with the view of rousing the whole people to a sense of the impending danger, and the calamities that will ensue should the enemy succeed in the attempt to get possession of the capital.

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26th. A singular kind of riot took place in our barracks last evening, attended by some unpleasant consequences. Colonel A. W. of Massachusetts, made choice of his two sons, who were soldiers in his regiment, to discharge the menial duties of waiters, and one of them having been brought up a shoe maker, the Colonel was so inconsiderate as to allow him to work on his bench in the same room with himself. This ridiculous conduct has for some time drawn on the good old man the contemptuous sneers of the gentlemen officers, especially those from Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Colonel C. of Wayne's regiment, being warmed with wine, took on himself the task of reprehending the "Yankee" Colonel for thus degrading his rank. With this view he rushed into the room in the evening and soon despatched the shoe maker's bench, after which, he made an assault on the Colonel's person, and bruised him severely. The noise and confusion soon collected a number of officers and sol diers, and it was a considerable time before the rioters could be quelled. Some of the soldiers of Colonel Wayne's regiment actually took to their arms and dared the Yankees, and then proceeded to the extremity of firing their guns. About thirty or forty rounds were aimed at the soldiers of our regiment, who were driven from their huts and barracks, and several of them were severely wounded. Colonel C. in making an assault on a superior officer, and encouraging a riot, is guilty of one of the highest crimes in our articles of war. It was in the power of Colonel W. and in fact, it was his duty, to bring the audacious offenders to exemplary punishment; but, as if to complete the disgrace of the transaction. Colonel C. sent some soldiers into the woods to shoot a fat deer, with which he made an entertainment, and invited Colonel W. and his officers to partake of it; effected a reconciliation; and Colonel W. was induced to overlook the high handed assault on his own person and on the lives of his soldiers. Our Colonel is a serious, good man, but is more conversant with the economy of domestic life than the etiquette practised in camp.

this

January 5th. At the close of the last year, the situation of our main army was gloomy and discouraging, a large proportion of the troops had retired from service, as their term

of enlistment expired, and the small remains of our army was retreating before the enemy, and passed the Delaware for safety. It is now announced in our general orders, to our inexpressible joy and satisfaction, that the scene is in some degree changed, the fortune of war is reversed, and Providence has been pleased to crown the efforts of our Commander in Chief with a splendid victory. His Excellency, having obtained information that the advance party of the enemy, consisting of about fifteen hundred Hessians and British light horse, under command of Colonel Rahl, was stationed at the village of Trenton, concerted a plan for taking them by surprise. For this purpose he made choice of Christmas night, under the idea that in consequence of the festivity, they might be less vigilantly guarded. At this time the whole force under his immediate command did not exceed three thousand men. At the head of about two thousand four hundred men, one division being commanded by General Greene, and the other by General Sullivan, he crossed the river Delaware in boats, in the night of the 25th of December, during a severe storm of snow and rain. The passage of the boats was rendered extremely difficult and hazardous by the ice, and part of the troops and cannon actually failed in the attempt Having landed on the Jersey shore, he had nine miles to march, and he reached the village about seven o'clock in the morning with such promptitude and secrecy, as to attack the enemy almost as soon as his approach was discovered. A smart firing ensued, which continued but a few minutes, when the enemy, finding themselves surrounded, threw down their arms, and surrendered as prisoners, Colonel Rahl, the commanding officer, was mortally wounded, and seven other officers were wounded and left at Tren ton on their parole. About thirty-five soldiers were killed, sixty wounded, and nine hundred and forty-eight, including thirty officers, were taken prisoners, amounting in all to one thousand and forty-eight. Of the Continentals not more than ten, it is supposed, were killed and wounded. General Washington recrossed the Delaware the same day in triumph, bringing off six excellent brass cannon, about one thousand two hundred small arms, and three standards, with a quantity of baggage, &c. This very brilliant achievement is highly honorable to the Commander in Chief, and to all that were engaged in the enterprise. We are sanguine in the hope that this most auspicious event will be productive of the happiest effects, by inspiriting our dejected army, and

dispelling that panic of despair into which the people have been plunged. General Washington allowed the Hessian prisoners to retain their baggage, and sent them into the interior of Pennsylvania, ordering that they be treated with favor and humanity. This conduct, so contrary to their expectations, excited their gratitude and veneration for their amiable conqueror, whom they styled, "a very good rebel.”

15th. By some friends from the main army, and from current report, it appears that the British, having overrun the Jerseys, considered the Continental army as on the point of annihilation, and flattered themselves that what they term the rebellion, is effectually crushed. In their march through the Jerseys they have committed such licentious ravages and desolation, as must be deemed disgraceful by all civilized people; an indiscriminate robbery and plundering mark every step of their progress; rapine and murder, without distinction of friend or foe, age or sex, has been put in practice with an inexorable spirit, and countenanced by officers of rank and distinction. Even those unfortunate inhabitants who have been deluded by their promises, and received printed protections, are equally sufferers by these cruel and atrocious wretches. Hundreds of inhabitants, both male and female, have been deprived of their dwellings and sustenance, stripped of their clothing, and exposed to the inclemency of the winter, and to personal insult and abuse of almost every description. But their wicked career is about to be checked. Providence will not suffer such enormities to be perpetrated with impunity. Those miserable inhabitants, whose lives have been spared, are driven to desperation, and feel that they have no hope but in the extirpation of their cruel enemies. The people who have been subdued, have with a noble spirit, risen on their conquerors, and are resolved to revenge the injuries which they have suffered.

We are now informed of another very important advantage which General Washington has gained over the royal army by means of a well concerted stratagem. After his success at Trenton, General Washington received considerable reenforcements of troops from Virginia and Maryland, and some regiments of militia, which enabled him again to cross the Delaware into the Jerseys and face the enemy. While at Trenton, Lord Cornwallis advanced to attack him, and a severe cannonade commenced. The feeble American army was reduced to a delicate and perilous situation. A superior enemy in front and the river Delaware in the rear, the ruin

of our army by an attack the next morning appeared almost inevitable. To extricate himself from this very critical position, required the skill and address of Washington, nor did the resources of his mind fail him in this instance. In the evening he ordered a great number of fires to be lighted up in his camp, and leaving a sufficient number of men to keep them burning during the night to deceive the enemy, stole a march with his main army, taking a circuitous route, and, at nine o'clock the next morning, attacked three regiments of the British who were posted at Princeton, routed them, and drove them from their redoubts. By this masterly manœuvre, the enemy lost about five hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners. The loss on our side is very inconsiderable in point of numbers, but we have to lament the death of Brigadier General Mercer, a brave officer who commanded the Virginia militia. The fact is published, that after General Mercer surrendered himself, the enemy, deaf to the voice of humanity, stabbed him with their boyonets, and with the butt end of a musket battered and disfigured his face in a savage manner. It is to be remarked, that on this memorable occasion Lord Cornwallis was completely outgeneralled; while he was expecting to find the Continental army at their lighted fires at Trenton, he was astonished and confounded to hear the firing occasioned by this same army, beating up their quarters twelve miles in his rear. lordship immediately repaired by a forced march to Princeton, but arrived too late to retaliate on his vigilant antagonist, who had taken up his route to Morristown.* Finding that the Continentals were out of his reach, his lordship proceeded without halting, to Brunswick. Stratagems in war, when wisely concerted, and judiciously executed, are considered as characterizing a military genius of superior order, and is a quality of inestimable value in every commander.

His

* Washington pushed forward and placed himself between the lines of the two armies with his horse's head fronting the enemy, that his example and exhortations might encourage his troops to make a bold stand and return the enemy's fire. While they were fighting in Princeton, says Dr. Ramsay, the British in Trenton were under arms, and on the point of making an assault on the evacuated camp of the Americans. With so much address had the movement to Princeton been conducted, that Washington moved completely off the ground with his whole force, stores, baggage, and artillery, unknown to and unsuspected by his adversaries; and so entirely were they deceived, that when they heard the report of the artillery at Princeton, though it was in the depth of winter, they supposed it to be thunder. The British, astonished at these bold movements of an enemy supposed to be vanquished, instantly fell back with their whole force, and abandoned every post they held to the southward of New York, except Brunswick and Amboy.

It is often exultingly remarked in our camp, that Washing. ton was born for the salvation of his country, and that he is endowed with all the talents and abilities necessary to qualify him for the great undertaking. The militia of Jersey, im mediately on their being liberated from the control of the British, flew to arms, exasperated and stimulated by a recollection of their sufferings, and have become their most bitter and determined enemies; and are very active and vigilant in harassing them on all occasions, keeping a continual watch, and cutting off small parties whenever opportu nities offer. It is gratifying to the army that Congress have conferred on their Generalissimo more ample powers, and appointed him Dictator for the limited term of six months; to reform and new model the military arrangements, in such manner as he may judge most advantageous for the public service. Much good is expected to result from this

measure.

30th. It is with infinite satisfaction we learn, that the royal army has been compelled to quit almost every part of the Jerseys, and that our army is pursuing them from post to post, and they find no security but in the vicinity of their shipping.

General Washington has issued a proclamation commanding all persons having taken the oath of allegiance to Great Britain, and accepted protections and certificates, to deliver up the same, and take the oath of allegiance to the United States; granting at the same time full liberty to all who prefer the protection of Great Britain to the freedom and happiness of their country, forthwith to withdraw themselves and families to the enemy's lines.

The winter hitherto has been mild and temperate; Lake Champlain is now frozen over, and the ice is about one foot thick, the earth is covered with snow, but the storms have not been very violent, and the cold not so intense as might be expected in a northern climate. There have been frequent instances of persons being detected lurking about the country who are employed by the enemy in enlisting soldiers for the tory regiments in New York. In order effectually to prevent this nefarious conduct, every person of this description who may fall into our hands is to be tried by a court martial, and if found guilty, will be executed as a spy. A few days since, one Daniel Strong was found lurking about our army at Peekskill, and on examination, enlisting orders were found sewed in his clothes; he was immediately tried as a spy