The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-20

The young men standing around
laughed at the sight, and Oliver blushed
with modification. 1t seemed to him
that he had grown to manhood since he
had used that line off the wharf the day
before. CURLING his patience little, he
said
&c Much obliged, Dorcas," and put the
reel into his pocket.
Forward! marchr shouted Corporal
Hubbard, and the little company stepped
out manfully to the tap of the drum,
every beat of which seemed to say to the
lad: You will do your duty! you will
do your duty!" over and over again.
Through the fields they went straight
to the crown of the peninsula on which
Castine is built. There, on the rounded
ridge, overlooking the town on the one
side, and the pastures on the other, was
rude earth-work, about six feet high,
surrounded by ditch, and commanding
view of the harbor in front of the town,
as well as of the Back Cove which Dor
dered the rocky and sloping pastures be-
| hind it. This was "The Fort" Thence they
could dcscry feet of boats on the
shore of the cove, about a mile and
half away. Half mile off was small
battery of earth, shaped like half
moon, behind which few men might
lie concealed and worry an advancing
enemy.
"Tell off twenty men for the batteryw
shouted Captain Blodgett
! And Corporal Hubbard went down the
line and counted out every other man
until he had his twenty men. These
stepped out to the front. They were
old, middle-aged and young. Each was
afire with zeal; each was more than
ready to fight for his country. The old!
est was the gray-haired grandsire of Seth
and lothian Buker. The youngest was
Oliver Perkins. And as they marched
cheerily, yet sedately, down the hill,
divers heart beat high with pride, and
he seemed to hear a soft voice repeating:
You will do your duty! You will do
your duty!" ....
"Seems to me they might have KEEP
that little chap at home" muttered old
man Buker to his grandson, Seth, dis
contentedly, though even his aged limbs
almost tottered as he spoke: This is
not fit work for children" ..4
"He's grit" said Seth, sententiously,
land I've promised the dame to keep
an eye on him"
"No talking in the ranks !" Numbered
Corporal Hubbard.
The red coats of the British were
already cleaning through the frs and
cedars as the little squad filed behind
the battery and lay down with their guns
in position. ...
"Wait till l give the word" said the
Corporal, in hoarse whisper" then
fire"
divers breath came fast, and his eyes
sparkled with strange light, as the red
coats came steadily on. On they came,
first slowly, then, lowering their guns,
with cleaning bayonets fixed, they broke
into run, and charged directly upon
the battery.
"Fire !" shouted Corporal Hubbard, as
he saw the whites of the eyes of the
British regulars.
At the word, rafting crash tore out
from behind the battery. The enemy's
line wavered and broke here and there.
Then came word OF command, and the
red-coats dashed up the slope, swarmed
over the battery, and, in the midst of
firing, smoke, and cheers, struggled to
gain the position.
1t was brief fight. A few of the pa
triots managed to escape into the fir
thickets to the right and left of the bat
terry, and so fled back to the fort with
the i'll news. .....
The British troops reformed their line
and marched on up the hill How gal
lantly the patriots defended this last
line behind the town, how well they
fought, cannot stay to tell. 1t was all
in vain. When night fell the red cross
of St. George was flying on the flagstaff
on the green, and the British Colonel
was quartered in Dame Perkins house
That night Captain Perkins came
back and heard the doleful story. at
was foolish thing to do" was all he
said. But whether he referred to divers
going to the defense, or to Captain
Blodgett's attempt to hold the battery,
nobody dared to ask. For it was plain
that his grief was great.