Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-11

tinentalsi The mon OF Sullivan al
upon them They sweep on with ON
bold front-the forms Of the troopers
mounted ON their war steeds looming
through the mist, a. with sword up
raised, and battle shout pealing to tn
skies, they lead ON the charge Of death
"On-boys-on rings the voice O
Mad Anthony" on-comrades-
and remember Psoli!"
"Chargel" sounds the voice of Wash
ington. shrieking along the line, lik'
the voice Of mighty spirit" upoi
them-over them |" Conway re eechoe
the sound, Sullivan has already mad,
the air ring with his shout, and now Pull
aski takes up the ory-" Fbr,Varts-
6rudlesn-,Fbyv0arts !"
The British face the bayonets of the
advancing Americans, but in vain. Each
bold backwoodsman sends his volley oi
death along the British line, and then
clubbing his musket, rushes wildly for
ward, beating tho red-coat to the sod
with blow that cannot be stayed. The
British troopers rush forward in the
charge, but ere half the distance between
them aud the American host is measured,
Mad Anthony comes laundering on,
With his legion of iron, and as his war
shout swells on the air, tho red-coats are
driven back by the hurricane force of his
charge, the ground is strewn with the
dying, and the red boots of the horse
trample madly over the faces OF the
dead.
The fire of the infantry, spreading a
sheeted fame through the folds of mist,
lights up the scene. The never ceasing
clang of sword against sword, the low
muttered shrek of the fallen, vainly
trying to stop the flow of blood, the
wild yell of the soldier, gazing madly
round as he receives his death wound,
the shout OF the charge, aud the invol-
untary cry OF "quarter," all furnish q
music most dread and horrible, as though
an internal band were urging on the
work of slaughter, with their notes of
fiendish mockery.
The form of Washington is in the
center of the fight, the battle glare
lighting up his face of majesty; the
stalwart form of Wayne is seen riding
hither and thither, waving a dripping
sword in his good right hand; the figure
of Pulaski, dark as the form of an earth
riven spirit of some German story, breaks
on your eye, as enveloped in mist, he
seems rushing everywhere at the same
moment, fighting in all points of the
contest, hurrying his men onward, and
driving the affrighted British before
him with the terror of his charge.
And Col. Musgrage-where is he9
He shouts the charge to his men, he
hnrries hither and thither, h shouts till
he is hoarse, he fights till his person is
red with the blood of his own men, slain
before his very eyes, but all in vain !
He shouts the word of retreat along
his line: "Away, my men, away to
Chew's house-away |"
The retreat commences, and then, III
deed, the hunt of death is up in good
The British wheel down the German
town road, they turn their backs to their
foes, they flee wildly toward German
town, leaving their dead and dying in
their wake; man and horse, they flee,
some scattering their arms by the road
side, others, weakened by loss of blood,
feebly endeavoring to join the retreat,
and then falling dead in the path of the
pursuers, who with one bold front, with
one firm step rush after the British in
heir flight, ride down the fleeing ranks,
md scatter death along the hurrying
columns.
And in the very van of pursuit, his
all form seen by every soldier, rode
George Washington, his mind strained
10 pitch of agony, as the crisis of the
contest approached, and by his side rode
Mad Anthony Wayne, now Mad Anthony
indeed, for his whole appearance was
'hanged, mis- eye seemed turned to a
hing of living flame, his face was be-
,rimed with powder, his sword was red
With blood, and his battle-shout rung
iercer on the air:
"Over them boys-upon them-over
hem, and remember Paoli!" ,
"Now Wayne, now," shouted Wash.
ngton-" one charge more and we
AVE them p
"Forwarts - brudern - forwarts |"
houted Pulaski, as his iron band came
on-"Forwarts-for Wash j
ngton-forwartsl" ,
Tie British leader wheeled his steed
or moment, and gazed upon his pur- I
uers. All around was bloodshed, gloom {
nd death; mist and smoke above; fame t
round, and mangled corses below. |
With one hoarse shout, he again bade g
is men make for Chew's house, and I
gain the dying scattered along the path
,oked up, and beheld the British sweep +
,g madly down the road a
The vanguard of the pursuers had I
aimed the upper end of Chew's wall, I
hen the remnant of the British force
in the fog; file after file of q
10 crimson coated British were lost to 6
ght in the mist, and in the very heat I
nd flush of the chase, the American e
rmy was brought to halt in front of u
hew's wall, each soldier falling back on t
is comrade with q sudden movement,
lille the officers gazed on each others b
ices in vain inquiry for the cause of !
lis unexpected delay. U
The fog gathered in dense folds over '
le heads of the soldiers, thicker and
ore dense it gathered every instant n
le enemy was lost to sight in the direc- II
on of Chew's lawn, and fearful pause t.
silence, from the din and tumult of 8
loodshed, ensued for single moment. d
Bending from his steed in front of the Q
ate that led into Chew's lawn, Wash =
gton gazed round upon the faces of his =
aft, who circled him on every side, q
ith every horse recoiling on his y,
lunches from the sudden effect of the u
lit.
Washington was about to speak as he = y
aned from his steed, with his sword Ii
llf lowered in the misty air, he was .
,out to speak, and ask the meaning of "
lis sudden disappearance of the Brit
b, when lurid flash lifted up the fog
ON the lawn, and the thunder Of