Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-15
NER PUBLICATIONS.

an BUFF AND BLUE: Being certain portions
from the d,ary Of Richard hilton, gentleman,
ever glorious War Of lndenendencc." BY
George Brydges Rodney. Bos on: Little,
Brown Il Co Ia
III this pleasing work the author, who is
one of Delaware's own sons, has lived over
the years OF the Revolution, and as from
the pen of an eyewitness we can spend the
peaceful days of the present in reading of
those stormy times when our forefathers
fought for Independence. The author is a
Delawarean, one of the blue Hens
Chickens.n He knows well the beauties of
the low shores and reed,beds, the level
roads and pixies, the few northern hills; and
best OF all, he knows and loves the sturdy
men of Delaware. The hero, Richard
Hilton. at q starts out as lieutenant of the
First Delaware Regiment, and equipped in
the proud uniform of the buff and blue,
leaves his home with these brave words
ringing in his ears
Heres to the heart
That plays Its part ....4 ....
Wherever duties call,
And to the blade .s-
BY yalOr made
Our honors strongest wall.
But here's the toast
We drink TO most
Let him who shuns bewarei
We drain our cup 5.5-.a
To the stern makeup
OF the line OF Delaware.
Through all the horrors of the war
Richard Hilton braves his fortunes-from
White Plains to Yorktown. He knew the
bitter cold of that Christmas night when
the Delaware was crossed by a starved but
brave and determined army. ut was ter
ribly cold--that crossing All around me
the men were groaning and pounding their
bare hands and feet, or punching each
other TO restore circulation. Their suffering
was fearful. In our craft the water was
ankle.deep during the entire crossing and
we were Kept vigorously at work to keep it
from freezing" And .et his own words
tell of that winter at Valley Forge, the
terrible marches of the half-fed, lalf-naked
troops the cold so intense that il almos.
gripped ones yeyy heart, freezing blood and
bone and sinew, turning strong men into
little Children
Like a true soldier our hero sees both sides
of fortunes face; tits the smiling face that
leads him safely out Of that foolhardy
escapade to the Meschlan2a, that brilliant,
beautiful ball given in Philadelphia in
honor of Gen Sir William Howe. Twice
he is severely wounded and sent home to be
nnrsed back TO health by Il fond mother and
sister and the dearest daintiest, little sweet
heart Mistress Kitty Weston, who dwells in
the quaint, old-lashioned town of New
Castle
We who love our little State of Delaware
must thank Mr.. Rodney for telling us in
such clear, simple fashion the story of the
noble part, which Delaware played in the
Revolution. His cOmnleted work repays
him for the labor and research which it
cost. Proud of Delaware we still are, and
of her men, 1llustrious abroad as at home.
For the compensation bestowed on our
Revolutionary heroes We will quote Mr.,
Rodney.
After Yorktown they were disbanded, a
little group sixty-four strong, OF whom it
was said They were the crack troops of the
army. Could we get a better name?
"And often now the memory of those
days comes back to me those dear old days,
when all was youth and love and the crafty
| ing sense Of duty done, and perfect rest is
the reward of duty done. DAYS when
| fought shoulder TO shoulder with Haslet and
| Patterson, Hobart and Stickney. not for
money. nor for honor, nor for the gratiiiea'
| ton of mere personal desires; but simply
| for our right our bloddright won upon u
score Of tieds-the right TO live and think
and die free men. ahd dying to leave tha,
right unto our children and our children's
| children. As Shakespeare says; 'Bequeath-
ing it as a rich legacy unto their issue -
The trend Of the story covers the stirring
events of the Revolution, from the signing
| of the Declaration of Independence TO the
surrender of CORVALLIS at Turk ktown, and
| while large space is given to the personal
| participation of the hero and his Immediate
associates, throughout there is an interest
| ing portrayal Of tho gallant part taken by
the Delaware troops, The story of their
valor and of their splendid courage on the
many fields of battle, IS one which cannot
fail to thrill the pulses of every true citl2en
of little Delaware.
The author, as already stated, is Della
warean born and bred, and therefore the
local tinge OF the story has all the feryoi
ard faithfulness Of one NATIVE and to the
manner Dorn," There is a piclure-liks
thoroughness in the local scenes OF his plot,
from Dover to Philadelphia, that takes the
] readers through familiar by-paths and