American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-10-03

@ "Acs ! "d6 mOT0 deeply I'M
pressed with the awful solemnity of
war. than as l watched these volun-
teer soldiers land on the Jersey shore.
and tramp away through the dust, In
those ranks were sick and wounded
scarcely able to keep up; occasionally
one would crawl aside but the moment
ne was able would join some new body.
and resume the march.
They were animated by a stern DUR.
pose which yielded power. Such as
these were not to be trified with. 9th
ers might scoff at their r~aggedness of
line, their carelessness of discipline.
their nondescript garments, and vari-
ETY. OF equipment, but to one who had
e such in battle-who had been
with them at Trenton, Brandywine,
and Germantown-they were warriors
not to be dessised, stern, grim fight
ers, able to hold their W against
England's best drilled battalions.
watched them file past-Wayne's, Var
NUNS, SCOTS brigades, and Jackson's
and G%rayson's Notwithstanding
the brown, dust-caked faces, the eager
eyes, the sturdy, t~ireless tread, the
well oiled muskets. Boys, men, gray
boards, all alike exhibited in their
races the same expression. They we're
anticipating battle against a hated foe,
and counted hardship as nothing COM
pared with the Joy of conflict. Every
step brought them closer to the
grapple of arms-to that supreme test
OF strength. courage, endurance, for
which they had left their homes. They
might be poorly drilled, addressed,
v~ariously armed, yet0these We're fight
ing men.
1t was midnight when Morgan led us
up the steep bluff, and out upon the
sandy road. We advanced silently,
and In struggling column through the
darkness, passing the embers of
camp fires for several miles, the re-
cumbent soldiery of other commands
sleeping or the ground. At Hopewell,
Washington was holding another coun-
Gil with his officers. AS we swung
past we could perceive his tall figure
standing In the glow OF a fire, and
there arose from the lips of our men
a sudden, involuntary cheer, breaking
strangely upon the solemn silence Of
the night. The group about him were
startled and looked about, and he
paused a moment shading his eyes.
What troops are these?" he asked,
his voice cutting across the distance.
A hundred answered him:
"Morgan's rifiemen!"
Good, my ladsi" and even at that
distance could see his face brighten.
There will be work for you at dawn"
With a rolling cheer, echoing down
our ranks from front to rear, we an
swered, swinging the guns over our
heads, as we swept forward into the
dark night. There might be discus
sion, d%issension about that council fire.
but there was none in the hearts of
those who were going out to die. AL
ready rumors were flying about re-
garding Lees unwillingness to engage
in battle. | saw him as | trudged
past, standing beside Wayne, the fire
light on his face, although his head
was bowed. Even to our cheers he
never ice glanced up, and, as we
pass d beyond the radius of light, !
laid my hand upon the name of Nor
CAMS horse.
rs 1t true that Charles Lee thinks
we should let Clinton go without fight
ing?" | asked soberly. That was ru-
mored at the ferry"
"'Tis enough" he answered, his
eyes upon the dark column of plod-
ding men. And he seems to have
others with him. l know not what has
put the coward into the fellows of
late. Saint Andrew! the odds are no
greater than we have met before. But
therell be no fighting, lad, I fear, un-
less Washington takes the bit in his
teeth and orders it. I'm glad the boys
cheered him; twill give the mar new
heart"
You favor the joining of issue?"
"Why not? Were We ever in better
fettle? A retreating army is always
half whipped, and we can choose our
ground. Why, lad, It's reported Gin
toms line stretches out full twelve
miles. with train of baggage wagons
and battery horses, and camp follow
ers enough for a division. Twill be
easy work attending to them, and most
Of his troops are Dutch and Tories"
BY daylight we came up with the
New Jersey militia, lying at rest along
the bank of the Milestone river, wait
ing their turn to ford that stream, and
join Maxwell on the opposite shore.
From where / stood / could see the
thin lines Of Continentals spreading
out like a fan. as the skirmishers adj
vanced up the opposite bluffs. Down
the tranpled bank, men were strug
Cling with a light battery, and sudden
ly In the press of figures l came upon
Farrell. He was mud from head to
foot, his face streaked with 1t, but he
looked up with beaming eyes as l
spoke his name. and our hands
clasped.
Il thought you would be over there
with Maxwell" he said, pointing