“Did they immediately attack Forts Mifflin and Mercer, papa?” asked Lulu.

“It took some little time to make the needed preparations,” replied the captain.  “It was on the 21st of October that Count Donop, with twelve hundred picked Hessians, crossed the Delaware at Cooper’s Ferry, and marched to the attack of Fort Mercer.  The Americans added eight miles to the extent of their march by taking up the bridge over a creek which they must cross, so compelling them to go four miles up the stream to find a ford.

“It was on the morning of the 22d that they made their appearance, fully armed for battle, on the edge of a wood within cannon shot of Fort Mercer.

“It was a great surprise to our men, for they had not heard of the approach of these troops.  They were informed that there were twenty-five hundred of the Hessians, while of themselves there were but four hundred men in a feeble earth fort, with but fourteen pieces of cannon.

“But the brave fellows had no idea of surrendering without a struggle.  There were two Rhode Island regiments, commanded by Colonel Christopher Greene.  They at once made preparations for defence, and while they were thus engaged a Hessian officer rode up to the fort with a flag and a drummer, and insolently proclaimed, ’The King of England orders his rebellious subjects to lay down their arms; and they are warned that if they stand the battle, no quarter whatever will be given.’

“Colonel Greene answered him, ‘We ask no quarter nor will we give any.’

“The Hessian and his drummer then rode hastily back to his commander and the Hessians at once fell to work building a battery within half cannon shot of the fort.

“At the same time the Americans continued their preparations for the coming conflict, making them with the greatest activity and eagerness, feeling that with them skill and bravery must now combat overwhelming numbers, fierceness, and discipline.

“Their outworks were unfinished but they placed great reliance upon the redoubt.

“At four o’clock in the afternoon the Hessians opened a brisk cannonade, and at a quarter before five a battalion advanced to the attack on the north side of the fort, near a morass which covered it.

“They found the works there abandoned but not destroyed, and thought that they had frightened the Americans away.  So with a shout of victory, and the drummer beating a lively march, they rushed to the redoubt, where not a man was to be seen.

“But as they reached it, and were about to climb the ramparts to plant their flag there, a sudden and galling fire of musketry and grape-shot poured out upon them, from a half-masked battery on their left flank, formed by an angle of an old embankment.

“It took terrible effect and drove them back to their old intrenchments.

“At the same time another division, commanded by Dunot himself, attacked the fort on the south side, but they also were driven back, with great loss, by the continuous and heavy fire of the Americans.