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About Crawfordville advocate. (Crawfordville, Ga.) 189?-1??? | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1895)
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 5 00a 0 OOp 12 15p A? Atla nta Lv 8 OOp T IBa 10 45p 4 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*
