Show tn 02 aft LIM mam va aam a vow CHAPTER XI 14 which Is the brief record of sundry thrilling events 80 saip after that mrs airs washington and her maids sot set out for abla on their way to mount ve vernon anon on the twenty sixth of july the main body of the british landed on the southwestern extremity of long island at a place called Grave gravesend send around it were groves and orchards in the midst of which were ninny many stacks of wheat these they burned filling a wide are arc of the sky n with ith smoke there were nine thousand trained troops under sir henry clinton colonel cabot and his regiment were in the threatened line then followed a month of anxious waiting nud and hurried preparation under general greene long stretches in the american line buck back of brooklyn were like ilke the army nt at cambridge in midsummer mammoth conceit concel tl 1 an experience peri ence limited to bush fighting with red men I 1 little patience with restraint I 1 every inferior officer con driving ways to win immortal fame for himself and his command I 1 A sportive sallying sally inc iniz out simply or in squads against orders 1 thousands of these men were like sheep huddled tor for a 1 sh shearing earing these alarming truths the commander in chief discovered when having baring crossed the east river on the twenty fourth of august lie he surveyed the situation general greene was ill in bed here was an army without a leader the chief put the brave old general putnam in command the connecticut plowman with no experience to fit him for the task of estimating the danger points in a long iong line was in a situa tion that would liae hase taxed the genius of julius caesar washington was in a semicircle of fire cre drawing closer since the middle of june an armament more formold able than that of the famous 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 hundreds of transports and provision ships and an army of some forty thou sand fand 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 R decisive blow and washington had no navy to help him british gun boats were heading into the harbor report said that a big force of red coal co boisr ra landing on staten island vi orm broke on the twenty anh sixth of august out on the jamaica road there was a leak in the line A brigade of inexperienced militiamen lulled into a sense of security by the long delay permitted themselves to be surprised no vid ettes had been sent out to watch the enemy and give warning cannon balls were suddenly hurled upon them moments of wild confusion redcoats A galloping rush of cavalry its rifles blazing battalions of red coated infantry follow ing to the runt run the earth shook men wore were falling failing dead others crying out with pain the inexperienced mil were unequal to the shock they emptied their guns and ran then every man for himself and bell for alit all death became the shep shepherd shepperd berd of this warned but incorrigible flock they were like flushed birds before the guns of the huntsmen huntsmon hunts men many were killed wounded or captured the british poured through this great growing hole in tile the line that night cliftons Clin tons 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 bernic resistance colln colin cabets regiment of cavalry headed a charge on the british line they broke through but their losses were heavy new england regiments sprang into the gap and widened it fighting as they ran many scurried through to join the main body threatened by the closing net and pouring northward to the rast east river badly rent and shaken meanwhile general washington had been busy four dayland days and nights lie he had spent feopent in the saddle with only a few hours of rest lie he had commandeered all the boats on the river lie ile would make an effort to save the army in a crossl crossing ng within cannon roach reach of the british gunboats gun boats and with a great force of the enemy behind him it was a desperate hazard still the chief as like the pillar of iron neither his faith nor his indomitable spirit had forsaken him lie ile was like moses and his people fleeing before the hosts of egypt was NN as it a miracle or a freak of fortune that immediately a thick curtain of fog hung bung down front from the sky and covered tho the face of the waters a day and a night save for which the wide river might have been a redder se aca a than ever moses faced we may choose as we will but we can 4 nt f ll 11 to be amazed by what came bios qi Os S colln his coat torn by bullets his shoulder grazed his right hand band bleeding from a saber cut was still at work ile he was on the ferry landing when ebenezer sn ab came caine toward him out or of tile the fog 11 1 I could almost believe that you brought this stack of mist on bour 5 our back said colln colin the aalt sen sea has lifted an arm to help heir us its ati answered lie ile has blinded the enemy dont worry boy the lord god has tools a plenty an up ile known how to use em silently under the fog colonel glover ebenezer and their mar man head amphibians assisted by colln by irving bacheller Eads copyright 1932 by irvint Bacha iier service cabot amos farnsworth and others of their regiment moved nine thousands men across the river without the loss of one all day and through the night the moving continued at the coming of darkness mrs a tory woman who blied near the ferry sent a negro to inform the british of what was going on the messenger was held up at a hessian post where the germans were unable to understand him so the work was not interrupted general washington was the last to cross with some wounded men about daylight the sun had bad not risen colonel cabot and captain farns worth wore were in the boat with him the chief sat in silence looking grave and weary when they landed he turned to them saving with a note of sadness in his tone I 1 my aly boys you are in need of rest I 1 thank you 1 I reckon god has been think ln of us said amos not N ot of us but of the endless ages ahead the chief answered ills his white horse taken over in the night was brought to him ile he gave to general putnam orders covering the retreat and mounting rode northward with members of his start staff followed by the main body of his troops in an open field near a creek lie halted the shattered army for rest guards were mounted vid ettes thrown out find and thousands of weary neary men lay down like spent dogs to sleep on the damp earth now drying in the sunlight surgeons wont went about among the men dressing wounds which had not disabled the them colln colin and amos were among the first so treated they stretched out side by side three days and nights they had seen of restless toll toil with ith ill the wounded the baggage the horses the guns and the boats they had bad come through the valley of death its shadow was on them its a hard ufe afe which there aint no mistake amos muttered 1 I deserve it but I 1 reckon godal think ive had hell enough therell be more tomorrow colln colin answered 1 I say d n the future generations erat ions lons amos had forgotten his soul and begun snoring for a moment colin thought cf q 0 the loe fog and the crossing and then he slept the loss of artillery stores camp equipment and men was great but more discouraging than that was the loss of morale the cheery confidence of the men was gone whole regiments and half regiments disappeared many war sick discouraged men wandered in the wooded hills bills half crazed by weariness and fear washington moved his army to the high country in the north ills his courage and confidence were still strong most of the faithful men well trained in cambridge were with him the deserters were replaced by fresh troops coming daily to his new post on harlem heights far above the city soon after the crossing colln colin his little wounds repaired rode down to the city tavern for letters by post the popular caravansary was now almost deserted its guests had mostly fled before the wrath of contending armies word had come that the british were moving back to their ships it was apparent that for some days york island would not feel fee the feet of the enemy if conditions were safe on oil the lower island lie he was to tarry at the tavern three lays days in the hope of meeting an expected messenger from sir air girard of philadelphia the young man was overjoyed to find a letter from flat sent from quebec on the fifteenth of june its contents saddened him she wrote dear one I 1 love you yet our little ship Is in a storm and if our captain loses his heart and head I 1 fear that we shall never dever get to port the wind Is against us I 1 know that nancy Is trying to win you she Is beautiful much lovelier to look at than I 1 am and the wretch will stop at nothing she was the worst flirt in school I 1 do not wonder that you think her irresistible she Is a superb physical creature site she knows it and to in her dress and manners will give you de lessons in female physiology and psychology I 1 know that you have a taste for both success and under standing to you in the psychological studies harry gage much improved by your discipline Is doing his best to win me what may come of it only god knows I 1 am still true to you and waiting for nia ills guidance I 1 wonder if you will remember old mother arns low the apple woman you know her now she Is my mald maid a sleek rosy cheeked checked white haired kind ly y wise old lady often she speaks of you as one of her boys when I 1 am in despair site gives me new heart every night site she prays for you and so do I 1 although I 1 have lost my in 11 fluence it if I 1 ever had any I 1 have promised to say nothing of the army this letter must be rend read b bj our friend gen sir guy carleton and stampe stamp pi with his approval I 1 hope it may reach your hands and heart you lou 17 e merry words and I 1 am sorly sony that 1 I have none to put in iti hope thin the coldness of the weather lias has nut not crept into my letter poor war wrecked fool that I 1 am I 1 forgot taps thi 1 I 1 was angry yours still with devotion 1 I pat at it was a disappointing letter up afe knew not quite what to make of it had the she given up and was she preparing him for a bitter end to their romance lie he could not believe that As to nancy kancy had lie he not overcome that peril pats letter had been more than two months on its journey fortunately the masterful mrs airs bowlby roust must have covered the long ions waterway to quebec and might have arrived there soon after the letter was written he rode down to the end of the island and had a brief talk with general putnam whose scouts and vid ettes covered a long area of the waterfront water front ile he was getting signals at night from the far side of each river returning to the tavern colln colin left word at the desk desh that if a man came from philadelphia asking for general Wils washington hington they were to ring his bell lie he might have slept through the night save for a loud rap at his door darkness had fallen A servant called out there are friends of yours be low who wish to see you sir mr what are their names they are grand ladles sir they did not give me their names colin admitted the servant who with candle in his hand band lighted ill those ose on the table it was wa a quarter after 4 J r Z 41 ej yo you have honored me with a sa cred confession eight the young man began to dress saying why such a dream about nancy tie he dressed and went below stairs the only sign of the deviltry of war upon him was a bandage on his big right hand A pretty maiden met him in the lobby saying I 1 am the secretary of the baroness de who has gone up the river with the lady howe miss woodbridge Ls Is having supper in the lining dining room and wishes you to join her nancy ile he had begun to think better of her after all the future was now full of uncertainty he fie had some curiosity as to that change of spirit which had won the sympathy of the lady washington lie ile found nancy at a table in a remote corner of the almost deserted dining room she was becomingly dressed in black and white lace lier her left arm was in a sling she arose and ran to meet him with an exclamation of joy their lips met 0 comrade forgive me if I 1 weep she said my heart flutters like a bird in a snare I 1 have so much to tell you I 1 know not how to bein begin this arm what has happened to you romance you would call it folly first let us sit down aid comfort our selves with food and wine colin was in high spirit after the excitements excite ments of battle and the stern severities of the retreat the wine the food the comfort of the place and the beauty of his cory companion panion filled him blin with a grateful sense of joy and relaxation she began her story you see my lover was out in tile the line beyond brooklyn I 1 rest thinking of him fearing that harm would come to him longing to see him you met men are different you do not know what it Is to lie ile awake and to rise often and look out of the window and count the stars art and pray to god that tip ile will help you in your loneliness I 1 have hane done all that I 1 had inaam peace with mrs airs washington the commander forgave my broken furlough and gave me a letter to general putnam I 1 went into his hospital bost lital behind the lines I 1 had bad a romantic faith that a chance would come to show tile the one aoe man how devotedly I 1 loved him I 1 was sure that fate would bring us its together lie ile did not come the battle battie was raging n near ar us all the after noon our hospital was a farmhouse in the dusk of the evening I 1 went out with the litter men to pick up the wounded the field was covered with dead ana in injured men ninny many were in red coats often I 1 called the name of my lover ue nc did not answer I 1 stooped to give water to a wounded man A bullet from a sharpshooter in n some distant tree tore the flesh of my arm I 1 fell and lay as if dead till it wits was lark dark I 1 went to the hospital my fill wound was dressed I 1 was not no quite HI fit for work next morning before daylight a surgeon took me to tie hie 11 brooklyn ferry I 1 went to the louse house of my mc aunt and you you fou had a great adventure I 1 heard of it your poor right band wits was wounded tell me of that charge you led it t was no trent great matter my coundi were slight we got through enot tall to say about it had bad been touched by her ac count of a devotion almost heroic nis heart warmed to her you toil are a brave dear girl he said bald 1 I hope that the young man li in worthy of you she sat ant a moment in Fa lence her chin resting on her hand band looking down at the table lie he Is a thousand times too good for me she whispered who Is the fortunate young man do you really want to know she asked with a faint smile As a friend of yours I 1 have a right to know it was in ills his mind to have a frank and friendly talk with her come to my aunts house with me and I 1 may tell you A ali time e has come when I 1 can no longer play with you why not I 1 stolen your marbles no you have stolen the best of all my playthings it Is a costly treasure there was a breath of silence mine Is the old excuse of childhood I 1 mean to he answered 1 I know and the time has come w when hen I 1 must make a confession I 1 do it on good advice it Is a hardship but you must understand me whatever comes I 1 have been wicked it will ease my heart I 1 have fallen into a pit of my own digging rat pat and I 1 were friends in school although she felt above me the Fayer weathers had been wealthy for generations she was a beauty at sixteen I 1 was not we were |