River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-11-07


steadfast to duty. Word came to US
early in June that Count d'Estaing,
with powerful French fleet, was ap-
preaching the coast. This surely
meant that Clinton would be com
| PEELED to retreat across the Jerseys.
! and a portion of our troops were adj
vanced SO as to be within easy striE-
ing distance of the city the moment
the evacuation took place. The re-
manning commands pressed farthe.
north, near convenient crossings az
the Delaware, prepared for foreS&
march across the British line OF re-
treat. MaXwells brigade, with wN4ch
| was connected, even crossed the
river in advance, cooperating with
General Dickinson and his New Jersey
militia. All was excitement, commo-
ton, apparently disorder, yet even
amid that turmoil of approaching bat
tie, Hamilton recalled my request. and
granted me two days leave. His brief
note reached ME at Coryell's Ferry,
and. an hour later. was riding swiftly
across the country to where Lee had
headquarters.
Not once duzing all those days ard
nights had the memory of Claire left
me. Over and over in my mind l had
reviewed all that had ever occurred
between us, striving in vain to guess
the riddle. Now | would see and talk
with her brother, and perhaps obtain
the explanation needed. Yet ] have
gone into battle with less trepidation
than when rode into Lees headquar-
tiers, and asked his chief-of-staff for
Eric Mortimer He looked at me
strangely, as l put the question.
81 should be very glad to oblige you,
Major Lawrence" he replied graVely,
but unfortunately l have no present
knowledge of the young man"
But he was attached to General
Lees Staff"
only in A wayne was useful to
us as scout because of his intimate
knowledge of the Jerseys. His home,
I understand, was near Mount Holly"
What has become of him?"
"All | know is, he was sent out on
a special mission, by Washington's
own orders, nearly month ago. We
have not directly heard from him
since An Indian brought partial re-
port of his operations up to that time;
since then We have received nothing"
'An Indian I exclaimed. 'The same
who brought in my notes?"
81 believe so; yes, now that | recall
the matter I had no opportunity to
question the fellow; he simply left the
papers with the orderly. and disap-
peared."
And you have heard nothing from
young Mortimer since?"
Not word"
He must be dead, or a prisoner"
The chief smiled rather grimly.
"Or deserted" he added sharply. Il
am more inclined toward that theory.
He was reckless young devil, attract
ed to our service more, it seemed to
me, by a spirit of dare-deviltry than
patriotism. Lee thought we'll of him.
but I was always suspicious. He be-
longed to family of loyalists, his ia
Their a colonel of Queens. Rangers
Did you know him, Lawrence?"
"The father, not the son. But | am
not willing to believe evil of the boy.
| cannot conceive that treachery is in
the Mortimer blood, sir, and shall have
to be convinced before | condemn the
lad When did he leave here Iast?"
About the middle of May"
Would you mind telling me his mis-
sion? Where he was sent?"
The officer glanced keenly into my
face; then ran hastily over a package
of papers taken from an open trunk
81 can see no harm in doing SO now,
major He was sent to communicate
with a British off1cer-a prominent
Tory-who has associations with Red
Fagin, and others in Monmouth coun-
ty This officer has in the past, for a
consideration. furnished us with valu
able information, generally through
young Mortimer. who knew him. He
had written US that he had more to
SELL"
Where were they to meet?"
''At rendezvous known as the Lone
Tree. not far from Medford."
WAS the Tory officer named
Grant 2"
He stared at me in surprise.
Il am not at liberty to answer"
ooh, very we'll; however. l under
stand the situation even better than
you do probably. Only advise you
one thing-don't condemn that boy I'M
til you learn the truth. Grant is an
unmitigated, cold-blooded scoundrel,
and the treachery is his. You'll learn
that, if you wait long enough. Morti-
mer is either dead, or in Fagin's hands
Good night"
|. passed out, and was beyond the
guard, before he could call me, ever
had he desired to do so. / had no
wish to talk with him longer. l felt
disappointed, sick at heart, and real
lied this staff officer was strongly
prejudiced against young Mortimer 1t
seemed to me l saw a little light, al
though not much. Eric had been at
Elmhurst, and Claire was not innocent
of his presence in that neighborhood.
She was shielding him, and it was
through her help that his first report
to Lee had been sent back by the In
dian. Then Eric must have been in
the house while / was there. Indeed
it must have been Eric who made me
prisoner And to protect him she
had told me deliberate falsehood.
AS / rode back through the night,
finding a path almost by instinct
through the maze of military encamp-
7 af oil