The Balance Sheet of Disaster
barracks. Proceeding with music and fixed bayonets to the State House, where Congress and the Council of Pennsylvania were in session, they stationed sentinels at every door to prevent egress, and then served upon both bodies a written demand for the redress of their grievances, threatening military violence in case their wrongs were not righted within the brief space of twenty minutes. For several hours Congress and the Pennsylvania Council found themselves at the mercy of an armed and undisciplined soldiery. In this extremity, fearing that the State of Pennsylvania could not furnish adequate protection, Congress called for regular troops, abandoned the Capital, and adjourned to meet at Princeton. Thus a few rioting recruits forced the flight of Congress. These were mere recruits, soldiers of a day who had not borne the heat and burden of the war. As against their behavior contrast the veteran Continentals. All honor to them, sturdy and steadfast, who patiently endured hunger, danger and cold; who suffered and bled without a murmur;
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