BOOK by Great Britain would be successful in a cer☑tain degree, it could scarcely be imagined that such a series of disasters could happen in so short a time. But the event of the campaign, though now in appearance brought very nearly to a termination, shewed in a striking manner the caprice of fortune, and the folly of those who in a hazardous and dangerous war rely on a constant and uninterrupted tide of success. When general Washington retreated across the Delawar, he trembled for the fate of America *; and talked of retiring for safety with the remains of his army to the recesses of the Alleghany mountains, expecting to have been immediately followed by the British forces. For, though the boats were by a timely precaution removed to the Pennsylvanian shore, the neighbourhood supplied ample materials, which art and industry might soon have constructed into rafts and flotillas sufficient for the transportation of the troops. But it was remarked by men of discernment, that nothing of the vast or decisive appeared in the plans of the English general, and the troops now

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in the full career of success were ordered into BOOK winter cantonments, forming an extensive chain from Brunswic to the Delawar, and down the 1776. banks of that river for many miles, so as to compose a front at the end of the line looking over to Pennsylvania. General Washington having perfect information of this disposition, in the spirit of a vigilant and sagacious commander, immediately formed the resolution to clip the wings of the enemy while they were so spread *."

Very early in the morning of the 26th of December (1776), a day purposely selected on the supposition that the preceding festivity might favour the project of surprize, general Washington crossed the Delawar, not without extreme difficulty from the quantity of ice in the river, nine miles above Trenton, and immediately began his march in the midst of a storm of snow and hail at the head of his troops, which ex

BOOK ceeded not three thousand in number, and reach

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1776.

ed Trenton by day-break. Here about one thousand six hundred men were stationed, chiefly Hessians, under the command of colonel Rahl, who, being unsuspicious of danger, were thrown into confusion at the first attack. Colonel Rahl himself being mortally wounded, the disorder increased, and, abandoning their artillery, they attempted to make their retreat to Prince-town: but finding this impracticable, and being now overpowered, and nearly surrounded, the three regiments of Rahl, Lossberg, and Knyphausen, laid down their arms, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war the remainder of the troops escaping with difficulty by way of Bor'denton. In the evening general Washington repassed the Delawar, carrying with him the prisoners, their artillery, and colors, and entered the city of Philadelphia in triumph. The charm was now dissolved; and it being found by experience that the Europeans were not invincible, great numbers of the Americans, who had deserted their colors, again repaired to the standard of their commander, who soon found himself at the head of a considerable army, in a condition once more to cross the Delawar; and lord Cornwallis, who was actually at New York in his way to England, found himself under a necessity of returning to the defence of BOOK

The English general, approaching the Ame rican army strongly posted near the town of Trenton, made immediate dispositions for an attack; but in the dead of night (January 2, 1777) general Washington silently withdrew his troops, leaving fires burning in his camp, and the usual patroles, in order to deceive the enemy; and by a circuitous march arrived by sunrise at Prince-town. Here the fourth brigade of British troops, consisting of the seventeenth, fortieth, and fifty-fifth regiments, were posted under the command of colonel Mawhood, who had just begun his march in order to join lord Cornwallis, when he fell in with the van-guard of the American army. Though engaged with a far superior force, the colonel, at the head

:

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BOOK of his own corps, with extraordinary gallantry

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fought his way through the thickest ranks of the 1776. enemy-the other regiments making separate retreats by different roads: they suffered however vere severely in this unequal conflict, and were in a great measure disabled for future service. General Washington distinguished himself on this occasion by singular exertions of personal valor. On this disaster, lord Cornwallis, finding himself out-manœuvred by his antagonist, abandoned his camp at Trenton, and retired with precipitation to Brunswic. The licentious ravages of the soldiery, particularly of the German mercenaries, during the time they were in possession of the Jerseys, had excited the utmost resentment and detestation of the inhabitants; and the fortune of war now seeming to turn against them, the whole country rose in arms; the militia collected in large bodies, and the British troops were every where attacked with success at Woodbridge, at Elizabeth-town, at Newark; and the royal troops retained only the two posts of Brunswic and Amboy, both holding an open communication with New York by sea.

The dispositions made by general Howe, and indeed his whole conduct from the commencement to the conclusion of this campaign, were to persons unskilled in the military art totally