The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-23
A BOY OF ING,
BY NATHAn HARDY.


be admitted and was surprised to see
boy of sixteen. The youth showed
every evidence Of distress.
what can do for you. ny boyT
asked the commander.
"You can redress wrong, general.
have been very badly treated
"By whom"
1.-THE recruiting officers. They won't
enlist me. They say am under age"
II commend your patriotism, my
boy, and we need every soldier we can
get. If there is no other reason than
your youth to be brought against your
enlistment | should Ike to see your
wish gratifed"
Indeed, there are good reasons why
should be permitted to fight, gen.
eral. Our family consisted when the
war began, Of father, mother, three
boys and two girls. The British killed
father at the battle of Long Island;
my oldest brother was shot at Harlem
Heights; the next-one of your dis
patch riders-was killed while crossing
the Passaic river carrying a message
from you to Colonel Burr In Westches-
ter county. |, the youngest, am left to
avenge their deaths"
The general looked at the boy with
mingled admiration and establishment.
1T seems to me, my young friend"
he said, that these reasons you have
given me for your enlistment are rath.
er reasons why you should not enlist.
Your mother and sisters have given
quite enough to the cause. It is your
duty to protect them"
But, general
my decision" interrupted the gen
eral in firm but kindly tone. us that
1t is your duty to return to your home
and stay there till the end Of the war"
The commander took the boys hand
and pressed II warmly. Nicholas with.
drew, wiping tear from his eye. His
last hope Of being enlisted had van
lshed.
The next time Washington saw Mich.
olas Halstead was at daybreak Of a
Sunday morning when a New Jersey
regiment was marching past the gen.
eral in chief to go into the battle OF
Monmouth. Nicholas saw the com
mander sitting on his horse beside the
road and endeavored to conceal him
self behind the file in front Of him,
but Washington's quick eye lighted on
him. The boy never forgot the look
the general gave hin, on that occasion.
1t was one Of mingled pain, admiration
and reproach. Raising his hand, he
motioned Nicholas to fall out OF the
ranks. The young soldier did so, and
the commander said TO him:
\"Are you an enlisted MANI
AYES. general. At last | found a re-
crultmg officer who would pass me"
"Sinceyou are IN the military service
and in this army you are under my
orders. desire you to carry a mes
sage for me. Co to your mother and
tell her that her country will accept
no more sacrifices at her hands and
that the last one Of her, noble men
shall remain with her by my order till
he Is discharged"
Nicholas burst into tears. The gen
eral, bending down. pressed the young
soldiers hand: then, forgetting him
In more important duties, he rode
away.
II IS a matter OF history that there
was traitor In the American army
high In command. that traitor being
General Charles Lee. He did what he
could TO throw the Victory into the
hands Of the British. finally on his own
responsibility ordering retreat Of his
own troops which involved other d.
visions OF the American army. Apanic
followed. and the men fed precipitate'
ly. many OF them frantically hurrying
toward a causeway covering a morass.
Washington when he heard Of the
disaster pushed forward, placing the
troops under his own immediate COM
mand at the end Of the causeway near
est the enemy to stop the flight OF
Lees and other troops. Among this
force fighting at the causeway Wash
lngton caught sight ~ youag Nicholas
Halstead loading and firing at the enc.
my with the light Of vengeance In his
eye. There was neither time nur In
clination to reprove the boy for disobe.
dience OF the order sending him home.
but the general. maddened though he
was with Lees treachery. was not too
occupied 90 notice Nicholas fighting at
the most important point. The British
were held on. the battle was renewed,
and when the fight closed at nlghtfall
Washington made his dispositions to
attack the next morning
Having slept during the night under
a large oak tree. he awoke before
dawn and mounted his horse But the
light Of day revealed the fact that the
enemy had slipped away under corer
Of the darkness.
During the morning while the com.
mander was riding over the battlefield
he saw a soldier get up from pile Of
dead and wounded and staggcr away.
Calling to him, the soldier turned. lie
was Nicholas Halstead.
"You dlsobeyed my order. see"
said the general.
Nicholas. supporting himself on his
musket, hung his head. but said moth
ing.
WELL" resumed the general. "therc
I o,,,,,. o., D.. a.. ,,...fAutt.. - 80.