The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-17
MY LADY OF DOUBT.
Continued from Page 10.

pose which yielded power. Such az
these were not to be triaed with. 9th
ers might SCOT at their raggedness Of
line, their carelessness Of discipline,
their nondescript garments, and vari.
ETY. of equipment, but to one who had
seen such in battle-who had been
with them at Trenton, Brandywine,
and Germantown-theyw were warriors
not to be despised, stern, grim fight.
ers, able to hold their own against
England's best drilled battabons. ]
watched them file past-Wayne's, Var.
NUNS, SCOTS brigades, and Jackson's
and Grayson's Notwithstanding
the brown, dust-caked faces, the eager
eyes, the sturdy, tireless tread, the
we'll oiled muskets. Boys, men, gray.
boards, all alike exhibited in their
faces the same expression. They were
anticipating battle against 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 suprem~ ct
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 IA
up the steep bluff, and out upon the
sandy road. We advanced silently,
and in struggling column through the
darkness, passing the smbers 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, ana
here arose from the lips Of our men
sudden, involuntary cheer, breaking
strangely upon the solemn silence OF
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.
ais voice cutting across the distance.
hundred answered him:
'Morgan's rifiemen!"
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
swered, swinging the guns over our
heads, as we swept forward into the
dark night. There might he discus
sion, dissension about that council fire.
but there was none in the hearts Of
those who were going cut to die. AL
ready rumors were flying about re-
garding Lees unwillingness 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.
'Ts it true that Charles Lee thinks
we should let Clinton 90 without fight
Ing?" 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. I 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, l fear, un.
less Washington takes the bit in his
teeth and orders 1t. I'm glad the boys
cheered him; twill give the man new
| heart"
''You favor the joining Of issues"
why not2 Were we ever in better
fettle? A retreating army is alN avs
half whipped, and we can choose our
ground. Why, lad, tbs reported Gin.
tons 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.
From where / stood could see the
thin lines Of Continentals spreading
out like fan, as the skirmishers ad.
vanced up the opposite bluffs. Down
the trampled bank, men were strug,
Cling with light battery, and sudden.
Iy in the press of figures I came upon
Farrell. He was mud from head to
foot, his face streaked with 1t, but be
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
distinguishable in the glow Of sun
shine.
81 was left behind. and came up Just
now with Morgan" 1 replied. But
am anxious enough to be with my owl
fellows. What means that skirmist
line, Farrell? Are we already in toucl
with Clinton?"
He swept the hair out Of his eye,
with his great fist.