Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-02-23

experience in battle, when his company
was ordered to attack some OF Gen.
Washington's pickets.
First, young Waldemar was very busy
observing and thinking.
HE saw that the colonists meant to
win independence, no matter how much
blood it might cost them, and when he
had learned enough English to under
stand what people said about the trouble
between the colonies md the mother coun-
try he found himself becoming deeply in
terested in the cause of the colonists and
wondering if they had not the right on
their side.
mo long after this he was sent across
New Jersey with other troopers on an ex-
petition that was meant to worry Gen.
Washington.
But one dark night when 1t was
br-r-r! oh, so cold dow swooped Gen.
! Washington upon them, giving them such
n surprise party that Waldemar and ev-
cry one of his companions were made
prisoners.
"1'm" thought Waldemar. I sup
pose I'll have my beauty spoiled for he
had heard stories about the Americans
cruelty to German soldiers-how they cut
off their prisoners ears and slit their
noses. So you can imagine how pleased
he was to find that the ,colonials were
anything but cruel. in fact, the sergeant
who marched the prisoners up to Phila-
delphia soon became a warm friend to
Waldemar, and many long talks they had
together.
~ wish you could see our command
er-in-chief, Waldemar,' said the sergeant.
4 wish l might replied Waldemar. But
mot ill LONG oftaruorI did ba ref his
first sight of George Washington.
"Well, before long Waldemar, with 9TH
er prisoners, was exchanged for some
American prisoners whom the British had
ca captured, and so our student-soldier had
to turn his sword against the cOlonists
again.
pretty soon he was ordered down
South, and so it happened that he was
present when the British captured
Charleston. He did a brave thing there
Jumped in front Of an officer and re-
ceived in his own shoulder the sword
thrust that would have killed the officer
and was promoted right away to be a
in spite of his being so young.
AT last, at Cowpens, Waldemar's COM
pany got caught by Morgan, and pretty
soon they found themselves being march
into the Winchester valley of Vir-
ginia. There, in order to keep them busy,
Morgan had them work in a quarry, car
ry the stones on their backs for some
miles, and build n house for him. And
when the house was finished he invited
Waldemar to live with him in it, for he
had grown very fond of his young prison
.er-captain.
Here he gave ever so nan parties,
and all the fair Virginia girls in the
countryside came in the best frocks they
could get up in those awful war times.
$50 that was the way Waldemar came
to meet and love Elizabeth Map. At
first she would have nothing of him be-
cause he was one of those miserable
Germans that had come over to help fight
the colonists,' but after she had heard
Waldemar's story she changed her mind.
IL see, Waldemar, it's not your fault
that you are over here, under King
Georges banner-and, oh anyway, l love
you = she cried, and so they settled it
right away that just as soon as possible
they would get married.
"Only / want to stay in this country
said Elizabeth.
"'Thi is the only country for me-
Waldemar. 4 love America,