Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-10-13
For Love of
Country
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.
Author Of 'rhe Grip Of Honor ''rhe
Southerners," ''Sir Henry MO1ssn.
Buccaneer," "a Doctor Of
Philosophy" Etc.
/ Copyright, 1898, bD Charles Scrtbner's Sons


There was no Disgusting the critical
nature of their situation, and the ar
my had never before been in Sc des-
perate a position. 1t needed no great
skill to see the danger now to be faced,
but the mistake of CORVALLIS gave
them a brief respite, of which they
promptly awaited themselves. Wash
ington was not a man before whom 1t
was eve safe to indulge In mistakes,
and the more difficult his position the
more dangerous he became. Trial, dan
ger, hazard. seemed to bring out all OF
the most remarkable qualities of the
man in the highest degree. Nothing
alarmed him. nothing dismayed him,
nothing daunted him; the hotter the
conflict, the more pressing the danger.
the cooler he became. No man on
earth was ever more ready and quick
to avail himself of time and opportuni-
ty once he had determined upon Il
course of action. This campaign was
the most signal illustration. among
many others, which his wonderful ca
reer affords. Action. prompt, bold, de
cisive. was as the breath of life to him,
but before coming to a decision. con
trary to the custom of great command
ers generally, he usually called a
Gil Of war, which on account of his ex-
cessive modesty he sometimes allowed
to overrule his own better judgment.
to the great detriment Of the cause.
Alone he was superb. Given equal re-
sources, the world has not seen a gen
eral with whom he could not success
fully be matched. In this particular
%juncture. fortunately for the country,
he insisted upon having his own way.
There were apparently but three al
ternatives before the council. The first
was a retreat with all speed down the
river, leaving the heavy baggage and
artillery, and then crossing at Phila-
delphia, II they could get there In time.
But this would be to abandon the
whole colony of New Jersey, to lose
the results Of the whole campaign and
leave the enemy In fine position to be-
gin again In the spring, and If this
were the end they might better have
Stdl GU Ou tut West Slut " llt TlNeT.
Besides, successes were vital and must
be had. Another retreat meant disin-
tegration and ruin in spite of the lucky
stroke at Trenton.
The second alternative was a battle
where they stood. and that meant
cred a moment. The army must win
or die; and as dying could do no good.
It had to win. A brilliant idea, how
ever, had occurred to the commander
In chief. the nan of brilliant ideas. He
communicated 1t to the council, where
1t instantly found adherents and OBJ
j~ectors too. 1t was the third alterna-
tive. A circuitOus road called the
Quaker road, recently surveyed and
Just made, led in a roundabout way
from the rear of the camp toward the
Princeton road, which it entered two
miles from that town. Washington's
plan was to steal silently away in the
night by this road. leaving bright fires
burning TO deceive the confident
enemy, and press with all speed to-
ward Princeton, strike CORVALLIS rear
guard there at daybreak with over
whelming force. crush it before that
general could retrace his steps. and
then make a dash for the British sup
plies ut New Brunswick. If it were
not practicable to reach that point.
Washington could take a position on
the hills above Morristown, on the