Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-03

preached the spot, General Howe
seems to like your company so well,
that he is preparing to make perma-
nent encampment in your neighbor-
hood You have reason to thank your
stars that England did not send out a
more energetic commander"
What do you mean?" asked one Of
the younger officers. do you think
General Howe ought to make an at
tack on these fortified heights?'
II am not a military man, and my
opinion Is not entitled to much consid-
Grafton. General Howe, doubtless,
knows his own business better than I
do; but If I was at the head Of yonder
army Of red-coats, I think these forti-
fled heights would be mine before the
rising of tomorrow's sun, and George
Washington a captive or a fugitive. In
my Judgment General Howe Is over
cautious
You speak like fool!' replied the
officer hotly. IAN army of fifteen
thousand freemen, behind these works,
is more than a match for treble that
number of hireling mercenaries."
"I deserve the rebuke' answered Bill
lings, with a bland smile, "for ventur-
ing an opinion on subject Of which
/ confess, 1 am ignorant. / shall not
hereafter question the ability Of the
American army to perform miracles.
Indeed, 1 was myself witness to an
achievement Of theirs which has few re-
corded parallels. To my certain knowl-
edge. on the fifteenth Of this present
month, they made the distance from
New York to Harlem at an average
speed Of about twelve miles to the
hour, and in such remarkable order,
that not a single colonel was able to
find his regiment, and very few cap
tains possessed a more accurate knowl-
edge of the whereabouts Of their COM
panies. Gentlemen, l bid you good
day."
At the conclusion of this bitter
speech, James Billings made a polite
bow, and walked deliberately away.
who is he, Hamilton?" asked two
or three of the astonished officers at
once.
Some years ago." he replied, II knew
him as trader between New York and
the West Indies. Afterwards, under
stood that he had accumulated for
tune and retired from business. What
are his present pursuits do not know.
I do know, however, that he is a zeal
Gus and efficient friend of the patriot
cause"
Il should have taken him for SOL
dier" answered General Lee, who was
among the group. His voice has the
ring of tried metal, and / will stake
more than could we'll afford to lose,
that it has been heard above the sound
of clashing steel before this war be-
gan"
II know him only as a merchant"
said Hamilton, land never heard him
allude to any other service in which he
had been engaged. Your conjecture
may be correct, though 1 think 1t i'm
probable. He was too familiar with
the details Of the mercantile business
not to have passed many years in ac-
quiring a knowledge of that hazardous
calling"
Captain Hamilton had, in reality, no
certain knowledge Of the former occu-
pations of James Billings. He knew
enough to be assured that they had not
been of the most reputable kind, and
this made him desirous of appearing
more ignorant than he was. Not
knowing to what the present conversa-
ton might lead, he FASTENED to change
it by abruptly inquiring, What do you
think of our position, general? Can
we hold it?"
This question led as he expected and
desired, to an animated discussion, in
the heat of which James Billings and
his biting retort were forgotten.