The ice in the Delaware was half broken up; large cakes of it were carried down by the current; and sometimes the frozen part, near the shore, cracked with a report like a cannon. Hence we could neither cross on the ice, nor in boats. Now it was that we began to see the danger of our situation; now we felt sure that Cornwallis had driven us over the creek, where we were shut up by the hills and the river, only that he might cut us to pieces on the following morning. The soldiers and militia had behaved well enough during the day; but when they found out, as they thought, that we were to be slaughtered, or captured, in the morning, they were almost on the point of deserting. Tired as we were with fighting and marching for nearly two days and a night, none thought o sleep. You might have been little groups of three or four in every tent, whispering together, with wild, rolling eyes, and clenched fists. They declared that his excellency had been tricked by the officers; that the scouts sent out were traitors; and that our army ought to have crossed the rive before the British came in sight. Some talked of crossing the high grounds, without waiting for orders, and marching up the country; and others swore that they'd not fire a shot on the next day, since they had been deceived in the first place. The under-officers attempted once or twice to interfere; but they found their authority, in a good measure, gone; and had to wink at the violation of order. If the army had stayed there all night, I believe all the men, continentals as well as militia, would have run, next morning at the first fire."

"That was a 'cute trick of his excellency, to march away, at night, to Princeton!" ejaculated one of the soldiers.

"It saved America!" replied black. "Besides, we learned a lesson, not to find fault with our officers, even if we didn't see all at once into their measures. While the soldiers were complaining, Washington and his generals met in council, at General St. Clair's. this quieted the murmuring; but there was great anxiety to know what was going to be done. By and by, a report was circulated, I don't know how, that we were to retreat up the Delaware, and cross some miles above Trenton. This threw the soldiers into fresh disorder. They complained of wanting rest; and asked how they were to march through the mud, dragging cannon after them. It wasn't because they were not brave men; but, somehow, they had become discouraged, and, for awhile, didn't care whether they obeyed orders or not.

"This state of things didn't last very long. While the men were disputing among themselves, a line of fires was kindled along the creek, opposite those of the enemy. Every one in our tent, and as far as I could see around, turned out to look at them. This perplexed us more than anything before; and Edward Gillon, who was standing near, asked me if we were to stay all night. I told him I didn't know; when he said he knew one thing, which was, he'd be off in the morning, if they should. One of the men, --- I forget his name, but he was wounded next day, in the shoulder, --- said it was best to be quiet, till we found out, for certain, what was going to be done. A sergeant came in about that time, and told us to wrap ourseves up warm, for a north-easter was coming. At first, we didn't believe him; but in two or three minutes, the wind increased almost to a hurricane; and, after the first gust was over, it became so cold, that we were glad to wrap blanket, coat, or rag, about us. This encouraged the men a little; for what they had most dreaded, was to travel through mud. The fires blazed higher every moment, hiding us completely from the British. At the same time, we heard a dull noise, like the working of pickets; and, before morning, learned that several parties had been set at work by the general, to make Cornwallis believe we were gong to stay all night. Sentinels were also posted at the fires, to show themselves occasionally to the enemy. While we were in suspense, to know what hese movements were to end in, orders ran through camp, to prepare for marching. We were glad enough to hear them, now that in the weather was bitter cold, and the ground frozen hard enough to bear cannon. For more than an hour, the camp was in a hustle of preparation; but we were forbidden to make the least noise, or to whisper, except to the officers. But some were so full of curiosity, that they chose to break orders, rather than be ignorant of where they were gong. This was soon put a stop to; and afterwards the deepest silence reigned among us. About twelve o'clock, the baggage and part of the artillery was sent to Burlington; and, about an hour afterwards, the whole army was in motion --- not following the baggage, but pushing up the country, towards Princeton. The road was as hard as stone; and we marched fast and quietly, without the slightest disorder. The left flank of the British was turned, and all hearts beat with joy, as we looked down the line of their fires, and felt that we had nearly escaped. Our own fires were burning as bright as ever; for parties were attending to them. On we went, ready to cheer the minute we go leave, and whispering words of jy, when the officers were not near. About daylight, we reached Stony Brook; and a halt was ordered, that the rear might come up. General Mercer was again sent in advance; but the Pennsylvania boys remained with Washington. On reaching a wood, below the meeting house that stands on the brook, we struck into it, while Mercer pushed up the creek, to destroy the bridge on the road leading to Trenton. It was now near sunrise; but no enemy was to be seen, nor was any news heard of Lord Cornwallis. But while we hurried on, hoping to enter Princeton without a battle, sharp firing was heard ahead; a sign that Mercer was attacked. Washington no sooner heard the first gun than he marched, with a detachment, to his aid. Arriving near the wood, he saw Mercer's militia flying, and their colonel wounded; but nothing of Mercer himself. His excellency galloped along our lne, ordering us to form in the wood. We wanted to push on; but he reined up his horse in front of us, and gave orders to halt. Every eye was on him; for he was opposite the enemy's fire, and we expected to see him fall. But, the next minute, he galloped directly through their shower of cannon-shot, and rallied Mercer's men on a little ridge, near the road. By this time, the Virginia boys joined us, when we could wait no longer; but rushed on, cheering as loud as we could, and pouring our fire, hot and heavy, on the regiment that had defeated Mercer. Then Washington opened with his cannon, from the ridge; and for awhile they made the earth shake. I was in a regular battle, at last; yet it didn't seem like one, after all. I always expected to be frightened half to death; and that I'd run, if I could get off, without looking behind. But it's true, soldiers, I wasn't half so cowardly as I had been the day before, in camp."

"That's the way I felt at first," remarked one, whose first practical acquaintance with war, had been at the Brandywine. "Before I saw a red-coat, thinks I, Tommy, how will you stand up to it, when cannon-balls are coming; seeing you never fired at anything more dangerous than rabbits? But when the fighting had begun, there was so much shouting, and marching, and confusion, that I was more bewildered than afraid. Then the smoke covered us and the British, too; so that I didn't see many fall. I cheered as loud as the rest, and forgot all about the danger, till the battle was over, and we had time, in our tents, to think of the poor fellows who had been killed."

"The British couldn't stand before our men," continued Black, "when we were all together. Washington kept in front, waving his hat, at times, to cheer his troops to do their duty. The enemy tried to drive us back, through the woods; but we stood our ground, pouring a heavy fire into them without ceasing, and encouraging each other with loud shots. They next tried to take our artillery; and, for a short time, the ridge on which it stood was hid behind fire and smoke; so rapid were the discharges. The British were driven back in confusion; and, at that moment, we gave them another volley of musketry, which at once broke their line; Washington pushed after them with his cavalry, when they fled in all directions, and were soon followed by two other regiments, that were near Princeton. Washington then despatched a party, to break down the bridge; and afterwards, with his whole army, entered the town."

"What became of Mercer's body? Enquired one of the party.

"After he was bayoneted by the British, he remained on the field --- not dead, but mortally wounded. When the battle was over, Major Armstrong found him on the ground, insensible from the cold, and with all his wounds frozen stiff. The major and his men carried their general to Clark's farm-house, where he was laid upon a bed. Two young quaker women attended him, and did all they could to ease his sufferings. While they were dressing his wounds, a party of British approached, and Mercer advised the Americans to fly. The general was made prisoner, but he died the next day. The British party was a detachment from Lord Cornwallis's army. When he found out, in the morning, that Washington had escaped, he retreated so fast towards Brunswick, that he reached Princeton just as our rear parties were leaving it.

"When his excellency started from the Assanpink, he designed marching at once to Brunswick, where the British had large stores of ammunition, provisions, and clothing, without much of a guard. But the battle of Princeton had hindered him; and now, since Cornwallis was so near, he began to think of the condition of his men. We hadn't slept any for two nights, nor tasted food since the morning before. Some were so weak and tired, that they had to be supported by their companions; and if Cornwallis had attacked us while in this condition, the whole army would have been cut to pieces. Washington therefore turned aside from his first route, and proceeded, as fast as he could, first to Kingston, and then to Pluckemin. Every bridge we crossed was torn up, to stop the enemy's pursuit. We learned afterwards, that the British didn't dream of pursuing; for they were very much alarmed, on hearing of the battle at Princeton.

"When our men reached Pluckemin, some of them fell down in the woods, and could not be roused, although the weather was bitter cold. They were carried into quarters, half dead, rather than asleep. The others sat down on the ground, waiting for fires to be kindled, and the food to be dealt out. They tore the bread and meat like wild beasts, and then fell asleep. Many caught colds and other diseases, from which they didn't recover all winter; and none of us were able to march straight for more than a week."

"Why didn't the British cross the river to Philadelphia, then, when they had so good a chance?"

"Their chance wasn't so good," Black answered.

"Sometimes there was too much ice for boats to row against; and when the river did happen to be frozen across, the ice was to weak to bear an army. Neither had the British any notion of making the attempt. They thought Washington's army was a great deal larger than it really was; and all the garrisons which had lined the river-side, before Christmas, left their quarters, and hurried as fast as they could toward New York. Besides, you know Washington soon went into his winter's camp, at Morristown; and here he watched them close enough all winter, ready to march down and attack their rear, the moment they made any such attempt.

"It was at Morristown, that we got full information of the sufferings of the poor inhabitants, while they were under British rule. They had been promised security if they remained in their own houses; and as great numbers did so, General Howe gave them papers, which he called 'protections.' They were to show them to the soldiers, if they came to their houses; after doing which, Howe pretended the people who had these papers would not be injured. But, as soon as Washington had been driven across the Delaware, the British and Hessians spread themselves over the whole country, to hunt for plunder. Every house that they came across was robbed; the fowls were seized and put into bags; and not an ox, horse, or cow, was left in the barn-yard. When the farmers showed their papers, the Hessians laughed, and swore in Dutch; and the British wouldn't read them, because they said they had as much right as any one, to have some of the plunder. If the people weren't tories, their chairs, tables, and other little articles, were piled together and burned; the windows and doors were broken to pieces; and men, women, and children, beat and abused. Hundreds were stripped naked, and turned into the woods; and in different places, such horrible cruelties were committed by these savages, that our blood boiled when we heard of them. Sad it would have been for our country, if they had got to Philadelphia, before the battle of Trenton; but you see, soldiers, Providence didn't allow it. There would have been a rising in the Jerseys, at any rate; for the inhabitants couldn't endure their sufferings much longer. Many of them had to live in the woods, in the coldest weather; for their houses had been burned down, and the savage Hessians were hunting for them in all directions. In some places, the inhabitants had nothing to eat except roots, and potatoes, so bad that they had been kept for hogs. But, as soon as the enemy had been defeated the people flew to arms. For some weeks, they came pouring into camp, swearing vengeance against their oppressors. They never, they said, would show quarter to a Hessian; and, in spite of the general's orders, they cut many a prisoner's throat, in the woods. This was one thing that struck terror into the British; for they knew that when the people they had abused should once rise, there would be no mercy shown them. It was the remembrance of these outrages, that made the militia fight like veterans; and in a few weeks we cleared nearly all the Jerseys of the British and Hessians."

Such was the young soldier's narrative of the winter campaign in New Jersey.