The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-06
A SOLDIERS SACRIFICE

1t was at the close OF 1875, Wash
ington, compelled to abandon Fort
Lee, was retreating through New Jer-
sey, with CORVALLIS in hot pursuit.
The god of battles appeared to have
definitely sided definitely with the big
gest battalions. Disaster had sue
ceeded disaster in rapid succession
and dependency prevailed among the
patriots everywhere
The American commander-in-chief
had been galked at every turn, his
best-laid plans had been frustrated,
his most audacious coups anticipated.
It was evident that the British were
kept informed of the plans and move
ments of the little army. But how?
By whom? The strictest investiga-
ton, the utmost vigilance had failed to
show. The fact, as was inevitable, was
gradually causing a demoralizing eff
feet upon the force. Comrades began
to regard each other with suspicion.
Enthusiasm had been succeeded by
uneasiness, which in turn was given
place to vague terror.
Col Edward Dayton, one of the
chiefs TRUSTS and most Jealous Off
GERS, had been specially charged to
elucidate the mystery and had set
about the task with the thoroughness
that characterized all his actions. He
had devised all manner of ingenious
but futile schemes to entrap the
traitor and had sworn to make ter
rible example of him if he ever caught
him.
Col. Dayton was stern man, a
martinez in all matters pertaining to
military discipline, but of a kindly
nature at heart OF old Colonial stock,
| he had served with Washington
against the Indians and was intensely
patriotic. When the struggle for free.
dom began he had at once issued from
the retirement in which he had been
living in New York and hurried to the
field, accompanied by his son, George
and Ernest Travers, distant rela
tive. Young Travers. who was about
the same age as George, had been left
an orphan and destitute when a little
child Mrs. Dayton had suggested thai
they could do no less than take the
boy and bring him up with their owr
children. Her husband had readily
acquiesced and had never had reason
to regret his kindness. Ernest, il
fact, was engaged to marry Priscilla
Dayton, the co1oneTs only other child
The retreating army, by series O
rapid marches, had finally succeeded
in battling their pursuers and found
themselves at nightfall on the out
skirts of a wood. The commandment
chief decided to call brief halt. Al
a precaution no fires we're allowed
but despite the bitter cold, the eX
hausted soldiers, with the exception
of those told off to guard the camp
threw themselves on the snoW-cov
cred ground and soon forgot thei
troubles and hardships in sleep.
Ernest Travers was among the un
fortunate men detailed for outpos
duty. He found himself stationed a
the edge of the wood, out of sight o
the camp and Of every other sentry
1t was dreadfully lonely. The moo
was at the full, but yelled by cloud
and in the dim light the tall, bar
trees looked like spectres. He was a
brave as any other man of his IL
experience, but there was sofethin
, awesome in the knowledge that tn
lives of his slumbering comrades, pei
, haps the success of his country
cause, might depend upon his alter
. ness and sagacity, and then the sol
tude and obscurity impressed hin
Moreover, he was worn out by man
hours of forced marching, and his ne
vous system was shaken by week
!. of fighting, excitement and fatigue.
His eyes and ears were strained
: catch the slightest sight or sound I
q anything portending danger. He star
r ed at every rustic, every movir
= shadow caused by the swaying of
! branch in the wind, and could scare
! ly restrain himself from firing off h
: musket and running back to cam
: where confidence could alone be r
i gained by mingling with his fellows.
r Under the strain of physical e
; haustion, supplemented by the free
r ing temperature, he at length BEGAN