Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-17
WITH WASHINGTON'S AID
Written for This Paper.]

When my great grandfather died number
Of years ago he was venerable man Of more
than 100 years During his lifetime much
Of his countrys history had been made.
He had seen 10 sparsely populated colonies
develop into vast republic stretching from
ocean to ocean. lie had seen the stage
coach replaced by great railroad systems
binding together our great stretches Of ter
ritory. He had himself occupied some small
place among the noble men who founded and
maintained the republic. As young man
he had fought for independence as an officer
on the staff Of Gen. Washington, and dur.
ing the second war with England he had
commanded regimen, Of foot troops.
never saw the old gentleman but once,
and he was then an even hundred years old
10 celebrate the rounding Of his century Of
life he had invited his children, grandchil.
dren and great-grandchildren to visit him
in his New England home. What crowd
Of us there were, and what a welcome we
each received at his hands. That birthday
celebration was a holiday time to the entire
village. The relatives came IN such num-
bers that they overflowed his home and the
village hotel, but all found welcome to the
homes of the neighbors and friends Of our
aged relative.
How we enjoyed the seemingly endless
fund Of stories and incidents which he told
us. Stories and incidents of that historic
struggle 'or freedom whlch was waged ior
elent long years against ouas lnat were a.
most 'hsurinouhlaple' 40 not 'nlhk ever
rea''y appreciated Tue ~, sacrillces 'hc ioiiow'
ers OF 'he immortal washington maze uli,
VI 'laa neafq my siea'gfahuia.nei 'e, II, Vi
lhoSe surfing aays ~ 'ne iaS' century ne
s'oty 'ha' interested lie lllos' was one III
wlllcn ne anu my srea A. n, G sie'l
io'ls Sln,e ueau' WERE 'ie een', % iigules,
e I W. u's,'e W 'I 1ua"v +seI na 4,I !.
;thort ~ a,t0mntna that nloosina fo.tnro af
u Tbo star,r IL 80 that momerahla oon
naior 81 Iaunorv I777 alona tbo o,stern
p pbara % y .bo nala,,oro ri,a ue 'e eS'
'' a o ~ ,Ao ,nn. raa.t n,na4,o, ..
o,or,, onns,unt, e., e or0 ,h " throa roo
bofo,o 'r nsloJ Io ~ 70 rrs nn ho hoaon
%rro tba wan bad rot a;yo M, mo manr on,
' a aoa , har ~" dnna e th l,D4 , vi
nv ," no;na but ~ as anra !, ,ras oooontahla
a. how r' "nJ vow oan ;,nar;ns ,nv d;sanpo;nt
MANY n.' b bu Wv uoa da,I" rosrDaa nban ~
,arnI , m"e was navy 'N w VI
"ron wa,h;nn.on ona .ho .oa.....,
we ha heon anu i hfu uo tI
aan;,,a a "rn' g uau" a,i I. ~" u sn ,.r.
. .o''ous a'aiy VI iI ~ a.'u s1 "eie Aepe
pusy NeepIlle Wv ~ wy Wy u li.9 superior
,i toui sle"'.s'an y paien'S
,nea neai .,en.oi' h aau " was mene Ina ~
'l s my proposal peloie We cioSseu .t .ne
river 'n'o lennsy,Vahla' anu here again INA,
!he lucky lhclden' nappened WHICH reSul'eu
III ner changing her ,ilina'
The night before the battle OF Princeton,
when Washington made bis famous march
that outwltted CORVALLIS, was left with
the guard that was to keep the camphres
burning through the night. between our
camp and the lines OF the British was the
home OF my adored one, and Just after our
troops had moved away into the darkness
| rashly resolved to pay her another visit
Had have known how near such a visit
would take me to the enemy's lines should
probably not have attempted 1t, put in this
case ] believe my Ignorance and foolishness
resulted in much good to our cause.
81 made the short trip until near the house
without incident, and then was surprised to
meet an old negro servant Fastening to-
wards the continental lines. He stopped
me and informed me that his mistress, the
young lady, had sent him to our lines for
help in great hurry. He turned back with
me, and together we soon reached the house,
only to find Mistress Margaret in great
stew over discovery she had just made.
"Her father was an officer in the CONT
mental armies, and during the afternoon he
had in some way informed her Of the con-
templated movement Of the army for that
night. A British picket post was stationed
Just back of their negro quarters, and dur
ing visit there, few minutes before, she
had overheard the two sentries discussing
the fact that there seemed to be some sort
Of movement going on in the American
camp. With only the one man, the old
negro, there to assist her she did not dare
to attempt their capture before they could
acquaint their officers with what they had
discovered Fortunately for us they did
not realize the full meaning of their discov-
cry, and concluded that they could wait I'M
til the next relief came around to tell OF