His papers which have been preserved show how he gained
the power of writing correctly—always expressing
himself with clearness and directness, often with
felicity and grace.—_George Bancroft._
No one who has not been in England can have an idea of
the admiration expressed among all parties for General
Washington.—_Rufus King, 1797._
* * * The great central figure of that unparalleled
group, that “noble army” of chieftains, sages,
and patriots, by whom the revolution was
accomplished.—_Edward Everett._
He had in his composition a calm which gave him
in moments of highest excitement the power
of self-control, and enabled him to excel in
patience.—_Bancroft._
Account of the Battle of Trenton.
HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, Dec. 27, 1776.
_To the President of Congress_:
SIR—I have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success of an
enterprise which I had formed against a detachment of the enemy lying
in Trenton, and which was executed yesterday morning.
The evening of the twenty-fifth I ordered the troops intended for this
service to parade back of McKonkey’s ferry, that they might begin to
pass as soon as it grew dark, imagining we should be able to throw them
all over, with the necessary artillery, by twelve o’clock, and that we
might easily arrive at Trenton by five in the morning, the distance
being about nine miles. But the quantity of ice made that night impeded
the passage of the boats so much that it was three o’clock before the
artillery could all be got over; and near four before the troops took
up their line of march.
This made me despair of surprising the town, as I well knew we could
not reach it before the day was fairly broke. But as I was certain
there was no making a retreat without being discovered, and harassed on
re-passing the river, I determined to push on at all events. I formed
my detachment into two divisions, one to march by the lower or river
road, the other by the upper or Pennington road. As the divisions had
nearly the same distance to march, I ordered each of them, immediately
upon forcing the out-guards, to push directly into the town, that they
might charge the enemy before they had time to form.
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
the town. I do not exactly know how many they had 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.
I find that the detachment consisted of the three Hessian regiments of
Lanspach, Kniphausen, and Rahl, amounting to about fifteen hundred men,
and a troop of British light horse; but immediately upon the beginning
of the attack, all those who were not killed or taken pushed directly
down toward Bordentown. These would likewise have fallen into our hands
could my plan have been completely carried into execution.
General Ewing was to have crossed before day at Trenton ferry, and
taken possession of the bridge leading out of town; but the quantity
of ice was so great that, though he did every thing in his power to
effect it, he could not get over. This difficulty also hindered General
Cadwallader from crossing with the Pennsylvania militia from Bristol.
He got part of his foot over; but finding it impossible to embark his
artillery, he was obliged to desist.
I am fully confident that, could the troops under Generals Ewing and
Cadwallader have passed the river, I should have been able, with their
assistance, to have driven the enemy from all their posts below
Trenton. But the numbers I had with me being inferior to theirs below
me, and a strong battalion of light infantry being at Princeton above
me, I thought it most prudent to return the same evening with the
prisoners and the artillery we had taken. We found no stores of any
consequence in the town.
In justice to the officers and men, I must add that their behavior upon
this occasion reflects the highest honor upon them. The difficulty of
passing the river in a very severe night, and their march through a
violent storm of snow and hail, did not in the least abate their ardor;
but when they came to the charge each seemed to vie with the other in
pressing forward; and were I to give a preference to any particular
corps I should do great injustice to the others.
Colonel Baylor, my first aid-de-camp, will have the honor of delivering
this to you; and from him you may be made acquainted with many other
particulars. His spirited behavior upon every occasion requires me to
recommend him to your particular notice.