The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-04-29

heavy cloaks. One Of these lay with his
face to the stars, sleeping as placidly as if
his boyish form were safe beneath his
mothers roof. One arm lay across his
chest, clasping to his body the staff of
small cavalry flag, while the other stretch
ed along his side, the hand resting uncon-
sciously upon holster-case Of pistols. As
the glare Of the neighboring FIRE played
over his features it was easy to recognize
Walter Peyton, guarding faithfully, even
in his sleep, the banner which Jane Elliott
had cut from her mothers parlor fauteua,
and which had already become known to
the enemy. A rough log cabin stood a
little way from the biyouac, before which
two sentinels in the uniform Of the Cont
mental regulars were pacing up and down.
The CLEAN of the roaring lightwood fire
flashed through the open seams between
the logs, aud heavy volumes Of smoke
rolled out Of the clay chimney. Just in
front Of the huge fireplace stood the tall,
burly figure of Morgan, and near him
were grouped, in earnest consultation, the
manly figure Of William Washington, the
brave and knighdy John Eager Howard
Of ofMaryland, Mcdowell, Triplett, Cunning
ham and other officers of the field and
staff Determination not unmingled with
gloom was visible upon the faces Of oil.
Every arrangement had been made for the
probable fight of the morrow, and the
council was about to disperse, when the
silence Of the night was broken by the
call Of distant sentinel, taken up and re-
peated along the line. Morgan instantly
despatched an orderly to the bivOuac of
the guard, and the party were soon cheered
by the intelligence that courier had just
arrived who reported the near approach Of
Pickens with three hundred Carolina rife
men--a timely and valuable addition to
the little force Of patriots.
The first gray pencilings of dawn were
scarcely visible when the slumbering camp
was reused by the rolling notes of the
reveille from the drum of little Solly Bar
ret,* the drummer-boy of Howard's Mary
land Regulars. Fully refreshed by good
nights rest, the men prepared and ate
their breakfasts with but little delay, and
by seven o'clock the entire force was in
line of battle, awaiting the approach Of
the enemy.
Tarleton, flushed with the assurance Of
easy victory, had made a forced march
during the night, and his command was
much jaded when at eight clock he came
in sight Of Murgan's outposts; notwith-
standing this, however, he determined, as
was fully expected by those who knew his
disposition aud mode Of warfare, TO attack
the American lines forthwith. 1t must
be left to the historian to tell how the
battle ragged with varying fortunes until
Howards gallant Marylanders taught the
British regulars that the despised provin-
cials had learned the trick Of the bayonet,
and decided the issue Of the day. Up to
this moment the cavalry, which had been
posted in reserve behind slight wooded
eminence, had been chatting for hand in
the fray. As has been stated, these troops
consisted of McCall's mounted militia and
Washington's Light Dragons. The latter
were all well mounted and armed, for their
frequent success in skirmishes with the
enemy's horse kept them well supplied.
They were crack corps, and well had
they earned their reputation. Just as
Howard's regulars turned savagely on their
disorderly pursuers and put them to the
rout, squadron of British light horse
made dash at Mccall, whose men were
unused to the sabre, and had been demor-
allied by the first bayonet-charge of the
enemy, which they had sustained on foot.
Now was Washington's chance.
"Are you ready, men? Charge" The
words were scarcely off his lips ere the
noble mare which he rode shot forward,
touched by her riders spur. With wild
yell, which drowned the regular cheer Of
the Englishmen, the men dashed after
their brave and impetuous leader, who was
ever the first to cross a sabre with an ene-
my. Rising in his stirrups as the gallant
chestnut answered the spur, Walter Pey-
ton looked backward at the men as he
raised the light staff Of his little banner
and shook its folds to the breeze, and the
next moment he was close by the side of
his chief in the very thickest Of the melee.
For moment all was dust and confusion,
for Ia rleton's veterans were not the men
to break at the first onset, and they met
the furious charge of the Virginians with
determination which promised bloody
and doubtful struggle. One stout fellow,
mounted on powerful horse singled out the
young ensign as his special quarry, not no.
ticing, in his ardor to capture the daring lit.
tie rebel flag, that the trooper who rode next
to lit was the gallant colonel himself. Rein
ing back his horse almost upon his launches
he had raised his sabre in the very act to
strike when that Of Washington came
down with tremendous force, severing the
upper muscles Of his sword-arm, and at
the same instant Peyton, for the first time
observing his danger, dropped his rein and
grasping the flagstaff with both hands,
swung 1t full in the face of his assailaut.
The mans horse shied violently as the
folds Of the little banner tapped across
his eyes, and as bis rider fell heavily from
! a.. I'll n.