Show Cou courage raye 0 shown I 1 i by hamilton on monmouth field what lover of american freedom can read of the part played by colonel nu ar mllton nilton without a sense of pride and emotion A mere m ere boy just jus t the tha age ot of lafayette comman commanding ding an artillery company at nineteen lieutenant colonel on the staff of ton and at yorktown in 1781 in the alio presence of three armies leading the assault on the redoubt on oil the night of october 14 with a brilliancy of courage and success that could not be surpassed indeed a monument built as big as the treasury building itself would not be too large for alexander hamilton for his great encouragement to the tha commander in chief to w u liolu lie he en e en served for a while title as confidential secretary all americans owe a debt vl of gratitude nor will history ever fall to record the loyalty to his chief notably displaced ut at tile llie hattle of monmouth during a temporary reverse brought on by the retreat of picked officers and men under command of alaj gen charles lee george washington parke custis grandson of mrs N washington and adopted son of the first president gives elves an interesting account of tills this episode ile he tells us As aa the commander in chief accompanied by a numerous suite approached preached pro ached the vicinity of monmouth courthouse he was met by a little fifer boy who archly observed they are all coming coining this way your honor who are coming my little man asked general knox why our boys your honor our boys and the alie british ore are right after them replied tile alie little musi musician clan impossible exclaimed washington and giving a spur to his fits charger he proceeded at full gallop to nn an eminence a short distance ahead there to hn hii extreme palin pain and mortification it was discovered that the boys intelligence was but tuo too true the very elite of the american army picked officers olli cers and well were in full retreat closely pursued by the enemy the first inquiry of tile the chief was for major general lee iee who commanded the advance smi anil who soon appeared when a warm conversation oil vers atlon ensued that ended hy by the major general being ordered to the lie rear during this ibis interview an incident of rare and chivalric interest occurred lieutenant colonel Han nilton aide to the general in chief leaped from lug his horse and drawing his sword ad drsek the general with we are betrayed your excellency and tills this army is betrayed and the moment has arrived when mien every true friend of amer lea ica and tier her cause must he ready to dle die in their defense washington charmed with tile the generous enthusiasm of ills his favorite aide yet deeming the same ill timed pointing to the colonels horse that was cropping the herbage ulle unconscious on selous of the great scene enacting around him calmly observed colonel hamilton you will take your horse the general in chief now set get him film self in earnest about restoring the fortunes of the day it was here that sergeant molly molly holly made her name famous by performing the duties of an expert artilleryman jolio john engett proctor aroc tor in the alie washington star |