Revolutionary Heroes, and Other Historical Papers | Page 9

asked: "What is to be done?"
"You have nothing for it," replied St. Clair, "but to push on and
charge."
The gallant Stark of Vermont was in command of the advance guard,
and perhaps near him marched the father of Daniel Webster. Colonel
Stark told his men to get their muskets in the best order they could as
they marched, and an officer was sent to inform General Washington of
this mishap.
"Tell your General," said the Commander-in-chief, "to use the bayonet
and penetrate into the town; the town must be taken, and I am resolved
to take it."
The soldiers overheard this reply, as it was given by the aide to General
Sullivan, and quietly fixed bayonets without waiting for an order.
About eight in the morning both parties arrived near the village of
Trenton. General Washington, who rode near the front of his column,
asked a man who was chopping wood by the roadside:
"Which way is the Hessian Picket?"
"I don't know," replied the Jerseyman, unwilling to commit himself.
"You may speak," said one of the American officers, "for that is
General Washington."
The man raised his hands to heaven and exclaimed: "God bless and
prosper you, sir! The picket is in that house, and the sentry stands near
that tree."
General Washington instantly ordered an advance. As his men marched
rapidly toward the village with a cheer, Colonel Stark and his band
answered the shout and rushed upon the enemy.
The Hessians made a brief attempt at resistance; first, by a wild and
useless fire from windows, and then by an attempt to form in the main
street of the village. This was at once frustrated by Captain T. Forest,
who commanded the battery of six guns which had caused much
trouble and delay in crossing the river.
At the same time Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James
Monroe, afterward President, ran forward with a party to where the
Hessians were attempting to establish a battery, drove the artillerists
from their guns, and captured two of them, just as they were ready to be
discharged.
Both these young officers were wounded. Colonel Stark during the

brief combat, as Wilkinson reports, "dealt death wherever he found
resistance, and broke down all opposition before him."
Colonel Rahl, who commanded the post, was roused from a deep sleep
by the noise of Washington's fire. He did all that was possible to form
his panic-stricken and disordered troops, but soon fell from his horse
mortally wounded. From that moment, the day was lost to the Hessians.
During the combat, General Washington remained near Captain
Forest's battery, directing the fire. He had just ordered the whole
battery, charged with canister, to be turned upon the retreating enemy,
when Captain Forest, pointing to the flagstaff near Rahl's headquarters,
cried, "Sir, they have struck!"
"Struck!" exclaimed General Washington.
"Yes," said Forest; "their colors are down."
"So they are!" said the commander.
General Washington galloped toward them, followed by all the
artillerymen, who wished to see the ceremony of surrender. He rode up
to where Colonel Rahl had fallen. The wounded man, assisted by
soldiers on each side of him, got upon his feet, and presented his sword
to the victor.
At this moment Wilkinson, who had been sent away with orders,
returned to his general, and witnessed the surrender. Washington took
him by the hand, and said, his countenance beaming with joy: "Major
Wilkinson, this is a glorious day for our country!"
In a moment, however, the unfortunate Rahl, who stood near, pale,
covered with blood, and still bleeding, appeared to be asking for the
assistance which his wounds required.
He was at once conveyed to the house of a good Quaker family near by,
where he was visited by General Washington in the course of the day,
who did all in his power to soothe the feelings of the dying soldier.
This action, reckoning from the first gun, lasted but thirty-five minutes.
On the American side two officers were wounded, two privates were
killed, four were wounded, and one was frozen to death. Four stands of
colors were captured, besides twelve drums, six brass field-pieces, and
twelve hundred muskets. The prisoners were nine hundred and forty-
six in number, of whom seventy-eight were wounded. Seventeen of the
Hessians were killed, of whom six were officers.
We can scarcely imagine the joy which this victory gave to the people

everywhere, as the news slowly made its way. They were in the depths
of discouragement. There had been moments when Washington himself
almost gave up Philadelphia for lost, and it was from Philadelphia that
he drew his most essential supplies.
The capture of the post at Trenton, a thing trifling in itself, changed the
mood and temper of both parties, and proved to be the turning-point