The Washington herald., 1912-05-26

success. "Now, why does not Wood
this one, for / feel sure that he could
have as much success as here"
wait until we return" answered the
! Virginian, and l think that you will
find him open to argument upon that
point You must remember that there
are regulars at Great Bridge, and they
are well armed, SO ! doubt il he would
care to risk his small force against such
a defense"
But there was no need Of suggesting
an attack to the American commander,
for upon the very next morning, Capt.
Bullet-a Virgiinan officer Of much
bravery-who was stationed on a line
with, and on the lek of, the American
breastwork, discovered that the Brit
ish troops were coming out Of their
works to the attack. There were about
100 Rangers at this point, disposed be-
hind the breastworks and behind
houses in the streets of the little town
which was there situated; while num-
Der had taken position behind the vii
/ lage church. The English debouched
coolness, and IN loose order, came for
nalu On bhS SauSS"ey WHICH lcu 70 inc
shore.
As luck would have it, Jack was act
! ing as sentinel for the Virginians at
this point, and when he saw the British
| appear upon the causeway, ran quickly
| Meanwhile the rest of the sentinels
were quickly driven in and the redcoats
came valiantly down the narrow path
1aI he
| CALLING FIRE came upon them from the
Nirginians, in spite of which they con-
tinued to come on with their command
er in the lead, who continually called
to his men to go on, in spite of the
until within about forty-fve yards Of
English leader in the knee, and he
stumbled and fell; but, fearing to dis
courage his troops, brushed his
fall had been accidental, and continued
to march forward.
Meanwhile Jack had returned, and,
as he came up, Capt. Bullet called out
to his troops:
Fire and reload quickly. Keep your
eyes on the leader of the British, and
as his men will retreat when he is
down, try and hit him-every one of
you"
No sooner had he spoken than a furi-
Gus discharge came from the ranks of
| the Americans, and the gallant For
dyce-the British communicated,
pierced by fourteen bullets. while his
soldiers were Immediately thrown
into the greatest disorder. They were
within fifteen yards of the Virgin ans
breastworks, with bsyonetS fixed, when
the last volley struck the line Their
commander was now dead. Their Sec
ond in command was mortally wound
ed. and, in this forlorn condition, no
attempt was made to rally them, as they
retreated in disorder toward their own
fort.
"Hurrah! Here comes Woodford and
his men| shouted Jack, as the Vir-
ginian came running down the line with
large squadron Of Continentals.
Pursue the enemy" shouted the
commander of the American forces"
and endeavor to get into the fort"
So the Virginian troops, with wild
cheer, rushed after the flying redooats,
only TO be met by furious FIRE of can
mister from two cannon on the Eng
lish breastwork- The English soldiers,
too, rallied and turned TO deliver their
FIRE with precision, under which the
Rangers dared not advance
The principal British force was now
concentrated on the island; the Prov
meals had no cannon, and the distance
was too great for the rihemen to act
with advantage Capt Bullet strongly
urged upon Woodford that he allow
the Virginians to rush the fort, but,
although backed by the enthusiasm Of
his troops, he was overruled by the
cautious American Commander-in-
chief. After conference with the diff
ferent officers, it was determined to
drive the enemy from the island by
gaining a point of land seventy yards
nearer than the American breastwork
So Col. Stephens-the brave man who
had led the attack upon the fortihca-
tons below, on the river-was appoint
ed for the task. With 100 men he
therefore crept forward TO gain the
desired point, and. reaching the posi-
ton without sustaining any loss, took
shelter TO the right of the enemy, be-
hind some houses situated at that
point.
This decided the fortune of the day.
for not an object on the island could
now escape the fatal precision of the
rihemen under Stephens, who began to
pick off the British as if they were
squirrels in a tree Seeing the hope
lessness of their position, the British
now fed promiscuously, leaving behind
them their two pieces of cannon and
their wounded and dead, lying upon the
ground.
Now let US 60 on and finish the
Job" called Capt Bullet to Woodford.
Only negroes and Tories are in the
fort; let US rush it Immediately"
81 would allow you to do 50" re-
piled the American commander, had
not heard that a Highland regiment
was on its way to re-enforce the gar
rison, so the retreat of the enemy may
be only feint to draw US from our
position, and l fear an smbuscade. But
l will send an officer to the fort and
propose a truce while we bury the
dead"
So this was done, although the Amer
leans remained under arms in expecta-
ton of another attack, as the reported
arrival of a considerable body of High
landers suggested the probability of a
strong and immediate reinforcement.
But this report, originating in a mis-
conception, in all probability saved the
remnant of the British force; for, had
the Virginians pushed on, the fort