From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 173
"Happy is it for this country that the general of their forces can safely be entrusted with the most unlimited
power, and neither personal security, liberty, or property, be in the least degree endangered thereby."
As soon as the news of the capture of the Hessians at Trenton reached New York, General Howe hurried
Cornwallis off to Princeton, where about eight thousand of his army were wintering, with instructions to
attack Washington. On the second day of January, 1777, the latter posted his troops on the east side of a small
stream, the Assumpink, learning that Cornwallis was marching upon him. About mid-day Cornwallis
approached with five or six thousand troops, and attempted to cross the river; but the Americans repulsed him.
The engagement continued until dark, when Cornwallis proposed to cease hostilities and rest until morning.
"Nay," said Sir William Erskine; "now is your time to make sure of Washington."
"Oh, no!" replied Cornwallis; "our troops are fatigued and need rest. The old fox can't make his escape now;
for, with the Delaware behind him, so filled with floating ice that he cannot cross, we have him completely
surrounded. To-morrow morning, fresh and strong, we will fall upon him, and take him and his rag-a-muffins
all at once!"
"Ah, my lord!" rejoined Sir William, "if Washington be the soldier that I think he is, you will not see him
there to-morrow morning."
The escape of the American army seemed impossible. With a superior force of the British in front, well armed
and fresh, and the impossibility of recrossing the Delaware, together with deep mud in the roads, the capture
of Washington, to human view, seemed inevitable.
Early in the evening Washington conceived the idea of making a forced march to Princeton during the night,
to capture the enemy's stores there, and then push on to Brunswick for additional booty. But then the mud was
so deep that such a march would not be possible. While he was thus revolving the matter, the wind suddenly
shifted, the clouds broke, and freezing cold weather set in, so that within two hours the ground became solid,
and the army could move. Again God proved to the astonished commander-in-chief that He was not always
"on the side of the heaviest battalions."
Stirring up his camp-fire anew, and setting a score of shovellers to work within hearing distance of the foe, to
deceive him, Washington moved off as quietly as possible to Princeton with his army. There he met a force
Cornwallis had left behind, and a desperate battle followed, in which the Americans were victorious.
At first Colonel Mawhood's celebrated regiment charged upon the advance of the American army, driving
them back in confusion. But Washington, ever ready for such an emergency, rode to the front, brandishing his
sword, and calling upon his men to follow. Placing himself in front, directly facing the foe, he stopped for a
moment, as if to say to his army, "Will you suffer the enemy to shoot your general?" They could not resist the
appeal, and with a yell they turned and dashed forward, with irresistible might, driving all before them, and
the victory was theirs.
Colonel Fitzgerald, one of Washington's aides, was so affected by his commander's daring, that he dropped
the reins on his horse's neck and drew his cap over his eyes, that he might not see him shot from his horse.
While waiting in this agony of suspense, a shout of triumph rent the air.
"The British are running!"
"The victory is ours!"
The air was rent with the shouts of the victors.