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Pact Eirtt THE CLINTON CHRONICLE Thurtdty, Ptetadbtr 2S, It64 WASHINGTON’S GIFT TO THE NATION By RUSSELL H. ARGENT In December I*sue, The Kiwanis Majpurine In the vilk^e of Trenton soft candlelight streamed from latticed windows, and snow-covered roof tops gleamed pale in the moon light. Beneath the gabled roofs, round-cheeked Hessian mercen aries roared Christmas carols and welcomed the season of peace on earth with flowing bumpers *f Jersey applejack. Christmas trees, seen for the first time in America, sparkled with tinsel and toys. Out side the cobbled streets rang with laughter of red-coated soldiers as they thronged in and out of bar racks and eating places. Outside the enemy camp there was very little laughter or festiv ity in the holiday season of 1776. The plights of the patriots was desperate. In the fall of the year Washington had taken up posi tions on Brooklyn Heights, across New York Bay, only to be defeat ed by Lord Howe at the battle of Long Island. Howe had followed up his victory by capturing 'Fort Washington and Fort Lee, along with three thousand patriots and vital equipment. Washington him self had only narrowly escaped. The Continental Army then be gan the long retreat southward, across New Jersey, over the Dela ware River and into Pennsylvania. On the bank of the Delaware Washington garrisoned the fords from New Hope to Yardley and stationed General Ewing opposite Trenton. Colonel Cadwalader was pasted ten miles below at the town of Bristol. The British General, Lord Howe, was convinced that the war was over and that Congress would now see the error of its ways and sue for peace. So he made no attempt to follow Washington's tattered army, which spent Christmas on the frozen hills of Pennsylvania overlooking the river Delaware. On the opposite shore, at Trenton, the Hessian garrison celebrated the season with traditional vigor. Colonel Rail, the Hessian com mandant. stretched before the glowing log fire with a sigh of contentment. The thought of Washington and his ragged army camped across the icy river amused him, and he chuckled heavily, feeling supremely confi*-, dent of his great superiority over hrs ill-fed, ill-trained adversaries. It was late and his bleary, eyes could scarcely focus on the weary messenger who stood before him holding out a written message. Savagely he crushed the note and thrust it into his tunic pocket, calling, as he did so, for the mes senger to depart and leave him in peace. Across the Delaware three words were whispered from group to group around the campfires: •We attack tonight.” Ragged, hungry men, gnawing hunks of black bread, awaited -anxiously the signal for adion. Washington stared moodily across the forming river toward the lights of the enemy encamp ment. His supplies were short. The term of enlistment for many of his men would end with the new year. The Crown had already promised to pardon all who had taken up arms against the Kujg on condition that they would re turn peaceably to their homes. There were frequent desertions as the “sunshine patriots” left the Continental ranks and returned to their shops and farms. Washington knew that his own headquarters was a hotbed of jealousy and intrigue—he could trust no one. Congress bickered and procrastinated, dubbing him a dictator, while a Tory fifth-col umn gnawed at public opinion to stop The war. “No man," he wrote, • ever had a greater choice of dif ficulties and less means to extri cate himself from them." 'We have put these upstarts in thpir place,” the pudgy Cornwallis had boasted before preparing for a vacation in England. General Washington determined that attack was the only sensible FINE FURNITURE Down Through the Years T. E. Jones & Sons The Best for Orer Fifty .Years CLINTON, S.C. Ptaa Thirteen Other Stores in Soath Carolina WMMWMMWMMWWMWg solution to his problems. Counting on surprise, and guessing that the enemy was likely to celebrate with more spirit than wisdom, he resolved to attack on Christmas night. Cadwalader was to cross at Bristol and clear the enemy from Burlington County. Ewing was to hold the Hessians at a point south of Trenton while Washington with 2400 men would cross the river nine miles above Trenton and surprise the town. Darkness came early across the snow-covered hills. The fitful lantern light showed gaunt, strained faces as men worked fev erishly to load the boats in the ice- clogged rivbr. Horses tethered in flat-bottomed barges pawed im patiently. Boxes of ammunition, carefully wrapped in oilskins to keep out the water, were stowed beside eighteen cannon. Along the river bank 2400 men, naked feet wrapped in gunny-sacks, hands blue in the icy wind, awaited the order to embark. The lanterns were extinguished. Silence, heavy and oppressive, settled across the river as the men pulled off. Their slow progress to mid-stream was broken by the sound of oars hitting the floating ice blocks and the moan of the chilling northeast wind. In the prow of his ship Washington sai motionless and silent, eyes riveted on the distant shore. It began to snow heavily, beat ing with gale force against the men, until faces and hands were cold and senseless. Noiselessly the ships nosed into the farther shore. Clambering up the slippery banks the patriots hastily formed units and advanced along the slush-covered roads that led to Trenton. The church clock at Trenton struck 7 a. m., but there were few who heard. Snores rose and fell rhythmically from the command ant’s bed and soldiers lay warm and sleep-drugged in their quar ters. Above the town on a hill whic.i commanded a fine view of the village center, a young American officer named Alexander Hamil ton had managed to assemble his battery. Suddenly the rumole of artillery fire and the crash of fall ing cannon balls reverberated through the silent streets. Bar racks disgorged swarms of swear ing, hall-dressed Hessians who stumbled into a hail of American bullets. Hessian soldiers slid and fell in the icy streets trying des perately to collect their combat formation. Outside Hessian headquarters, Colonel Rail climbed shakily into the saddle, buckling on his sword with trembling fingers. Shouting to his men he charged at the en emy. But his voice was ignored by the frightened troops and his sword slid from nerveless fingers as a bullet -found its mark. Mumb ling incoherently the Hessian of ficer fell heavily to the ground, blood staining his smart uniform. in the shelter of a nearby church where he was laid, Rail icniembered the message of the night before. -Read it!” he com manded his aide. The officer took the crumbled paper and read the warning of Washington’s impend ing attack. The Hessian command ant turned Ur the wall with a groan. On the other side of the river Ewing and Cadwalader waited anxiously, unable to give any as sistance to Washington because of floating ice blocks which had made the Delaware impassable. But the help was not needed; the battle was over. Veteran merce naries who had fought in a score of bloody campaigns flung away guns and swords and fled for their lives before the raw Yankee re cruits. This was the beginning of the end for the British cause in Amer ica. Congress, which had fled in panic from Philadelphia to Balti more, packed its bags and return ed. Lord Cornwallis, on board ship ready to sail for England, cancelled his vacation and hur ried to Brunswick. France, sens ing victory for the patriots, fell fair and square on the American side and the young republic glowed with patriotism. “All our hopes were blsated by that unhappy affair at Trenton," wrote Lord Germain, colonial sec retary of state. Washington's Christmas present to the nation proved far more val uable than the village of Trenton and the thousand enemy troops he had captured. By his daring attack. General Washington laid the foundation of independence upon which a mighty nation grew. FINAL SETTLEMENT Take notice that on the 14th day of January, 1955, I will ren der a final account of my acts and doings as Admr. of the estate of Cora Lee Reed Word in the of fice of the Ju<Jge of Probate of Laurens county, at 10 o’clock a. m. and on the same day will apply for a final discharge from my trust as Admr. Any person indebted to said estate is notified and required to make payment on or before that date; and all persons having claims against said estate will present them on or before said date, duly proven or be forever barred. CORA LEE REED WORD Adm’x., Clinton, S. C. Dec. 14, 1954. 4tcw-J-6 WE DO ALL KINDS OF PRINTING—EXCEPT BAD CHRONICLE PUB. CO. PHONE 74 +4 ■ Wmmmm gp fm mam&t mm wl t | ie music of the Christmas carols the *ir ^ith • rte their brightest — that is the time to also j °yf ttl shit* k* hit "’ble. , t ei ^*tgs v a n<4 *** ' Vhen ‘he earth is filled with beau Y star* gr» titude for our many blessings. The thin ^ell to \ve s *ek keyed to ‘he eternal music of faith. who ^ * r « the P U,e ' in the midst of world problem*. e * P rev* *hi P«a C e know ‘h*‘ our Ideal, are built on a to |, d fou ’ h ^e Wo u | j , jty to m» n h »ve sought... man’s humanity h** ft * ave nd *“on. ,0u 8ht .incere greeting* . • • May this Chrlstma* tru,y ^ 1"hey “ »nd fought for It, and offered pr*y <f in It. b*h* If, c *nn 0 , f *"- So, , t; one „ , , we bring y° u *‘ this great Christmas occasion, OUf n *ha Pp,n «*s for You and yours. A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR l * * ' ■ , s , • . Joanna Cotton Mills Company Manufacturers of Quality Shade Goths JOANNA, S. C.