The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-06-12
THE GREAT VERMONT STORY
THE RANGERS
OR,
THE TORY'S DAUGHTER.
BY JUDGE d. p. THOMPSON.
VOLUME ii.
CHAPTER XIV, Continued. J

| Warm work, warm work here
Colonel Warner said Stark as tn,
other dashed up to his side for his or
ders.
"Ay, general; but we will make i
still warmer for the Red coats, a
least, if you will give me a chance a
them in front of your line, =" prompt,
responded the gallant officer.
That chance you shall have, witt
thanks of my exhausted troops. te
whom, and myself, your presence. al
this time, my brave friend, coulc
scarcely be more welcome, 'said Stark,
with frankness and cordiality OF
manner which attested the pleasure
he felt at the others timely arrival
"Thank you thank you, general, 81
replied Warner, galloping back to his
regiment. and commanding ther atten-
ton.
Soldiers" he exclaimed, in his
clear trumpet tones throwing back his
tall superb form and displaying his
noble and beautifully arched brow
my brave soldiers, shall this be our
battle, and our victory
A deafening cheer was the allirma
tive response.
"In Gods name, on, then ~ he re-
sumed, in a voice of thunder" on.
and avenge yourselves for country s
wrongs, and for your flogging at Hub
bardton.
In eager obedience to the welcome
command of their idolized leader, who
now led the way, with flashing
anI fhay
all swept on through the opening
ranks of their loudly cheering com
panions in arms rapidly deployed into
line, and, the next instant, wrapped
themselves in fame and smoke of their
own fire, which burst, with an almost
single report, into the face of the as
tonished foe, whose ranks went down
by scores before the leaden blast of
that terrible volley. And, by the time
they had recovered from the shock OF
the unexpected assault, the relieved
and encouraged Stark, now strength
ened by the arrival of additional num-
bers of the scattered forces, and formed
into new and more effective combina-
tions, returned with fresh ardor to the
contest. And, as the different detach-
ments, moving resolutely on, with fly
ing colors and rafting drums, to the
various points of attack assigned them
in front and around the hostile squares,
reached their allotted stations, they
poured in their whitening
volleys till the reboundlng PLAIN
trembled and shook beneath the tumult
and tbunders of conflict, to which in
obstipacy and sanguinary fierceness,
few engagements on record afford
On one side was discipline.
with revenge, the hope of reward, and
the fear of the disgrace attending de-
feat TO incite them to action. On the
ether side. the stake was home and
liberty: and these the trained officers
nf Furope soon found to their astonish.
ment. often more than compensated
for the lack of discipline, and military
axnerience for, in contending Tor
fake of such individual moment, every
NON in the ranks of freedom, though
frequently wholly unframed ana ID
battle for the first time IN ms ne, at
NICE became warrior, ngntlhg DIS
r the whole responsibility OF the issue
# the battle rested on his own should
,rs And. in every part of the field,
Leads we're performed by nameless
peasants rivalling the most daring
synloits of heroes. Here company OF
80 " militia might be seen rushing up
IN a detached column of British vet
rams firing in their faces, and Tor
nant Of bayonets, knocking them down
n oh dubbed muskets. There old men
~, ~ bovs. with others who like them
Id come unarmed and as spectators
Il the battle would spring forward az
.or some retreating band seize the
:, uskefs of the slain and engage, mmz
10 70 muzzle with the hated foe. Inc
nteprid STARK having no thougnl ~.
# victory and as regardless OF eApo SUI
,s the unconscious charger that oore
= i'm through the leaden storm Was es
.rvwbere to be seen, now heaolns Iu
,nset-now dashing off to rouse or faliy
falterinp column and now leaplng
.an, his horse to show his inexpefi-
I'D n,en how to load and IRE the
- rtnred cannon while Warner anu
Gipur;ok At men to second the EFFORTS
9 srcb a chief were constantly storm
ng like raging lions in the smoke
~ fro of the hottest OF the ngni
ore breasting with their brave anu
nfiincbing regiments, the oesPera.e
ssault and there, in turn, leao'ns vi
he resistless charge, altar
Thus, with the tide OF war al niid
ata I surging to and fro like the WIG
' a,o of the ocean dashed by conteha
n ,a,e1 winds, continued to rage THIS ms
~ asce and sanguinary conflict tn tne
~, M vent down in the semblant oioo d
';tb which the smoke OF battle hau
:, ~. brouded him. But now, soon an
nnsnal connection, attended win new
u ds ran;d movements, was observable
y" the contending forces OF tne
, aIJ Presently an exulting shout rose
' e,u .be American lines and the men
r ror, seen sn at all points to be gg lv,ngg
'er Their retreat, however. though
az, a;,d was vet. for while, eonduc.edd
tPf', order and they repeatedly tu uss;st
~ ,dn made desperate efforts to resist
~ fiarv tide that, with gathering p nm
a AZ n was rolling after them, b.'
eius s,nd fru,tless we're all their a.,
a,n n for. while their whole rear Mas
MIN st;ng with frightful rapidity, unuei
s ast tar1;ble volleys which were Pou ,s
nc uen i II in one incessant blaze, py .n
po I,, ~ na,,,rsuing squadrons OF STARK anu
amer. a strong detachmen! " ,sad
IL n