ad time to effect the longer circuit, so
that the two attacks might be delivered together. General Washington
himself rode in front of the first column. It was still frightfully
cold.

About daybreak the general spied an officer on horseback toiling
through the snowdrifts toward him. As the horseman drew nearer, he
recognized young Martin.

"What is it now, sir?"

"General Sullivan says that the storm has rendered many of his muskets
useless, by wetting the priming and powder. He wishes to know what is
to be done, sir?"

"Return instantly, and tell him he must use the bayonet! When he hears
the firing, he is to advance and charge immediately. The town must be
taken, and I intend to take it."

"Very good, sir," said the young man, saluting.

"Can you get through the snow in time?"

"Yes, sir," he replied promptly. "I can get through anything, if your
excellency will give the order."

The general smiled approvingly. It was evident that young man's first
lesson had been a good one; his emphasis, he was glad to see, had not
been misapplied.

When Martin rejoined Sullivan's column, which had been halted at the
cross-roads, the men who had witnessed his departure were eagerly
waiting his return. As he repeated the general's reply, they began
slipping the bayonets over the muzzles of their guns without orders.
So eager were they to advance, that Sullivan had difficulty in
restraining them until the signal was given. Such was their temper and
spirit that, in the excitement of the moment, they recked little of the
freezing cold and the hardships of their terrible march. The
retreating army was at last on the offensive, they were about to attack
now, and no attack is so dangerous as that delivered by men from whom
the compelling necessity of retreat has been suddenly removed.

It was about eight o'clock in the morning when they came in sight of
the town. The village of Trenton then contained about one hundred
houses, mostly frame, scattered along both sides of two long streets,
and chiefly located on the west bank of the Assunpink, which here bent
sharply to the north before it flowed into the Delaware. The Assunpink
was fordable in places at low water, but it was spanned by a
substantial stone bridge, which gave on the road followed by Sullivan,
at the west end of the village. Washington came down from the north,
and entered the village from the other side. About half a mile from
the edge of the town