Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-02-23

AT the first note of war, the bat
tallants answered the call to conscribe
their names and prepared to belliger-
ate. Things castrensial were seen on
every hand, and the army gave promise
of soon becoming bellipotent. The
butfjerkin was in fashion and the
country was absorbed in agminal mat
ters. Although the mass of the people
had become embellic, this did not
augur vicety. Every Variable man
was called upon to do his duty. The
people were freshmen, but the respon-
sion to the call was generally prompt.
But 1t was no eft task to make all eff
ficient army ont of this material
Many, especially of the rascality,
sought essoin from service, under all
manner of pretexts. If all had been
granted, the ranks would have soon
begun to smartle. But while many
evinced this spight, the majority were
sequarious. They proved to be ready
i'll the adoption of military knowledge,
and from a trepe soon became an eff
ficient army, who would famulate their
country faithfully. The greatest diff
ticulty was to evolve the troops. For
this purpose Washington offered to
oppignerate his own private fortune.
But the country never was able to
persolve the men who fought for
Independence. 1t did redub Washing
ton in lands, but payment to the SOL
diers came as sportale.
Events followed fast upon this step,
all of which we cannot enumerate.
BurgoyEe undertook to scise from
Canada to New York city, with Indians
to niche in his wake. His object was to
deoppilate the passage between Canada
and New York. and diffirilitate COM
munication between New England and
the Middle and Southern Colonies
He was met and overwhelmed at Sara
toga. At this battle Benedict Arnold
greatly distinguished himself and
fought so furiously that he seemed to
be laboring under Satanophony.
Anthony Wayne made rapid move
ment to expngn the strong and Scoop
ulary progugnacle at Stony Point.
1t was a timely magnality. Wayne
was pusil IN stature. but swipper in
movement. This was a chevisance of
great Importance.
Canada had refused to advene the
colonies in this revolution, but be-
came an active enemy and sent her
sayages TO agnize frontier settlers by
their diabaterial movements septen-
trionally. Many of the borderprs fled
to the settlements for incolumity.
The Indians were induced, by cola
titiOus means. by donifernus emisSaries
and by British agents sent to trinkle
with them, to caster the settlers and
an Indian war was not devitable.
This served to eXsuscitate the border
ers for self defense.
The horror at the lachrymable mas
sacre at Wyoming was indirible. The
people were stricken with obmus-
tescence from rage and grief. 1t was
beyond perpession, and their resolve
for vengeance was plight. They could
thole such deeds no longer, although
the contest might be uperegal.
AS the winter at Valley Forge in
creased in severity, the sufferings in
creased with it. Starvation stared
them in the face. The incontentation
and even immuncticity that prevailed.
Stenben endeavored to mundify; but
discipline could not avert famine.
The troops were sometimes reduced to
the morsitation of shoes and harness,
and grains of corn picked from the
scarn of the rascal horses and even
obdormition was impossible. The
style of living was by no means
opiperous. The commissary was
useless Office, and opsonation was out
of the question. Ebolition was the
only luxury within their reach. There
was no danger of expulse in the mat
ter of pabulation. Water was abund-
ant and poculent, and sassafras lea
was sorbile but preparation was not
sustentacle. and would not quat hun
ger. Sepacon, although very sal
suginous. or vote corn bread. would
have been considered grand repasture.
Most of the food was reezed, and even
rammel was eagerly devoured and
temOritiOn was the rule.
Much as there was to contrast Wash
ington during this terrible winter, an
other affair caused him great brame.
1t was conspiracy in his own camp,
having for its object the arreption of
his command. and comforting it upon
General Gates, who was then tenn
porarily the idol of a large faction,
from having captured Burgoyne's
army, after General Schuyler had done
all the strategic work to make it pos.
sible. 1t was known as the Conway
Cabal. The tetrarch composing the
head of this conspiracy consisted of
Generals Conway, Gates. Mlffiin and
Wilkinson. Gates was given to bob
ance, and his iactancy became by
word. He was brave, but shittle. He
was lab, and was by no means troubled
with autophoby-indeed, it might be
said that he was eXcerebrose. The
affair was much in the nature of plot
to bore an anger hole with a wimble.
Conway was subdolous and Wilkin-
son was too weerlsE and pavid for
such an undertaking. But for a time
it caused much uneasiness. Surround
ed by breedbates and brigose officers,
and the privates. from example. be-
coming conservative and eristical, the
situation was not pleasant. While
displaying vernility in Washington's
presence, these men were trying to
speet him in the back. They were
actuated purely by displacency. In
disposition they were uglesome, and in
their proceedings they were vafrous.
Their accusations were not open, but