The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

knew OF the art vi Wal. iioih5 hNN
begun in earnest. The sergeants were
working with squads; Generals Lee
and Ward and Green and Putnam and
Sullivan with companies and regi-
ments from daylight to dark.
lack was particularly interested In
Putnam-a short, rugged, fat, white
haired farmer from Connecticut, Of
bluff manners and nasal twang and of
great animation for one of his years
he was then fifty-seven. He was
often seen flying about the camp on
a horse. The young man had read of
the heroic exploits of this veteran Of
the Indian wars.
Their mission finished, that evening
lack and Solomon called at General
Washington's headquarters.
General, Doctor Franklin told US
to tnrn over the bosses and wagons to
Won" said Solomon. HE didn't tell
us what to do with ourselves cause
'twasn't Necessary an he knew 1t. we
want to enlist"
"For what term?"
eTill the British are licked"
"You are the kind of men need"
said Washington. 81 shall put you on
scout duty. Mr.. irons will go into my
regimen of s~harpshooters with the
rank of captain. You have told me of
his training in Philadelphia"
So the two friends were enlisted
and began service in the army of
Washington.
A letter from Jack to his mother
dated July %, ITS, is full of the camp
color:
General Charles Lee is in command
of my regiment" he writes. ID is a
rough, ~slovenly old dog of a man who
seems to bark at us on the training
ground. He has two or three hunting
dogs that live with him in his tent and
also a rare gift of profanity which La
with him everywhere-save at head
quarters.
To-day l saw these notices posted in
camp:
"'Punctual attendance on divine
service is required of all not on actual
duty
".No burning of the pope allowed
"tFifteen stripes for denying duty
"'Ten for getting drunk
"Thirty-nine for stealing and de
sertion.'
"Rogues are put In terror, lazy men
are energized. The quarters are kent
clean, the food is well cooked and in
plentiful supply, but the British over
in town are said t. be getting hungry"
Early in August a London letter
was forwarded to Jack from Philadel-
Lnia. He was filled with new hope
as he read these lines:
Dearest Jack: I am sailing for
Boston on one of the next troop ships
to join my father. So when the war
ends-God grant it may be soon-you
will not have far to go to find me.
Perhaps by Christmas time we may
be together. Let us both pray for
that. Meanwhile, | shall be happier
for being nearer you and for doing
what I can to heal the wounds made
by this wretched war. I am going to
be a nurse in a hospital. You see the
truth is that since / met you, | like
all men better, and 1 shall love to be
trying to relieve their sufferings. :"
1t was a long letter but above is as
much of it as can claim admission to
these pages.
"Who but she could write such a
letter?' Jack asked himself, and then
he held it to his lips q moment. 1t
thrilled him to think that even then
she was probably in Boston. In the
tent where he and Solomon lived when
they were both in camp, he found the
scout. The night before Solomon had
slept out. Now he had built a small
fire in front of the tent and lain down
on a blanket, having delivered his re-
port at headquarters.
margaret is in Boston," said Jack
as soon as he entered, and then stand
ing in the freight read the letter to
his friend.
'Thar is a real, genewine, likely
gal" said the scout.
81 wish there were some way Of
getting to her." the young a re-
marked.
might as well think O. goin' to hi
an back ag'in," said Solomon. "Since
Bunker Hill the British are like a lot
o. hornets. l run onto one of 'em to-
day. He fired at me an didn't hit a
thing but the air an run like a scared
rabbit. Could "a killed him easy but
1 kind o. enjoyed SEEM him run. He
were like chain llghtnin' on a creased
pole-you hear to me-"
IF the general will let me, I'm go
ing to try spy duty n see if I can
get into town and out again." he pro-
posed.
"You keep out o. that business"
said Solomon. 'They's too man. that
know We over in town. The two
Clarkes an their friends an Colonel
Hare an his friends, an Cap. Preston,
a hull passle. They know all
bout We. If you got snapped, they'd
stan vo ap'in, O wall on, mt va ont n,