Sierra County advocate., 1912-08-23


line. their carelessness Of discipline,
their nondescrfpt garments. and vari.
sty Of equipment. but to one who had
seen such In bsttle-who had been
with them at Trenton. Brandywine.
and Germantown-they were warriors
not to be despised, stern, grim fight
ers, able to hold their own against
England's best drilled battalions. l
watched them file past-Wayne's, Var
NUNS. Scott's brigades, and Jackson's
and Grayson's Notwithstanding
the brown. dust-caked 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 hated foe,
snd counted hardship as nothing COM
pared with the Joy Of conflict. Every
step brought them closer to the
gfappie OF arms-to that supreme test
Of strength, courage. endurance, for
which they had left their homes. They
might be poorly drilled, addressed,
variously armed. yet these were 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 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 fire, and
there arose from the lips Of our men
q sudden, involuntary cheer, breaking
strangely upon the solemn silence or
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 rifemen!"
Good. my lads!" and even at thas
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 I'm
swered. swinging the guns over oar
heads. as we swept forward into the
dark night. There might be discus
sion, dissension about that council fi"e.
but there was none In the hearts OF
those who were going out to die. Al
ready rumors were flying about e-
garding Lees unwiliingness 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 once glanced up, and. as we
passed beyond the radius of light, !
laid my hand upon the name Of Nor
gan's horse.
'Is It true that Charles Lee thinks
We should let Clinton go without fight
ingT asked soberly. 'That was ru-
mored at the ferry"
"~ris 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 not7 Were we ever in better
fettlef A retreating army is always
half whipped. and we can choose our
ground. Why, lad, it's reported Clin.
tons line stretches out full twelve
miles. with train of baggage wagons
and battery horses. and camp follow.
ers enough for 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 l stood could see the
thin lines Of Continentals spreading
out like q fan, as the skirmishers ad.
vanced up the opposite bluffs. Down
the trampled bank, men were strug.
Cling with light battery, and sudden.
ly IN the press Of figures ! came upon
Farrell. He was mud from head to
foot. his face streaked with it, but he
looked up with beaming eyes as
spoke his name. and our hands
clasped.
II thought you would be over there
with MAXWELL" he said, pointing
across at the black dots. now clearly
distinsuishable in the glow OF sun
shine.
n was iert behind. and came up Just
pow with Morgan" / replied. but
am anxious enough to be with my own
1T