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Howe's army,

were sick on furlough, or detached. scattered between Trenton and New York City, was about thirty thousand.

On this occasion, Washington himself took command, and wherever he was, there was success. The quantity of ice in the river had made him despair of surprising the town; and, in fact, he did not reach it until eight o'clock in the morning. Three minnutes after, the principal division arrived at the enemy's advanced post, the other division advanced at the lower post. Washington's own letter states

what followed:

"The upper division arrived at the enemy's advanced post exactly at eight o'clock, and in three minutes after, I found, from the fire on the lower road, that that division had also got up. The out-guards made but small opposition, though, for their numbers, they behaved very well, keeping up a constant retreating fire from behind houses. We presently saw their main body formed, but, from their motions, they seemed undetermined how to act. Being hard pressed by our troops, who had already got possession of their artillery, they attempted to file off by a road on their right, leading to Princeton. But, perceiving their intention, I threw a body of troops in their way, which immediately checked them. Finding from our disposition that they were surrounded, and that they must inevitably be cut to pieces if they made any further resistance, they agreed to lay down their arms. The number that submitted in this manner was twenty-three officers and eight hundred and eighty-six men. Colonel Rahl, the commanding officer, and seven others were found wounded in

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the town. I do not exactly know how many were killed, but I fancy not above twenty or thirty, as they never made any regular stand. Our loss is very trifling indeed, only two officers and one or two privates wounded."

After this success he carried off his prisoners to Pennsylvania. He learned what he could from their officers, and then satisfying himself that the English wings were still widespread, crossed the river again and took a position at Trenton. Learning that Cornwallis was approaching him, he affected to await an attack on his lines in Trenton; but, in truth, on the night of the 2d of January, removed his whole force and cut Cornwallis's line of supplies at Princeton. Here were three regiments of infantry, and three troops of dragoons, under orders to join Cornwallis. The Americans attacked them boldly, broke their order, and took three hundred prisoners. A hundred of the English were left dead on the field. Cornwallis had been completely deceived. Nothing but the sound of the cannon at Princeton awakened him from his security. He hurried back to Princeton, too late to find his enemy, and retired to Brunswick terrified lest the military stores there might have been seized.

Clinton, in his "Notes on the Campaign," says that all the English officers were surprised that Washington did not attack Brunswick, so strong was the probability of success. The attack was, in

fact, considered in the American councils. But the

IN TO

WINTER
WINTER QUARTERS.

203

American army was in no condition for a movement, where failure was, in the least, possible. Washington withdrew into good winter quarters at Morristown, and passed the winter with the encouragement of a final success. Fortunately for the American cause, the accounts of this success in Europe magnified it even beyond its reality. The depression which followed in the English army, the encouragement given to the people of the Jerseys, and the sense of success in the American camp, all made the year 1777 open more cheerfully than could have been hoped.

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Washington's Stay at Morristown-Eclipse of the Sun-Mr. Alexander's Delays Letter to a Faulty Officer-Thoughts for Virginia Affairs— Views on the Campaign-Assisting Gates and Watching Howe-HeadQuarters Moved to Middleburg-Howe's Expedition to PhiladelphiaBattle of the Brandywine-Battle of Germantown-Head-Quarters at Valley Forge-The Conway Cabal-Light-Horse Harry-Clinton Replaces Howe-Battle of Monmouth-Count D'Estaing and the French Fleet-"A Complete Set of Camp Equipage"-Difficulty of Transactions with a Depreciated Currency-1778 Ends Better than It Began.

WE

E know now that the effect of these successes in New Jersey was even exaggerated in New York, and more exaggerated in England. Indeed, the desertion of the Hessians who had not been taken prisoners, when they found that they were in a country where every man might have a farm for the asking, was so large, that Howe suffered materially from this cause, so long as he had his men scattered far from their garrisons. upshot of the campaign was, that, from Washington's post at Morristown, his skirmishing parties could annoy the English all through the winter. He remained there, in fact, until July, 1777.

The

Mrs. Washington joined him here, and with the

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