The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-19
RECENT FICTION.

IN DEFIANCE OF THE KING: Ro-
nance Of the American Revolution. by
Chauncey c. Hotchkiss. No. IT'S In ID.
Appleton & Co.. Town and Country LII
brary; 90 cents.
This handy volume introduces to the
public q new writer Of fiction who has
had the commendable taste to CHOOSE
an American theme and a historic en-
virOnment which can never grow old
or dull. Another merit which quickly
pleads in his favor Is the fact that the
author eschewsa prosy Introduction and
Jumps at once in medias res. The very
first chapter opens with a bit of lively
dialogue, such as the wayfarer might
easily have heard In actual life
had he been privileged. as was
the putative narrator of our tale,
to visit the coffee room of the
Sign OF the White Horse inn. in
Cambridge, on the momentous night of
the 18th Of April, 1775-the night of
the landing of the British regulars In
Boston harbor. This initial scene is
designed to exhibit something of the
tensity Of feeling prevalent among the
colonists In the short period just preced-
ing the first open shedding Of blood in
the war for our Independence. and 1t
does this with realism which is de-
cldedly OF educational value. lmme-
diately following Is a spirited bird 's-eye
view Of the battle of Lexington. OF
which Mr.. Hotchkiss makes his hero 4
spectator. We quote the scene as II Is
narrative by him. emitting irrelevant
matter pertaining to the story, but not
to the battle:
Save for a huge fire that had been
kindled on the common: around wnlSn
were grouped a number of men. there was
no sign OF preparation. Lights purheu IN
every house, and that the townsmen We're
fully alive to the approach or the Brit-
ish was evident: but no force was then
marshaled to oppose them. ON our enter
Ing Beckwith's tavern, We found II crowd
ed with minute men and there learned
that horseman had been sent forward TO
meet the oncoming force and ride PACK 20
There was little bras. Elderly men
mingled with those but shortly past boy
hood, and what surprised me most was the
lack OF arms among them. Diligent enort
made by my companion failed TO procure
me a gun, and to this is due the fact that
took no part In the fight. Time sped un-
der the suppressed excitement. Suddenly
there was a distant shout. followed py
several nearer. and upon the green hard
by a drum sounded the assembly. Pres
entity a horSeman pulled up at the door
and without dismounting shouted:
Fall in, fall In. they are coming: they
are less than three miles back
and what had been confusion moment
before became excited rio; for the while.
! could not make out who was command
ing, and the difference between rank and
file. IL 1, ever existed. was unrecognizaoie.
After many orders and counter orders, a
space was cleared on the green and some
seventy men and boys. all armed. fell
into line with a semblance or military
form, and soon after marched down the
dim road a crowd followed, l among
them, until we arrived at the bridge that
crossed the little river, and at once the
planks OF the structure were torn up ana
placed in a pile on the side nearest the
enemy. This one act showed me how to-
tally ignorant OF military strategy We're
the brave men who were TO oppose the
march of England's veterans
The east was broad field Of light when
caught the first glimpse OF the req coats,
and to my surprise there were not more
than 200 in the force. 1t was evidently a
detachment sent ahead to clear the way.
The crowd near the bridge scattered as
they came in sight. and the Few patnois
who had determined to oppose Its passage
recrossed the structure and took their
stand on the side toward Lexington. The
troops advanced TO within hfty YARDS or
the stream. halted and swung into lire
across the road. and the tragedy opened.
I could hear no words from where l was
standing, but suddenly there came the
flash Of a frearm and then volley from
the regulars" I marked the single
and then stagger to his feet as the fire
was returned, and for a brief space OF
time the fusillade was general. F'lash tol-
lowed flash and report followed report al
irregular intervals. Soon saw the ht'ie
band break and retreat, firing as II went
until II melted away. and the "Rattle OF
Lexington was over. 1t had taken less
than ten minutes
But the most realistic battle scene
in the book-nearly every chapter or
which has some reflection OF the stir
and excitement Of the period-occurs
near its close where the author makes
his hero enact part in the defense OF
Groton Heights. 1t will be remembered
that the assault upon and capture OF
this patriots outpost was about the last
act played by Benedict Arnold in the
drama Of the revolution after his trea-
con. Soon afterward came Yorktown and
peace: but not In time to avert this,
probably the most disgraceful instance
OF butchery and diablerie In the annals
OF British warfare. If we remember
that the American forces. perhaps not
more than 300 In all, were entrenched
behind the ramparts Of an old fort, sit
uated upon a hillock. while the two or
three regiments Of British and Hes
SLAMS. numbering about ], 500 in all, had
to march up to the fort and scale its
walls In the face OF hot fire from
within, we shall be prepared to under
stand the scene now quoted, which. IL
occurs to us. is one OF the most vivid
bits OF descriptive writing in literature:
There was q crash that Jared every
hbre and corresponding cry OF defiance,
and the line rolled up like burning paper.
] saw men pitch headlong and lie still.
while others stumbled over them to rise
and fall. mayhap not to rise again There
was an indefinable din, and over 1t, down
the breastworks and through the pail OF
smoke that blew In on US. came the cry OF
Load! ioad!" for others, like myself had
forgotten all but the horrible sight before
us.
was Immediately pulled back. and
those In waiting sprang into the place Of
those who had fired Running to an en-
brasure ] saw through the opening a sin
gle spot on the field. where group Of Of
fcers were gathered around q fallen man,
and ever and anon one would drop under
the rifle shots from the fort: and rightly
guessed that something high In rank had
fallen. as he was picked up and carried 20
the rear. now know II was Colonel Eyre,
the commander Of the assaulting forces.
The smoke. coming down like curtain,
put an end to further sight, and loaded
my gun with an eye to correctness, as we
had been told Of the danger Of putting In
the ball before the charge In the excite
ment OF being under fire. There were
cheers now. loud curses. and clinking Of
fire from the ramparts. Nothing alive
could have withstood the first blast of hell
that broke from Fort Griswold that fatal
noon. and when I got my head over the
parapet, the red line had fallen away out
OF range, but its advance was marked by
= fringe OF PROSTATE forms that lay still
or rolled about In agony.
They had been repulsed. dealy Iull
TOOK the place OF the pandemonium OF a
few moments before. II Is to be pre-
sumed that our fire had been returned
from the rear Of the assauhing force as
well as from the line In front; but to me
the only sign OF II was that the flag on the
southwest corner Of the bastion had been
shot away by Q cannon ball, for not man
within the fort had yet fallen.
Tears OF excitement were rolling down