Evening journal., 1910-04-26
A BOY OF 1776.
Rx NATHAN HARDY.

see him. Easy OF access, the COM
mander in chief ordere6 the caller to
be admitted and was surprised to see
a boy of sixteen. The youth showed
every evidence OF distress.
"What can do for you, my boy?'
asked the commander.
you can redress a wrong, general.
I have been very badly treated"
"By whomY
"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 l should like 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 astonishment.
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. 1t is your
duty to protect them"
But, general
MY decision" interrupted the gen
eral in a firm but kindly tone. "is that
it is your duty to return 10 your home
and stay there till the end Of the war;
The commander took the boys hand
and pressed IL warmly. Nicholas with
drew, wiping d tear from his eye. His
last hope OF being enlisted had van
ished.
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 10 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 him on that occasion.
II was one OF mingled pain, admiration
and reproach. Raising his hand, h.
motioned Nicholas to fall out of the
ranks. The young soldier did so, and
the commander said to him:
Are you an enlisted manY
'Yes, general. At last / found a re-
cruiting officer who would pass me-"
"Slnee you are in the military service
and in this army you are under my
orders. desire you to carry a mes
sage for me. Go 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.
1t is a matter of history that there
was a 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 a retreat Of his
own troops which involved other di.
visions OF the American army. A panic
/ followed, and the men fed precipitate
| ly, many Of them frantically hurryine
toward a causeway covering a morass
Washington when he heard OF tho
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 thi'
force fighting at the causeway Wash
ington caught sight Of young Nichola.
Halstead loading and firing at the enc
my with the light of vengeance in hi
eve. There was neither time nor in
clination to reprove the boy for disobe
dience Of the order sending him home
but the general, maddened though HI
was with Lees treachery, was not to-
occupied to notice Nicholas fighting a
the most important point. The Britisl
were held or, the battle was renewed
and when the fight closed at nightfal
Washington made his dispositions 4
attack the next morning.
Having slept during the night unde
n large oak tree, he awoke befor
dawn and mounted his horse. But tn
light of day revealed the fact that tn
enemy had slipped away under cove
OF the darkness.
During the morning while the CON
mander was riding over the battlefield
he saw a soldier get up from a pile o
dead and wounded and stagger away
Calling TO him, the soldier turned. II
was Nicholas Halstead.
"You disobeyed my order, see.
said the general.
Nicholas. supporting himself on hi
musket, hung his head, but said moth
ing.
"Well." resumed the general. "ther
seems to be no possibility OF keepinl
! Vou at home and since vOu will re