The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-22

I of the camp. So he Crept along as
steaIthIly as possible for fear of being
discovered by one of the British out
posts
A few hundred feet off there was
a slight rise of ground covered with
long grass. As it overlooked the Brit
Ish enCampment. Trumbu!l bent his
course in this direction Once he
| heard the approaching picket and then
he sank down as low a 5 he could and
fairly held his breath for what SEEM
ed an endless time Then. as the
. sound of footsteps passed, he pulled
himself few more feet along in the
grass to the point where, if he raised
his head up. he ouId see the plan of
the camp. 1t was no easy matter, for
each time he raised his head 10 see
he was in some danger of being de-
tected by the enemy. But there was
no time to lose. and Trumbull was no
coward So with fingers skilled
through much practice. he worked with
the charcoal on the piece of parch
ment. OF course. he did not attempt
to make finished drawing. All he
wanted was working sketch
Now the light of day was begin
ming to fade. John TrUmbull worked
faster and faster. trying to strain his
eyes to see all that he needed in his
sketch. But with the coming of dark
came safety. for in the deep shadow
he could escape unnoticed. Or, at least.
SO he thought
Then all at once he heard a rustic
in the grass behind him. Steps, slow
and searching. were coming toward
ing fear swept his boyish frame. He
had a quick vision of his dear old
New England home. There would be
no hope for him now. The sketch in
his hand would be all the evidence
needed TO prove him a spy.
Then he heard a strange. frighteu-
ed. Hello" as the man who had
body
Hello. hello, I say went on the
man in muffied tones. and then
Crouched down beside him
After a few whispered words John
found out that his unexpected intru-
der was a deserter from the British
army who had sought uncertain
safety in the tall grasses rather than
any longer serve unwillingly in the
army he hated.
Here, l will help you to escape"
said John. "if you will tell me what I
need to finish this sketch" And be-
fore the two men left the long grass
John had finished all the necessary
details of the drawing from the SOL
dier's knowledge of the camp he had
just deserted.
Straight to the camp of George
Washington did the young artist
patriot go. and with little delay he
was ushered into the great generals
presence. Washington. as you know,
was as calm and reserved a general
as ever lived. but he showed real
enthusiasm over young Trumbulls
sketch. But as much as he admired
the drawing he admired the artist
even more, and you can imagine this
young 19-year- old's joy when he heard
that the great man had chosen him
for his second aide-de camp.
This new honor meant that John
would be a member of washinston's
family besides serving with him in
the field of battle. He would eat at
the same table. sleep under the same
roof. and have a chance to know the
general better than many a more
prominent man in his service.
Trumbull's sketching thus had
brought him one good turn, but ii was
still to bring him greater things All
the time he spent with Washington he !
was studying his face. learning by
heart the lines of every feature and
expression of the great hero. Then, in |
of snatched leisure, he would |
make sketches of what he had seen. !
on scraps OF parchment. shreds OF old |
drum heads or pieces of tanned deer |
skin.
This all happened when Trumbull |
was a boy Of nineteen. Later, as a |
man. he studied and became a skilled
and great painter. And because he had |
kept his eyes open as a boy he was
q BILE to paint the famous portraits Of
work for which the |
name John Trumbull will always be |
remembered by Americans.