The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-07-18

pose which yielded power Such as
these were not to be tri1ai with. 9th
era might SCOT at their rAggedneas Of
line, their carelessness Il discipline,
their nondescript garmens, and vari-
ETY. Of equipment, but to bne who had
seen such in battle-whd had been
with them at Trenton, Brandywine,
and Germantown they We're warriors
not to be desplsed, stern grim fight
ers, able to hold their cwn against
England's best drilled hattalions.
watched them file past-Nayne's, Var
NUNS. SCOTS brigadea. aid Jackson's
and Grayson's regiments marking
the brown, dust-caked fac4s, the eager
eyes, the sturdy, tirRlesA tread, the
well oiled muskets Boys! men, gray
boards, all alike exhibited in their
faces the same expression. They were
anticipating battle againsl, IA hated foe,
and counted hardship as ifuhing COM
pared with the Joy Of corr nd Every
step brought them clio Ito the
grapple Of arms--to that - We test
Of strength, courage. en- woulL, for
which they had left telephones. They
might be poorly drill{ addressed,
variously armed, yet tht were fight
ing men. ia
ii was midnight when oorgan led us
up the steep bluff, and ut upon the
sandy road. We advd I'd silently,
and In struggling colun1b through the
darkness. passing theft smbers OF
camp fires for several 1iles, the re-
cumbent soldiery OF other commands
sleeping on the ground. At Hopeweli.
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 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,
his voice cutting across the distance.
A hundred answered him:
'Morgan's rifiemen!"
Good, my ladsl" and even at that
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 an
swered, swinging the guns over our
heads, as we swept forward into the
dark night There might be discus
sion, dissension about that council fire.
but there was none in the hearts OF
those who were going out to die. AL
ready rumors were flying about re-
garding Lees unwillingH sas to engage
In battle. / saw him 4l ! trudged
past, standing beside Wayne, the fire.
light on his face, althg ugh his head
was bowed. Even 10 ~ cheers he
never once glanced u and, as we
passed beyond the radialh Of light. l
laid my hand upon the lVane Of Nor
gan's horse.
as 1t true that Charles Lee thinks
we should let Clinton go without fight
ing?" / asked soberly. "rhat was ru-
1nored at the ferry"
"'Tis enough" he ahswered, his
eyes upon the dark coinmn of piod-
ding men. "And he se9ms to have
others with him. know bot 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, UNI
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 issuep
why not3 Were we ever In better
fettle7 A retreating arTy is always
half whipped, and we cf9 choose our
ground. Why, lad. tbs Pported Gin
toms Line stretches oG,g full twelve
miles. with train of baj rage wagons
and battery horses, and camp follow
ers enough for q divist' !. Twill be
easy work attending to Z I'm. and most
Of his troops are Dutch and Tories.
BY daylight we came up with the
New Jersey militia. 1yinl Rt rest along
the bank OF the Millsto river, wait
ing their turn to ford th stream, and
Join Maxwell on the oosite shore.
From where stood / ould see the
thin lines Of Continent Is spreading
out like fan, as the Tmishers adj
vanced up the opposite 'lutfs. Down
the trampled bank, me were strug-
Cling with light battes and sudden
" in the press OF figure came upon
Farrell. He was mud rom head to
foot, his face streaked th it, but he
looked up. with beam 3 eyes as I
spoke his name. an our hands
clasped.
II thought you woul{ 70 over there
with Maxwell" he Id, pointing
across at the black ID now clearly
distinguishable in the low Of sun.
shine.
Il was left behind, an. came up Just
now with Morgan" / + piled. But ]
am anxious enough to with my own
fellows. What meanl hat skirmish
line, Farrell? Are We d! .teady in touch
with Clinton3"
He swept the hair oDui OF his eyes
with his great fist.
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