from the valley towards the enemy's entrenchments. Our march was rapid
and silent, and the enemy didn't see us until we were near. We gave the
first volley, and rushed upon them. I saw through the smoke, Colonel
Herrick was coming up. We had the Indians between us, and you should
have heard them yell, and whoop, and ring their cow-bells, but they
wouldn't stand; they fled through our detachments and left the Hessians
to shift for themselves. Soon after we commenced the attack, General
Stark made that short address you have heard so much about. Josiah
Wemyss, one of my old friends, was near the General when he spoke. He
told me Stark raised himself in his stirrups, and said: 'See there, men!
there are the red-coats; before night they are ours, or Molly Stark will
he a widow! Forward!' and they did forward and rush upon the Tories with
such force that they drove 'em across the stream, upon the Germans, who
were then forced from their breastworks on the heights. Then the battle
became general. Such a tremendous fire I never saw before, and never
expect to see again. Colonel Baum and his dragoons fought like brave
men, and for a long time could not be broken. We attacked them on one
side, and Stark on the other, but they stood their ground, and when
their powder gave out, Colonel Baum led them to the charge with the
sword. But it couldn't last: our men were fighting like mad, and our
firelocks brought down the enemy at a tremendous rate. Many of us had no
bagonets--I among them, yet we marched up to the Germans just the same
as if we had the best arms. At last, the Germans gave way and fled,
leaving their artillery and baggage on the field. Our men didn't pursue.
You see, General Stark, in order to give the men every inducement to do
their best on the field, promised them all the plunder that could be
taken from the enemy; and as the Germans fled, we all scattered to seize
on what they had left. I had the good luck to get a sword and one of the
heavy hats which the dragoons wore. I didn't care much about the value
of the things in regard to the money they'd bring, but I thought they'd