Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-11-08

aAO "iOlS SioWIy, DIS luOuSu training
his sentences with care, occasionally
questioning the aide Once he paused,
and glanced across at Hamilton.
Colonel, do you know dragon
named Mortimer"
L have no recollection of ever hav-
ing met the man, sir. l have written
him orders, however; he is a scout at
tached to General Lees headquar-
ters."
yes; | recall the name. He is the
one who brought us our first definite
information this morning of Clintons
position. | remember now, you were
not with me when he rode up
young, slender lad, with the face of
a girl. | could but notice his eyes;
they were as soft and blue as violets.
Well, an hour ago he came here for
a favor; 1t seems the boy is a son of
Colonel Mortimer, of the queens
rangers"
Indeed; Wayne reported the colo
mel killed in front of his lines"
mot killed, but seriously wounded.
The son asked permission to take him
home to place called Elmhurst near
Laurel HILL"
Il know the plantation, SIR I said,
my interest causing me to interrupt.
at is on the Medford road
"Ah, you have met the lad, possibly,
major" and he turned his face to-
ward me. THE boy interested me
greatly"
mo, sir; | endeavored to find him
at Lees headquarters, but failed.
have met his father and sister"
"a lovely girl, no doubt"
''To my mind, yes sir
His grave face lighted with sud-
den smile.
Il sometimes imagine, Colonel Ham
ilton,' he said quietly, that this I'M,
happy war might be very pleasantly
concluded if we could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies of the
enemy Would such plan meet with
your approval. major?"
81 should prefer it to the present
method"
NV COupI, dhOt ANlSIl Coo -hOA IALiSi
But let that pass, until we hold
council of war upon the subject. Just
now we shall have to be content with
the more ordinary plans of campaign.
| gave the boy permission to remove
his father, and they are upon the road
ere this. | would that all the British
wounded had homes close at hand.
You have informed the major of his
mission. | presume, Hamilton, and
there is nothing l need add"
HE understands clearly, sir
Then | will complete the letter. Be
seated, gentlemen"
He wrote for several minutes stead
lily, once pausing to consult a map,
signed the paper, and enclosed it in
another sheet, across which he
scratched a line of address.
You will deliver this to General
Arnold in person major; do not spare
horse-fesh You were in the action
today?"
with Maxwell's brigade"
THAT was a hard fight along the
stone wall; you came out unhurt?"
"A slight bayonet wound, sir; moth
ing to incapacitate me from duty
Very we'll; take ten dragons as
escort Hamilton will write you an
order. | have told Arnold our victory
is practically complete. Clinton may
slip away in the night, for he is
willy old fox, but he has lost his pow
er to injure us in the Jerseys. | hope
to bottle him up before morning, SO
that any retreat will be impossible,
but even if he succeeds in getting his
army to the transports at Sandy
Hook, he has lost prestige, and the
victory is ours. Goodbye, major, and
the Lord guard you on your journey"
Ten minutes later, mounted on
rangy sorrel, my dragon escort trot-
ting behind, | rode south on the
Plainsboro road, as swiftly as it's ter
rible condition would warrant.
The evidences of war, the wreck
age of battle, were everywhere. Sew
eral times we were compelled to leap
the stone walls to permit the passage
of marching troops being hurried to
some new position; several batteries
passed us. rumbling grimly through
the night, and squadron of horse
galloped by, the troopers greeting us
with shouts of inquiry.
We took to the fields, but, as there
seemed no end to the procession, |
turned my horses head eastward, con-
fident We were already beyond the
British rear-guard. and struck out
across country for another north and
south road We advanced now at
swift trot, the sound of our horses
hoofs on the soft turf almost the only
noise. and, within an hour. came again
to parallel fences, and a well travelled
road.
This was the road running a mile.
or so. to the west OF Elmhurst 1t
led as straight as any. toward Phila-
delphia. but whatever stragglers the
British army had left behind would
be found along here However. they
would probably be scattered fugitives.
unwilling TO interfere with as strong
an armed party as this of mine. II
/ was alone 1t would be safer to turn
aside Then. ii was a strong tempta-
ton 20 me to pass thus close to Elm
hurst 1t would be after daylight