The Ordway new era., 1913-08-29

we're not moro formidable than these
militia-men. whom they had despised
as raw peasants.
There was no desire to buy another
American position at that price; and
Washington had time enough for the
complimentary receptions and ad-
dresses and the elaborate parade Of
escort and review that delayed his
journey to headquarters.
He reached Cambridge on the I'd of
July, and bore himself with SO
tesy in taking command that the ON
GERS he superseded could not but like
him: jeelousy was disarmed.
Not Ideal Soldiers
But he found neither the prepar-
ations nor the spirit of the army TO
his liking. His soldierly sense of or
der was shocked by the lose discip-
line, and his instinct of command by
the free and easy insolence Of that ir-
regular levy: and his authority grew
stern as he labored to bring the mot
ley host to order and effective organL
zation.
THE people of this government
have obtained character" his conf
dental letters declared. (which they
by no means deserved-their officers.
generally speaking. are the most in
different kind of people l ever saw. !
dare say the men would fight very
well df properly oflcered). although
they are an exceedingly dirty and
nasty people. =. II is among the most
difficult tasks ever undertook in my
life to induce these people to believe
that there Is. or can be. danger till the
bayonet is pushed at their breasts.
Not that 1t proceeds from any uncom.
mon prowess. but rather from an un.
accountable kind of stupidity in the
lower class Of these people. which. be-
lieve me. prevails but too generally
among the officers of the Massachu-
setts part of the army, who are near.
ly of the same kidney with the pri
Yates"
Improve on Acquaintance.
He had seen like decentralization and
slackness in the old days at Winches-
ter. on the wild frontier. but he had
expected to find better spirit and
discipline in the New England levies.
His first disgust, however. soon
wore off. He was not GLOW to see how
shrewd and sturdy these uncouth. In
tractable ploughboys and farmers
could prove themselves upon occa-
sion. -.
Material for Good Army.
oirroro n1oo tn nh
serving" he wrote to congress. that
there are materials for a good army.
a great number of able bodied men.
active. jealous in the cause. and OF
courage"
There was time enough and to spare
in which to learn his army's quality.
Our lines of defence are now COM
pleted." he could tell Lund Washing
ton on the goth of August. "as near SO
at least as can be-we now wish them
to come out as soon a. they please;
but they discover no inclination to
quit their own works OF defense; and
as 1t is almost impossible for US to
get at them. we do nothing but watch
each others, motions, all day at the
distance OF about mile"
An Immense Correspondence.
He could even turn away from
military affairs to advise that spin
ming should go forward with all pos.
sible despatch, on the estate at home.
and to say. II much approve Of your
sewing wheat in clean ground. al
though you should be late In doing
IT,"
Once more he settled to the old IA
miliar work. this time upon . great
scale. OF carrying difdcult enterprise
forward by correspondence. Letters
to the Continental Congress at Phila-
dephia. letters to the provincial con-
crosses of the New England colonies.
letters to subordinate (sometimes In
sbordinate) officers at distant posts.
letters to intimate friends and In
fiuential men everywhere. setting
forth the needs and situation of the
army, advising measures of organiza-
tion. supply. and defense. pointing out
means that might be used and mis-
takes that must be avoided. command
ing. dissuading. guiding. forecasting.
poured steadily forth from those busy
headquarters. where the commander
in-chief was always to be found. in
tent. deeply employed. calmly impera-
tive. never tiring. never hesitating.
never storming. leader and master
of men and affairs.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)