The men were hastily assembled, and, leaving a strong detail to guard the boats, at four o'clock in the morning the long and awful march to Trenton was begun, the general and his staff, escorted by the Philadelphia City Troop, in the lead.

The storm was at its height.

All hopes of a night attack and surprise had necessarily to be abandoned.

Still the general pressed on, determined to abide the issue, and make the attack as soon as he reached the enemy.

It was the last effort of liberty, conceived in desperation and born in the throes of hunger and cold! What would the bringing forth be?
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