Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-11-08
CHAPTER XVI.
The Road to philadelphia.

1t must have been 10 o'clock, and,
if l had slept at all, was scarcely
conscious of it, All about me the men
lay outstretched upon the ground, still
in their shirt-sleeve as they had
fought their guns beside them. The
night was clear and hot, scarcely a
breath of air moving. Here and there
against the skyline passed the dark
silhouette of sentinel. There was no
sound of firing only an occasional
football to break the silence OF the
night The wounded had been taken
to the field hospitals at the rear;
down in our front lay the bodies OF
the dead, and among these shone the
dim lights of lanterns where the last
searching parties were yet busy at
their grewsome task. | was weary
enough to sleep, every muscle OF my
body aching with fatigue, but the ex-
element of the day. the possibility of
the morrow, left nee restless. l had
received no wound, other than a slight
thrust with a bayonet, yet felt as
though pummelled from head to foot.
The victory was ours-the army real
lied this truth clearly enough; we had
repulsed the red-cOats, driven them
back with terrible losses; we had seen
their lines shrivel up under our fire,
officers and men falling, and the rem
nant fleeing in disorder. 1t meant
nothing now that force outnumber-
ing us yet remained intact, and in
strong position. Flushed with victory,
knowing now We could meet the best
of them, we longed for the morrow to
dawn so we might complete the task.
reviewed the vivid incidents of the
day, looking up at the stars, and
wondered who among those I knew
were yet living, who were dead.
thought of others in those lines of the
enemy, whom I had known, speculat-
ing on their fate. Then along our
rear came a horserlan or two, riding
slowly. A sentry halted them, and |
arose on one elbow to listen
Lawrence? Yes. sir, Major Law
renee is lying over there by the scrub
oak"
l got to my feet, as the first rider
approached.
This you, Law"ence?" asked a
voice l instantly recognized as Ham
ilton's. You fellows all look alike
tonight Where is your horse, major?"
Il have been on foot all day, sir, -
l answered saluting.
"Ah, indeed; WELL you will have
need for a horse tonight. Vain
wright" turning to the man with him,
lis your mount fresh?''
Appears to be, sir; belonged to a
British dragon this morning"
Let Major Lawrence have him.
Major, ride with me-"
We passed back slowly enough to-
ward the rear of tie troops, through
the field hospitals, nd along the edge
of a wood, where Battery of artillery
was encamped We rode boot to boot,
and Hamilton spoke earnestly.
THE battle is pre- ctically won. Law
renee, in spite of Charles Lee" he
said soberly. "Of course there will be
uGQIluS DuL We Sudll nave
the red-coats we'll penned in before
daybreak, and have already captured
ammunition enough TO make us easy
| on that score. Poor, and the Carolina
men. are over yondSr. while Woodford
! is moving his com mand to the left.
At dawn we'll crush Clinton into frag-
ments. Washington wants to send a
despatch through tn Arnold in Phila-
deIphia, and ] recC mmended you. as
YOU know the road. He remembered
your service before and was kind
enough to say you were the very man.
You'll GO gladly?"
II should prefer to lead my own
men tomorrow, sir
"Pshaw! | douE' if we have more
than a skirmish. r Henry will see
his predicament test enough Then
there will be notLi2S left to do, but
guard prisoners"
Very we'll. colorr l am ready to
serve wherever ne,l2d."
"Of course you z e, man. There
should not be mucl LANCER connected
with this trip. altf oUgh there will be
stragglers in plent". I'm told that
Clinton lost more than three hundred
deserters crossing Camden.
Headquarters were in single
roomed cabin at the edge or ravine,
A SQUAD of cavalryTen were In front.
their horses tied to a rail fence. but
within Washington was alone, except
for a single aide. writing at rude
table in the light CT a halfdozen