IX. 1776. sylvania! Could any thing but the River Delaware have CHAPTER saved Philadelphia? Can any thing (the exigency of the case indeed may justify it) be more destructive to the recruiting service, than giving ten dollars' bounty for six weeks' service of the militia who come in, you cannot tell how, go, you cannot tell when, and act, you cannot tell where, consume your provisions, exhaust your stores, and leave you at last at a critical moment? "These, Sir, are the men I am to depend upon ten days hence; this is the basis on which your cause will and must for ever depend, till you get a large standing army sufficient of itself to oppose the enemy. I therefore beg leave to give it as my humble opinion, that eightyeight battalions are by no means equal to the opposition you are to make, and that a moment's time is not to be lost in raising a greater number, not less, in my opinion and the opinion of my officers, than a hundred and ten. It may be urged, that it will be found difficult enough to complete the first number. This may be true, and yet the officers of a hundred and ten battalions will recruit many more men, than those of eighty-eight. In my judgment this is not a time to stand upon expense; our funds are not the only object of consideration. The State of New York have added one battalion (I wish they had made it two) to their quota. If any good officers will offer to raise men upon Continental pay and establishment in this quarter, I shall encourage them to do so, and regiment them when they have done it. If Congress disapprove of this proceeding, they will please to signify it, as I mean it for the best. It may be thought that I am going a good deal out of the line of my duty, to adopt these measures, or to advise thus freely. A character to lose, an estate to forfeit, the inestimable blessings of liberty at stake, and a life devoted, must be my excuse." This representation, and others of like import, had their due effect. Notwithstanding the extreme sensitiveness hitherto shown by Congress, in regard to a military ascendency, the present crisis was such, as to silence the Urges an in crease of the army. Congress counsels, adopt his and invest him with powers. dictatorial IX. 1776. Dec. 27. CHAPTER opposition, if not to change the sentiments, of the members who had looked with distrust upon every measure tending to strengthen the military arm. General Washington was at once invested with extraordinary powers. By a formal resolve he was authorized to raise sixteen battalions of infantry, in addition to the eighty-eight already voted by Congress, and appoint the officers; to raise and equip three thousand light-horse, three regiments of artillery, and a corps of engineers; to call upon any of the States for such aids of militia as he should judge necessary; to form magazines of provisions; to displace and appoint all officers under the rank of brigadiers, and fill up vacancies in every part of the army; to take whatever he should want for the use of the army, allowing the inhabitants a reasonable price for the same; and to arrest and confine persons, who refused to receive the Continental currency, or who were otherwise disaffected to the American cause, and to report them for trial to the States of which they were citizens. These powers constituted him in all respects a military Dictator. They were to continue six months; and in his exercise of them he fully justified the confidence of Congress, as expressed in the preamble to the resolve, in which it is said they were granted in consequence of a perfect reliance on his wisdom, vigor, and uprightness. Cautious use of his pow ers. In this case, as in all others where power was intrusted to him, whether acting in a military or civil capacity, he was cautious to exercise it no farther than to effect the single end for which it was designed. Fearless in the discharge of duty, and never shrinking from responsibility, he was at the same time free from the vanity, which too often besets men in high stations, of gaining personal consequence by making himself felt as the centre and moving spring of the operations over which he had control. No man was more vigilant in seeing that every thing was properly done; but he was willing that others should be the agents, or the contrivers, and that every one should have the credit and the praise of his IX. worthy deeds. In the present instance, therefore, when CHAPTER Congress or the governments of the States voluntarily relieved him from a part of his task, which they sometimes 1776. did while he possessed the dictatorship, so far was he from thinking it an encroachment on his authority or an interference, that he expressed satisfaction and thanks.* To the main point, however, of reforming and recruiting the army, he gave his immediate and earnest attention. In advancing this object, he employed the powers army. with which he was invested to their fullest extent. The mode of appointing officers was one of the most serious defects in the system recently established by Congress. Some of the States had neglected to complete their ap After he had been invested with the above dictatorial office, the Council of Safety of New York apologized to him for certain measures they had taken in regard to the troops of that State, which they afterwards discovered to have been an invasion of the powers properly belonging to the Commander-in-chief. Washington replied; "I should be unhappy in the belief, that any part of my letter to you could be construed into the slightest hint, that you wish to interfere in the military line. Heaven knows that I greatly want the aid of every good man, and that there are not such enviable pleasures attending my situation, as to make me too jealous of its prerogatives. Rather than complain of your late efforts in the military way, you deserve the thanks of us all, and I feel myself happy in this opportunity of returning you mine in the greatest truth and sincerity." The resolves of Congress, conferring the above powers, were transmitted to Washington by the Committee, who remained in Philadelphia when the Congress adjourned to Baltimore, namely, Robert Morris, Clymer, and Walton. In their letter they said;- "We find by these resolves, that your Excellency's hands will be strengthened with very ample powers; and a new reformation of the army seems to have its origin therein. Happy it is for this country, that the General of their forces can safely be intrusted with the most unlimited power, and neither personal security, liberty, nor property, be in the least degree endangered thereby." To no one, who has been conspicuous in history, could the words of "Unus qui nobis cunctando restituit rem; Ergo magisque magisque viri nunc gloria claret." Applies him self with vigor to recruiting the IX. 1776. CHAPTER pointments; and generally these were made with so little judgment, and with such a disregard of military rules, that officers without worth or experience had been put over the heads of those, who were accustomed to service, and had given proofs of their valor and ability. By his power to displace, and to fill up vacancies, Washington rectified these errors as far as prudence would permit. The appointments for the sixteen additional battalions of infantry, and the new regiments of light-horse, artillery, and engineers, being wholly in his hands, he took care to provide for meritorious officers, who had been overlooked by the States; thus removing their disgust, securing a valuable accession to the army, and inducing many privates to reënlist, who had participated in the dissatisfaction of their officers. His rule in this respect is indicated in a letter of instructions to Colonel Baylor, who was to command a regiment of light-horse. His rule for the selection of officers. Plans an attack on the enemy at Trentou. "As nothing contributes so much to the constitution of a good regiment," said he, "as a good corps of officers, and no method is so likely to obtain these, as leaving the choice in a great measure to the gentleman, who is to reap the honors or share the disgrace of their behavior, I shall vest you with the power of nominating the officers of your regiment, except the field-officers; claiming to myself a negative upon a part or the whole, if I have reason to suspect an improper choice. I earnestly recommend to you to be circumspect in your choice of officers. Take none but gentlemen; let no local attachments influence you; do not suffer your good nature, when an application is made, to say yes, when you ought to say no; remember that it is a public, not a private cause, that is to be injured or benefited by your choice; recollect, also, that no instance has yet happened of good or bad behavior in a corps in our service, that has not originated with the officers. Do not take old men, nor yet fill your corps with boys, especially for captains." Before these measures for arranging the army were matured, other events of great importance occurred, which IX. 1776. gave a new face to affairs. From the moment Washing- CHAPTER ton crossed the Delaware, his thoughts were turned upon devising some method to retrieve his losses, or at least to impede the progress and derange the plans of the enemy. For several days it was uncertain what course General Howe would pursue. The river continued free from ice longer than was expected. He kept his detachments cantoned at the places where they had first been lodged, the strongest being at Brunswic, ready to move in any direction at a short notice. Meantime the American force gained accessions by Lee's division, the regiments from Ticonderoga, and the militia from Philadelphia and the eastern parts of Pennsylvania, who turned out with spirit and in considerable numbers. These latter troops were in two bodies, one at Bristol under General Cadwalader, the other nearly opposite the town of Trenton, commanded by General Ewing. The Continental regiments were still retained in their original position higher up the river. At length General Washington resolved to hazard the bold experiment of recrossing the Delaware, and attacking the enemy on their own ground. At Trenton were three regiments of Hessians, amounting to about fifteen hundred men, and a troop of British light-horse. Small detachments were stationed at Bordentown, Burlington, Black Horse, and Mount Holly. These latter posts were to be assaulted by Cadwalader, who was to cross near Bristol, while Washington should cross above Trenton, and Ewing a little below, and unite in the attack upon the Hessians in that place. The night of the 25th of December was fixed on for making the attempt. Position of the two ar mies. Trenton. Dec. 26. At dusk, the Continental troops selected for the ser- Battle of vice, and commanded by General Washington in person, amounting to two thousand four hundred men, with twenty pieces of artillery, began to cross at McKonkey's Ferry, nine miles above Trenton, and it was supposed they would all be passed over by twelve o'clock; but the floating ice retarded the boats so much, that it was almost four o'clock in the morning before the whole body, with the |