ページの画像
PDF
ePub

ed different roads, yet they arrived at the enemy's advanced post, within three minutes of each other. The out-guards of the Hessian troops at Trenton soon fell back, but kept up a constant retreating fire. Their main body being hard pressed by the Americans, who had already got possession of half their artillery, attempted to file off by a road leading towards Princeton, but were checked by a body of troops thrown in their way. Finding they were surrounded, they laid down their arms. The number which submitted, was 23 officers, and 886 men. Between 30 and 40 of the Hessians were killed and wounded. Colonel Rahl, was among the former, and seven of his officers among the latter. Captain Washington, of the Virginia troops, and five or six of the Americans were wounded. Two were killed, and two or three were frozen to death.The detachment in Trenton, consisted of the regiments of Rahl, Losberg, and Kniphausen, amounting in the whole to about 1500 men, and a troop of British light horse. All these were killed or captured, except about 600, who escaped by the road leading to Bordentown.

The British had a strong battalion of light infantry at Princeton, and a force yet remaining near the Delaware, superior to the American army. General Washington, therefore, in the evening of the same day, thought it most prudent to recross into Pennsylvania, with his prisoners.

The next day after Washington's return, supposing him still on the Jersey side, general Cadwalader crossed with about 1500 men, and pursued the panic struck enemy to Burlington.

The merits and services of general Cadwalader, induced the congress, early in 1778, to compliment him by an unanimous vote, with the appointment of general of cavalry; which appointment he declined, under an impression that he could be more useful to his country, in the sphere in which he had been acting.

The victory at Trenton had a most happy effect, and General Washington, finding himself at the head of a force with which it was practicable to attempt something, resolved not to remain inactive. Inferior as he was to the enemy, he yet determined to employ the winter in endeavouring to recover the whole, or a great part of Jersey. The enemy were now collected in force at Princeton, under lord Cornwallis, where some works were thrown up. Generals Mifflin and Cadwalader, who lay at Bordentown and Crosswicks, with three thousand six hundred militia, were ordered to march up in the night of the first of January, 1777, to join the commander in chief, whose whole force, with this addition, did not exceed five thousand men. He formed the bold and judicious design of abandoning the Delaware, and marching silently in the night by a circuitous route, along the left flank of the enemy, into their rear at Princeton, where he knew they could not be very strong. He reached Princeton early in the morning of the third, and would have completely surprised the British, had not a party, which was on their way to Trenton, descried his troops, when they were about two miles distant, and sent back couriers to alarm their fellow soldiers in the rear. A sharp action ensued, which however was not of long duration. The militia, of which the advanced party was principally composed, soon gave way. General Mercer was mortally wounded while exerting himself to rally his broken troops. The moment was critical. General Washington pushed forward, and placed himself between his own men and the British, with his horse's head fronting the latter. The Americans, encouraged by his example, made a stand, and returned the British fire. A party of the British fled into the college, and were attacked with field pieces. After receiving a few discharges they came out and surrendered themselves prisoners

of war. In this action upwards of one hundred of the enemy were killed on the spot, and three hundred taken prisoners.. The Americans lost. only a few, but colonels Haslet and Potter, two brave and valuable officers, from Delaware and Pennsylvania, were among the slain.

General Cadwalader's celebrated duel with general Conway, arose from his spirited opposition to the intrigues of that officer, to undermine the standing of the commander in chief. The anecdote relative to the duel, in "Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War," by Alexander Garden, of Charleston, South Carolina, is not entirely correct.

It will be recollected that general Conway was dangerously wounded, and while his recovery was doubtful, he addressed a letter to general Washing acknowledging that he had done him injustice.

Among many obituary notices of General Cad-. walader, this patriotic and exemplary man, the following outline of his character, in the form of a monumental inscription, is selected from a Baltimore paper of the 24th of February, 1786: In memory of

General John Cadwalader,

Who died, February the 10th, 1786,
At Shrewsbury, his seat in Kent County,
In the 44th year of his age.
This amiable and worthy Gentleman,
Had served his Country
With reputation,

In the character of a

Soldier and Statesman :

He took an active part, and had a principal
Share, in the late Revolution,

And, although he was zealous in the cause
of American Freedom,

His conduct was not mark'd with the
Least degree of malevolence, or party spirit.
Those who honestly differed from him

1

In opinion,

He always treated with singular tenderness,
In sociability, and cheerfulness of temper,
Honesty and goodness of heart,
Independence of spirit, and warmth of
Friendship,

He had no superior,

And few, very few equals:
Never did any man die more lamented
By his Friends, and Neighbours;
To his family, and near relations,

His death was a stroke still more severe. CLINTON, JAMES, was the fourth son of colonel Charles Clinton, and was born on Thursday the 19th of August, 1736, at the house of his father, in Ulster county, in the colony of New York. In common with his brothers, he was favoured with an excellent education. The study of the exact sciences was his favourite pursuit; but the predominant inclination of his mind was to a military life.

In the critical and eventful affairs of nations, when their rights and their interests are invaded, and when the most daring attempts are made to reduce them to domestic tyranny or foreign subjugation, Providence, in the plenitude of its beneficence, has generally provided men qualified to lead the van of successful resistance, and has infused a redeeming spirit into the community which enabled it to rise superior to the calamities that menaced its liberty and its prosperity. The characters designed for these important ends, are statesmen and soldiers. The first devise plans in the cabinet, and the second execute them in the field. At the commencement of the American revolution, and during its progress to a glorious consummation, constellations of illustrious men appeared in the councils and the armies of the nation, illuminating by their wisdom and upholding

by their energy: drawing forth the resources and vindicating the rights of America. In defiance of the most appalling considerations, liberty or death was inscribed on the heart of every patriot; and, drawing the sword, he consecrated it to the cause of Heaven and his country, and determined to die or to conquer.

Amidst the gallant soldiers, whose services were demanded by the emergencies of the American revolution, James Clinton, the subject of this memoir, was always conspicuous. To an iron constitution and invincible courage, he added the military experience which he acquired in the war of 1756, where he established his character as an intrepid and skilful officer; and the military knowledge which he obtained after the peace of 1763, by a close attention to the studies connected with his favourite profession.

On the 31st of January, 1756, he was appointed by governor sir Charles Hardy, an ensign in the second regiment of militia for the county of Ulster; on the 25th March, 1758, by lieutenant governor Delancey, a lieutenant of a company in the pay of the province of New York; on the 7th March, 1759, by the same lieutenant governor, a captain of a company of provincial troops; and in the three following years he was successively re-appointed to the same station. On the 15th November, 1763, he was appointed by lieutenant governor Colden, captain commandant of the four companies in the pay of the province of New York, raised for the defence of the western frontiers of the counties of Ulster and Orange, and captain of one of the said companies; and on the 18th March, 1774, lieutenant colonel of the second regiment of militia, in Ulster county. This detail is entered into not from a spirit of ostentation, but to show that he rose gradually and from step to step in his profession not by intrigue, for he had none; nor by the influ

« 前へ次へ »