. The works of Washington Irving. iveand solemn in the extreme. There were vivid schemes forming underthat solemn aspect. The time seemed nowpropitious for the coup de main which Wash-ington had of late been meditating. Every-thing showed careless confidence on the partof the enemy. Howfe was in winter quartersat New York. His troops were loosely can-toned about the Jerseys, from the Delaware toBrunswick, so that they could not readily bebrought to act in concert on a sudden Hessians were in the advance, stationedalong the Delaware, facing the American lines,which were along the west
. The works of Washington Irving. iveand solemn in the extreme. There were vivid schemes forming underthat solemn aspect. The time seemed nowpropitious for the coup de main which Wash-ington had of late been meditating. Every-thing showed careless confidence on the partof the enemy. Howfe was in winter quartersat New York. His troops were loosely can-toned about the Jerseys, from the Delaware toBrunswick, so that they could not readily bebrought to act in concert on a sudden Hessians were in the advance, stationedalong the Delaware, facing the American lines,which were along the west bank. Cornwallis,thinking his work accomplished, had obtainedleave of absence, and was likewise at New York,preparing to embark for England. Washing-ton had now between five and six thousandmen fit for service ; with these he meditated tocross the river at night, at difierent points, andmake simultaneous attacks upon the Hessianadvance posts. He calculated upon the eager support of histroops, who were burning to revenge the out-. I Xite of ?MHasbington rages on their homes and families, committedby these foreign mercenaries. They consideredthe Hessians mere hirelings ; slaves to a pettydespot, fighting for sordid pay, and actuatedby no sentiment of patriotism or honor. Theyhad rendered themselves the horror of theJerseys, by rapine, brutality, and first, their military discipline had inspiredawe, but of late they had become careless andunguarded, knowing the broken and dispiritedstate of the Americans, and considering themincapable of any offensive enterprise. A brigade of three Hessian regiments, thoseof Rahl,* Lossberg, and Knyphausen, wasstationed at Trenton. Colonel Rahl had thecommand of the post at his own solicitation,and in consequence of the laurels he had gainedat White Plains and Fort Washington. Wehave before us journals of two Hessian lieuten-ants and a corporal, which give graphic partic-ulars of the colonel and his post. According totheir repres
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