The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1876, Page 3

Had Washington’s drummers made only half the nose they would certainly never _have surprised the Hessians. One of these In this dark hour of-bis country’s need there appearcd THE TRENTON CENTENNIAL, How the Anniversary of the Battle Was Celebrated, A GRAND SHAM FIGHT. Crossing of the Delaware and the Attack on the Town. EXCITING AND PICTURESQUE SCENES. The Heroes of the Day Enter- tained by the Citizens. A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST. How the Battle Was Fought in 1776. Trenton, Dec. 26, 1876. The Centennial celebration of the crossing of the Delaware by General Washington and the battle of Trenton came off to-day quite success{ully. The pro- gramme, which included a sham battle, was carried out with commendable promptitude and precision, and the people of Trenton are naturally much elated over the events of last night and to-day. THE CROSSING. Sixteen gallons of whiskey had preceded the noble army of Washington to Taylorsville, or Washington’s Crossing. This was the number genorally stated, but it may have been more or less. It was about half-past one this morning when the company arrived at McConkey’s Ferry, being all pretty well exhausted by thor march from Trenton over the slippery, snow- bound road. They stopped at Wollery’s wheelwright shop, and after having thoroughly refreshed their weary bodies they crossed over the bridge, thence to crose back over.the river in the best style of Washing- ton and to march on to Trenton. A few had lagged be- hind, however, at tho inn and were siill before the huge stove taking gentle libations such as Washington and his host probably never droamed of. “Do you think Washington had as good whiskey as this??? ono ot the men asked, smacking his lips. “Much better,’’ the other gesponded, ‘wo don’t be- gin to drink as good stuff now as they used to.” But now the Orderly Sergeant burst in upon the lag- ging rear guard round the stove. ‘Boys, they’re halt a mile ahoad of you—you’ve had enough—come along,"” end with that he hurried them outof the cosey, cheer- fal warmth of the dirty, buttothem so gladsome, inn into the grim, sleety, whirling, snowy, dark night. After a halt of a few hours in the villago of Taylors- ville Company B, of the Exton Guards were called to- gether by the assombly beaten on two drums by Drum Major Jacob Boose’and a worthy ald whose namo his- tory fails to record, and with the gallant Captain Lovell at their head marched out with flying flag and two beating drums to emulate the devotion and fortitude }which a hundred years ago won for Washington and his Tagged army immortality. This much about the ro veille which the two drummers beat, they must havo awakened every sleoper within a radius of five miles. drummers was a remarkable fellow. He said he had seventeen medais, and his present ambition was to make the best drums in the world and to furnish them @t a reasonable price to the State militia of Jersey! The men were somewhat tired with | their long march from Trenton through a driz- zling storm and over frozen roads, but they plucked up courago and bravely shvuldered their muskets, and moved down to the river’s edge, The night was dark, Cloudy and intensely cold. A light fall of snow drizzled into the men’s faces and impoded their progress. Tho original idea was to cross in boats and Imitate asnearly ‘as possible Washington’s achievement, but this was found to be fmpossible, as the river was firmly frozen over from bank to bank, Thoro was nothing for it but to pass over afoot, and this was courageously under- taken amid the encouraging cheers of the inhabitants of Taylorsville and its vicinity, who chose, however, the more prosaic passage by the bridge themselves. A descendant of Muirhead, who bad acted as General Washington’s guide had arranged to act as guide on tho present occasion; but cither be thought the night too cold or found his bed too pleasant to leave; he failed to put in an appearance in time to imitate the achievement and renew the service of bis forefather, on the scene a saviour in the dusky person of Henry Hill, colored—a gentleman who was feclingly de- scribed by some who knew him as ‘a pretty tail specimen of a darky, but who carries in his breast the soul of a hero” This.devoted child of Africa, arming bimself with an axe, went forth and sounded the ico in order to d. cover a safe pas: fot so numerous a body of men Sompany B, of the Exton Guards, and by using di diligence succeeded in describing a zig-zag course which might be followed with saicty. Returning to the shore, he announced the good news to the teers heroes, and, casting down his axe, tool up a lamp and led the way’ over the frozen river, followed by two valiant volunteers, aiso supplied with lamps. Captain Lovett vid his men put themselves in singie tile, and, telling Jacob Boose Ww strike up his most martial notes, ordered the ad- vance, Then as a flock of geese (hat riso from the fens and wing t way in serpentine file, did Com- pany B, of the Exton Guards, leave behind them the {ricndly shores of Pennsylvania and venture on the spow covered riv with tambour battant and flag uniurled, amid the cheers of assem- bled rustic, Tho dark, sinuous lpe moved across the white fleld, and it wonid not have been ditlicult to imagine that Company B, of the Exton Guards, wero the phosts of the Continental beroes come back to revisit the scene of their former glory. The waving of tho lamps by the guides and the siow moving of the dark, silent Inne was peculiarly ghostiike, and it was with some- thing like relief that ono saw them arrive at the J er hore, and felt satisfied that they were things flesh and blood. ‘The patriotic citizens who bad been watching for this event in the warm atmosphere of Nelson's bar went forth into the cinll mght and gave the arriving heroes a helping hand to once more reach terra firma. Then there was a short bait, and Comping B, of the Exton Guard, having refreshed the inver man with some decoction of rye, sot outon their notable enterprise of capturing Trenton from tho hated Hessians. THK MARCH TO TRENTON. Ob, what a weary march it was over tho slippery road, which seemed half ice, half snow! Ye shades of Washington, forgive the amount of swearing that was done by the men as they lost their foothold and came bear plumping down upon the road, But patriotism urged them on, and on they went through the driving snow, the whirling sleet and the flaying wind with a dead curnestness, Which, however, was ever and anon wterrupted by forced merriment. In sooth, nobody could be jolly fu such a night, particularly after bav- ing taken on cight-mile march a few hours before. At ‘Yardlycvitie, which was midway between Tayloravilie and Trenton, 4 few of the heroes gave out, and resign- ing the glory of tho march to a ‘comfortable ‘bed they turned in and snored away happily until they | took the morning train to Trenton, For the honor of Trenton it may be said that only three or four of the Extou or Cracker Bakers’ Guard thus left their com~ rades and the spirit of the Revolution that hovered over | them im the lurch, Bat surely even Washington’s joy when he had ceptured Trenton was not greater than was that of U half-(rozen men as they finally landed in | Trenton in conventent proximity to a vlazing tire and a hot cup of coffer, Oh, how their suiffened limbs did relax and how ther hearts opened under these gratetal infiuences, and how they were ba 4 and eager for the fray when, by about nine o'clock, the exbausting fatigue of this sixteon-mile night marcli had worn off. THE ATTACK. A little before the hour appointed for the beginning of the attack the various military organizations lett their headquarters and directed their march 'o the polnts where they were ordered to take up position, the following is a list of the various organizations which took part in the sham battle:— CONTINENTAL TROOPS. Exton Guard: mpany A, Captain J. Farrell; Company B, Capt J.D. Van Horn; Company C, Henry O'Hara Lea, om pt Lovett; Company G, Uaptain Jonathan Coxon; Company H, Captain David Haas; Company 1, Capiain Alphonso 3. Hill; Company K, Captain William Doran. ° Washington Proncer Corps, Capjain G. A, Millette; Princeton Continental Guards, Captanm A. L. Green; ‘Trenton Guards, Captain W. H. Bilbee. Artillery Corps—Captain Stabi, Lieatenant F. Lan- doit, Cavalry—Company B, N.G.8.N.J., Captain E, 8. Me- Tivaine. Hessian Troo; Seventh regiment infantry N.G.s. N.J.—Company Ay Captain Th S. Steve papy B, Captain 5. M. Youmans; Company C, Captain & W. Kitchen mnpany D, Captain Michael’ Hurley ; Company F, Captain Jolin J, Willis; Company G, Cap- NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1876.—WITH SUPPLEMENT. THE BATTLE OF TRENTON Plan of Washington’s Advance and the Operations of Both Armies, Commencing December 25, 1776, and Ending January 3, 1777. Sin, Poter Wilkes; Company E, First Pennsylvania | ‘. G, ‘Artiilery—Captain C, Vansyckell. The representation of the prominent personages of the original battle was distributod as follows :—Geno- ral Treuz, to XS gerag General Woehington; General E. L. Campbell, to represent General Green tain R, 8. Jounson, to represent General Meret Martin Keegan, to represent General Sullivan tain Isave Rouner, to represent General Morgan; Col- onel W. P. Wilson, to represent Gencral Lord Sterling; Captain E. C. Stahl, to represent General Knox; and Captain Youmans, to represent the Hessian ci mander Colonei Rabi; and Captain l’, Wilkes, the Hi colonel Schaffer, General Washmgton Treax estad- lished is headquarters near the Pennington Pik whieh was occupied by the General Greene Campbell's division, while the Second division ander General Sullivan rendezvoused on the River road, THE PIRST SUOT. About half past nine A. M. General Mercer's brigade, which occupied, the right of Greene’s division, came into collision with the north outpost of the Hessian troops, which was posted on the Pennigton Pike, some quarter of amile {rom the junction of Greene and Warren streets. Th¢ outpost retired 1u good order halting ond firing on the advancing Continental column, General Mercer's brigade pushed tno retiring enemy vigorously, and Goneral Washington Treux or- dered Geveral Stirling’s brigade to move forward as their support. This was done in a very spirited, ale most reckless, manner, the brigade marching in column Of division, with bayonets fixed, CoOL FIGHTERS, One regiment, the Trenton Guards, resolved to die musically, and actually marebed to the attack with their band of music at their bead. The mu- sicians behaved nobly. Not a nove was lost through the rapid roll of the musketry fire that told that the engagement was getting warm. Although Mercer pushed his attack warmly, the ad- vance of his column was momentarily checked by the stubborn resistence of tho Hessian picket at the head of Greene and Warren streets, The fire of the Conti- neptais, however, proved too heavy and, the Hessian picket beat a hasty retreat into Warren street ju Coionel Knox's battery of Continental artillery ap. peared upon the scene and unlimbered at the junction of Warren and Greone, TAKING TO THEIR URE: The appearance of the gnus had the effect of expe- diting the departure of the Hessian picket, who pra- dently took to their heels at the double quick and did not think of halting until they haf piaced the canal bridge between themselves and their pursuers, Here, however, they halted and opened fire on the artillery men and the Continental company which advanced to support the battery, Jn the meantime the fightin Greene street had be- come warm, A strong body of Hessians had vanced from the centre of the town with the intention ot capturing the Continental battery, but in this at- tempt ibey were defeated by a epirited charge of Gen- eral Greene's column. NRAKLY 4 VICTIM, With a sublime indifterence to the fate of bis own friends, Colonel Knox Stahl ordered his battery to fire into the rear of the advaneing Continental coluinn, and came Very near tailing a Victim to lis unthinking valor, The artiltery men, not caring to sacrifice whole atoons of Continentals to the chanee of hitting a tow Hessians, siackened their fire, when t galiant | Colonel rode up, and ip words that must be written im blank, ordered them to continue the fire, without first taking the precantion of getting out of the way. He was struck on the head by 4 wad, and nad bis hat knocked off, aud severai drops of bis precious bicod shed. Fortunately, the gallant Colonel suffered no se- rious damage, and Was able to continue his intelligent direction of the artillery. The cbarge of the Continen- tals bad the effect of driving the main body of the Hessians in Greene street beyond tho the canal bridge, Here they halted and opened such a ‘eon the advancing column that its advance porarily checked. An eflort of the Hessians he spien- The divisions to regam their jost ground was defeated by did conduct of the Continental column. WASIIXGTON ON THE SCENK. General Washington, seeing the importance of car- rying the canal bridge, took position behind the guns and sent word to General Mercer to charge and push the enemy at all hazards. A DECISIVE CHARGR, While this fighting going on in Greene strect the Washington Pioneer Corps, which might be more Ppropriately called the ‘Rag regiment,” made a lendid charge and drove the Hess: nal bridge, thus turning the fi of the delenders of Greeve street. A simultaneous forward movement by Sterling's brigade was, handsomely checkea by acharge of the Hessians. jut Greene's coininn proved too much in the end, and tho Hessians beat a well-timed retreat down Perry street, where they made a junction with Colonel Rabl’s ri mentin Greene street. Geveral Suilivan’s division m the meantime drove in the Hessian pickets trom Front street, and notwithstanding a vigorous resist- ance compelled them to retire to State street, MOVE ON. One of the mort langhabio features of the battle the general superviston by the stalwart police the two contending hosta, as, for metanc State street. “Look out you don’t get sn = \ i Gen. Leslie Jan. and. \ SANDTOWN ‘ + Position of Hand's Rifle Sodps on 26th. of Dec. when they stSpped*the Hessians 3; FS = oi Washingt liceman would cry, flourishing his club and keep- ing away the arebins as well as maintaining 4 respectable distance between the two hosts. Some- times the programme would be interrupted and two opposing brigades would be pushed imto each oiher’s Trunks, When the policeman would appear, extricate the Hessian from the Continental and vice rersa, and put them both on their pins so that they could shoot ut each other in an orderly and comfortable manner. Alas! the sham shooting was not all sham, for bere in State street, Alfonso Hill, captain of Company I, of the First regiment of the Exton Cracker Baker Guard, who 18 a fat butcher, burned his eye by the too close explosion of his cap, aud two or three othor mis- haps occurred, but ‘none’ of them were of a serious nature, Of coursea slight buro like thia is not of much account, particularly if the street boys, and also some of the giris, keep raining down snowbuils at a lively rate, and all directed with uniailing aim at the wounded eye, A distinguished oficer was said to kave actually fallen trom his horse, but as the war corre- spondent did not witness the accident himself the report may have been merely malicious, In War- Ten street there was a diversion from the sham bat- tle—there was a renl one between two patriots full of Centennial whiskey, who punched and mauled uy other in the most artistic style to the infloite delight of tho little ragaroufns on the street. It was gener- ally conceded by all those who witnessed this not en- tirely unbloody affray—both contestants had bloody gashes on their beautifully decorated taces—that this little genuine encounter was a welcome relief from the monotonous sham ficoting all over the town. cLosk work. * In front of the Opera House the Hessians opposed to General Sullivan mide their last stand, and the engage- ment became excitng. The heads of the two columns firing point blank into each other for some time, when General St. Chir ordered his column to charge wtih the Dayonct,and the opposing forces actually met in con- flict, and stee! clashed against steel. A GENERAL IN DANGER. General St. Clair had here a very narrow escape, a8 his horse, maddened hy the close discharge of the tire- arms, reared up and came very near throwing the General on the bayonets of the Hessians. He tortu: and the soldiers, excited by the immt ot there commander, made guch ad cisive charge that the Hessians though it pradent to surrender. DOWN ON THE HEASTANS, In tront of the Opera House in Greene street, where the first troop of Hessians, Company D, commanded by Michae! Herney, surrendered to the Continentals the biggest crowd of all had assembled. Boys perched on the top of lamp posts, and the jam on (he sidewalk was such that passage was next Lo Impossible. Such a crush always affords opportunity for soine *fun,”? as for Instance squeezing halt a dozen old ladies ma tight Jam of about a dozen men, and then squeezing this crowd between some twenty others, « inextricable panting mass of humanity to and iro in helpless impotence. Thi mancuvre was frequently executed with signal éclat. General Morgan, who galloped to and fro, expregsed a very nataral desire lor somo inger to cool his patriotic ardor, but as o16 own Inger beer saloon was too tar away this desire was destined to remain nneatisied, “Why, how long will this thing last?”’ cried one of the squeezed crowd rants “it won't take you over a doy or two—will it?” Tha Hessian troops who were facing the Continentais subject of popul: reseutment. t one of the Hessians with a big, umbreila, and crossing it with the Hessian's bayouet cried, “0, you dammned Hessian, I'll rout you out of the country; get out irom here!” The Hessian did vot flinch betore this sanguinary assault, He stood his ground nobly, parried the thrust from the umbrella, and a duel eusaed in which the bayonet conquered and the patriotic umbretla- cartier had to retreat, leaving his umbrella behind. It was picked up amid great laughter and banded back to him, The Hessians, after they had surrendered, behaved in a very un-prisover-like style. They kept therr arms and leisurely mingled with the Contineutals, At last a ordered to place the prisoners in the did after several had obtained their of tobaceo trom the victors, “How is it you still keep your arms?” tho corro- spondent asked. “Oh, we gave them up," was the prompt reply ; **bat they were generous enough to give them back to us.’ The German captain of the Hessians was Michoel Herney, whospoke German with the true Limerick accent. ‘I am an Irish kind of a German,” said be. “Well, how do you take your defeat?” He laughed. “Oh, we'll die easy,’’ ho rephed, Then the victors were sought, “How do you feel over your victory?” they were aske “Oh, we arc going fo oat up these fellows,’ said the Continental loader; “we bave had them for luncheon, but we are gong to make a regalar meal of them by and by. At this jnnctare one of the Continentals who bad also slightly burned his eye by power issued from the drug store. “How much pension are they going to give him?’ asked one of bis comrades Jocosely, and the wounded man himself chimed in by asking ir Have you got the atnbulanee wagon ready?” at which both Conquerors and conquered burst into a guflaw, THE SURRENDER. Pressed on all sides the regimonts under Cojones ra 3 \ _ Virginia Tse THE,HESSIANS a s\ AMERICAN [J ” Rahl and Schaffer retreated from Greene, down Han- over and ipto State street, with the eviaent intention of gaining the open country. During the retreat through Hanover strect Colonel Rabl tell mortal wounded ond was carried into the Quaker cbure! Colonel Schaifer then took command, On the ar- rival of the Hessian column r the now Post Office, in State street, Colonel Schaffer's force was met by Gencral Steyean’s brigade, blocking his retreat, while Genera Suilivan’s division hemmed him in on the side of the town, Further resistence being useless, be surrendered his sword to General Sterling, anu the sham battio caine to an end. THE PARADE. After the battic the whole force engaged participated in a grand parade through the town, which was highly successiul Tho several generals, with their stalls, rode proudly ahead of their columns alter the splendid victories they bad achieved, but even the Hessians did not march abashed, and received 4 welcomo of cheers from the multitude that lined the streets. Au equipage im the parade contained soveral of the pro- mnoters of the shum battle, chief among wiom were Mr, Exton, atter whom the Exton Guards are named, alittle cbirpy Englishinan. In his eracker bakery the first germ of the grand idea of the sham battle origi nated, and it was carried out by means ol a popular subseription, to which he contributed liberally. The whole expense of the revival of Wasbingion und his victory 18 about $2,000—including broken heads, burned eyos and ati. SIGHTS AND SCENES DURING THE BATTLE, ‘The sights and scenes in Trevton during the progress of the sham battle were really unique. The principal sireets—state, Warren, Greene—weregfestooned with flags, and the picturesqtieness of the strests en- hanced through ‘the pesps of gorgeous and heavy laden Christmas trers which could be obtained through the windows. But what odd sights, Here was artillery dragged along on coal and wood carts; here were horses running away with — sloighs, to which they were hitched, being — frightened by the boom of the guns; there was a man pushing aud fighting bis way throngh the thickest part of the surging crowd with a baby aloft in bis arm; there | were the bevies of pretty, rosy girls, like so’ many bouquets of hving flowers, filling every window; youder that buriy butcher, reeking with the rs of the butcher sbop, dressed up in general’s unitorm, gulloping to and fro; the troops marching, the ragatuftins cheering, the drummers beating their hauds sore, and the’ most rollicking mirth abroad everywhere through the dense smoke that rose from the battie—streets—all this formed a quaint and striking spectacle, Young Trenton was out fn alls glory, There was the Washington Pioneer Corps, a body of ragged youths, whose patriotism shone through their smoary’ faces, grimy clothes, torn hats and gaping boots; one wore a white stevepipe, the next tho tag end of an old sealskin cap, the third a low black felt cap, the fourth a broad brimmed Greeiey hat, the fifth arusty, battered Prugsian helmet; but no wealth of description could give an idea of the variegated and pleturesqne raggeduess of this juvenile corps. Then there was another body of young rag boys, Peter mann’s Juvenile Band, who, from their motley appear- ance, wore not unlike ‘a band of young gypsies strag- gins through a Hungarian or Bobemian villuge. ow these boys did enjoy the tun; there was nothing like 1, How © they adinired and envied the generals prancing along on their noble chargers, the noble General Morgan, ofthe heavy round face and Wiack mustache, who keeps a lager beer saloon in the neighborhood (and bis beer 1s said to be very good, indeed); the dark faced, low browed, heavy jawed Genera! Sullivan, in whom but few of his videst acquaintances would have recognized plain old Martin Keegan, irom whom they buy their coal; General Greene, who came galloping along, is bead enveloped m a hazy mist of a huge white wig; General St. Clair, whose most prominent feature was a huge tooth; and leat, but not least, Go@oral Washington, who is an old soldier and whose short stumpy figure and thick sot, round head and dark, full, stubbiy beard, a5 well as the general outline of whose face, stronyly reminded one of the hero of the Jast wa: some considered our socond Washington, General Grant, As they gal- loped to fro, these ‘herves of a glorious past, re- rison in their old familiar garb and pageantry, every eye was turned upon them. How the dead heroes would have laughed couid they have seen themselves mimicked thas cleverly a hundred years hence | ‘THR COLLATION. In Washington Hall a vonuteous collation, consist- ing of ham and beet san ches, coffer, cheese and apbles, was supplied to the troops on both sides. The witing military, the Princeton Contineutal Guards and Company E, First regiment, N. G., Po., wore con- ducted to a separate apartment (rom the rest of tho troops, where they were regaled. Colonel Stab! imtro- duced Miss Sarah Smith Stafford, granddanghter of a Revolutionary hero, Lioutenant Stafford, ot the Bon Homme Richard, She is seventy-four years of age. Three cheers and a tiger were given for her, She took & seat at the head of the table after acknowledging the compliment A good time was spent and much jolli- fication e1 THE CIVIC CRLEBRATION. At haif-past two o'clock the civic celebration com- mepeed in Taylor Hall, which was about half filled Mr. Adam Exton presided. On the stage were General Rushing, Colonel J. R. Freese, General Truex (General Washin; beg Mv icy Keegan {Gonorai Sullivan), Rev. Mz. Walton, Colonel Gosson, Colcag! Lawion. @x-! ors Mills and Briest, Captain Dan. Bechtel and Colonel Stahl, Peterman’s Band was stationed on the gallery, where it discoursed choice national airs, Mr. Exton, in a tow remarks, opened the proceedings, introduced General Rusling, who first call on New Jersey for Continental troops. It recommended the raising of two battalions of eight companies each, fifty-eight privates to a coi puny. Each private was to get $5 per calendar month for his services, and instead of a bounty be was to get a felt hat, a pair of stockings and a puir of shoes, Each soldier should furnish his own arms, The Chairmun then introduced the orator of the day, Juage James Buchanan, He opencu his address by quoting :— We are living, we aro dwelling Tu a grand and awful thine; Tn an age on eyes telling ‘To be living ix subline. The words pt the poet bave crystallized into history. We stand to-day upon the threshold of the second century of our national existence. Forty millions people within the borders of this wide domain have but lately, with booming cannon, with waving binners aud loud huzfabs, usbered in the Centennial birthday of our naty ‘That day found usa nation of free men, proving to the world that man may govern themselves without the aid of kingly prerogative or imperial power, It found us at peace with our sister nations, and with the embers of the civil strife which had’ con- vulsed our land and so nearly snapped asunder the bonds of our Union slowly and surely dying out. It found usa nation with sehoolhouses dotting all our landscapes, with magnificent temples of learnin, thronged with eager scekers after knowledge, and with the spires of the temples of the ever-living God pot. {ng toward feaven irom each village and hamlet of this browd Jand. It found us with vast libraries in which are stored the wealth of mind and the choicest product of thought of the present with all the ac- cumalated treasares of the past. It found us with grout foundries and shops and factories, wheroin may be shaped and fashioned into forms of ‘use or beauty every article which the wants of man may require or his lixurious tastes demand, It found us with a yast domain of tertile soil, wrestea from navure ness and crowned with waving fleids of golden grain, It found us with mines of inexhaustible ioiveral weaith, awaiting only the coming of brain and musele to add to the riches of the earth. — It found as with great cities, - built, as it were, in a day, with palatial restdences, with | Spacious inarts filled with costly merebandise, with temple# stored with the choicest productions of ihe painter's art and the sculptor's skill, The battle of Trenton war then sketched by the Judge. In conclusion, he swid:—shall this Re- public endure? With you and each of you and with citizen of this Republic the answer rests, ax wo aud those who come atter us do justly, enact righteous laws and elect the officers of State with an honest re- gard the highest interests of all, enlighten the secure to the weakest members of the Com- monwealtn the und sturbed enjoyment o: ail his rights, seo to it that the free expression of the pop- ular will be pot ‘set aside at the command ot party managers to serve party purposes, as wo emulate the virtues of the berore past and imitate the glorious examples of patriotism with which the pages of our couatry’s history are so thickly studded. so only may we hope that this fabric which our taibe reared with #0 many years of weary toil and cemented with their biood shall stand amid tio storms of time and sarvive the wrecks of ages, Several relies of the battic of Trenton wero exbib- ited on the stage. After the people viewed them the Proceedings terminated with the singing of ‘‘America,” followed by the “Doxology.”? INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS, 40. A young man named Alphonso Hili was struck with a bayonut over the eye, Another man reccived a charge of powder m bis tace.* Charles Lowis, of 620 North Forty-iourth et, Philadelphia, ha gold watch and chain taken trom him by a pickpocket during the rosh to the celebration. A Bristol (I’a.) saloon keeper lost a pocketbook containing avout | $100, supposed 10 be taken by try. A woman named Kai resied for picking the pocket of a Mrs, Muchle Colonel Louis C. Gosson feil off his horse on the Pon- ningtoo road during the sham fight. He was bruised slightly by the fail. The horse ran over two boys. of the light-lingered na Schmidt was ar- THE REAL BATTLE. Trevtox, Dec, 26, 1776, We have gained o glorious victory. Trenton is in our hands and General Washiugton has to-day won im- perisbable laurels Our attack completely surprised the enemy. Wo found the Hessians unprepared, and no effective resistance offered to our advance, and the arms fell as by onchantment from the hands of our enemies, The victory we have won is nono the less glorious that on our side at Joust it has been al- moat bloodless, Only a few soldiers are reported killed and a score or #0 wounded. We have captured the whole garrison with the exception of some tugi- tives, Who in the confusion succeeded in making good their escape, Nine hundrod and forty-nx Prisoners, 1,200 stand of arms, six brass fieldpieces | yw jie, and woll bo may, for the cause of Aumericam, vo | iudgyendencejanaxed , pud ail (ho standards of the Hessian brigade ha’ fallen intoourhands. The enthasiasm among the’ soldiers 1s unbounded. The Commander-in-Chiel looks radiant He freely expresses the belief that tne moral effect of to-day’s victory wili bring crowds of recruits tothe army and restore hope and confidence to tne breasts of all patriots. The tories of this town weas very long faeces, and mamy of them have suddenly de veloped a wondertul amount of affection aad enthusiasm for the cause of independence. We are m tvo good humor to-day to quarre! with any one, and we feei | something lke sympathy for even these recreant Awerrcans, The Hessians are terribly cast down by | their defeat, and they have some reason, for thoy | made avery poor tight hetr Commander, Colonel Rabi, is wounded badly, He will not recover. TREASON, It seems that some traitor tn our camp gave infor- mation of the intended movemens to the enemy, bus Rah) would not believe that Washington would at Lemptto carry out his purpose insuch weather. TH was uppleasantly convinced of bis error this morning, | but somewhat late. The discovery of treason |im our own camp has somewhat modined | our enthusiasm, It is particularly serions, becan General Washingtoo’s intention to attack’ Trenton | was only known to a small number of the highest of- | cers in the army, and some one ef them must be the | traitor, Whoever he is General Washington is re- solved to seck him out and panish him. STORY OP THE BATTLE. It was three o'clock before the last of the troops had crossed the Delaware this morning, and another hour upied in perfecting the final organization, The vision, commanded by General Greene, was divided into three brigades, under the command of Generals Stirling, Mercer and stevens; the second division, commanded by General Suliivan, was divided into two brigades, under the orders of Generals St, | Clair and Glover, THY MARCH. We began our march about four A, M. of a fearful storm of 5 directly in our faces, So even the exertion of marching was not suf: ficient to keep up the natural circulati for the cutting northeast wind searched ou | every rent in ourragged garments, and they were num- beri¢ss. Most of the men had only an excuse forshoca and some nono at ail; but, nevertieless, they plodded | along the slippery road with a dogged courage that was truly admiracie, The advance was made in one col- umn over stoep bills uatil the Trenton road was reachea, which runs for some three miles through low hills and forests of hickory, maple, black oak and ash, | At Birminghay the two divisions separated, General Sullivan couunuing to march along the river road, while Washington passed ito the Pennington pike. OLATION. From this point the soad runs over a comparatively level piain, broken by long swells with a heavy tringe vordering ihe fields, There was hot the t sign of life; even the farm houses, scattered widely apart, iooked as though they had been deserted, The storm had driven every living thing to seek shel- ter, Even with daylight there came no sign of life. On every side expanded a vast’ rhoet of white snow, dotted here and there with farm houses, the dull white of the fields broken hero and there by patches of leafless trees, whose bare branches and bleached boughs, were horribly suggestive of ‘leath by starvation, OLD STREL RECOMMENDED, When approaching quite close to the town an aide- de-camp rode up to General Washington with word in the midst 1 and snow, which beat eat was the cold that { trom General Sullivan that the arms and ammunition j listened quietly of bis soldiers had got wetted, General Washington to this report, and replied, with marked firmness, ‘Then tell your General to use the | bayonet, and penetrate into the town; for tho town must be takev, and Tam resolved to take it.” The | way in which this reply was given left no room to dowbt the General’s meaning, and the aide-de-camp | made haste to get back with bis message, | conditions, PATRIOTIC DEVOTION. General Sullivan, having the shortest route, was balted to allow the two divisions to strike simultano- ously, and when tno aide-de-camp got back the soldier attentively listened to General Washington's reply, and when they heard it those among them who wore sup- plied with bayenets fixed them on their guns without waiting (or any orders, thus dostring to show thor readiness to carry out their Gencral’s wiskes under all It wus now nearly eight o’clock, and | broad daylight. The storm had cleared off, yet there read | was nothing to indicate that our advance had been dis- covered, THE FOOL'S PARADISE, Neither vidette nor patrol had been encountered by the scouts sent abead to keep a lookout for the enemy. It was evident that they suspected nothing and were | snugly shut up im their quarters, little dreaining of tha unpleasant surprise in store for them, The attack made by Captain Anderson in the early part of the bight no doubt threw them off iheir guard, and, as the patrols sent out in pursuit of the attacking party haa found no enemy, they concluded there was no danger, Even the night watch of the Ynger regiment had been withurawn, es up to daylight no evidence had been discovered of our presence. ‘The first glimpse we caught of the enemy Was near the tollzate, on the Pennington road, where the sentry of the adyanced | post was so astonished at the sudden appearance of | the column that for a moment he hesitated to give the alarm, THE ATTAC Whatever doubts he haa were suddo at rest, and a moment later General Greene’s advance waa vigorously driving the Hessfin north picket before it, Tne firing of our men was quickly answered by tha hearty cheering of Sullivan’s troops as they rushed | on the enemies’ picket near the Masonic lodge, | and the action soon became general. The ground jon the river side was very favorable to sur- | prise, and Suilivan’s soldiers were able to proach quite close to the Hessian picket before their presence was discovered, With a wild choer they rushed, with tevelied bayonets, on the astonished Germans, The latter were so completely taken by sure prise that they had no tine to form for resistance; 80, alter discharging a jew til-airected shots, they beat a hasty retreat to avoid the bayouets of our men, who, Jod on by the gallant Stark, Were resolved to do or die. The sullen resolution of the night haa given place to @ savage energy similar to that which impels tamish- | ing wolves to attack their prey regardless of conse. quences, Tho right wing aud ceutre of the Con. | tinental army was now engaged and pushing the fist ad¥antage vigorously. ‘Sullivan’s men were behaving splendidly, driving everything vefore them, | A company of Yugers that came out to support the flying picket, terrified at the fury ot the attack, broke, alter a show of resistance, aud fled in the ut- | most contusion across the Assanpink, closely pursued | by St. Clair’s brigade, while ivan, with the remainder of his division, kept after tne Kayphausen rogiment down Stato street and beyond Green street, where the Hessians railed and offered a stubborn re- sistance, THE HESSIANS DEMORALIZED, Washington pusbed forward so vigorously through King and Queen streets, the chiet streets of the town, that the Hessians were swept belore bis advance, ultogether unable 10 form or olfer any serioua resisiance, Sullivan, in the meanwhile, pursued hia advantage and advonced by the river road into Second street, and by this movement cut the Hessians off trom ail retreat by the Astanpink Bridge, The Hessians, quite demoralized by the suddenuess and fury of the aitack and acting without concert or orders, were un- able to ofler an effective resistance, but maintamed a heavy but ill-directed fire on our troops. Their main force had not yet been engaged, and bad there been a cool and decided man tn command he could still bave organized a dosporate resistance A GALLANT PRAT, At this critical moment a small party of oar men, under the command of Captains James Monroe and William Washington, made a determined charge on two fieldpieces which were standing tn frout of Rabl’s quarters, and succeeded in dismounting them and so rendered’ them uscless to the enemy. This gatlont action was performed with | sight loss, though both officers were wounded, not severely, however. A moment later Forest opened on the two Hessian regimonts with six guns at pretty close range. General Washington binsel the re of this battery, and occupied a plact front and ov the right of our line, not more than 300 yards from the enomy. WASHINGTON IN DANGER. The bullets at this pomt came pretty thick, but for. tunately the aim of the Hessians was Very Inaiflerout, 11 is a marvel how Gonerai Washington escaped, | ollered a conspicuous mark jor the enemy and the | buitets fell thickly around him, yet ho remained unine jured, though bis horse was Wounded und Rabl's indecision at this moment lost bim ail excape, With the two regiments that rem: | he withdrew to an orchard east of the town, evidently | with the inteption of making an effort to turn the left | wing of Washington’s army and gain the road to | Princeton, | | RAUL PALES. in order to check tuis movement Hand’s regiment of riflemen was thrown in lis froot and ope fire | with good eflect. Had Rabi av this moment attacked vigorously the thin line of ritlemen who were oppos- ing bim he might still have succeeded in exirieating his force and securing his retreat. But the soldiers wore in reality bester disposed to fight for the town than to clear a passago through our troops, Ever | since they bave arrived in this country they have de- voted themscives indastriously to piundering the inhabitants, and they are vaturaily unwilling to abane don the results of their industry without a straggle, They therefore persuaded Kab! to make another eflort to recover town. They came on boldiy | enough, but Stirling's aud Mercer’s brigades mot | them with a fire so galling that they wavered, aud our | troops, noticing their indecision, charged down on | them with acheer and drove them clour out ol the In this charge a bullet struck Rabi in the A ia Ki up that all order and disci pine this time Contuinen- artillery maintained a steady and | Uve firo down King street, A simustai is movement by Mercer's and Stirling's brigades forced the regiments of Rabi and Lossberg to retreat, but the flank movement exccuted early in the fight by Stevens’ brigade nad cut off all escape, and finding thems surrounded on all sides the two regiments sorrendered. The men of the Knayphausen regiment jared no better. They had been assigned the di of | protecting the loft tlank of the Hessian force, and tnd. to force | ipg themecives cut of attempt across the Assanpiuk Bridge, i upon early in the fight by General Sailivan’s division, 1 this thoy were unsuceesstul They then ford the rivulet, but found tt im) They then sur. rendered to General Stirling ition of retaining | their swords and private baga The action wag slort, sharp and decisive, and t leas timo than the | description, Within thirty-five intautes of the tring | of the first shot by Green’s advanee the Hessian force surrendered. This 1® a groat triumph for our cause, «1 cannot be weas@red by the more material results has brought, lt wili reanimato the dymg hope of d strike terror and diamay into the torous tories, When the surrender of the Hessians was announced to the General he wag. territory moved, and the careworn look whieh he had worn during the past few days has completely disap. peared, le looks to-day 1yi toan eedowel withe