Year: 1876

looked up, and beheld the British sweep
ing madly down the road.


The vanguard of the pursuers had
gained the upper end of Chew's wall,
when the remnant of the British force
disappeared in the fog; file after file of
the crimson coated British were lost to
sight in the mist, and in the very heat
and flush of the chase, the American
army was brought to halt in front of
Ohew's wall, each soldier falling back on
his comrade with a sudden movement,
while the officers gazed on each others
faces in vain inquiry for the cause of
this unexpected delay.


The fog gathered in dense folds over
the heads Of the soldiers, thicker and
more dense it gathered every instant !;
the enemy was lost to sight in the direc-
tion of Chew's lawn, and fearful pause
of silence, from the din and tumult of
bloodshed, ensued for single moment.


Bending from his steed in front of the
gate that led into Ohew's lawn, Wash
ington gazed round upon the faces of his
staff, who circled him on every side,
with every horse recoiling on his
launches from the sudden effect of the
halt.


Washington was about to speak as he
leaned from his steed, with his sword
half lowered in the misty air, he was
about to speak, and ask the meaning of
this sudden disappearance of the Brit
ish, when lurid flash lifted up the fog
from the lawn, and the thunder Of
musketry doomed along the air, echoing
among the hooks and corners of the an
cient houses on the opposite side of the
street.


Another moment, aud a soldier with
face all crimsoned with blood and dark
ened by battle smoke, rushed through
the group clustering around the horse
of Washington, and in hurried voice
announced that the remnant of the
British regiment had thrown themselves
into the substantial stone mansion on
the left, and seemed determined to make
good desperate defense.


What say You, gentlemen" cried
washington; "shall we press onward
into the town, and attack the main body
OF the enemy at onoe, or shall we first
drive the enemy from their stronghold,
at this mapsion on our left2"


= The answer OF Wayne was short and
to the point. "Onward i''-he shouted,
and his sword rose in the air, all drop
ping with blood" onward into the
town-our soldiers are warmed with the
chase-onward, and with another blow
we have them p


and the gallant Hamilton, the brave.
Pickering, the gifted Marshall, echoed
the cry-"Onward while the hoarse
shout of Pulaski rang out in the air ::
" Forwarts-bruder dern-Forwarts!


1t is against every rule of military
science" exclaimed General Knox, whose
opinion in council was ever valuable with
Washington "it is against every rule
of military science, to leave fortified
stronghold in the rear of an advancing
army. Let us first reduce the mansion
on our left, and then move forward into
the center of the town 10


There was another moment of solemn
council !; the older officers of the staff
united in opinion with Knox, and with
one quick anxious glance around the
scene of fog and mist. Washington gave
the orders to storm the house.


And at the word, while steady
volume of flame was flashing from
Chew's house, @ cry window pouring
forth its blaze, glaring over the wreath
of mist, the Continentals, horse and
foot, formed across the road, to the
north of the house, eager for the signal
which would bid them advance into the
very jaws of death.


All was ready. for the storm. Here
were men with tirebrands. ready to rush
forward under the cover of the first vol
ley OF musketry and fire the house here
were long lines of soldiers grasping
their guns with quick nervous move
ment, one foot advanced in the act of
sprlnging forward; yonder were the
cannoniers, their pieces loaded, the lin
stock in the hand of one soldier, while
another stood ready with the next
CHAR of ammunition ON every side
was intense suspense and expectation.


AT this moment, when everything was
ready for The storm of death, an express
sion OF the most intense thought passed
over the impenetrable countenance of
Washington. Every line of his features
was marked by thought, his lips were
sternly compressed, and his eyes gather
ed strange fire.


He turned to the east, and bent one
long anxious look over the white folds
OF mist, as though he would pierce the
fog with his glance, and gaze upon the
advancing columns of Greene and
Stephen. He inclined his head to one
side of his steed, and listened for the
tramp of their war horses, but in vain.
He turned toward Germantown all was
silent in that direction, the main body
OF the enemy we're not yet in motion.
And then, in q calm voice, he asked
for an officer who would consent to bear
flag of truce to the enemy. A young
and gallant officer of Lees rangers
sprang from his horse his name Lieut..
Smith; he assumed the snow white flag,
held sacred by all nations, and with a
single glance at the Continental array,