Washington wrote to Cadwalader at Burlington "Christmas day at night, one hour before day, is the time fixed for our attempt upon Trenton. For heaven's sake keep this to yourself..... I have ordered our men to be provided with three days' provisions ready cooked, with which, and their blankets, they are to march; for if we are successful...we may push on". Washington's play was to cross the Delaware at McKonkey's Ferry, nine miles above Trenton; then march down the east bank in two columns...The two roads enetered the village of Trenton from the south-east and north-west, and uniting, formed its main street. Artillery, to the number of eighteen pieces, was distributed through the two columns. Knox was to have charge of the crossing, and the two boats were to be manned by Glover's Marble-head regiment. A profound silence to be enjoined and no man to quit the ranks on the pain of death." The movement began soon after dark. "The floating ice in the river made the labor almost incredible. However, perseverance accomplished what at first seemed impossible. About 2 o'clock the troops were all on the Jersey side; we were then nine miles from the object. The night was cold and stormy; hailed with great violence; the troops marched with the most profound silence and good order." The Hessians had duly celebrated Christmas and were sound asleep. The troops "Arrived by two routes at the same time, about half an hour after daylight, within one mile of the town. The storm continued with great violence but was in our backs and consequently in the faces of the enemy. About half a mile from the town was an advanced guard on each road, consisting of a captain's guard. These we forced, and entered the town with them pellmell". Ball and his officers were rudely awakened in the gray dawn of this cheerless morning but by a distinguished company. It was a victory for the Americans and the British surrendered. They numbered 32 officers and 886 men and about 30 had been killed. The American loss was 2 privates frozen to death during the night march and 2 officers and 1 private wounded.
At the Battle of Monmouth Moll Pitcher displayed great courage and presence of mind. She was only twenty-two years old, and in devotion to her husband, she illustrated the character of her countrywomen of the Emerald Isle. In this battle while her husband was managing one of the fieldpieces she constantly brought him water from a spring near by. A shot from the enemy killed him at his post; and the officer in command, having no one competent to fill his place, ordered the piece to be withdrawn. Molly saw her husband fall as she came down from the spring, and also heard the command. She dropped her bucket, seized the rammer, and vowed that she would fill the place of her husband at the gun, and avenge his death. She performed the duty with a skill and courage which attracted the attention of all who saw her. On the following morning, covered in dirt and blood, General Greene presented her to Washington, who, admiring her bravery, conferred upon her the commission of sergeant. By his recommendation her name was placed upon the list of half-pay officers for life. She left the army soon after the battle of Monmouth, and, died near Fort Montgomery among the Hudson Highlands. She usually went by the name Captain Molly. The venerable widow of General Hamilton said she had often seen Captain Molly. She described her as a stout, red-haired, freckled face young Irish woman, with a handsome, piercing eye.
After the Continental army had reached Harlem Heights above New York, Washington, desiring to be made acquainted with the force and probable purpose of the enemy, chose Nathan Hale, a brilliant young captain aged twenty-one, a graduate of Yale, and before the war, a Connecticut school teacher, for the dangerous task. Hale crossed the sound at Fairfield in September, 1776, disguised as a school teacher. He reached New York, made a careful study of the enemy's fortifications, drew plans, and was waiting for the ferry to return by way of Brooklyn when he was betrayed by a Tory kinsman who recognized him. His arrest followed, and Howe turned him over to the inhuman provost marshal, Cunninghan, who hanged him the next day without a trial, and even refused him the services of a clergyman or the use of Bible. Hale's dying utterance is well known: "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." (Read the well known poem on Nathan Hale.)
On September 22, 1780, one of the most startling and the saddest event of the Revolution occurred. Benedict Arnold, Washington's trusted friend, commander at West Point, had turned traitor. The discovery was made through the arrest of Andre, a British spy by whom Arnold attempted to send a plan of the fort to the British commander at New York. "We took him into the bushes" said Williams, "and ordered him to pull off his clothes, which he did; but, on searching him narrowly, we could not find any sort of writings. We told him to pull of his boots, which he seemed to be indifferent about; but we got one boot off, and searched in that boot, and could find nothing. But we found there were some papers in the bottom of his stocking next to his foot; on which we made him pull his stocking off, and found three papers wrapped up. Mr. Paulding looked at the contents, and said he was a spy. We then made him pull off his other boot, and there we found three more papers at the bottom of his foot within his stocking."
The officer who came to treat respecting prisoners was led blind-folded to the camp of Marion. There he first saw the small form of the general and around him under trees in groups were his followers. When their business was concluded, Marion invited the young Briton to dine with him. He remained, and to his utter astonishment he saw some roasted potatoes brought forward on a piece of bark, of which the general partook freely, and invited his guest to do the same. "Surely, general," said the officer, "this can not be your ordinary fare!" "Indeed it is", replied Marion, "and we are fortunate, on this occassion, entertaining company, to have more than our usual allowance". (Read the fascinating stories about Marion or "The Swamp Fox" as he was called, and William Cullen Bryant's poem "The Song of Marion's Men.)
There was but one thing he could do, so on October 17, 1777, his army of 6,000 men laid down their arms. After dinner the American army was drawn up in parallel lines on each side of the road, extending nearly a mile. Between these victorious troops the British army, with light infantry in front, and escorted by a company of light dragoons, preceded by two mounted officers bearing the American flag, marched to the lively tune of Yankee Doodle.
The Declaration of Independence as drafted by Thomas Jefferson was taken up and passed on the evening of the 4th. The Fourth of July thus became the national birthday and has seen been celebrated as our national holiday. The colonist now had a goal; they knew what they were fighting for. The old Liberty Bell, as it came to be called, rang out the glad news to the city. Postriders were sent in all directions to carry the tidings. The Declaration was read from pulpits and platforms and to the soldiers in the army. It was welcomed everywhere with shouts and processions, bonfires and illuminations, with the firing of guns and ringing of bells.
The winter of 1777 and 1778 was perhaps the darkest period of the revolutionary war. While Burgoyne's Campaign in north and central New York was in progress, the British General Howe moved upon Philadelphia, by way of Chesapeak Bay. Early in the fall, Washington hastened to the defense of Philadelphia and met the British Army at Brandywine Creek. His army was defeated and he withdrew to Philadelphia. The superior force of the British followed and Washington was again forced to retreat. On October 4th, the American army was defeated again by the British in the Battle of Germantown. This defeat practically ended the campaign, and the British occupied Philadelphia. The Americans encamped at Valley Forge, which was but a few miles from Philadelphia.
The first United States Flag (adopted by Congress, June 14, 1777) having the stars and stripes was said to have been hoisted by our army at Fort Stanwix (near Rome) New York, during Burgoyne's campaign in 1777. Paul Jones appears to have first raised this flag at sea. The flag raised by Washington at Cambridge when he took command of the army was the English flag with thirteen red and white stripes added. The stars and stripes on Washington's coat of arms may have suggested the flag. The story of Betsy Ross's part in making the flag, here pictured, is familiar to every school boy and girl.