on the upper
road, almost as completely surprised as the other by the dashing
onslaught of the Americans, made another futile attempt at resistance
to Greene's column, but they soon fell back in great disorder upon the
main body.

It was broad daylight now, and the violence of the storm had somewhat
abated. In the town, where the firing had been heard, the drums of the
three regiments were rapidly beating the assembly. Colonel Rahl was in
bed, sleeping off the effects of his previous night's indulgences, when
he heard the commotion. Jumping from the bed and running rapidly to
the window, still undressed, he thrust out his head and asked the
acting brigade adjutant, Biel,--who was hurriedly galloping past,--what
it was all about. There was a total misapprehension on all sides, even
at this hour, as to the serious nature of the attack; so the confused
colonel, satisfied with Biel's surmise that it was a raid, ordered him
to take a company and go to the assistance of the main guard, in the
supposition that it was only a skirmishing party, and never dreaming of
a general attack. Nevertheless he then dressed rapidly, and, running
down to the street, mounted his horse, which had been brought around.
The three regiments which comprised his brigade and command were
already forming; they were the regiment Rahl, the regiment Von
Lossburg, and the regiment Von Knyphausen. At this moment the advance
party and the main guard came running through the streets in great
confusion, crying that the whole rebel army was down upon them. The
regiment Rahl and the regiment Von Lossburg at once began retreating to
an apple orchard back of the town; firing ineffectively in their
excitement, as they ran, from behind the houses, at the head of the
column, which had now appeared in the street; while the regiment Von
Knyphausen, under the command of Major Von Dechow, the second in
command of the brigade, separated from the two others and made for the
bridge over the Assunpink.

King and Queen streets run together at the east end of the town. There
Washington stationed himself, on the left of Forest's battery, which
was immediately unlimbered and opened up a hot fire. The general's
position was much exposed, and after his horse had been wounded, his
officers repeatedly requested him to fall back to a safer point, which
he peremptorily refused to do. The joy of battle sparkled in his eyes;
he had instinctively chosen that position on the