Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-03-31


meaning of this sudden disappear
ance of the British, when a lurid
flash lifted up the fog from the lawn,
and the thunder of musketry doomed
along the air, echoing among the
hooks and corners of the ancient
houses on the opposite side of the
street.
Another moment, and n soldier
with face all crimson with blood and
darkcned by battle smoke, rushed
through the group clustered around
the horse of Washington, and in a
hurried voice announced that the
remnant of the British regiment had
thrown themselves into the substan-
tial stone mansion Oh the left, and
seemed determined to make good
desperate defense.
"What say you, gcntlemcn," cried
Washington; "shall we press onward
and attack the main body of the ene-
my at once, or shall we first drive
the enemy from their stronghold, at
this mansion on our lcft?"
The answer of Wayne was short
and to the point. "Onward!" he
shouted, and his sword rose in the
air, all dripping with blood" on
ward into the town-our soldiers are
warmed with the chase-onward, and
with another blow we have them!"
And the gallant Hamilton, the
brave Pickering, the gifted Marshall
echoed the cry" "Onward," while the
hoarse shout of Pulaski rang out in
the air: Observation-Disclosures
warts"
at is against every rule of mill
tary SCIENCE" exclaimed Gen. Knox,
whose opinion in council was ever
valuable with Washington; "it is
against every rule of military science,
to leave a fortified stronghold in the
rear of an advancing army. Let us
first reduce the mansion on our left,
and then move forward into the CEN
tire of the town"
There was anoth or moment of sol
emn council; the older members of
the staff united in opinion with Knox,
and with one quick, anxious glance
around the scene Of fog and mist,
Washington gave the order to storm
the house.
And at the word, while 4 steady
volume of flame was flashing from
Chew's house, every window pouring
forth its blaze, glaring over the
wreath of mist, the Contincntals,
horse and foot formed across the
road, to the north of the house, eager
for the signal which would bid them
advance INTO the very jaws of death.
All were ready for the Storm
Here were men with tirebrands, ready
to rush forward under the cover of
the first vollcy of musketry and fire
the house; here were long lines of
soldiers grasping their guns with a
quick nervous movement, one foot
advanced IN the act of springing for
ward; yonder are the cannoniers,
their pieces loaded, the linstock in
the hand of one soldier, while an
other stood ready with the next
charge of ammunition; on every side
was intense suspense and expecta-
ton.
At this moment, when everything
was ready for the storm of death, an
expression oft most intense thought
passed over the impenetrable counte-
nance of Washington. Every line OF
his features was marked by thought,
his lips were sternly compressed and
his eye gathered strange fire.
He turned to the east, and bent
one long, anxious look over the white
folds of mist, as though he would
pierce the fog with his glance, and
gaze upon the advancing columns of
Greene and Stephen. He inclined
his head to one side of his stecd, and
listened for the tramp Of their war
horses, but in vain. He turned to-
ward Germantown; all was silent in
that direction, the main body of the
enemy were not yet in motion.
And then, in a calm voice, he asked
for an officer who would consent to
bear a flag of truce to the enemy. A
young and gal ant officer of Lees
rangers sprane from his horse; his
name Lieut.. Smith; he assumed the
snow white flag, held sacred by all
nations, and with a single glance at
the Continental array, he advanced
to Chew's house.
In a moment he was lost to sight
amid the folds of the fog, and his
way lay over the green lawn for some
two hundred yards. All was still
and silent around him. Tradition
states that the fire from the house
ceased for moment, while Mus
graves band were silently maturing
their plan of desperate defense. The
young soldier advanced along his
lonely path, speeding through the
bosom of the fog, all objects lost to
his sight, save the green verdure of
the sod, yet unstained by blood, and
here and there the trunk of giant
tree looming blackly through the
INST.
The outline of a noble mansion be-
gan to dawn on his eye, first the slop-
ing roof, then the massive chimneys,
then the front of the editice, and then
its windows, all crowded with sold
iers in their crimson attire, whiskered
face appeared above face, with wrisly
musket and glittering bayonet, thrust
out upon the air, while with fierce
glances the hirelings looked forth
into the bosom Of that fearful mist,
which still like death shroud for
hung over the lawn, and
over the chimneys of the house.
The young officer went steadily on,
and now he stood some thirty PAGES
from the house, waving his white flag
on high, and then with an even step
be advanced toward the hall door,
He advanced, but he never reached
the hall door. He was within the
scope of the British soldiers vision;
they could have reached him with an
flag staff, when the loud
word OF command rang through the
house, a volley of fire blazed from
every window, and the whole Ameri-
can army saw the fog lifted from the