The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-10-28
CHAPTER XIX.

the docks and piers.
CHAPTER XIX.
Retreat From Long Island.
"TOMPANY e." Wray, the ma
jor, halted the FIRST group of
~ the battalion and pointed out
apesition. Company Fv
ThirE-eight men gathered before
him.
"You will occupy and prepare a de-
fensive position in that warehouse,
which will be designated hereafter in
all reports and orders as N "a. The
New York regiments, with some of the
Connecticut and New Hampshire men,
are engaged with the enemy's troops
on Long Island. The landing of large
body of troops on Long Island was be-
ing effected simultaneously with the
naval battle. The enemy has driven
our troops back upon Brooklyn. You
must understand. however. that our
general staff had no hopes Of prevent
ing the landing. Our troops were sufl.
cfent then only to make the landing
costly. And since the landing they
have been merely delaying the enemy's
advance by fighting rear guard action.
Therefore you are not to be dismayed
or disheartened by the retreats you
have witnessed and may witness.
Here. on this line of the water
front. our forces will make stand.
You, with certain reserves and rein
forcements which may be sent you. will
defend this section of our line In
case orders fail to reach you from me
or from other officers you must hold
your position at any cost"
So far Wray succeeded in speaking
as to soldiers. Now his voice appealed.
"And for Gods sake. boys. stick and
fight back when you're under fire, and
If you can't fight. If it seems there moth
ing possible that you can do. If it seems
just suicide to stay. stick. Boys, for
your country's sake and your own.
Stay at your position. 1t probably
won't do you any good to try to re-
treat anyway. But whatever you think.
stick!"
He jerked his head up and his voice
was formal again. "You are to defend
that section Of our front against at
tack from the water-by boat-or by
men who may have crossed elsewhere
and move in this direction. Remember
what you've been told fer battle. Take
care Of your own front, and, unless or
dered to assist elsewhere, leave 1t to
other companies to defend their posts
or you will fail at your own. repeat
to you the battle order which General
Stone has issued to all troops who
fight today in the first line of our de-
Tense. Our victory depends upon every
man holding his position or dying at
bis post"
Wray stepped back and bowed his
head. Some one started cheer. but
many of Company film Ashby for
one-had too much shame to Join It.
Winslow. the captain. led to N "a. The
company followed and entered.
1t was four story brick building.
old but substantial. with thick walls
and tall. narrow windows opening to-
ward East river. In front. upon the
first floor, was an Office. deserted now
and with desks shut and locked. The
space behind the Office was a ware
house floor. crowded with crates. boxes.
barrels, bales. and sacks of all sorts
and sizes. There was a freight ele-
vator In the rear where a man was
sitting with rife across his knees He
was a stocky. muscular man. upward
of forty. with tanned skin and sandy
brown hair, and with blue. determin-
ed eyes. AS he stood up Jim observed
that he had peg leg. His right leg
had been cut of at the knee. In spite
Of that he stood in a manner which
made the recruits Of Company F put
back their shoulders straighter The
wooden legged man saluted Winslow.
my name is Houston. SIR" he said.
II worked here. so I came to do any.
thing could used to be in the
regular army. SIR. was at Santiago
and in the Philippines. tried to get
into this. Of course. sir. but was re-
fused" He moved his peg Leg for.
ward.
Winslow looked him over. Houston
wore an old army shirt and khaki
trousers. "Tell me what's here"
Sugar, SIR"
"And those packs?
"Meal. The hest stun for protection
here. sir. is baled cotton in that corner.
There's more upstairs. I hope can
help. SIR"
"Show us upstairs" Winslow bid
him. There was no time for delay. II
N "a was not the most vital. neither
was 1t the least important post in the
defense of the eastern water front A
couple of hundred yards to the south
lay Brooklyn bridge. half shrouded in
smoke. with shells bursting over it for
its whole length. with the American
militiamen and volunteers. who had
been fighting on Long Island. fleeing
across. A few hundred YARDS to the