Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-10-14

Il was three o'clock by our hero's
watch when Douglas espied the head Of
the British column.
"Seaton," cried Lee, drawing his
sword, will you attack in frontr
Eyes"
'"rhen will sweep around to the rear
and close the trap. need not caution
you to make your first blow q crushing
one. Forward
Never did the very perfection Of mill.
tary drill and training manifest itself
more emphatically than on the present
occasion. Like one man. Seaton's troop
dashed upon the English dragons, while
like one other man the troop Of Harry
Lee swept around to the rear of the long.
numbering train, striking the surprised
Hessians like a tornado.
The conflict was sharp and short. Sea-
ton had by far the most fighting to DO,
and he was equal to It. As though as
surcd Of charmed life, cnsed In a body
Of triple steel, he plunged forward,
shouting in trumpet tones to his men,
and cutting down everything that oppos-
ed him. A score of pistol shots were dis.
charged In his face without wOunding
him, and the sabre-strokcs aimed at his
head glanced off harmless upon his
trenchant Toledo blade. His devoted men
saw and admired, and pressed stanchly
to his support.
In fifteen minutes Lee had overcome
and captured the Hessians, and In FIVE
minutes more the Dragons surrendered,
the major In command, faint and bleed
ing. delivering his sword to Captain Sea-
ton.
The loss Of life had not been great.
Lee had lost three men. and SeatOn had
lost only two. A few were wounded. OF
the enemy twenty had been killed out.
right, and quite n number wounded. The
dead and wounded were placed upon the
wagons. and the prisoners, to the number
Of a 1D7, were placed under a sufficient
guard, with Lieut.. Douglas In immedi.
| ate charge. And thus the victorious Pat.
riots set out upon their return.
| At the dwelling Of the liberty-loving
farmer they halted to let his eyes behold
the result; and the good man felt himself
amply repaid.
| by the middle Of the forenoon on the
day following, the expedition marched
into camp; and when the forty great
wagons were seen. heavily laden with
needed provisions. and when It was also
seen that q goodly battalion Of British
troops had been captured, the welkin
rang until 1t seemed ready to split. Even
the women who were gathered at head
quarters, with Lady Washington ut theiI
head, seeing not the dead and the wound
cd, came out and Joined In the jubilation
In the afternoon general orders were
published, which gave to the officers con
cerned most grateful emotions, and which
made the rank and file of the squadron
feel doubly repaid for their labor. They
were heroes indeed.
On the evening Of that day Captain
Scaton called upon Mr.. Potts. the owner
Of the house where the chieftain dwelt,
and asked II II would be possible to get
u letter through to Philadelphia within
q few days.
The old Quaker shook his head. He
had sent letters through to patriotic fam
lilies In that city. but the old avenue had
been closed to him. He knew not when
be might find another.
Il Our hero then sat down and wrote 4
note to Gen. Washington. respectfully
asking II he could have an interview with
his commander.iu.chief on q strictly per
sonal matter.
In less than half an hour an orderly
appeared. and summoned our captain q
; the chieftain's presence. He found Wash
ington alone, and was received with cor
dial frankness.
General. I came to crave boom. Be
: tween me and your august self there i
no intermediate commander, save Harr!
Lee. He favors my request. wOul,
like q leave Of absence for two weeks.
rs It necessary, Captain?'
ITO me. General. It Is more than I
matter Of life. and death. ! only ask TO
two weeks; and I would not ask that
were not assured that should leave q
officer at the head Of my command Il
; every way worthy and competent"
AYE, know Roderic Douglas well
But. Captain. you are going Into dan
gerY"
II have counted carefully the cost, you
excellency. and shall be circumspect."
"And II We should lose you"
"For eighteen hard months, General
my life has been my country's. and. o
you know, she has been welcome to II
: sacrifice upon the altar Of duty at an!
. moment. For two short weeks. pra'
: you, let It DO mine!'
captain SeatOnw cried Washington
grasping the hand Of the gallant youth. :"
+ owe you much. and will not refuse thi
; request. When do you wish to set forth !?
Immediately"
= Before mOrning?"
Eyes. General. Every hour bears upo
, mo as though freighted with the veal o
a woe Of q lifetime"
"C0me to me In half an hour, and you
4 papers shall be ready" And thereupo
!. Washington dismissed the captain, an
!. sent for his adjutant general.
n CTO be continuedD
!, Copyright.