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A Historic Christmas Night.
“Christms Day, at night, one hour
before day, is the time fixed upon
for our attempt upon Trenton.”
In this confused way, December
23, 1776, General Washington wrote
from his camp, near Trenton Falls,
to Cononel lieed, who was posted
at Bristol, a few miles further down
the Deleware, guarding an important
ford.
Before crossing over to the safe
side of this wide stream, about
twelve hundred feet wide at Trenton,
he gave an order so important that,
if he had forgotten or omitted it,
nothing could have saved Philadel¬
phia from being captured by the
British.
He directed that all the boats and
barges of the whole region, for
seventy miles, everything that could
float and carry a man, should be
taken over to the western bank of
the river, and there carefully con¬
cealed, or closely watched.
All the boats and canoes in the
creeks and tributaries were also
secured, and hidden where they
could do an enemy no good. There
were many large barges then upon
the Delaware, used for transporting
hay and other produce, some of
which could have carried over half
a regiment of foot at every trip.
All these were hidden or guarded,
and as soon as General Washington
had got his own little army over, lie
posted a guard at every ford, and
kept trustworthy men going up and
down the river’ to see that the
boats were safe.
If any one desires to see General
Washington when lie displayed his
manhood and military genius at
their best, let him study the records
of his life for the month of Decem¬
ber, 1776. The soldier, the states¬
man, the citizen, the brave, indomit¬
able man, each in turn appears, and
shines in the trying hours of that
month.
Only the River Delaware sepa¬
rated the hostile armies, and the
enemy waited but for the ice to
form, in order to add Philadelphia
to the list of his summer conquests.
Congress had adjourned from
Philadelphia to Baltimore.
Jersey was ravaged by ruthless
bands of soldiers. Disaffection was
on every side. The winter,
prematurely cold, threatened to
make an ice bridge over the stream
in ten days, and within about the
same time the terms of most of
General Washington’s troops would
expire, and he might be left without
even the semblance of an army.
“Dire necessity,” as he said, com¬
pelled a movement of some kind.
Christmas had come. It was a
cold, freezing day. There was
already a large amount of ice
floating by, and heaped up along
the shore, in many places rendering
access to the water impossible, and
in all places difficult.
About four o’clock in the after
noon, the troops were drawn up in
parade before their camp at Tren¬
ton Falls. They were about
twenty-four hundred in number.
Every man carried three days’
cooked rations, and an ample supply
of heavy ammunition. Few of the
soldiers were adequately clothed,
and their shoes were in such bad
condition that Major Wilkinson,
who rode behind them to the
landing-place, reports that “the
snow on the ground was tinged here
and there with blood. The cold
was increasing. The ice was
forming rapidly. The wind was
nigh, and there was signs of a
snow-storm.
Boats were in readiness, and
about sunset the troops began to j
cross. The passage was attentded
with such difficulties as would have
deterred men less resolute. The
current of the river was exceed¬
ingly swift, the cold intense, and,
although it was the night of a full
moon, the thick snow-clouds made
the night dark.
Colonel Knox, after ward General
nh irtPWv ond Secretary
this occasion. Soldiers from Y ankee
Marblehead manned many of the
boats, and lent the aid of their
yet it was three o’clock in the
‘morning before the troops were all
ever.
It was four o’clock before they
were formed in two bodies and
began to march; one division close
along the river, and the other on a
parallel road some little distance in
in the country.
It had been snowing nearly all
night, and about the time when the
troops were set in motion the
storm increased, the wind rose, and
hail was mingled with the snow,
The storm blew in the faces of the
men and they had nine miles to go
before reaching Trenton, where
fourteen hundred of the Hessian
troops were posted under Colonel
Rahl.
Soon after, it was whispered
about among the men that the
fusees of the best muskets were wet
and could not be discharged. Upon
this being reported to General
Sullivan, he glanced around at
Captain St. Clair and asked:
“What is to be done ?”
“You have nothing for it,” replied
St. Clair, “but to push on and
charge.”
The gallant Stark of Vermont
was in command of the advance
guard, and perhaps near him
marched the father of Daniel
Webster. Colonel Stark told his
men to get their muskets in the
best order they could as they
marched, and an ofliicer was sent to
inform General Washington of this
mishap.
“Tell your general,” said the
Commander-in-chief, “to use the
bayonet and penetrate into the
town ; the town must be taken, and
I am resolved to take it.”
The soldiers overheard this reply,
as it was given by the aide to
General Sullivan, and quietly fixed
bayonets without waiting for an
order.
About eight in the morning both
parties arrived near the village of
Trenton. General Washington,
who rode near the front of his
column, asked a man who was
chopping wood by the roadside:
“Which way is the Hessian
Picket?”
“I don’t know,’’replied the Jersy
man, unwilling to commit himself.
“you may speak,” said one of the
American officers, “for that is Gen¬
eral Washington.”
The man raised his hands to
heaven and exclaimed: “God bless
and prosper you, sir! The picket
is in that house, and the sentry
stands near that tree.,’
General Washington instantly
ordered an advance. As his men
marched rapidly toward the village
with a cheer, Colonel Stark and his
band answered the shout and rushed
upon the enemy.
The Hessians made a brief at¬
tempt at resistance; first, by a wild
and useless fire from windows, and
then by an attempt to form in the
main street of the village. This was
at once frustrated by Captain T.
Forest, who commanded the battery
of six guns which had caused much
trouble and delay in crossing the
river.
At the same time, Captain William
AY ashington „ and , T Lieutenant , . James
Monroe, afterward President, ran
forward with a party to where the
Hessians were attempting to estab
lish t hattprv drove the / artillerists
from their guns, and . captured it two
of them, just as they were ready to
be discharged.
Both these young officers were
wounded. , , Colonel Stark „ , during , .
the brief combat, as Wilkinson
reports, “dealt death wherever he
found resistance, and broke down
all opposition before him.”
Colonel Rahl, who commanded
the post, was roused from a deep
sleep by the noise of Washington’s
fire. He did all that was possible
to form his panic-stricken and dis
ordered troops, but soon fell from
his horse mortally wounded. From
that moment, the day was lost to
the Hessians.
During the combat, General
Washington remained near Captain
Forest’s battery, directing the fire,
battery, « ciiar i”V't g e 'i Wlt h canister, ed . tbe to e
turned upon the retreating enemy,
when Captain Forest, pointing to
^T“r: .’ h ;«sr ,ers ’
, eVC a:me ' A ^ ,
Washington. ,
“Yes,” said I orest, “their colors
are down.”
“So they are!” said the com
mander.
General Washington galloped
toward them, followed by all the
artillerymen, who wished to see the
ceremony of surrender. lie rode
up to where Colonel Rahl had fallen.
The wounded man, assisted by
soldiers on each side of him, got
upon his feet, and presented his
sword to the victor,
At this moment Wilkinson, who
had been sent away with orders,
returned to his general, and wit¬
nessed the surrender. Washington
took him by the hand, and said, his
countenance beaming with joy:
“Major Wilkinson, this is a glorious
day for our country!”
In a moment, however, the unfor¬
tunate Rahl, who stood near, pale,
covered with blood, and still bleed¬
ing, appeared to be asking for the
assistance which his wounds re¬
quired.
lie was at once conveyed to the
house of a good Quaker family near
by, where he was visited by General
Washington in the course of the
day, who did all in his power to
soothe the feelings of the dying
soldier.
This action, reckoning from the
first gun, lasted but thirty-five
minutes. On the American side two
officers were wounded, two privates
were killed, four were wounded,
and one was frozen to death.
Four stands of colors were cap¬
tured, besides twelve drums, six
brass field-peices,'and twelve hun¬
dred muskets. The prisoners were
nine hundred and forty-six in num¬
ber, of whom seventy-eight were
wounded. Seventeen of the Hes¬
sians were killed, of whom six were
officers.
We can scarcely imagine the joy
which this victory gave to the people
everywhere, as the news slowly made
its way. They were in the depths
discouragement. There had been
moments when Washington himself
almost gave up 1 ’hiladelpliia for lost,
and it was from Philadelphia that he
drew his most essential supplies.
The capture of the post at Trenton,
a thing trilling in itself, cheered the
mood and temper of both parties,
and proved to be the turning-point
of the war. It saved Philadelphia
for that season, freed New Jersy
from the ravages of an insolent and
ruthless foe, checked disaffection in
minds base or timid, and gave Con¬
gress time to prepare for a renewal
of the strife as soon as the spring
should open.
It was a priceless Christmas pres¬
ent which the general and his
steadfast band of patriots gave their
country in 1770, and it was followed,
a week later, by a New Year’s gift
of similar purport the capture of the
British post at Princeton.—James
Parton in Youths’ Companion.
Ptiblic Monopoly vs. Private
Monopoly.
When a private company supplied
water to Glasgow, Scotland, the
water tax was 14 pence to the pound
of assessed valuation, and the supply
wag poor an<1 meager> y ince the
c j t ] JOUg ht out the water company
an d supplies its own water the tax
has been reduced to 6 pence, and
the city furnishes 200 gaHons of pure
water for about one American cent,
A privatc compan y use( j t0 charge
the peoj q e $l.u "per thousand feet
feet for gas. Now Glasgow owns
the gas-works and gets her gas for
cents. Three times as much is
burne( j, t h 0U gh the population has
i ncrease( i meanwhile but 25 to 30
per cent. Public health has im
proved and crime has decreased
under the better illumination. Glas
gow street cars in the bands of a
private monopoly charged two pence
a mile. Under municipal ownership
and operation, the service has been
improved and .extended, and the
charge reduced one-half. The com
panies used to work their men 12 to
14 hours a day, but the city only
works them 10 hours. Still the
business pays.
In 1893 the State-owned tele
graDhs of Great Britain sent 69,
907*848 messages for the people at
an average cost of 15 cents. Dur
ing the same year the private tele
££ stt&iLSZZ and
aa average cogt 0 f .qjo cen ts an
acknowledged profit of 11.3 cents a
message. The Britisher steps into
£“3;
part of the United Kingdom within
eight minutes. The United States
citizen pays from 2o to GO cents,and
expects a delay of several hours
before the leisurely officials of some
private company will deliver the
message.
Still there are people who believe
in putting into the hands of private
companies, to be operated for private
profit, these valuable franchises. water, lighting
and transportation Such
people deserve the poor service and
the high charges which result. Hut
do the rest of us, who believe in
public money of public franchises,
deserve it? We do while wo refrain
from urging by voice and vote their
public monopoly.—The Voice.
The Worth of Politics.
Mayor Strong’s “I declaration to
Major Plimley, don’t care awaken a d---
for politics,” does not seem to
much enthusiasm even among those
who teach that sort of doctrine. If
there is anything that an American
ought to care about more than any
other, it is politics. We have here
a government based on manhood
suffrage, and the right and duty of
every citizen is to declare how he
wishes the government to be ad¬
ministered, and by whom. If bis
duty is to bo intelligently performed
he must be constant in his attention
to public affairs. He must maintain
a close watch on public servants.
He must know what they do, and
why they do it. He must look into
the eff ect of their acts. He must
study public questions, and when he
has reached a decision, he must act
with resolution and spirit. This is
politics, and it is a matter about
which every man should care with
all his mind and soul. In the advo.
cacy of his views, ho is bound to bo
a partisan, and the spirit of partisan¬ and
ship guarded from selfishness
directed by intelligence is the spirit
of the highest patriotism.
We wonder if the mayor got this
notion of a contempt for politics out
of his own head. We wonder if ho
did not get it from that small but
active political congregation whose
god is Cleveland, and whose doctrine
is his infallibility and their own
sanctification.—New York Press.
Kailway Earnings.
The interstate commerce commis¬
sion report for the year ending June,
30, 1893, shows that the railway
earnings over operating expenses for
that year were $392,830,575; an in¬
crease over the previous year of $ 2 ,-
421,228. The income from corpo¬
rate investments was $149,649,015;
an increase over the previous year of
$7,688,833; making a total income
above operating expenses of $542,-
480,190. The deduction from this
income by what is known as “fixed
charges”—which includes interest,
rentals, taxes, salaries, maintainance
organization of subsidiary Hues per¬
manent improvements, and “miscel¬
laneous,” amounted to $431,422,156;
leaving a “net income,” from which
dividends are to be paid, of $ 111 ,
058,031. After paying dividends
and “other payments from net in¬
come,” there is left a balance of $ 8 ,-
110,745, known as “surplus from
operations.” This is $5,099,311 less
than the previous year. There lias
been a decrease in net income of $60
per mile of line; in dividends, $22
per mile, and in surplus, $38 per
mile.
But 1892 was an exccptionably
favorable year, and showed a mar¬
velous increase over 1891 of $142
per mile in net income. Ho that,
comparing 1893 with 1891, there is
a very favorable showing.
There is a lesson here for those
interested in government ownership.
Here, with all the present expensive
management, is a net income ot $111,
053,034. Providing, under govern
ment ownership the expense in the
same, this net income would go into
the United States treasury. Now
this great amount pays dividends,
and is held as surplus. No divi
dends to be paid under government
ownership; then it would all go into
the treasury, to be used in defraying
the expense of, the government.
But among the fixed charges is one
of “interest.” This amount of $258,-
163,395 would also go into the treas
ury. These trio items would add to
the income of the nation $369,220,-
429. Thus as mountain streams flow
to the ocean, then in form of rains
hack again to bless the whole people,
would this wealth, gathered through
transportation service, become a
blessing to all. Now it goes into the
hands of the few, every year con- j
centrating still more the wealth of
the nation, an<j through this conges- 1
tion diseasing the body politic.
Let it he remembered that all this
income is with an expensive manage¬ j
ment. Under government manage
ment, it can be clearly shown that j
tliere can be a saving of $600,000,-1
900 in operating expenses and fixed |
charges. This would make a total t
net income to the government when I
s;,
are cold statistics, and the people are
not much longer going to allow this
drain upon production, making every
sw zizrzxss :;
Kansas Journal.
WATS0X \Y simrle , S Copy, CAMPAIG> 24 Cents; Five
Copies. $1.00.
MULHERIN’S
BARGAIN LIST OP
SHOES, HATS A TRUNKS,
For the Fall Trade:
OB
Men’s Good Solid Boots, • ■
t
“ Whole Stock Brogans, 9P s
“ Solid High Cut Brogans, r.oo
“ Solid Lace and Congress, - IJ 30
“ Genuine Calf Lace & Congress, r .50
Boys’ Brogans, Solid,..... 75
Boys and Youths’ Solid Lace Shoes, 75 1
:
Ladies’ Kid Button and Lace, - '75 1
Ladies’ Every-day Shoes, - - - 76
“ Patent Tip Dongola Button, uoo v
Misses’ Good Button and Lace Shoes, 7.5
“ Every-day Shoe§, - 60
Children Shoes, - 50
Infants, - - - 25
We can undersell them all ; when in Augusta calLon*U8
and we will prove what wc say. We give careful atjieatiop t
mail orders. Remember we sell Hats and Trunks as chea]
as Boots and Shoes.
W in. Mullierin
Sons & Co.,
913 and 712 Broad Street,
AUGUSTA, GA
Ten Copies of The People’s Party Paper one year
for Five Dollars.
GEORGIA RAILROAD SCHEDULES.
OFFICE GENERAL MANAGER.
Commencing D««. 28rd, 1894, the following •ohedulei will be operated. AR
train* rnn by 90th Meridian Time. The lohedolea ate aobjeot to ehang*
without notloe to the public.
BEAD DOWN. BEAD UP.
No* NoTT No. 1 . Train Tram No. 2 . No. i.tTVafh
11 u’tExp nay m’I No. 27 STATIONS. No. 28 nay m’I n’t Exp No. It
4 40p 10 80p 11 80a 7 15a lit Angrwta Ar 8 80p 1 OOp 0 15a 7 48a
0 09p 10 68 p 12 54a Bolair 12 86 p 4 48a 7 14a
l 11 09p 12 04p 7 45a Grove town 8 OOp 12 27p 4 87a 7 00a
86 p 11 21 p 12 16p Berzelia ..... 12 16p 4 25a 6 47a
6 40p 11 29p 12 24p 8 00 Harlem 7 4 CC 12 09p 4 16a 0 880
a F3 OD
0 04p 11 88 p 12 84p 8 00a Hearing 7 F; O 12 m 4 07a 6 29 a
0 I2p 11 58p 12 62p 8 19a Thomson 7 C O* i 11 44a 8 50a 6 12a
• 24p 12 08a 1 04p...... Mesona ..... 11 83a 8 88 a 6 Ola
e 82p 12 16a 1 12 p 8 85a Cumak 6 50p 11 26a 8 28a 5 05a
I 41p 12 25a 1 20 p 8 40a Norwood 6 41p 11 19a 8 20 a 0 48a
6 64p 12 42a 1 86p 8 53a Barnett 6 28p 11 05a 8 04a 5 84a
7 OBp 12 56a 1 50p 9 04a Crawford villa 6 17p 10 64a 2 48a 5 22a
T 86 p 1 22 a 2 15p ^ r ' Union Point 5 65p 10 34a 2 21 a 6 00a
2 80p 9 25a Lt.
1 88 a 2 44p 9 38a Greensboro 0 42p 10 21a 2 04a
2 05a 3 lOp 10 00 a Buckhead 5 20p 10 00a 1 CO 7a
2 22 a 3 23p 10 12 a Madison 6 06p 9 45a 1 04
2 41a 8 40p 10 28a Bntledgo 4 OOp 9 26a 1 Ola
2 56a 8 60p 10 40a Social Cirola 4 88 p 9 10a 12 45a
8 19a 4 20p 10 58a Covington 4 20p 8 46a 12 22 a
3 41a 4 45p11 15a Conyors 4 02p 8 25a 1200 nt
8 54a 6 OOp 11 2Ca Lithonia 8 52p 8 13a 11 45p
4 15a 6 21p11 42a Stone Mountain 8 86 p 7 64a 11 24p
4 28a 5 34p 11 Ola Clarkston 8 28p 7 43a 11 lip
4 39a 5 45p 12 m Decatur 8 20 p 7 84a 11 OOp
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v TT&r TTBp 8 40 a" it Cainak Al 0 60p ll 'SOa 12 16ft|
1 81a 1 24p 8 47a Warren ton 6 43p 11 17a 12 03a
2 OCa 1 44p...... Mayfield 6 27p 11 01a 11 86 p
2 30a 1 66 p...... Culverton 6 16pl0 49a 11 18p
2 50a. 2 07p 9 22a Sparta 6 08p 10 40a U 02 p
8 22 a 2 24p...... Devereux 6 54p 10 26a 10 38p
co 2 33p 9 43a Carrs 6 46p 10 18a 10 25p
4 *-* 2 65p 10 00a Milledgevllln 5 29p 10 00a 9 64p
4 48a 3 13p...... Browns 5 14p 9 46a 9 80p • • • •
6 07a 8 24p; 10 24a Haddocks 6 05p 9 37a 9 14p
6 28a 8 35p l0 82a James 4 57p 9 28a 9 OOp
8 80a U)5pjll 00a Ar Macon Lv 4 25p 9 00a 8 10p • • •
fT&5p il 08a 2 OOp Lv Barnett Ar 1 32 p 8 50a •vCC 25 p
7 06p 11 20aj 2 12p Sharon 1 16p 8 37a 14p
712p 11 30a 2 20 p Hillman 1 07p 8 27a ® 04p
7 43p 12 03a 2 49p Ar Washington Lv 12 40p 7 55a C 82p 4444
6 16p. 2 35p Lt Xi’nioiT”Point Ar .. -'y r 2 oZ CS 60p
. 40p
6 27p 2 40p Woodville 9 08a Ol
. 85p
0 32p 2 6 Op Eairdstown 9 Ota Ol
. 32p
. 0 45pj 3 Olp Maxeys g 8 8 44a 51a Ot O) 16p
. 6 62pi 3 08p Stephen* 8 30a Ot 03p
. 7 05pt 3 19p Crawford
. 7 22p 3 35p Dunlap 8 12 a 46p
. 7 27p! 3 39p Winter* Lv 8 7 60a 07a IK 42p ••tor*
7 44p 8 65p Ar Athen s
10 40a Lv Union Point Ar
11 80a Siloarn
11 60a At White Plain* Iw
tn , M ran on Hnn4»v. No. 1 dinmor t>
p n j on point;No 8 s«upper*l B ' .Hit* can and botveon Gt*r:e*’on, M*oon tad ftnftuU Vo*
*. so.
A. G. JACKSON,
Oan«r*l Freight and Pm* Af**t
Acorn*, O*. W. HARDWICK,
i. W. KIRKLAND, w.
Pa**. Agt, Atlanta, Ga. Paaa. Agt., Mao**, (I*