New Ulm review., 1901-03-20
4fE Onward, march! Right face

nE oRWARD, march, Right face!
Left face! Order arms! Te-he-
he! TIL scare Bessie Baines most to
death, I guess. Attention.! Forward,
march-ha-ha-ha!"
Down the road from the direction
of Remington came a strange figure.
1T was that of a young man of % or
23, and his dress was a mixture of
continental and British uniform. On
his shoulder rested a stick, instead
tof a musket, and his face bore that
yacuous expression always seen with
an idiot.
1t was about noon of an August
day. Below him, as he halted to make
ready for a charge, was the red mill
wherein Elijah Baines had ground
corn and wheat and buckwheat for the
public for a decade. In the rear of the
mill was the miller's house, and while
he ground the grists and took only
the toll of an honest man, his daughter
Bessie, who was motherless, minded
the house and sometimes worked be-
side him.
On this summer day the big wheel
was az rest, and the waters fretted
and splashed and gurgled as they
found a way over the moss-grown
buckets. The miller had been one of
the minutemen called out to harass
and annoy Gen. Burgoyne as he
sought to get into Fort Edward, and
in one of the many sl>irmishes had
been shot through the leg and
brought back home for nursing. All
along the New York and Vermont
line the patriots were up in arms and
waiting.
ssHip-hurrah!' cried the idiot, as
he came dashing down on the mill and
turned corner. ':F'ire at will!
Charge the enemy with the bayonet!
Hc-he-he! How scared you look, Bes-
sie!"
His shouts had brought the girl to
the door, She smiled as she saw the
young mans queer dress.
81 knew it was you, William she
quietly said. ''What are they doing
in Bennington?"
'sWhat are they doing? Why, they
are doing Right face! Left face!
Halt! Load your muskets! Charge
your bayonets and drive the British!'
I'm general now, Bessie. Don't you
want to marry a general?"
She watched him with pitying smile
as he marched up and down before
her, and threw out his chest and held
up his chin in an effort to look impor-
tant. She had known him for years,
and had always spoken kindly; and in
return his attachment for her was
like that of dog to it's master.
"No, you won't marry me-" he said
as he came to halt and tried to bring
his heels together. II know who you
are going to 1narry-te-he-he! I've
seen him kiss you and you kissed back.
It's Capt. Luke Greenwood-te-he-he
"You mustn't talk that way!' said
the blushing girl in tones of reproof.
'I've got sweetcake in the oven,
and when it's done I'll give you a big
piece. Run away, now, and fight the
British. Hark! What's that!"
From over the hills and meadows
and tree-tops to the north came the
notes of flies and the beat of drums,
and the red cheeks of the girl grew
pale as she listened. She realized in
q moment what the sounds meant.
Burgoyne had sent out his 1000 men
on the march to Bennington. At
Salem the entire command should
have gone on by the left-hand road.
Instead of that, and to deceive Col.
Stark, waiting on that road behind
4 I'll L L I
into the Red mill road, and would find
it clear of patriots from Salem to Ben
nington.
"Are the British coming?" asked
William in a whisper, as he crowded
closer to the girl.
cit must be them!" she answered,
as she caught her breath. 'sClimb up
you can see"
There was a rough ladder leaning
against the north wall of the mill, and
the idiot was soon at the top and look
ing northwards.
81 see red-coats and fags-red-
coats and fags!'' he called to the girl.
Father, Burgoyne's men are COM
ing!" exclaimed the daughter, as she
ran into the house. s'We can hear the
drums and flies, and William says
there are many soldiers"
'sIt is so! 1t is so!" replied the
miller, as he raised himself up on his
elbow to listen. 'sGod defend Ben
nington if the British are coming by
this road! Run away, girl-hide your
self in the woods before they reach US.
If the troops are Hessians they will
kill me and burn the mill!"
run away -neyer!" shouted Bes-
sic. ''Be quiet, father-don't try to
get up. We have two muskets and
powder and ball, and they shall l1i2l
me before they lay hands on you! Be
quiet-be quiet!"
At the door, she hurried out, the
girl found the idiot. He was parad-
ing up and down with the stick on his
shoulder. The notes of fife and drum
sounded nearer.
'sOh! William!' she said, as she
grasped his arm and halted him, 'stry
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