History of the United States of America Volume 9; from the discovery of the American continent - George Bancroft, Paperback

• Release Date   5/18/2012
• ISBN-13   9781236172532 | 978-1-236-17253-2
• ISBN   1236172531 | 1-236-17253-1
• Format   Paperback
• Author(s)   George Bancroft
• This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 Excerpt: ...wallis next sought to turn the flanks of the Ameri-1JJn7. cans. but the fords of the Assanpink could not be 2. crossed without a battle. The moment was critical. The defeat of Washington might have crushed independence. the overthrow of the British army would have raised all New Jersey in their rear, and have almost ended the war. Late as it was in the day, Simcoe advised at once to pass over the Assanpink to the right of "the rebels," and bring on a general action. and Sir William Erskine feared that if it were put off, Washington might get away before morning. But the sun was nearly down. the night threatened to be foggy and dark. the British troops were worn out with skirmishes and a long march over deep roads. the aspect of the American army was imposing. Cornwallis, unwilling to take any needless risk, sent messengers in all haste for the brigade at Maidenhead, and for two of the three regiments at Princeton, and put off the fight till the next morning. The British army, sleeping by their fires, bivouacked on the hill above Trenton, while their large pickets were pushed forward along the Assanpink, to keep a close watch on the army of Washington. Confident in their vigilance, the general officers, u who all did wilfully expect the silver-threaded morn," thought their day's work done, and took their repose. Not so Washington. for him there could be no rest. From his retreat through the Jerseys, and his long halt in the first week of December at Trenton, he knew the by-ways leading out of the Otap. place, and the cross-cuts and roads as far as Bruns'--Y--' wick. He first ascertained by an exploring party,jwi' that the path to Princeton on the south side of 2-the Assanpink was unguarded.1 He saw the need of avoiding a battle the next mornin...