[Illustration: British and Hessian Soldiers.]
At sunset the troops began to cross. It was a terrible night. Angry gusts
of wind, and great blocks of ice swept along by the swift current,
threatened every moment to dash in pieces the frail boats.
From the Trenton side of the river, General Knox, who had been sent ahead
by Washington, loudly shouted to let the struggling boatmen know where to
land. For ten hours boat-load after boat-load of men made the dangerous
crossing. A long, long night this must have been to Washington, as he
stood in the midst of the wild storm, anxious, yet hopeful that the next
day would bring him victory.
It was not until four in the morning that the already weary men were in
line to march. Trenton was nine miles away, and a fearful storm of snow
and sleet beat fiercely upon them as they advanced. Yet they pushed
forward. Surely such courage and hardihood deserved its reward!
The Hessians, sleeping heavily after their night's feasting, were quite
unaware of the approaching army. About sunrise they were surprised and
most of them easily captured after a brief struggle.
Like a gleam of light in the darkness, news of this victory shot through
the colonies.
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