The Coolidge examiner., 1933-06-16
The Master Of Chaos
by Irving Bachelor
m HsB

for thirteen thousand five hundred
militia. They came pouring in by
the thousand-strong. patriotic men
of little training and no experience
in the bloody give and take of bat
tie.
Strong detachments under Gen
erals Putnam and Sullivan were
posted on a fortified line in BrVnk.
lyn from East river to GOwan's
cove behind a range of wooded
hills. A line of defense was estab
lished from New Rochelle to East
Westchester. In these positions the
training of raw recruits began.
a little above its business section
York island was then a place of
fruitful fields and gardens with
many white houses on either side of
the rough road going north. Colin
notes in his diary that he entered
a billiard room one evening and saw
two colonels playing in their socks
one of whom was often saying "d-n
my eyes!"
The incoming host had given to
the thriving island town an at
mosphere of wild rusticity.
Colonel Cabot's regiment was en-
camped near The Tea Water
Pump" above the City hall. Put to
the task of securing lead. they over
turned the statue of King George
III on the Battery. in which they
found a large quantity of the de-
sired metal They took more from
the roofs of many profane friends
of the king. New York being hot
bed OF loyalism. Shouting officers
were in every open space busy with
the training. There was little time
for this task. Colin was engaged
with squads of militia when he was
summoned TO report to General
Washington for a special duty
There had been secret advice of
loyalist plot to kidnap the Com
mander in Chief. For a time the
sturdy young man was put TO work
at general headquarters. then at $50
Pearl street. A strong guard OF
picked men was soon on duty in
and around the place. Captain
Farnsworth and some OF his best
troopers surrounded the Chief when
he travelled.
Such, briefly, was the posture Of
things on and around York island
before the British arrived.
The day after Colin began his
work at headquarters many of the
best people on the island came 10
drink tea with General and Mrs.
Washington. AT this function the
young man met a crowd of ladies
and gentlemen whose names he
could not remember. The next
day he received polite letter from
the Baroness de Riedesel-mother
of a general in the British army
who lived in the fashionable sec
ton OF Pearl street. inviting him
to supper at eight o'clock on a near
date. He showed this 10 the Com
mander in Chief. who said:
Il wonder a little at this. Her
son is an officer in the British army
She is leader of the loyalist won.
en- in this Tryonized city. She is
rich, respected and influential She
has eaten the kings salt. think
that would accept the invitation.
They know that you are close to
me, and what their purpose may
be we can only imagine. She may
have something to say that will In
terest u.s."
The night of the supper Mrs.
Washington missed the young man,
who was wont to 20 to their room
at eight o'clock for beer. cheese.
toasted bread and cold meat.
The General told his wife of the
invitation.
"Good land" she exclaimed. II
hope that you advised him not to
60"
mo. l advised him to CO."
''Oh, you men! Mark my word.
It's a plot of some kind"
The great man was only amused
by the suspicion of his wife, who
was often warning him of imagined
dangers.
81 happen to know that the bar.
oness is a sister of Mrs. Wood
bridge" said Lady Washington.
1T is a creditable circumstance"
And l think that can see the
cunning hand of Nancy in all this
said Mrs. Washington as she left
the room.
AT the house Colin in his best
uniform had already rung the bell
at the front door of the Riedesel
mansion and been admitted by the
smart English butler in livery.
The Baroness de Riedesel-a
handsome lady about fifty years OF
age, richly gOwned, sat waiting for
him in a parlor. She received the
young man graciously. saying:
You are kind to come to our lii.
tie supper party. There will be
three of US and one whom | think