Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-09-08
which they had eagerly partaken.

beaten. and marched and fcught and
got beaten again, and retreated and
retreated until there is nothing left OF
us. Look at u.s. he continued. "half
naked, half starved, and we're the best
men, the headquarters guard" he
went on in bitter sarcasm.
Eyes. that's So replied the other.
laughing; then sadly: Those poor
fellows by the river are worse off than
we are, though. What wouldn't they
give for some of that punch? My soul
wasn't IL good!' he continued, smack
ing his lips in recollection.
"Where are we going, %sergeant?'
asked another.
Don't know; the command is Three
days rations and light marching or
der"
"Well, we're all Of the last. anyway.
Look at me! No stockings. leggings
torn, no shirt, and you'd scarcely call
this thing on my back a coat, would
you? What could be lighter? SO com.
Portable. too, in this pleasSnt summer
weather.
"Oh, shut up, old man! You're better
off than | am, anyway. You've got
rags to help your shoes out, and just
look AT mine," said another. sticking
out a gaunt leg with a tattered shoe on
the foot. every toe of which was plain.
ly visible through the torn and worn
openings. And just look ut this" he
~, "a, Hr,A,fpu, hs. fAnt lnNu. 10 al
on the snow covered, frost bound soil,
making an imprint which was edged
with blood from his wounded, bruised,
unprotected feet. That's my sign
manual, and it's not hard to duplicate
In the army yonder either"
THAT'S true. And to think hat the
cause of liberty's got down so low that
we are Its only dependence. And they
call us the grand armyv
"WeIl, as you say" went on another
recklessly, I'VE can't get into anything
worse, so hurrah for the next move,
say l."
''Three days rations and light march
ing order, meaning, l suppose, that we
are to leave our heavy ~overcoats and
blankets and foot stoves and such 9th
er ~luXuries behind. That rather indi-
Gates that we are going to do some
thing besides retreat. And l should
like to get a whack at those mercenary
Dutchmen before / freeze or starve,'
was the reply.
"Bully for your
I'm with you, old man."
81, too"
"And L." came from the group of un.
daunted men surrounding the speaker
"And to think" said another, "of its
being Christmas day and all those 1T
tie children at home! oh. WELL" turn.
ing away and wiping his eyes, march.
ing and fighting may make us forget
boys! / wouldn't mind suffering for
liberty If we could only do something,
have something to show for 1t out a
bloody trail and a story Of defeat.
I'm tired Of It," he continued des.
perately. I'D fight the whole British
army II they would only let me get a
chance at them"
Were all with you there, man. and
/ guess this time we get a chance" re,
piled one Of the speakers amid a cho
rus of approval which showed the spir
1t of the men.
While the men were talking among
themselves thus the four riders on the
tired horses had ridden up to the farm,
house. A soldier dressed no better
than the rest stood before the door.
Halt! Who are your" he cried
presenting his musket.
Friends. Officers from Philadel
phia with messages for his excelleDcy,'
replied the foremost. Don't you rec.
ognize me, my MANI"
"Why, it's Lieutenant Talbot! Pass
in, sir, and these other gentlemen will
you" answered the soldier, saluting
Its glad the general will be to see
yoG."
Without further preliminaries the
young man opened the door and en-
tered, followed by his three compan'
ions. A cheerful fire Of logs was blaZ'
ing and cracking in the wide fire.
place in the long, low room. On the
lADle DeIOTe III stOOu ii great DoNl vi
steaming punch, and several officers
were sitting or standing about the
room IN various positions. The uni,
forms of all save that Of one Of them
were scarcely less worn and faded, If
not quite so tattered, than were those
of the escort. The same grim enemies
had left the same grim marks upon
them as upon the soldiers.
The only well dressed person in the
room was a bright eyed young man, q
mere boy, Just nineteen, wearing the
brilliant uniform Of an officer of the
French army. He was tall and thin
red haired, with a long nose and re
treating forehead. His bright eyes and
animated manner expressed the inter
est he felt in a conversation carried on
In the French language with his near
est neighbor, another young man
scarcely a year his senior. The con
trast between the new and gay French
uniform Of the one and the faded Con
~tinental dress of the other was not less
startling than hat suggested by the