Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-05-27
A BOY Of 1776,
ey NATHAN HARDY.

One morning when the general was
In his office an orderly announced to
him that Nicholas IIalstead wished tc
see him. Easy Of access. the com.
mau1cr In chief ordered the caller tc
be Admitted and was surprised to see
boy Of sixteen. The youth showed
every evidence of distress.
what can I do for you. my boy?
asked the commander.
''YOu can redress q wrong, general
! have been very badly treated"
CRY wllom?'
"'rhe recruiting officers. They won't
enlist me, They say am under age"
~ commend your patriotism. my
boy. and we need every soldier we can
get. III there is u" other reason than
your youth to he brought against your
enlistment I should like to see your
wisl, gratiiird."
''Indccl. there are good reasons why
| should |" permitted to fight. gen
cral 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 ncNt--onc of your dis
patch riders killed while crossing
the Passaic river carrying message
from you to Colonel Burr in Westcles-
ter county. |, the youngest. am left to
avcngc their deaths"
The general looked at the boy with
mingled admiration and establishment.
ut seems to me. my young friend"
lie said. THAT these reasons you have
given mo for your enlistment are ratl,-
or reasons why you should not enlist.
Your mother and sisters have given
quite cnon"!, I" the cause. 1t is your
duty tn protect Them"
but, grncral'-
My dcci%ion." interrupted the gen
oral in II firm but kindly tone, lis that
it is Your duty ,o return to your home
and stay there till the end of the war"
The commander took tho boys hand
aud pressed il warmly. Nicholas with.
drew. wipiig Il tear from his eye His
last hope of being enlisted had van
ishCd
olas llals,rad WAS ut dag Of Il
Sunday murning when Now Jersey
regiment WIS marching past The gen
cral in chief to- go into the battle Of
Monmouth. Nicholas saw the com
man,lcr sitting on his horse beside The
road and cnlcavorcl to conceal him
self behind the file in front of him,
Ian, 1,i, 81.
him. Tho boy never forgot the look
the general gave him on tina, OCCASION
Ii was one of mingled pain. admiration
and rcproach. Raising his hand. he
m"tioncd Nicholas to- fall out of the
ranks. The ynuMG soldier did So. and
the commander sail tr him:
Arc You an enlisted man."
"NrS. general. At last found Il TO
cru,ng officer who would pass me-
"Sincr you are in the military service
and III this army YOU arc un.irr lily
orders. desire Yen TO carry y mes
sage for Mo. Go to Your mother and
tell her that hcr country will accept
no more sacrifices ut her hands ana
that the last ono of her noble Mon
shall remain With hrr by my order TIL
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 matter of history that there
was a traitor in the American army
high in command, that traitor being
General Charles Loo. He cid 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 \ panic
followed. and the men fled precipitatc-
ly, many of them frantically hurrying
toward a cauScway 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
cst the enemy to stop the flight OF
Lees and other troops Among this
force fighting at the causeway Wash
inglon caught sight Of young Nicholas
llalstcad loading and firing at the enc
my With the light of vengeance in his
eye. There was neither time nor in
clnntion to veprovc the boy for disobc-
i;cn.'c of the order sending him home.
hut he general. matdcncd though he
WAS with Lees traachcry. was not too
occupied In notice Nicholas fighting ut
the most Important point. Tho British
We're held eft. The battle was renewed
AID when the fight closed at ni2htfall
Washington made his dispositions to
M:ash the nrNt morning.
l!aNM@ >'rnt during the night under
large oak trrc. he awoke before
dawn and mounted his horse But tho
light of day revealed the fact tina, the
enemy had Slipped away under cover
of the darkness
During the morning while the COM
) mAnd"r was riding over the hattlr..ri
he saw q soldier Get up from !. i.c 9!
dead ard wounded ard >ta@@rr away
Calling TO him. tilr soldier lurich II.
1,t1u I.,l