The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-27
tCoryRoHr. 1902, The Bowen MERRILL COMPANY

my life. Whilst L was in the storm or IL,
cursing the lawyer by every shouted epi-
thet / could lay tongue to, a miracle was
wrought and Richard Jennifer and
Ephraim Yeates pushed their way through
the ever thickening ring of onlookers, the
latter to range himself beside me with his
brown-barreled rifle in the hollow OF his
arm and my dear lad to fling himself upon
me in bears hug Of joyous recognition
and greeting.
"Score one for me, Jack." he cried. 1--WE
were fair at t'other end of the mountain.
and twas l told Eph there was only one
the match of that" Then he whiried upon
my judges. What is this, gentlemen-a
court-martial? Captain Ireton is my
friend and as true a patriot as ever drew
breath What is your charger"
Colonel Sewer, in whose command Rich
ard and the old borderer had fought in the
hilltop battle, undertook to explain. L
patches from Lord CORVALLIS TO Major
Ferguson, he said. and had claimed that
the orders had been so altered as to delay
the majors retreat and so to bring on the
battle. But they had just found Lord
Cornwallis's letter in my pocket still sealed
and undelivered. And the tenor OF 1t was
precisely opposite &c that of an order cal
culated to delay the majors march, as Mr..
Jennifer could see if he would read it.
While Sewer was talking the old borderer
was fumbling in the breast of his hunting
shirt, and now he produced a packet of
papers tied about with red tape.
Pears to me like you Injun killers from
tother side o. the mounting is in a mighty
hot sweat to hang somebody, he said as
coolly as IL he were addressing a mob of
underlingS. Here's a mess o billy-dooS
with Lord Cornwallis's name to 'em that
found mongst Major Ferguson's leavings.
II you'll look EN- over maybe you'll find
out immejitly If not sooner that Cap'n
John here Is telling We the plumb truth
The papers were examined hastily, and
presently John Sewer lighted upon the dis
patch had carried and delivered. Thereat
the colonels put their heads together, and
then my case was reopened with Sewer as
spokesman.
1--WE have letter here which appears to
be the original order to Ferguson. Captain
IretOn. Can you repeat from memory the
postscriptum which you say was added
to it?'
1 gave the gist of my old patriarch's ad-
dendum as well as l could and thereupon
suspicion fled away and my late judges
would vie with one another In hearty from
tier hand grasps and apologies, whilst the
throng that ringed us In forgot caution
and WEAKNESS and gave me a cheer to
wake the echoes.
abuzz that Ephraim Yeates raised a cry
of his own
stop that there black-legged imp o. the
the circle. Hes the one that ought to
hangv
There was a rush for the wagon barri-
cade. clatter of horse hoofs on the hill
side below and Yeatess rifle went to his
face. But the bullet flew wide and the
black-garbed figure cIinging to the horse s
name was soon out of sight among the
trees.
'Ez allow, ye'd better look out for that
yaller-skinned little varmint, Cap'n John,''
quoth the old man. carefully wiping his
rank pizen, he is, and yell have to break
his neck sooner r later. 1 lowed to save
We the trouble, but old Bess got mighty
goings on and / haint got no lead brush
to clean her out"
Now that / was fully exonerated / was
free to go and come as 1 chose; nay. more.
i was urged TO cast in my lot with the over
mountain partisans. AS to this. / took
counsel with Richard Jennifer whilst the
colonels were setting their commands in
order for the march and loading the pris-
oners with the captured guns and ammuni-
ton.
What is to the fore. Dick?' 1 asked:
more fighting?
The lad shook his head. Never another
blow, 1 fear. Jack. These fellows crossed
the mountain to whip Ferguson. Having
done it they will go home"
l could not forego a hearty curse upon
this worst of all militia weaknesses, the
disposition to disperse as soon as ever a
battle was fought
"'Tis nigh on to a crime" said 1. This
victory, smartly followed up, might well be
the turning of the tide for u.s..
But the lad would not admit the qualify
ing condition. % Twill be no less as 1t is,'
he declared. Mark you, Jack, twill put
new life into the cause and nerve every
man of ours afresh. And as for the red
coats, If my Lord CORVALLIS gets the news
of 1t in lump, as he should, Gates will
have plenty of time to set himself in mo-
tion, slow as he is.
Twas then 1 had an inspiration, and l
th9ugnt hat uRen are your a rop plans
He shook his head. Il have none worth
the name"
Then you are not committed to Colonel
Sewer for term of service?"
mo; nor to Cleaveland nor Mcdowell
nor any. We heard there was to be fight
ing hereaway-Ephraim Yeates and Land
we came as volunteers.
Good! Then l have a thought which
may stand for what 1T is worth. To make
the most of this victory over Major Fergu-
son, Gates should be apprised at once and
have the news quickly, too and in lump
as you say. Let us take horses and ride
post. we two you to Gates at Hillsborough
and l to Charlotte.
II had thought of my part of that" he
said in muse. Then he came alive to the
risk 1 should run: but you can't well
ing with death. There will be other news
carriers-there are sure to be; and a single
breath to whisper what you have done will
hang you higher than Haman."
L shrugged at this. "'Tis but a war
hazard.
He looked at me curiously l saw a
shrewd question in his eyes and set instant
action as a barrier in the way of it's ask
"Let us find Colonel Sewer and beg us
the loan of a pair of horses" said L. and
so we were kept from coming upon the
dangerous ground of pointed questions and
evaSive answers.
Somewhat to my surprise both Sewer
and Shelby fell in at once with our project
commencing 1t heartily: and l learned from
the lips of that courtliest of frontiersmen
"Nolichucky Jack" the real reason for the
proposed hurried return of the overmoun-
tain men. The Cherokees, never to be
trusted had, as it seemed, procured war
supplies from the British posts TO the
southwark and were even now on the verge
of an uprising. By forced marches these
in time to defend them. Otherwise, as both
commanders assured us, they would take
the field with Gates.
1--WE have done what we could. Captain
Ireton, and not altogether what we would. .
said Sewer in the summing up ut remains
now for General Gates TO drive home the
wedge we have entered" Then he looked
me full in the eyes and asked if / thought
Horatio Gates would be the man to beetle
that wedge well into the log.
/ made haste to say that / knew little
of the general; that 1 was but a prejudiced
and msliked the man in Braddock's ILL
fated campaign against the French In '55
But Richard spoke his mind more freely
'''Tis not in the man at this pass. Colonel
SEWER he would say: mot after Camden.
/ know our Carolinans well as any. and
they will never stand a second time under
a defeated leader. If General Washington
would send us some one else or, best of all.
If he would but come himself"
George Washington: ah. there is a man.
lighting up. whilst he lives there is al.
ways a good hope. But we must be doing,
gentlemen, and so must you. God speed
you both. Our compliments to General