The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-24
gAMAPO PASS.

q q Washington lay IOr Blk weeks at
=1nobbs Ferry, on the Hudson. Every
,sv w Sir Henry Clinton. who was in
ammand of the British in New
vort had been expecting an attack,
G .nd ve now know Washington had
sasn nreparing to move against the
|etr, but the failure of Count de
ac,.sse who was holding the French
i |s.et at tho West Indies, to cooperate
I,b the troops on land had COM
,allel him to abandon the pr ject,
,arl he had decided to move rapidly
- tbe south and attack CORVALLIS,
Who was then in Virginia.
q But he was very desirous that
achnton should not suspect his plan,
sftor he might prevent the march or
55eend re. e.entorcements to CORVALLIS,
s9end either action would hinder if it
|1d not defeat his project. So the
.merican commander bent all his
Energies to deceive the British and
81 make them think that New York
WAS still the place to be attacked.
Indeed we know that even after the
march was begun the French troops,
.who went by the way Of Perth Am
Aboy, there stopped to build ovens
and boats and gave out that they
a rere about to attack the posts on
Staten Island and then move against
Ahe city. There were other means
fhat Washington used. however, to
| broduce the same impression even
before his army left Dobbs Ferry,
glaud it is with one of these that this
story has to do.
Il want to see Dominic Mon
AagnieI'' said an orderly to COM
Sbany of men who were seated near
IS tent in the camp at Dobbs Ferry.
8 There he is over there" replied
bne Of the soldiers, pointing to
ssoung man not far away.
"That Dominic Montagnie!" eaid
3he orderly. why, he's only a
boy"
boy or not, he's one Of the
Stanchest Wings in all this region.
There isn't better man in all the
|Fontinental army" replied the SOL
bier.
The orderly left, and as he ap-
sroached the young man shrewdly
};canned his face Evidently he was
i5Sais6ed with what he saw, for he
D. once addressed him:
"a lis this Dominic Montagnie2"
Yes, replied the young preach
A, returning the look to the officer.
We'll, General Washington wants
see you at once"
Wants to see me9 What forf"
"Idon't know. Come with me and
8ou will soon know"
II Young Montagnie asked no further
;alss9uesticns, but arose and sccomna-
lied his guide to the quarters of the
cmmander. He had never spoken
S5p him l-fore, but he shared fully
sp the feeling of respect which oil
5ne army had for their leader, and
ewas somewhat abashed when the
general rose to receive him and
ould scarcely reply to the kind
|ords he spoke when he was pre-
( 3sented.
81 81 Yes, have known Of ycu," said
Washington, land from all i can
2s2ear l am certain / can rely upon
oa Is this true7',
:! try to do my best, general"
fn Montagnie modestly.
That's right. Now, / have
SAGy important commission for
ou'" And the general paused mo-
fent TO note the effect Of his words,
1 the young man only bowed, and
continued: II want to send some
patches by you to Morristown.
ou Will cross the river at Kings
a1y, 60 up by Have-srvaw end
4s.ough y Ramapo pass"
aontagnle looked up quickly at
Nv words "Ramapo pass. . Yes,
NEW the place and too well. II
sas a narrow defile among the hills
81 81 new Jersey and already had beau
~ scene of some OF the most excit-
Y events in the Revolution, And
.s4 NV tne cowboys and skinners held
sna II he should once fall into
s.l hands he knew what would
But, general" he ventured to
la@mer, "Ramapo pass is one Of
i y headquarters Of the Tories, and
~. suall surely be taken if I try. to go
& 4. way. Why may / not go by
I upper road9 ain familiar with
nv Sv loot cs s.;s county. :"
.oung man, said Washington,
alping his foot in real or pretend
anger, your duty is not to talk,
s Q to obey" 8 80
aae young preacher saw that all
STRANGE would be- in vain, and,
saoagh he could not understand
i" ae should NOT be left to select
W own route, especially since he
M H., 70 ;, go through a country. he,
NV thoroughly, he only bowed
aead and vrc,,< =. - 49,. =