The Coolidge examiner., 1933-06-30

ence TO fit him for the task of es-
timating the danger points in
long line, was in a situation that
would have taxed the genius of
julius Caesar.
Washington was In a semicircle
of fire drawing closer. Since the
middle of June an armament, more
formidable than that of the IA
nous Armada. had been gathering
in the lower bay of New York. In
it were scores of warships from
| heavy liners, with tiers of massive
| cannon, TO cutters armed with
| small pieces. There were hun
| dreds of transports and provision
| ships and an army of some forty
thousand fighting men. Masts loomed
into the sky like stark trees In a
burned area of the wilderness. The
great hammer of British power was
raised for decisive blow and
Washington had no navy TO help
him. British gunboats were head
ing into the harbOr Report said
that big force of redcoats were
landing on Staten Island.
The storm broke on the twenty
sixth of August. out on the ia.
maica road there was a leak in the
line. A brigade of inexperienced
militiamen, lulled into a sense of
security by the long delay, permit
ted themselves to be surprised. No
videttes had been sent ont TO watch
the enemy and give warming Can
non balls were suddenly hurled
upon them. Moments of wild con-
fusion! Redcoatsl galloping rush
of cavalry. its rifles blazing Bat
talions of relocated infantry fol
lowing on the runi The earth shook.
Men were falling dead others cry
ing out with pain. The inexperi-
enced militiamen were unequal to
the shock They emptied their
guns and ran. Then every man for
himself and hell for ALL Death he
came the shepherd of this warned
but lncorrlglble nock.
They were like flushed birds be-
fore the guns of the huntsman.
Many were killed. wounded or cap
tured The British poured through
this great growing hole in the line.
That night Clinton's force worked
around the Americans and turned
their left flank, capturing twenty
two hundred men and many guns
In the next few days there was
much heroic resistance
Colin Cabot's regiment OF cav
airy headed charge on the Brit.
ish line. They broke through but
their losses were heavy. New Eng
land regiments sprang into the gap
and widened it, fighting as they ran.
Many scurried through TO join the
main body. threatened by the clos
ing net, and pouring 'northward 10
the East river badly rent and
shaken. Meanwhile General Wash
ington had been busy. Four DAYS
and nights he had spent in the sad
die with only few hours OF rest.
He had commandeered all the boats
on the river.
He would make an effort 10 save
the army in crossing within can
non reach of the British gunboats
and with great force of the
enemy behind him. II was a des-
perate hazard. Still the Chief was
like the pillar of iron. Neither his
faith nor his indomitable spirit had
forsaken him. He was like Moses
and his people fleeing before the
hosts of Egypt Was it miracle
or a freak of fortune that immedi-
ately a thick curtain Of fog hung
down from the sky and covered the
face OF the waters a day and a
night, save for which the wide river
might have been a redder sea than
ever Moses faced? We may choose
as we will but we cannot fail TO be
amazed by what came to pass.
Colin, his coat torn by bullets.
his shoulder graZed, his right hand
bleeding from saber cut, was
still at work. He was on the ferry
landing when Ebenezer Snoach
came toward him out of the fog.
81 could almost believe that you
brought this stack of mist on your
back" said Colin.
"The salt sea has lifted an arm
to help u.s." Snoach answered. He
has blinded the enemy. Don't wor-
ry, boy. The Lord God has tools a
plenty an He knows how to use
EN-"
Silently under the fog Colonel
Glover, Ebenezer Snoach and their
Marblehead amphibians, assisted by
Colin Cabot, Amos Farnsworth and
others of their regiment. moved
nine thousand men across the river
without the loss of one. General
Washington was the last to cross
with some wounded men about day
light. The sun had not risen.
Colonel Cabot and Captain Farms
worth were in the boat with him.
The Chief sat in silence looking
grave and weary. When they land
ed he turned to them saying with a
| note of sadness in his tone: