Evening Star Newspaper, February 23, 1930, Page 94

.THE SUNDAY 's‘f}&k‘i“WASmNGTofi,"’n.‘"C’.,' FEBRUARY 23, 1930. Hardly a month passes but some newly discovered doc'u lh;ow newh‘hc ufon our hutory e ' A Letter to a Fellow Officer, Hitherto Unpublishéd, Tells'.of Historic Event in General’s Own Words— Other Rare Letters Give Vivid Picture of Darkest Days of the Revolution, and One Reveals Washingto BY THOMAS R. HENRY. EORGE WASHINGTON'S own story, It is told in a letter written the next day, December 26, 1776, to Maj. Gen. William with whom the commander in chief constant correspondence during the darkest days of the struggle for independence. In preparation for the coming Washington bicentennial the Library of Congress has been collecting from all over the country either manuscript or photostats of all the letters of the first President, The letter fo Heath has lain for many years in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society. wA'snmo'rou-s letter follows: ~ . “Dec. 26, 1776. “I have the pleasure of congratulating you’ formed against a detachment of the enemy living in Trenton, which was execitted yesier- dered the which were about 2,400, to parade back of McKonkys Perry that they might begin to pass as soon as it grew dark, imaginl e be able to throw them all over, with the neces- sary artillery, by 12 o'clock, and that we migh! easily arrive at Trenton 5 in the morning, it was 3 o'clock before the artillery could all be got over and near 4 before the troops took up their line of march. This made me dispair of surprising the town and I well knew we could not reach it until the day was finally broke, but as I was certain there was no making a retreat without being discovered and harassed of repassing the river, I determined to push on at all events. “I formed by detachment into two divisions, one to march by the lower or river road and the other by the upper or Pennytown road. As the divisions had nearly the same distance to march, I ordored each of them immediately upon forcing the outguards 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 8 o'clock and in 3 minutes after, I found from the fire on the lower road, that that division had also got up. “The outguards made but small opposition, tiwuzh for their numbers they behaved very weil, keening up s constant retreating fire from prhind houses, We presently saw their main’ 113ly formed, but from their motions they 5> med undeterminéd how to act; being hard possession © ed (o' - gl intention ¥ which . position that they were surrounded that they must inevitably be cut to pieces “The number that submitted in this manner were 23 officears, with 7 others who were found wounded in the town. I don’t exactly know how many they had killed, but I fancy not above 25 or 30, as they never made any regular stand. Our loss is trifling; only two officers and one or two privates wounded. I find that the detachment of the enemy con- of three regiments, to wit: of Zampach, “This difficulty also hindered Gen. Cadwal- lader 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 confi- dent that could the troops under Gen. Cad- wallader and Gen. Ewing 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 number I had with me, being inferior to those below me and a strong batallion of light infantry at Prince Town, I thought it more prudent to return the same evening with My 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 on this occasion reflects the highest honor upon them. The difficulty of passing the river in a very severe night and then march through a violent storm of snow and hail did not in the least abate their ardor, but after they came to the charge they seemed to vye with each other in pressing foreward, and was I to give particular corps I should to the others. “I some time ago mentioned to you the im- portance of attacking the enemy's outposts when it can be done with any prospect of suc- cess. The best of consequences must result from their being harassed on every oceasion on that quarter. OEORGE WASHINGTON.” THE enormous bulk of Washington corre- spondence in the Library of Congress deals largely with military and business affairs and is direct, colorless and unemotional. o But one letter among those secured from the Massachusetts archives shows the general in another frame of mind and probably reflects his own inmost feelings in the early days of the Revolution. It was written from Cambridge, July 27, 1775, shortly after h¢ had taken com- mand of the Army following the battle of " Bunker Hill. The letter is addressed to a Gen. " ) Thomas, who evidently had threatened to resign 3 R HHLE ] e Eif it Bl g | 2 £ ] officers and the obligations that are s to rise from these attachments. “But, sir, the other colonies have also a claim upon you, not only as a native of North America but as an inhabitant of this province. They have made common cause with it. They have sacrificed their trade, loaded themselves i Bay while all the prosperity of neutrality has been offered them. But no acts or temptations could seduce them from your side and leave you & prey to a cruel and perfidious ministry. Surely these reflections must have some weight with a mind as generous and considerate as yours. '-xmmmum:unnmm.' together with others that your own good judg-’ ment will suggest, will strengthen your mind against impulses which are incident to humanity and laudable to a certain degree and that the result will be your resolution to serve your country in this day of distress.” LAOK of supplies, lack of money, lack of a mutiny and epidemics Were constant sources of worry to George Washington, even when the tide of the Revolution was turning in favor of I wrote to In fact it is rare for me to put pen to n at His No_blest. for private correspondence, so much s my time and attention employed by public business; I wish I could add, as profitably as it might be, but the fatal system of policy which we have adopted and, for all I see to the contrary, are determined to persist in prevents this. yet are openéd on the fatal policy which hither- to has governed all our measures. “It is impossible for any person at a dis- the time without provisions, clothing or pay. “The flattering prospect which seémed to be opening to our view in the month of May is vanishing like the morning dew. The' States, instead of sending the number of men required’ of them by the first of July, have not furnished" one-half yet, and the second division of French troops and ships not being arrived nor any’ certainty when they will. I despair of doing anything in this ‘quarter this campaign, and what may be the consequences if the com- bined arms of France and Spain are not more prosperous in Europe and the Wes: Indte8 I leave to others to predict. . % s “At best: the troops we have are only fed from hand to mouth, and for the last four or- five days have been without meat. In short, the limits of & letter would carry a very ine adequate idea of our dismal situation, and the wretched manner in which our business is con- ducted. “The first division of French troops, as no doubt you have heard, are at Rhode Island, steps to save my lots at the Warm Springs?” Ol,oubic §, 1776, he wrote from the. ‘“Heights of Harlem” to Samuel Washing- “Dear Brother: Although the multitude of . engagements which require all my waking hours