"It was now four o'clock in the morning. We began the march in two columns. One, under General Sullivan, moved down the river road; and the other, down the Pennington road. General Greene led the second division; while his excellency passed from one company to another, exhorting his men to do their duty. It snowed and hailed during the whole march; and our road was marked with blood from the bare feet of the men. But I didn't hear them complain; for their spirits were now roused for the battle. When it grew light enough for the general to see their condition, he told them that there was warm clothing, and plenty of food, in the enemy's quarters, which he hoped would soon be ours. On haring this, they marched faster; and, in half an hour, we were near the hills among which the town is built. The officers galloped along from one company to another, waving their swords, and telling us that now was the time to fight for our country, and drive the cruel Britons from the soil. They reminded us of the outrages in the Jerseys, of the manner in which peaceable people had been treated, even after surrendering, and of the great cause for which we were fighting. I had never seen a battle; because, as I told you, I had been brought up among the Quakers; but those words of the officers filled me with new life, and I marched with as great an air, and as little fear, as any veteran. We weren't to make any noise till the attack commenced; but then to hurrah with all our might, to let the other division hear us, if they should be near. About eight o'clock we approached the bridge , at the cross roads, where the red-coats were posted. The first we met, was a guard of only a few men, who were so drunk that they didn't see us coming, till we were too close for them to escape. They had a merry Christmas together; eating pies, puddings, and chickens, and cursing the rebels. Three of four, who were in the tent nearest to us, ran out without their guns, to ask what was the matter. I saw Greene in front, waving his sword, and heard the line ahead of us, firing. Thinks I, the battle's begun, and we must take our chance. In a moment, his excellency dashed along toward the front, another volley was fired, and then we heard the boys in front, hurraing. At the same moment, the other column was firing, further down; and soon we marched, in double-quick time, toward the British main party. These were the Hessians; and, after all their cruelties to our women and children, we could have bayoneted them without mercy. But strict orders had been given, to spare all prisoners; yet we couldn't be stopped from shooting as many as possible, when we did fire. Colonel Rahl, who commanded them, fought bravely, trying to save his field-pieces; but he was picked off by some of our men. The rest of us rushed on, arrying all before us, and driving off the cannoneers in every direction. Three cheers were given for the guns, by the officers as well as men; but we didn't stop --- no, not for a moment. Washington wasn't to be seen; for he was giving orders about stopping the red-coats, if they made a push for Princeton. Genereal Mercer galloped by us, waving his hat, and shouting that America was still safe. Hehad hardly gone, when one of Greene's aids dashed along on the other flank, ordering us to make one more charge. On we drove, through the camp, overcoming all opposition, and chasing the fugitives toward Princeton. After a short time, we saw the detachment that his excellency had thrown in their rear. These veterans hailed us with loud shouts; and, as soon as the Hessians observed that they were Americans, they threw down their muskets and bawled for quarter. They were all surrendered and taken prisoners. Sullivan's division was now in sight. They had also captured a great number; besides securing a large quantity of clothing. The Hessians stacked their muskets, which amounted to a thousand; we also got six field-pieces. By and by, his excellency, with some other officrs, rode up with their hats off, when the very air rang with the hurraing. Some of the boys behind forgot to stop, after they had given eighteen cheers; and kept shouting for Americanand Washington, till the general began to laugh, and sent to tell them that he was satisfied."

"How many were killed at that battle/" asked one of the soldiers.

"Only two of our men. But two poor fellows froze to death, crossing the river. The Hessians lost their colonel and six other officers, besides twenty or thirty men. After all was over, andthe prisoners had been secured, the general said we must have something to eat. In the camp, we found everything of the best, which the Hessians had left from their Christmas dinner. We soon put it to a better use; and as large fires were burning in the houses that formed the British quarters, we had the most comfortable meal that had been eaten by us since we were an army. I saw tears of joy rolling down the cheeks of the old veterans, which they tried to brush away with their ragged sleeves. The officers were hapy as the men; for they believed that affairs would now take a turn. As there was plenty of rum in the cellars, the general ordered that our canteens should be filled, before we started. What remained, with the enemy's baggae, provisions, and other things, were packed for easier carriage.

"After breakfast was over, we got ready for marching. The other troops, who were to cross the river, above and below us, hadn't been able to do so, on account of the ice; and therefore the general resolved to cross the river immediately, in order to lace his prisoners in safety. After defeating the Hessians and eating a good breakfast, we found marching much pleasanter than when we came up from the river; and nothing was talked of, along the way, but the victory. We were received, on the opposite side, with lud cheers. When the soldiers had reached the camp, the muskets were distributed amng them who were without arms, and the clothing in like manner. It was ucky for our men, that baggage and clothing was taken that day, as well as prisoners."

"What was done with the prisoners?" enquired a listener.

"You remember they were hessians," continued Black. "This made us think it would go hard with them; especially as they had carried on all kinds of outrage in the Jerseys, during the winter. Most of our soldiers thought they would be shot; and many said they deserved a still worse death. But his excellency had determined to deal with them in a way of his own. When they had been placed in quarters, he visited them, in company with an interpreter; and his officers told them what the Americans were fighting for, and how much the soldiers of other nations ought to feel interested in their cause, rather than consent to oppose it. They answered, that the British had told them that the Americans were only a parcel of rebels and savages, and the army nothing but a mob of ragamuffins. The general asked them if they had ever known our people to act like savages. They acknowledged that they had never seen anything of the kind; but said that the British had told them that the rebels never gave quarter in battle; that they chopped their prisoners to pieces, just to try their swords, or else stripped off their skins, to make drum-heads of; and that the women were far more fierece and cruel than the men!"

"And had the Bri9tish told them such tales?" asked Whilden.

"Yes, and still worse ones. They even said the young rebels were taught to eat Hessian meat, instead of pork; and that the prisoners were fattened for the purpose! This you know, they did to make the Hessians fight better; and those simple Dutchmen believed every word, and were ready to kill every American in cold blood; whether men, women, or children. Our officers would have laughed out, had not his excellency looked quite sober, and proceed with the conversation. He asked the prisoners if they had received quarter or not at Trenton; and they had to confess the truth. Then he asked how many of the dead they had seen insulted after the battle. To this they gave no answer; knowing that the killed on both sides had been buried with equal decency. The general asked many more questions, until, at last, the poor Dutchmen were utterly ashamed of themselves, and acknowledged that they had not been so kindly spoken to, since landing in America. Some of them could hardly speak, for joy, when they learned that their lives would be spared. His excellency told them, that if they would lay down their arms, and become farmers, he would account them the same as his countrymen, and defend their rights as he did his own. They consented willingly enough; saying that if the other Hessiansin the British army heard of the offer, they would desert in a body. And, not long after, they did hear about it; when they ran off in such numbers, that the officers had to watch them closer than they would prisoners.

"News of the battle reached Philadelphia that night, and threw the town into an uproar. The bells were rung, and crowds of people flocked goward General Putnam's camp, to hear the details. But the tories were nearly as strong as our men; so that, two or three times, there came near being a riot. They said it was plain enough that Washington had been defeated, else why would he return across the river on the same day he crossed it; and as to the report of prisoners and muskets being taken, they laughed at it. But, in two or three days, the Hessians were sent down in wagons, andlodged safely in the city; so that the enemies of our freedom could see that the report of the battle had been no joke. The tories now began to be afraid. Some of them, thinking the war was over, and that Howe would be in Philadelphia as soon as the river should freeze, had acted, for some time, pretty much as they pleased --- that is, when they were out of old Putnam;s hearing; for I want you to understand, that no one spoke ill of the cause when he was near. It was told in camp, that those tories held secret meetings every week; when they talked about helping Howe, if he attempted to attack Philadelphia. The news of our victory at Trenton, frightened them a little; but they still kept up such an excitement, that Putnam was employed, with his whole force, watchingt hem. People were afraid to stir from their doors at night, as they heard so much about plots and secret enemies; and asoldier, who joined our company after the battle of Princeton, told us that some of the tories were persuading the inhabitants to burn the city; so that, as they said, it wouldn't fall into foreign hands. This, they did, pretending to be in favor of our cause. He said that all the citizens who had guns, saw that they were loaded and primed every night before venturing to sleep; and that, for some weeks before Christmas, a rising of all the tories in Philadelphia was expected. But they were frightened out of this attempt, by seeing the Hessian prisoners, and by the watchfulness of old Putnam, who seemed to be all over town at the same time. After New Year's day, they became quiet enough; but I suppose that they're merry as crickets now, since their red-coat friends have joined them."

"How long was it before you crossed again?" enquired one of the listeners.

"Four days. His excellency wanted to give us time to rest, after so much exposure. But we learned afterwards, that Colonel Cadwalader, with a considerable body of militia, had crossed below us, on he 27th, and moved toward Burlington. On learning that Washington had not remained in Trenton, he would have crossed again; but his officers, and Colonel Reed, advised him to push on. He did so; and was driving the enemy before him, when we crossed over to Trenton. His excellency joined us next day; and Colonel Reed was sent out, with six horsemen, that morning, to reconnoitre. He returned with twelve prisoners, that he had taken in a house near Clarksville. They had pistols and swords; but the Colonel charging them boldly, they surrendered. The sergeant escaped through the back-door, and didn't stop running till he got to Princeton; where he told them that he fought his way through the horsemen. We understood, also, that Colonel Reed brought information of a large force preparing to march against us; but the soldiers couldn't learn the particulars.

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12/24/06.