The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1912-06-13


With His Spurs and Lying Close"
GOD. and wen have q go at the REQ
coats. Lafayette commands the ad
vance. and Wayne will be up within
a few hours. We are to skirmish for
ward toward Monmouth Court House;
Clinton has turned that way"
You learned that from a SCOUT"
Yes; he just came through; one OF
Charles Lees men, ! understood-s
blue-eyed, rosy-cheeked boy. who said
his name was Mortimer. He had rid
den from Cookstown, and was reelins
IN the saddle. but would go on. your
men are over there, major. beyond the
clump of timber In my judgment
Wen accomplish little today. for
there is a heavy storm In those clouds
yonder."
How many men will we have when
Wayne comes up7"
About four thousand, with the mi
litia. We are ordered TO hang close
10 Clinton's left. while Morgan circles
him to the right. It's said the Brit
ish have transports. at Sandy Hook
and are trying to get there: that was
the word young Mortimer brought in"
The bath In the water seemed TO
have helped my horse. but | rode slow.
ly up the valley toward the wood
which served as my guide. Before
reached the skirmishers, great drops
OF rain fell. and then a downpour, ut
terry blotting out the landscape
Lightning flashed, the thunder unre
hitting. the rain a food. water leaped
down the side OF the hill cascades,
and, blinded. | drew my horse back
into the slight shelter OF the wood,
and waited, gripping him by the bit
Men ran back down the hill, seeking
shelter from the fury Of II, and bent
my head. soaked TO the skin. For the
first time | realized how tired was,
every muscle aching with the strain
OF the long nights march, my head
throbbing from the awful heat OF the
early morning. sat down in the
mud and water; my arm through the
bride rein. my head against the
trunk OF IA tree. which partially pro
tected my face from the beating rain.
But there WIS no sleep possible.
Ny mind pictured the field OF action,
reviewed the events leading up TO this
hour. and. as surely, reverted to Claire
Mortimer. had almost forgotten
the sturdy downpour so intensely was
] thinking. when a courier came spur
ring forward. blinded by the storm.
yet riding recklessly. He must have
seen the group OF men huddled at the
edge OF the grove, for he drew up his
horse. calling my name.
Major Lawrence, come from Gen.
eral Maxwell" he shouted between
the crashes OF thunder. you are
given command OF the right OF the
line. and will press on regardless OF
the storm until the enemy is met In
force. Dragons have been seen two
miles east. You understand. sirl"
YES" leading forth my horse.
Come on. lads. it's the top OF the
hill What about the artillery"
| we may not be able to move the
guns" he answered. but you are to
keep your powder as dry as possible
and hold Clinton to the road. Dry
powder will be sent as soon as the
storm breaks. That's all. SIR"
I could scarce see the fellow as his
horse whirled. and went splashing
down the slope. Through the mist Of
rain the men gathered about were
mere blotches.
"All right. you waterrsts. come onl"
] sang out sheerfully. Wen give the
Red-coats the butts OF our guns any
how"
There was a faint cheer as the
drenched figures sprang forward rae
ing after me. Twice We ran up against
small parties OF horsemen, exchanging
shots, but these fell back, leaving the
road clear. BY dark we were at Eng
lishtown. hungry and thoroughly worn