and consideration, accepted these terms, and went over

to the enemy.

"Others, especially in New Jersey, took the oath, but remained at their homes.

"In short, so great was the panic and so dark the prospect, that a general despondency pervaded the continent. In the midst of these scenes of trial and discouragement, Washington stood firm. Whatever his apprehensions may have been, no misgivings were manifest in his conduct or his counsels.

"From his letters, written at this time on the western bank of the Delaware, it does not appear that he yielded for a moment to a sense of immediate danger, or to a doubt of ultimate success. On the contrary, they breathe the same determined spirit, and are marked by the same confidence, calmness, and forethought, which distinguish them on all other occasions. When asked what he would do, if Philadelphia should be taken, he is reported to have said- We will retreat beyond the Susquehanna River; and thence, if necessary, to the Alleghany Mountains.' Knowing, as he did, the temper of the people, the deep-rooted cause of the controversy, and the actual resources of the confederacy, he was not disheartened by temporary misfortunes, being persuaded that perseverance would at last overcome every obstacle."

Burke thought the position of our army at this time very precarious. "An army," he says, "that is obliged at all times and in all situations, to decline an engage

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ment, may delay their ruin, but can never defend their country." Some one called it "a scuffle for liberty."

It was not very long after this that the British who had been in possession of the whole route, were obliged to ask of Washington a safe conduct for money and stores, to be sent for the use of the prisoners captured at Trenton.

While he lay in camp at Trenton the state of the army, then in imminent danger of being totally disbanded, owing to the dissatisfaction of the Jersey people, obliged him to ask for new powers, powers indeed which he himself felt Congress might well refuse to grant.

"It may be said, that this is an application for powers that are too dangerous to be intrusted. I can only add, that desperate diseases require desperate remedies; and I with truth declare, that I have no lust after power, but I wish with as much fervency as any man upon this wide-extended continent, for an opportunity of turning the sword into the ploughshare. But my feelings, as an officer and a man, have been such as to force me to say, that no person ever had a greater choice of difficulties to contend with than I have. It is needless to add, that short enlistments, and a mistaken dependence upon militia, have been the origin of all our misfortunes and the great accumulation of our debt.

"We find, sir, that the enemy are daily gathering strength from the disaffected. This strength, like a

snow-ball, by rolling, will increase, unless some means can be devised to check effectually the progress of the enemy's arms. Militia may possibly do it for a little while; but in a little while, also, and the militia of those States which have been frequently called upon, will not turn out at all; or, if they do, it will be with so much reluctance and sloth, as to amount to the same thing.

"Instance New Jersey! Witness Pennsylvania! Could any thing but the river Delaware have saved Philadelphia? Can any thing (the exigency of the case indeed may justify it) be more destructive to the recruiting service, than giving ten dollars' bounty for six weeks' service of the militia, who come in, you cannot tell how, go, you cannot tell when, and act, you cannot tell where; consume your provisions, exhaust your stores, and leave you at last at a critical moment."

But Congress did not refuse, and in this case, as in most others, answered favorably Washington's volumes of letters, filled, as was necessary under the distressing and threatening circumstances of the case, with requisitions of every kind. He often apologizes for this, yet the thing speaks for itself, and however tiresome, it must be done, and was done, with such faithfulness as in the end answered the purpose.

Washington not only received from Congress the powers of almost a military dictator, but accompanied by such gracious words as these :—

Happy is it for this country that the general of

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their forces can safely be intrusted with the most unlimited power, and neither personal security, liberty nor property, be in the least degree endangered thereby." To which Washington replied:

"I find Congress has done me the honor to intrust me with powers, in my military capacity, of the highest nature, and almost unlimited extent. Instead of thinking myself freed from all civil obligations by this mark of their confidence, I shall constantly bear in mind that, as the sword was the last resort for the preservation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first thing laid aside when those liberties are firmly established."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Public patience wearing out-The art of retreating-Recruiting-Some accessions to the army give rise to new hopes and new projects-Hard duty-Crossing the Delaware-Surprise of the Hessians-Battle of Trenton-Entrance into Philadelphis -Battle of Princeton-Anecdotes of Washington's bravery.

THE discouraging aspect of affairs, after the loss of Fort Washington, and while the weary and diminished army was on the west side of the Delaware, awaiting, with the courage of desperation, the movements of Lord Howe and his brother Sir William, tried the soul of Washington to the utmost. Retreating and retreating, with scarce a gleam of success to cheer the heavy clouds of disappointment, it needed all his energy and all his perseverance-superior to most other men's-to keep off despair and sustain activity. The Howes were only waiting for the ice to take Philadelphia, which had been left under command of General Putnam.

The army under Washington at this time amounted to ten thousand, one hundred and six men; of this number, five thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine were sick or on furlough, leaving four thousand, seven hundred and seven fit for duty.