White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-04-20

sounded and the army began it's
march. Ahead. the hills shone with
it's weapons glistening in tie sun
light. Everywhere in the line the
suck of mud, the splash Of black wa
ter, the shouts of wagoners, the sound
of iron tires slamming over rocks 1t
was slow toilsome journey with
many halts. The roads, rough at best,
thawed by rain, were here and there
a mire of mud. Riding coach be-
came contest of endurance. Con-
versation was limited to EXPLANATIONS.
AS the day wore on the young man
discovered in the good woman Of Vir-
ginia an unsupported capacity for self
expression. He wrote to friend that
her opinion of New England was dis
tinctly unfavorable.
One incident of the journey throws
light on the human quality of the
Commander in Chief. He was splen-
did figure sitting on his white charger
at the head Of the troops. AS they
were passing through large town,
with bands playing in the line and the
crowd cheering on either side Of the
way, he saw little girl run out in
front Of his horse and march along
with a small banner trailing from her
shoulder. The child amused him and
he ordered q halt, while man,
obeying his request, put her on the
saddle in front of the General. She
rode with him to the tavern where the
staff had their dinner and the men
broke ranks for rest and refreshment.
A trooper rode back with the child to
find her parents.
The army arrived in New York on
the fourteenth Of April. Much of the
baggage and all sick and footsore men
had been shipped by boat from points
along the shore road. The force had
been weakened by detachments sent to
Canada. The stores were low and
there was great need of tents and
clothing. Two thousand of the men
in line were without arms.
The first act of General Washington
was requisition on New York, Con-
necticut and New Jersey 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 battle
Strong detachments under Generals
Putnam and Sullivan were posted on
a fortified line in Brooklyn from East
river to Gowan's cove behind a range
of wooded hills. A line of defense was
established from New Rochelle to East
Westchester. In these positions the
training of raw recruits began.
A little above it's business section
York island was then a place Of fruit
full 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 colonies
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 atmosphere
of wild rusticity.
Colonel Cabot's regiment was en-.
camped near 1.-THE Tea Water Pump"
above the City hall. Put to the task
Of securing lead, they overturned the
statue of King George III on the
Battery, in which they found large
| quantity of the desired metal. They
took more from the roofs of many pro-
fame friends of the king, New York
being hotbed 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 Wash
ington for special duty. There had
been secret advice of loyalist plot
to kidnap the Commander in Chief.
For 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 be-
fore the British arrived.
The day after Colin began his work
at headquarters many of the best peo-
pie on the island came to drink tea
with General and Mrs. Washington.
At this function the young man met
crowd of ladies and gentlemen whose
names he could not remember. The
next day he received polite letter
from the Baroness de Riedesel-moth-
err of a general in the British army
who lived in the fashionable section of
Pearl street. inviting him to supper at
eight o'clock on a near date. He
showed this to the Commander in
Chief, who said:
II wonder a little at this. Her son
is an officer in the British army. She
is leader of the loyalist women in
this Tryonized city. She is rich re-
spected and influential. She has eaten
the kings salt. think that I would
accept the invitation. They know that
you are close to me and what their