The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-04-05
CHAPTER K.


Then we proceeded to the encamp-
ment, and Colonel Washington himself
went with us, his plans being changed
by my news. My head was buzzing
with excitement We were going to
fight Tarleton at last, though with all
the odds against US, numbers, discipline
and arms while Tarleton himself had
won his reputation as the ablest and
most successful cavalry commander in
the British service We might again
experience the disgrace and disaster of
Camden, but Morgan was no Gates, and
perhaps, OH the other hand we might
equal the exploit of the wild borderers
at Kings Mountain. though it was a
little too much to hope for that But
still we would fight. and to young
man it always seems better to fight than
to run
"Old comrade, . said to my horse.
I'VE fight the enemy tomorrow
He nodded joyously and then looked
gravely at the bandage around my head
ut is nothing, said 81 will take
it off tonight My head is we'll -
He nodded again. as if all his trou-
bles were over
The wife of Captain Dunn of the
South Carolina militia was i'll the camp,
lady whom knew. my distant kins-
woman and Julia was given into her
charge
Take good care of her, Cousin An
ma, | said Remember that she is my
prisoner
Your prisoner, is she?'' she replied
enigmatically But remember, Philip.
that the captor often becomes the cap
tive.
Cousin Anna ! said Indignantly.
81 hope yon are not going to preach our
defeat by Tarletun on the very eve OF
battle 1t Will have discouraging eff;
feet
81 said nothing about the battle. Go
and attend to your work. Philip | will
take care OF tie girl, -
To Julia said
"We fight tomorrow, and 1 may not
see you again.
Then l bent down and kissed her lips.
She replied very simply and earnestly:
May you live through it, PhilipP'
Cousin Annals back was turned, and
she did not see or hear
turned away and began to examine
the camp and this field, destined to be
the scene of memorable battle which
was itself the opening of one of the
greatest, most skillful and successful
campaigns ever conducted on the soil of
our continent.
We were on long slope, consisting
of several hills rising above each other
like the seats of an amphitheater,
though at much greater elevation, as
the slope was SO slight that it offered no
impediment to the gallop of horse
The men were gathering up old rails
which they were using for the camp.
fires, and | noticed many old tracks of
the feet of animals To my question one
of the men said:
"We are going to fight where the
COWS pastured. Don't you know that
this army is camped on the COW pens of
very worthy man named Hannah? And
these rails are the last that are left of
his pens.
Behind us flowed the wide, deep and
unfordable Broad river, retreat thus be-
ing cut off in case of defeat. Iasked the
meaning of this strange military ma
neuver which meant either victory or
destruction, and again the explanation
was ready:
More than half of our men are mill
tia, and you can never tell whether
militia will run like rabbits OF fight
like devils All early signs fail, and
General Morgan says it's cheaper to
/ have the river behind us and make em
fight than to station regulars in the
rear to shoot down the towards. -
Presently saw General Morgan him
self passing among the men and prepar-
ing for the expected attack in the morn
ing. This was one of our real heroes, q
fighter and leader and no politician, a
man whom the great Washington es-
teemed and loved to reward. had seen
him at Saratoga and elsewhere, and his
figure as well as his name always drew
attention. Over six feet high and built
in proportion. with weight of 900
pounds and large, fine, open face, he
was type of the true American, the
best of all men in mind and body.
There was plenty of provender in the
camp, and gave Old Put the first solid
meal that had come to him in several
! days. l wanted him to be in good trim
for the morrow, for he and l were tc
take our proper place with Washing.
toms cavalry, to which we belonged,
only handful Of men, but able and
true and capable of doing great things
Ia the nick of time. There had been
some question about the bandage on my
head. which | wore as a precautior
against taking cold in the scalp wound,
but l showed that it was only trifie,
and Colonel Washington rightfully re-
marked that such a slight wound would
only increase a mans efficiency ON the
battlefield. Then he presented me with
q fine saber, which ! needed badly, ant
told me to lie down on the ground anG
go to sleep, but l. could not sleep JUS
then, and with the freedom of our colo
nial armies l roamed about the encamp
ment
The campfires flared up in the colo