had marched an hour beforewith his whole force of 2000 men toward Mount Holly, leaving only 80 menin garrison at Bordentown.
"We are too late," Harold said. "They have gone by t
he road and we keptstraight through the woods and so missed them."
"Waal, I hope no harm 'ill come of it. I suppose they mean to attack atdaylight, and in course that rabble will run without fighting. I hope,when the colonel sees as how thar's no enemy ther worth speaking of,he'll march straight back again."
Unfortunately this was not the case. The militia, according to theirorders, at once dispersed when their outposts told them of the approachof the British, but the German officer, instead of returning instantly,remained for two days near Mount Holly, and so gave time to Washingtonto carry out his plans.
Captain Wilson's company had gone out with the force, and Peter and hiscompanions had the house to themselves that night. Harold slept late,being thoroughly fatigued by his long march the day before, carrying hisrifle, blanket, and provisions. Peter woke him at last.
"Now, young un, you've had a good sleep; it's eleven o'clock. I'm off toTrenton to see what's doing there. Will you go with me, or will you stophere on the chance of eating your dinner with your father?"
"Oh, it's Christmas Day," Harold said, stretching. "Well, what do youthink, Peter--are they likely to come back or not?"
"They ought to be back, there's no doubt about that, but whether theywill or not is a different affair altogether. I've never seed them hurrythemselves yet, not since the war began; things would have gone a gooddeal better if they had; but time never seems of no consequence to them.They marched twelve miles last night, and I reckon it's likely they'llhalt to-day and won't be back till to-morrow. I feel oneasy in my mindabout the whole affair, for I can't see a single reason for the enemysending that weak force to Mount Holly, unless it was to draw away thetroops from here, and the only motive there could be for that would bebecause they intended to attack Trenton."
"Very well, Peter, I will go with you."
Accompanied by Jake they set out at once for Trenton. On arriving therethey found no particular signs of vigilance. Since the Hessians hadreached Trenton their discipline had much relaxed. A broad riverseparated them from the enemy, who were known to be extremelydiscontented and disorganized. They had received instruction on noaccount to cross the river to attack the colonials, and the naturalconsequence of this forced inactivity had manifested itself. Disciplinewas lax, and but a slight watch was kept on the movements of the enemyacross the stream. Ignorant of the language of the people, they wereincapable of distinguishing between those who were friendly and thosewho were hostile to the Crown, and they behaved as if in a conqueredcountry; taking such necessaries as they required without payment, andeven sending parties to a considerable distance on plunderingexpeditions.
Peter, on his arrival, proceeded to the headquarters of Colonel Rhalle,who was in command--an officer of great bravery and energy. One of hisofficers was able to speak English, and to him Peter reported thedeparture of the force from Bordentown, of which Colonel Rhalle wasalready aware, and the weakness of the American force at Mount Holly.He stated, also, his own belief that it was merely a feint to draw offColonel Donop, and that preparatory to an attack on Trenton. Theofficer treated the information lightly, and pointing to the mass ofice floating down the river asked whether it would be possible forboats to cross.
"When the river freezes," he said, "there may be some chance of attack.Till then we are absolutely safe."
Peter, shaking his head, rejoined his companions and told them of themanner in which his advice had been received.
"But it would be difficult to cross the river," Harold said. "Look atthe masses of ice on the water."
"It would be difficult," the hunter admitted, "but not by no manner ofmeans impossible. Determined men could do it. Waal, I've done my dutyand can do no more. Ef the night passes off quietly we'll cross againbefore daybreak and go right into the Yankee camp and see what they'reup to. Now, Harold, you can take it easy till nightfall; there's naughtto be learned till then, and as we shall be on foot all night ye may aswell sleep to-day."
Returning to a spot on the banks of the river at a short distance fromthe town, they made a fire, on which Jake cooked some steaks ofvenison they had procured. After smoking a pipe, the hunter set theexample by stretching himself on the ground near the fire and going tosleep. Used as he was to night marches, he had acquired the faculty ofgoing to sleep at any hour at will. Jake and Harold were some timebefore they followed his example, but they too were at last asleep. Atsunset they were on their feet again, and after taking supperproceeded along the river.
The night passed off quietly, and Harold became convinced that hiscompanion's fears were unfounded. Toward morning he suggested that itwas time to be crossing the river.
"I'm not going yet," the hunter said. "Before I start we'll go down toTrenton Ferry, a mile below the town. Ef they come over at all, it'slikely enough to be there. There'll be time then to get back and crossbefore it's light; It's six o'clock now."
They kept along the road by the river until they were within a quarterof a mile of the ferry. Presently they saw a dark mass ahead.
"Jerusalem!" Peter exclaimed. "There they are."
They immediately discharged their rifles and ran back at full speed tothe outposts, which were but a quarter of a mile from the town. TheAmericans had also pressed forward at full speed, and the outposts, whohad been alarmed by the discharge of the rifles, were forced at once toabandon the post and to run into the town, whither they had, on hearingthe rifles, already sent in one of their number with the news. Here allwas in confusion. The Hessian leader was trying to collect his troops,who were hurrying in from their quarters, but many of them thought moreof storing their plunder away in the wagons than of taking their placesin the ranks.
Washington had crossed with 2500 men and a few field-pieces, and upongaining the Jersey side had divided his troops into two detachments, oneof which marched by the river side, the other by an upper road. Hurryingforward they surrounded the town, and placing their field-pieces in theroad, opened fire on the astonished Hessians. Rhalle had by this timesucceeded in assembling the greater part of his force and charged theAmericans with his usual courage. He received, however, a mortal woundas he advanced. His troops immediately lost heart, and finding theirretreat cut off at once surrendered. A body of Hessian light horsesucceeded in making their escape. The casualties were few on eitherside, but 1000 prisoners were taken. Two other divisions of theAmericans had attempted to cross, the one at Bordentown, the other atMackenzie's Ferry, but both had failed, owing to the quantity offloating ice. Washington retired across the Delaware the same afternoon.
The consequences of this success were great. The spirits of theAmericans, which had fallen to the lowest ebb in consequence of theuninterrupted series of defeats, rose greatly. They found that theBritish were not invincible, and that, if unable to oppose them in greatbattles, they might at least inflict heavy losses on them and weary themout with skirmishes and surprises. The greatest joy reigned throughoutthe various States; fresh levies were ordered; the voices of themoderate party, which had been gaining strength, were silenced, and thedetermination to continue the war vigorously was in the ascendency.
The lesson given at Trenton was wholly lost upon the Englishcommander-in-chief. Instead of at once ordering General Leslie toadvance from Princeton and to hold the enemy in check by reoccupying andfortifying Trenton, he allowed Colonel Donop to abandon Bordentown andto fall back to Princeton--thus laying it open to Washington to crossthe Delaware again and carry the war into New Jersey. Washington, afterwaiting eight days, seeing the indecision and ineptitude of the Britishgeneral, again crossed with 4000 men and occupied Trenton.
Peter Lambton and his two companions were not among the prisonerstaken at Trenton. On entering the town Harold was about to join theHessians assembling under Colonel Rhalle, but Peter gave a violent tugto his coat.
"Come along, young un!" he said. "The darned fools have let themselvesbe caught in a trap and they'll find there's no way out of it. In tenminutes the Americans will be all round the place, and as I don't wisht
o spend a year or two in a Yankee prison at present, I'm going to maketracks at once. Fighting aren't no good now. Men who'll let 'emselvesbe caught in a trap like this'll never be able to cut their way out ofit. Come on!"
Much against his will Harold yielded to Peter's wishes, and the threekept straight on through the town by the river side and issued into thecountry beyond before the Americans had surrounded it. A minute or twoafter leaving the town the light horse galloped past.
"There are some more out of the hole, and I reckon that's about all.There, do you hear the guns? The Yanks have brought their artilleryover--I reckon the fight won't last long."
For two or three minutes there was a roar of musketry; then thissuddenly ceased.
"I thought as much," Peter said. "They've surrendered. If they had onlykept together and fought well, they should have cut their way throughthe enemy. Lord! what poor things regular soldiers are in the dark! Afrontiersman would just as soon fight in the dark as in the light; buthere are the men who climbed up the hill to Fort Washington--and thatwas no child's play--no better nor a pack of women when they're attackedhalf-asleep and half-awake, just as day is breaking."
The three comrades walked to Bordentown, which, they were relieved tofind, had not been attacked. A few miles beyond this place they metColonel Donop marching back at full speed with his corps, havingreceived the news of the disaster at Trenton from the horsemen who hadfled. They joined their company and marched to Princeton.
A fortnight later Lord Cornwallis, with the forces at Brunswick, underGeneral Grant, advanced to Princeton and then moved forward to attackthe army at Trenton. General Washington on his approach retired from thetown and, crossing a rivulet at the back of it, took post on some highground there, with the apparent intention of defending himself againstan attack. It was late in the afternoon, and a heavy cannonade was keptup till night-time. Lord Cornwallis determined to attack next morning.At two in the morning Washington retired suddenly, leaving his firesburning. Quitting the main road he made a long circuit through Allentownand marched with all speed toward Princeton, which place he intended tosurprise. When Lord Cornwallis advanced he had left the Seventeenth,Fortieth, and Fifty-fifth regiments there.
On arriving at Trenton he had sent word back for the Seventeenth andFifty-fifth to advance to Maidenhead, a village halfway betweenPrinceton and Trenton. Colonel Mawhood, who commanded, marched atdaylight, but scarcely had he started when he met Washington advancingwith his army. The morning was foggy, and it was at first supposed thatthe enemy were a body of British troops marching back to Princeton, butit was soon found that the force was a hostile one. Its strength couldnot be seen on account of the fog, and he determined to engage it.Possessing himself of some high ground, he sent his wagons back toPrinceton and ordered the Fortieth Regiment to come out to hisassistance.
As the Americans advanced, the artillery on both sides opened fire. Theleading columns of the colonists soon showed signs of disorder. TheSeventeenth Regiment fixed bayonets and with great gallantry charged theenemy in front of them, driving them back with considerable slaughter;and so far did they advance that they were separated from the otherbattalions, and cutting their way through the American force theregiment pursued its march to Maidenhead. The Fortieth and Fifty-fifthfought stoutly, but were unable to make their way through the Americanforce, and fell back to Brunswick, while the Americans occupiedPrinceton. At daybreak Lord Cornwallis discovered the retreat of theAmerican army, and being apprehensive for the safety of Brunswick, wheregreat stores of the army were accumulated, marched with all haste towardthat town.
Brigadier Matthew, the officer commanding there, on hearing of theapproach of the enemy, at once dispatched the store wagons toward therear and drew up his small command to defend the place to the last. Thegallant resistance before Princeton had delayed the Americans so longthat the van of the army of Cornwallis was already close to their rearas they approached Brunswick. Seeing this, Washington abandoned hisdesign on that town and crossed the Millstone River, breaking down thebridge at Kingston to stop pursuit.
Washington now overran East and West Jersey, penetrated into EssexCounty, and making himself master of the country opposite to StatenIsland, thus regained almost all the district which the English hadtaken from him in the autumn.
All this greatly heightened the spirit and courage of the Americans,while the loyalists and the English troops were disheartened anddisgusted at seeing an army of 30,000 fine troops kept inactive, whilethe enemy, with but 4000 men, who were wholly incapable of opposing anequal number of English troops, were allowed to wander unchecked, toattack and harass the English pickets, and to utilize the whole of theresources of their country. Had General Howe entertained a fixed desireto see English authority overthrown in America he could not have actedin a manner more calculated to carry those wishes into effect.