Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-09-22
For Love of
Country
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY,
Asthof Of THE Grip Of Honor" The
Southerners," 'Sir Henry Morgan,
Bucesreer." "A Doctor Of
Philosophy" Etc.
. Copyright, 1895, by Charles Scribner's Sons


audacity. To turn, as il We're. JUS. be.
fore the dissolution Of his army ana
cross a wide and deep river full Of icc
In the dead of winter and strike Ike
the hammer of Thor upon his unwary
foe, rudely disturbing his complaccnr
dreams, was a conception OF exceeding
brilliancy, and il at onc stamped
Washington as a military genius of the
first order. And with such an army 10
make such IN attempt! Said n Of the
officers Of the period in his memoirs
IAN army without cavalry. partially
provided with artillery, deficient in
transportation for the little they had
to carry. without tents. tools or camp
eQuipage. without magazines of any
kind, half clothed, badly armed, debili
tated by disease, disheartened by mis-
fortune But their leader was a lion
and the lion was at last at bay. There
was another factor which contributed
greatly to the efficiency of the army
and that was the high quality and
overwhelming number of the Ameri
a officers.
Orders had been given to the bri.
gades and troops mentioned to concen-
trate at McConkey's Ferry, about nine
miles above Trenton. Another division
under Ewing was TO cross a mile be-
low Trenton and seize the bridge and
fords across the A%ssunpink, 10 check
the retreat Of the enemy and cooperate
with the main attack.
C~adwalader's Pennsylvania militia
under Gates was to cross at Bristol OF
below Burlington and attack Won Do
mop at that point, while Putnam, In
conjunction with him, was to make a
diversion from Ply The move
ments were to be simultaneous, and
the result, ii was hoped, would accord
with the effort. the main column.
and the one upon which the most de-
pendence was to be placed, was that
which Washington himself was to ac-
company, which was composed Of vet
eran Continentals to the number OF
2,400, with eighteen pieces of artillery.
All this was briefly explained by the
general to Seymour and the staff
while they rode slowly along the frozen
road. About 3 o'clock they arrived at
the ford, near which the troops which
had arrived before them now stood
shivering on the high ground by the
river. A few fires were burning in the
ravines back OF the banks, around
which the men took turns In warming
themselves as they munched their fru-
gal fare from the haversacks. A large
number Of boats had been collected for
their transportation, but the river IT.
self was In a most unprOmising condi-
ton, full Of great chunks Of ice which
the swift current kept churning and
grinding against each other.
The general surveyed the scene In ST.
lence as his STAFF and the general OFF,
GERS gathered about him.
"There is something moving In the
river, general" suddenly said Seymour,
pointing, his practiced eye detecting q
dark object among the cakes of ice.
1T Is a boat, siry"
"Ahw replied the general. "You have
sharp eyes. Where is itT'
There, SIR, coming nearer every
minute. There Is a man in it,"
II see now. So there is. Who can
1t beT"
Probably 1t is Lieutenant Martin"
remarked General Greene quietly.
"You know you sent him back"
"Oh, so ! didv' replied the general,
nodding sternly at the recollection.
Meanwhile the man in the boat was
skillfully making his way between the
great cakes of nee which threatened
every moment to crush his frail skiff.
He rapidly drew near until he finally
jumped ashore and, having tied his
boat, FASTENED up to where the gen
eral sat or his horse. He stopped.
II have been across, general" he
said, saluting.
$50 ] perceive, sir. How did you
get across?"
when l left you, sir, this after
noon" went on the young man grave
ly, II vas in such a hurry that l did
not wait for anything. I swan it.
SIR. with my horse"
Swan it!'
Eyes, sir"
VERY well done, indeed! Was It
cold?'
mot very, sir. At least / was too
excited to feel II, and a good hard gal
lop on the other side o warmed
me up"
"Where did your ride take your
almost to Trenton, sir"
"And what is the situation there?"
every confident, the guard very
negligent, the men carousipg In the
houses. / examined both roads, and
neither of them Is well picketed. I
should think a surprise would not be
very difficult, SIR"
"Humph! Where's your horseT
"He fell dead on the other side just
a / got back. / found that leaky skin
and came over to report, sir"
"You have done well, Mr.. Martin;
very well, indeed! I think you must
have found that man I sent you for"
continued the general. smiling grimly,
while the young soldier blushed with
pleasure. Meanwhile we must get
you another horse. Who has a spare
oneY'