Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

1776

Effect of the Declaration.

147

the debate," yet we have no report whatever of his speeches. Still we can suppose,' with Daniel Webster, that he said: "Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I Adams's give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is speech. true, indeed, that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But there's a Divinity which shapes our ends.' The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and, blinded to her own interest for our good, she has obstinately persisted, till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why, then, should we defer the Declaration ?" "

2

41. On that day, July the 4th, 1776, tne Declaration was adopted. The thirteen colonies were thenceforth no longer colonies. They were States; and the United

[graphic]

LIBERTY BELL.

Effect

States were a nation. The of the people rejoiced. The Dec- Declaration. laration was read to the army amidst exulting shouts. It was read in the open air before large and rapturous gatherings of men. There were bonfires and illuminations. "The people of the United States of America were one people."

42. It was evident to Washington that the British had designs against New York. As soon, therefore, as the safety of Boston was secured, he hastened to that city, and stationed the greater part of his army at Brooklyn for its defense. The forces of the enemy, exceeding thirty thousand in

1 This is but a small part of the supposed speech. Adams and Jefferson died July 4th, 1826, just fifty years after the Declaration of Independence. Webster's eulogy, in which the supposed speech occurs, was delivered soon after their death.

When the members were about to sign the Declaration, Mr. Hancock, the president of Congress, is reported to have said: "We must be unanimous; there must be no pulling different way; we must all hang together. To which Franklin replied: Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

[ocr errors]

66

number,' were being collected at Staten Island. At length, after days of suspense in

[graphic]

The

battle of the American camp, the Long Island. British, commanded by Howe, crossed to Long Island, and marched in three divisions. Two of the divisions attacked the Americans in front, while the third round and fell on their rear.

triots fought bravely, but

marched The pawithout

Atlantic Ocean

avail. Some cut their way through the ranks of the enemy, but many were killed, or taken prisoners (Aug. 27, 1776).

43. This was a sad disaster to the patriots. Its effects were seen not only in the blight it gave to the cause, in deciding the wavering to join the royal standard, and in thinning the ranks of Washington's army, but in giving form and direction to all the subsequent events of the war, and in making the war itself more defensive than it otherwise would have been. The result of the battle gave New York city to the British, and this possession they retained till the end of the war. From it they sent out expeditions against Connecticut, against posts and towns on the Hudson river, and against New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and even Virginia.

44. Favored by a fog, Washington, by a skillful movement, succeeded in getting his shattered force across the river Retreat of to New York." "A tradition tells how the BritWashington. ish camp became aware of the march that had been stolen upon it. Near the ferry resided a lady whose hus

1 Many of the enemy's soldiers were hired by the king. They were called Hessians, because the most of them had been furnished, at a certain price for each person, by the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, in Germany.

"This extraordinary retreat of the Americans across the river to New York, which, in its silence and celerity, equaled the midnight fortifying of Bunker (Breed's) Hill, was one of the most signal achievements of the war, and redounded greatly to the reputation of Washington, who, we are told, for forty-eight hours preceding the safe extrication of his army from their perilous situation, scarcely closed his eyes, and was the greater part of the time on horseback."-Irving's Life of Washington.

1776

Execution of Nathan Hale.

149

band, suspected of favoring the British, had been removed to the interior of New Jersey. On seeing the embarkation of the first detachment of the American army, she, out of loyalty or revenge, sent off a black servant to inform the first British officer he could find, of what was going on. The negro succeeded in passing the American sentinels, but ar rived at a Hessian outpost, where, not being able to make himself understood, he was put under guard as a suspicious person. There he was kept until about daybreak, when an officer visiting the post examined him, and was astounded by his story. An alarm was at once given, and the troops were called to arms; but it was too late. The rear boats of the retreating army were halfway across the river." Washington continued his retreat northward, and at White Plains a partial engagement took place. Fort Washington, garrisoned by a large force, made a good defense, but both it and Fort Lee, on the opposite side of the Hudson, fell into the hands of the enemy; and Washington, followed by Lord Cornwallis, retreated through New Jersey and across the Delaware.

of Hale.

45. Before abandoning New York and while Howe's army was at Brooklyn, Washington sent Captain Nathan Hale to the British camp to obtain a knowledge of the condition of the enemy. On his return, he was captured, and Execution taken before Howe, who, without even the form of a trial, ordered him to be hung the next morning. "Hale calmly requested that he might be furnished with writing materials and a light. He wanted, he said, to address a few lines to his parents and friends. The request was brutally refused. He asked for a Bible. This request, too, met with a coarse denial. But there was one heart near, which, for a moment, throbbed with pity for the prisonerso young, so treated, yet so mild, so firm, so soon to die, and -alone Moved, in spite of himself, the young lieutenant of Hale's guard interfered in his behalf, and was so far successful as to procure for him the privilege of writing.

46. With pen, ink, paper, and a light, he was thrust at night

6

into some desolate chamber, or grated cell, and, for awhile, was left to himself. * * * What a night to Hale! * * * It was morning,-morning, too, of the hallowed day; but war knows no Sabbaths. The fatal hour had come. Hale handed the letters he had written to the marshal for delivery. The marshal examined them, and, as he read, grew furious at the noble spirit which breathed in every line of the composition; and, for the reason afterwards given by himself, tore the letters into shreds, that the rebels should never know they had a man who could die with such firmness.' Early morning as it was, yet quite a crowd was collected around the place of exécution. But in all that crowd there was not one face familiar to the prisoner, not one friend to whisper a word of consolation. With a voice, full, distinct, and slow, in words which patriotism will forever enshrine, at the very moment when the tightening cord was to crush the life from his young body forever, Hale exclaimed: 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." "

66

47. A deep gloom at this time pervaded all classes of the Americans. Thus far their army had met with nothing but defeat, retreat, sacrifice, hardship, and discouragement.' Battle Many of the patriots saw no other prospect than a of Trenton. complete failure of their treasured scheme of liberty. But Washington, who with the remnant of his army,

had taken a position on the west side of the Delaware, was still hopeful. To strike a blow that would raise the spirits of his countrymen was now his determination. "The opportunity came. The British delayed crossing the river, and divided their force among different posts throughout New Jersey. At Trenton they

stationed a body twelve hundred strong, composed chiefly of Hessians. Washington resolved to make a sudden dash upon

[graphic]

1776

Battle of Trenton.

151

this detachment. A surprise, an irresistible attack, the capture of a post with a thousand men, might work wonders in their moral effect. The soldiers with him were trusty men, twenty-four hundred of whom he proposed to lead himself in this enterprise.

48. The night of the 25th of December brought storm, snow, and sleet, but Washington was determined on the attempt. He called upon Glover's men to man the boats; and these amphibious soldiers, who had transported the army on the retreat from Long Island, were ready again to strain every nerve for the plans of their chief. It was a long, tedious night as they pushed across the Delaware, through floating ice and chilling spray, and it was not till four o'clock in the morning that the force was ready to take up the march on the Jersey side. Trenton was nine miles distant; and not to be reached before daylight. To surprise it was supposed to be out of the question, but a return was not to be thought of. It began to hail and snow as the troops commenced their march, and increased in violence as they advanced, the storm driving the sleet in their faces. At eight o'clock the enemy's outposts were reached. Our troops, surprising their outguards, dashed after them 'pell-mell' into Trenton, gave the enemy no time to form, cleared the streets with cannon and howitzers in the twinkling of an eye,' dislodged the Hessians from the houses, drove them beyond into a plain, surrounded them, and finally compelled them to sur render. A fine and remarkable exploit! The turning-point of the campaign-if not, indeed, the decisive stroke of the war. "That victory," writes Bancroft, "turned the shadow of death into the morning (Dec. 26, 1776)."

[ocr errors]

6

[ocr errors]

49. This bold and successful stroke went far to restore confidence, but Washington's army at this time scarcely ex

1 Nearly a thousand prisoners were taken. Generals Greene, Sullivan, and Colonel Stark distinguished themselves in the battle. Rahl, the Hessian commander, mortally wounded, was conveyed to the house of a Quaker family, where Washington and Greene visited the dying man.

« AnteriorContinuar »