Evening star., 1902-08-30
THE ENCHANTED FIREPLACE.
By CAPT. THOMAS WILSON, u. s. A.
Copyright, 1902
CHAPTER VI,

good chance to observe him carefully. He
was only two years older than Jack him.
self, but his old-fashloned clothes and de-
termined manner gave him a very manly
appearance. He was garbed in the conti-
mental army uniform, his hair done in a
queue tied with a piece of black ribbon.
On one side of his hat he wore a cockade
of red, white and blue, while on his breast
there was another and larger one, of ap-
parently much better material. His drum
was siung around his neck, and altogether
| ne was In the eyes of the children the most
picturesque and interesting little figure
they had SO far seen.
Well, sir" asked the king, who are
your
I am the drummer boy Of Monmouth,
sir, answered the youth
Don't you bow the knee in the presence
OF roydIty?' thundered King Cole who
was sometimes very exactng.
An American soldier bows the knee to
no no, man answered the boy, drawing him
self up proudly.
Tut tut, replied the king, good natured-
~, that's all played out now; but never
nina; where do you come from?"
swered the boy
Mono, not that" said the king; mot
.hat' mean where do you-that is-where
nave You served?
Il was with Gen. Washington at Nom
mouth, lifting his little cooked hat in sa-
lute AS he spoke the name of his chief his
right hand moved toward the cockade ON
his breast. "
But, by the way, what can yo,, do to
entertain us?'
Perhaps he can drum for u.s." suggested
JACK; but the boy shook his head sadly.
The drums of the revolution are siIenced
forever, he mournfuliy said
But their spirit lives" cried Jack. who
alone understood him.
perhaps" said Dorothy, perhaps the
drummer boy. could tell US a story"
could your asked Jack
The drummer boy turned toward Dorothy
and taking off his hat to her said very DO
Htely: If the little maid please?"
On, yes, do please-if you please" an
sWered Dorothy. somewhat confused
Just moment" said the king and CALL
ing his orderly he directed him to bring a
camp stool, upon which he placed himself
very gingerly: The boy unsiung his drum
and seating himself on the ground beside it
told them the following story:
THE DRUMMER BOY OF MONMOUTH.
1T was In the latter part of the month
of June. ITS, that the battle Of Monmouth
was fought, and the events 1 am about to
tell you occurred After so many years-I
have forgotten the exact date" And here
the drummer boy looked at the king, who
wisely stared at Jack. who quickly re-
sponded:
June 2S ITS"
H"ih you, sdid tne little soldier, with
pleasant smile. Il believe you are rig ht
and then he continued meaningly: June "
litS "ernock Creek, Monmouth county, N.
]" "
But the story?" asked Dorothy ar+ar
some little silence.
oh, to be sure; the story, If story YOU
can call 1t. I'm really afraid 1t isn't much
OF story, after all
Il m sure it must be very interesting"
SAID Jack, encouragingly.
Now that [ think of If feor a ,o,,,
sound conceited," answered the drummer
boy, who seemed disinclined to proceed ::
III the story of how L came to get this
cockade,' pointing to the one on his brea at
"Oh-please go on said Dorothy
There's lots of dry facts in it," remark
ed the boy, looking at Dorothy rather QUIZ
Zically; you are sure it won't make YOU
sleepy?" And then, without waiting for re-
ply. he continued:
1t all comes back to me very clearly
row; can even remember that 1t was Sun
day and that the morning broke clear,
cloudless and beautiful on the plains Of
Monmouth. The American forces designat
ed for the attack were under the command
OF Gen. G. G. Lee a soldier of considera-
Die repute and experience, but who as you
may remember, did not possess the proper
degree of loyalty toward his commando erin
chief, General Washington The first action
of the day was the skrnnish of General
DlcklnsonS reconnoitering party with an
advanced force of the British rather early
in the morning, which, however led to
nothing definite. The second skirmish oc-
CURED when General Butler in advance
drove back the Queens Rangers and cross
ing the east raVine succeeded in placing
his detachment and two guns upon a small
hHIock in the plain, covering the advance
of the brigades in his rear. The third skir-
nlsh' following almost Immediately after,
was begun by an attack of the British
Light Dragons upon General Buffers DO
sition, which was however, repulsed.
BY this time the American forces were
in most advantageous position to assume
the offensive, which was really begun by
the troops under General Wayne, in a most
spirited and vigorous attack. 1t was at
this moment, when victory seemed to be
within our very grasp, that General Lee
sent orders to make only feigned attack
and not push it too strongly. OF what fol-
lowed l am unable to tell you, but for some
unknown reason and within a very short
time after the receipt of Lees order an en-
tlrely different spirit seemed to take possess
sion of our army. Even after all these
many years l can hardly bear to think Of
it, for suddenly our troops at the front be-
gan slowly but surely to give way. To us
of the rank and file, who knew little If
anything, of what was really going on. 1t
seemed incredible. The first intimation we
had of 1t was the noise and confusion in
our front. few men began to fall back:
a few more; then an entire company which
soon grew into q battalion, a brigade and
then-oh, the horror of 1.-THE entire army
under Lee was retreating from what af-
terWard appeared a purely imaginary dan
ger. | understand that the historians of the
present day call 1t an orderly retreat >
and not in the nature of a panic, but to us
it seemed vastly different. No commander
knew why we retreated; 1t was orders, and
back and back and back until we reached
the heights of Freehold, where we rested.
Even here we could have made~a stand and
redeemed ourselves, but after a little rest
the retreat continued. Regiment after
regiment, brigade after brigade back,
back. back and back until our hearts grew
sick within US.
ITO the glory of the French General La
fayette be it said, he bitterly opposed this
movement but Gen. Lee, who personally
conducted the right of the line, continued
to move to the rear, and there was
nothing for Lafayette to do but to
follow. In the meanwhile, the COM
mander-in-chief with the reserved,
| who was by this time aware of the i'm
pending disaster, was moving rapidly to
our assistance When what is known
as the west ravine was crossed, the broken
detachments found the main army and a
stand was made. The regiment of Colonel
Ogden was the first to reform; then another
took heart and began to gather itself to-
gether, until soon the retreating detach-
ments began once more to assume some
definite formation.
And then, to add to 1t all, the troops at
the hrtlpa progSiDU ha