White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-02-16
WAN. SERVICE

was overjoyed. His face glowed when
the young man told him that Wash.
ington had heard Of his valor at Bun
ker hill and had high opinion of
him.
"That puts my heels in the air
proper said Amos. "rm foored. /
could kiss his boots"
when we understand the big
Chief, we shall all love him." Colin
began. "He's trying to build up an
army, and an army is impossible with
out a respect for officers. Their word
must be law. If we were to argue
about commands, we'd be congress
and not an army. Every man must
learn to obey without question or
brigade of women armed with rolling
| pins could drive us out of camp.
You're the big chief in this company
and you must keep US in mind Of 1t.
You might have to put me on the
wooden horse some day and you
couldn't do it If I called you Amos"
From end to end Of the big camp
the sowing Of this seed had begun.
(Which I've thought O. that fire.
quent," Amos answered. When git
back there's goin' to be a new leaf
turned over. I'm a-goin' to straighten
my neck an talk severe. There's too
much Amosin' all over this army"
Dressed for his ride Colin returned
to general headquarters. A dozen
horses and grooms were in the door
| yard. General Washington and mem
bers of his staff stood in front of the
house. He presented Colin to the
Generals Montgomery, Schuyler, Thorn
as and Heath. They were soon mount
ed and off at a gallop, squad of
grooms following. Washington rode
| a splendid white horse. In the diary
of the young man is this entry:
Washington is grand figure in the
saddle. From his big, plumed hat to
his spurs he seems to be as much a
part Of the horse as the waving name
and tail. I have never seen q man
who sat horse so perfectly. Since
he was boy good part of his life
has been spent in the saddle. He is
as much at home there as bird in q
bush. The year he was twenty-one he
made journey Of six hundred miles
on horses back"
They had swift ride toward the
Mystic river The sound of lively can
nonading caused them to halt about
quarter of mile from the line Leav-
ing their horses with the grooms they
went on afoot. Colin walked with the
Chief and Greene.
"There's slight disturbance on the
front caused by some changes we are
making" said the Chief.
"Now we shall see the old hero"
General Greene said to Colin.
"Who is the hero?"
"Many call him old Put OF course
you've heard of him?''
"Oh, certainly Old Put has been
in every mans mouth and it's apt to
!! slip out with an oath when the boys
discuss his bravery at Bunker hill"
The work was in charge of General
Putnam, who came to welcome them.
He was a short stout man, with
large head, fat rudy face, and hair
almost white He had touch of the
back-country dialect.
"You are making good progress, gen
eral' the Commander In Chief re-
marked s1
1--WE be, sartin," the old man an
swered. II guess we can plague em
cruel If they try to push by"
The rugged Old Put was as cheerful
and buoyant as any youth in camp.
For days at this point the Americans
had been under fall of iron from the
British batteries on Bunker hill unan-
swered because of the scarcity of pow
der in Washington's camp. The Chief
left his companions and walked along
the line of new defenses with Old Put.
In the hour or so spent on the line
many shots came over from the Brit
ish cannon Only one American was
injured by flying splinters and he but
slightly. These soldiers of Washing
ton had acquired skill in the art of
lodging cannon balls. Now and then
new contrivance called "bomb
shell CduC uOWH IL WAS easy 10 get
out of it's way. for Its action was de.
liberate and obliging. Often daring
men quenched the fuse after it landed
The party returned in good time for
dinner. The brigadiers had gone to
their commands. Colin dined with the
Chief and his major generals. each Of
whom drank pint of claret with his
fish, roast beef and potatoes. The sub
ject of their talk was the crying need
Of powder.
The dinner over. each guest went to
his own task. The Chief invited Colin
to go with him to the office and there
directed him to sit down at desk and
write a short letter the substance of
which was briefly indicated. For
few minutes the boy was alone with
his task
He had put 1t aside when Billy came
in to say that Paul Revere was looking
for Mr.. Cabot.
Revere waR In the secret service of