The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-08-02

ors might scoh at their raggednoss Of
line, their careleasness OF discipline
their nondescript garments, and vari
city OF equipment. but 70 one who had
seen such In battle-who had been
with them at Trenton, Brandywlne
and Germantown-they were warriors
not TO be despised, stern, grim fight
ers, able to hold their own against
England's best drilled battalions. ]
watched them file past-Wayne's, Var.
NUNS, Scott's brigades, and Jackson 3
and Grayson's Notwithstanding
the brown, dust-oaked faces, the eager
eyes, the sturdy, tireless tread, the
well oiled muskets. Boys, men, gray.
boards, all alike exhibited In their
faces the same expression. They were
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,
varlously armed, yet these were fight.
ing men.
II 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
d. -lSness, passing the embers OF
| camp fires for several miles, the re-
cumbent soldiery Of other commands
sleeping on the ground. At Hopewell.
| Washington was holding another coun.
ell 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
q sudden, involuntary cheer, breaking
strangely upon the solemn. silence Of
the night. The group about him were
startled and looked about, and he
paused moment shading his eyes
What troops are these?" he asked,
his voice cutting across the distance.
A hundred answered him:
'Morgan's rifemen!"
Good, my lads!" and even at that
distance l 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
sweTed, swinging the guns over our |
heads, as we swept forward into the |
dark night. There might be discus
sion, dissension 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. l saw him as l trudged
past, standing beside Wayne the fire.
light on his face, although his head
was bowed. Even to our cheers he
never once glanced up, and, as we
passed beyond the radius Of light,
laid my hand upon the name of Nor
gan's horse.
rs it true that Charles Lee thinks
We should let Clinton go without fight
ing?" l 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. 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
there1l be no fighting, lad, fear, un-
less Washington takes the bit in his
teeth and orders it. I'm glad the boys
cheered him; twill give the man 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 Clin.
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. G
From where l stood I could see the L
thin lines Of Continentals spreading
1ut like fan, as the skirmishers ad.
up the opposite bluffs. Down
The trampled bank, men were strug. Z
Cling with light battery, and sudden. l.
y in the press of figures I came upon |
Farrell. He was mud from head to I
'oot his face streaked with it, but he
ooked up with beaming eyes as
spoke his name, and our hands
,lasped. n
'I thought you would be over there
With Maxwell" he said, pointing 3
lcross at the black dots, now clearly n
listinguishable in the glow Of sun .
hine. p
"I was left behind, and came up just =
low with Morgan" l replied But ]
m anxious enough to be with my own u
ellows. What means that skirmish u
inc, Farrell? Are we already in touch II
With Clinton?" u
He swept the hair out of his eyes
With his great fist. /
mo one knows exactly, but the Brit. n
sh are not far off, and are headed this ut
ray. A scout came through with the ;
ews two hours ago-Clinton has tax. dl
n the road to Monmouth" He In
huckled grimly, glancing at my face. 81
And who think ye the lad was who 81
old us?" re
''Who?" my throat tightening. III
"The same you was SO anxious about o'
few days back" VI