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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36183-8.txt b/36183-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d87f932 --- /dev/null +++ b/36183-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4632 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Life of George Washington, by Josephine Pollard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of George Washington + in Words of One Syllable + +Author: Josephine Pollard + +Release Date: May 22, 2011 [EBook #36183] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +[Illustration: EARLY LOVE OF TRUTH.--P. 6.] + + + + +THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. + +_IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE._ + +BY + +JOSEPHINE POLLARD, + +AUTHOR OF "OUR HERO, GENERAL GRANT," "OUR NAVAL HEROES," "THE HISTORY +OF THE UNITED STATES," "THE LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS," ETC., ETC. + + +NEW YORK: + +McLOUGHLIN BROTHERS. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The Life story of a public man cannot help being to some extent the +same thing as a history of the times in which he lived, and to the +case of none does this remark apply with more force than to that of +the "Father of his Country;" which very title shows the degree to +which the personality of its bearer became identified with the public +life of the nation. While a great deal of the space in this book, +consequently, has had to be devoted to American Revolutionary History, +it is hoped that excess in this direction has been avoided, and that +the main purpose of the work will be attained, i.e. to give its young +readers a distinct and vivid idea of the exalted character and +priceless services of Washington, so far as these can be brought +within the understanding of a child. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE. + +CHAPTER I. BOYHOOD 05 + +CHAPTER II. YOUTH 11 + +CHAPTER III. THE FIRST STEP TO FAME 17 + +CHAPTER IV. TO THE FRONT 24 + +CHAPTER V. AS AIDE-DE-CAMP 33 + +CHAPTER VI. COLONEL OF VIRGINIA TROOPS 39 + +CHAPTER VII. THE HOME OF WASHINGTON 45 + +CHAPTER VIII. THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL 52 + +CHAPTER IX. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 61 + +CHAPTER X. IN AND NEAR NEW YORK 71 + +CHAPTER XI. A SAD YEAR 78 + +CHAPTER XII. FOES IN THE CAMP 84 + +CHAPTER XIII. THE HARDSHIPS OF WAR 93 + +CHAPTER XIV. THE CLOSE OF THE WAR 103 + +CHAPTER XV. FIRST IN PEACE 110 + + + + +THE LIFE OF + +GEORGE WASHINGTON. + + +CHAPTER I. + +BOY-HOOD. + + +George Wash-ing-ton was born in the State of Vir-gin-i-a, at a place +known as Bridg-es Creek, on Feb-ru-a-ry 22, 1732. His great +grand-sire, John Wash-ing-ton, came from Eng-land in the year 1657, +and took up lands in that state and was a rich man. George was the son +of his grand-son Au-gus-tine. Au-gus-tine's first wife was Jane +But-ler who died and left him with two boys. His next wife was Ma-ry +Ball, and George was her first child. + +The old home-stead in which George was born stood near the banks of +the Po-to-mac Riv-er, and was built with a steep roof that sloped down +to low eaves that hung out far from the main wall. There were four +rooms on the ground floor, and some near the roof, and at each end of +the house was a great fire-place built of brick, with broad +hearth-stones, such as were in style in those days. + +A stone is all that marks the birth-place of George Wash-ing-ton. He +was not more than eight years of age when his fa-ther went to live on +a farm near the Rap-pa-han-nock Riv-er. The house was built much in +the same style as the one at Bridg-es Creek, but it stood on high +ground, and here all his boy-hood days were spent. + +As there were no good schools in A-mer-i-ca at that time, those who +had the means sent their sons to Eng-land to be taught and trained. +Law-rence Wash-ing-ton was sent when he was 15 years of age, and as he +was the first-born it was thought that he would in time take his +fa-ther's place, as head of the house. + +The school to which George was sent stood in a field on his fa-ther's +land, and was taught by a man named Hob-by. This gave it the name of +the "Hob-by School." + +There were but three things taught there: How to read--How to +write--and How to do sums--and some folks thought that these were all +their boys and girls had need to learn. Books were scarce and dear, +and as most of the men raised fine crops, and kept up a brisk trade, +they were well pleased to have their boys learn how to buy and sell, +and to make out bills. George had been trained by his fa-ther, who was +a strict and yet a just man, to love the truth and to do right at all +times. He was made to feel that it was a sin to tell a lie, and much +worse to hide a fault than to own it. + +George had a small axe of which he was quite proud, and boy-like, he +cut right and left with it, and thought not of the harm he might do. +On the lawn stood a small tree which his fa-ther hoped to see grow up +to a good height and to bear fine fruit. George made a great gash in +this tree with his sharp axe, and when his fa-ther saw it he was quite +sad. He called the boy to his side, and in a stern voice said: + +"Who did this? Who cut this tree?" + +George hung his head with shame. He knew he had done wrong; and he +stood in fear of his fa-ther, who he knew would use the rod where +there was need of it. It was a chance for the boy to show what kind of +stuff he was made of. George raised his face, still red with the blush +of shame, and said in his frank way, and with-out a sign of fear: + +"I did it, fa-ther, I can-not tell a lie." + +There was no need to use the rod on such a boy as that, and the +fa-ther must have felt a thrill of joy when he found that the great +truths he had taught his son had such a hold on his mind and had +struck their roots deep in-to his heart. + +It is told that he clasped George to his breast, and said with tears +in his eyes; that it would grieve him less to lose scores and scores +of trees, than to have his boy tell one lie. + +But you must not think that George Wash-ing-ton was such a good-good +boy that he could guide him-self, and did not need to be kept in +check. He was high strung, as quick as a flash, and felt that he was +born to rule, and these traits his mo-ther had to keep down and train +so that they would not wreck the young boy, for when George was not +yet twelve years of age his fa-ther died, and his mo-ther was left +with the care of five young folks. The task was one for which she was +well fit, as she had rare good sense, a fine mind, a strong will, and +a kind heart. + +She used to read to her boys and girls each day out of some good book, +talk with them, and tell them how they could best serve God and man, +and George laid up each word in his heart, and sought to pay her back +as well as he could for all her kind love and care. + +She said of George that he was "a good boy;" and it has been said in +her praise that "a no-ble mo-ther must have borne so brave a son." + +When George was 13 and his half-bro-ther Law-rence 21, Eng-land and +Spain went to war, and Law-rence went with the troops that were sent +to the West In-dies. The sight of Law-rence in war-like trim, the +sound of drum and fife, and the march of troops through the streets, +fired the heart of the young lad, and from that time his plays and +games, in school and out, took on a war-like turn. + +There was a boy at school, named Wil-li-am Bus-tle, who took up arms +and marched with as much zeal as George Wash-ing-ton. But George was +at all times com-mand-er-in-chief! + +He was fond of all the sports that boys love, and could run, and jump, +and climb, and toss bars, and took part in all those feats that kept +him in health and strength. + +He could pitch quoits with great skill, and the place is shown at +Fred-er-icks-burg where, when a boy, he flung a stone a-cross the +Rap-pa-han-nock. He was fond of a horse, and there was no steed so +wild that George could not mount on his back and tame him. + +Mrs. Wash-ing-ton had a colt which she thought so much of that she let +it run loose in the field. He was so fierce that no one had dared to +get on his back. + +One day George went out to view the colt with some of his boy friends, +and he told them that if they would help him put the bit in the +colt's mouth he would mount. The boys drove the colt in-to a small +lot, put the bit in his mouth, and Wash-ing-ton was soon on his back. +The beast rushed in-to the field, but was soon curbed by the strong +arms of the boy on his back. Then the colt reared and plunged and +tried in all sorts of ways to get rid of the lad, who clung to the +colt's bare back as if he had been glued there. Mad with rage the colt +tried once more to throw him, but strained too hard, and fell to the +ground and died in a short time. + +The group of boys were well scared at this sad end of their fun, and +scarce knew what to do. When they went back to the house Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton asked the boys if they had seen her fine breed of colts. +"The one I am most proud of," said she, "I am told is as large as his +sire." Some of the lads hung their heads and knew not what to say; but +George spoke up in his frank way and said that the colt was dead. + +"Dead!" cried she; "and from what cause?" + +Then George told her just what had been done, and how hard the beast +had fought to get free, and how at the last, with one wild fierce +plunge, he fell down and died. + +A flush rose to the mo-ther's cheek, and then she said to her boy: "It +is well; but while I grieve at the loss of my fine colt, I feel a +pride and joy in my son, who speaks the truth at all times." + +George was fond of his books too, and was so wise a lad, and so full +of thought, and had so keen a sense of what was just, that his +school-mates came to him when they got in-to a war of words, or of +blows, that he might say which side was right and which was wrong, and +thus put an end to the fight. This use of his mind made George look at +things in a clear light, and gave him that look of true pride which +all men of high mind, the real kings of earth, are wont to wear. + +In due time George out-grew the Hob-by School, and was sent to live +with his half-bro-ther Au-gus-tine, at Bridg-es Creek, where there was +a school of a high grade. But George had no taste for Lat-in or Greek, +and liked best to do sums, and to draw maps. He wrote with great care, +page after page of what he called "Forms of Wri-ting." + +These were notes of hand, bills of sale, deeds, bonds, and the like, +such as one would think a boy of 13 would not care much a-bout. + +In this same book (it is kept to this day) George wrote out one +hun-dred and ten "Rules," which were to guide him in act and speech at +home and a-broad. Some few of these I will give you, that you may see +at how young an age this boy set out to train him-self, and fit +him-self for the high place he was to fill. It al-most seems as if he +must have known the high rank he was to take; but this could not be. +His soul was fixed on high things; he had; no low tastes; and he was +led by the hand of God. + +Here are some of the rules that George Wash-ing-ton took as the guide +of his youth. + + "In the pres-ence of o-thers sing not to your-self with a + hum-ming noise, nor drum with your fin-gers or feet. + + "Sleep not when o-thers speak, sit not when o-thers stand, + speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not when + o-thers stop. + + "Turn not your back to o-thers when speak-ing; jog not the + ta-ble or desk on which an-o-ther reads or writes; lean not + on a-ny one. + + "Read no let-ters, books, or pa-pers in com-pa-ny; but when + there is a need for do-ing it, you must ask leave. Come not + near the books or wri-tings of a-ny one so as to read them, + un-less asked to do so, nor give your o-pin-ion of them + un-asked; al-so look not nigh when an-o-ther is wri-ting a + let-ter. + + "In wri-ting or speak-ing give to each per-son his due + ti-tle ac-cord-ing to his rank and the cus-tom of the place. + + "When a man does all he can, though it suc-ceeds not well, + blame not him that did it. + + "Be slow to be-lieve e-vil re-ports of a-ny one. + + "Be mod-est in your dress and seek to suit na-ture rather + than to win ad-mi-ra-tion. Keep to the fash-ion of your + e-quals, such as are civ-il and or-der-ly with re-spect to + times and pla-ces. + + "Play not the pea-cock, look-ing all a-bout you to see if + you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, your stock-ings + sit neat-ly, and your clothes hand-some-ly. + + "Make friends with those of good char-ac-ter, if you care + for your own rep-u-ta-tion, for it is bet-ter to be a-lone + than in bad com-pa-ny. + + "Speak not of dole-ful things in time of mirth, nor at the + ta-ble; speak not of mourn-ful things, as death, and wounds, + and if o-thers men-tion them, change, if you can, the + dis-course. + + "Ut-ter not base and fool-ish things 'mongst grave and + learn-ed men; nor hard ques-tions or sub-jects a-mong the + ig-no-rant; nor things hard to be believed. + + "Be not for-ward, but friendly and court-e-ous; the first to + sa-lute, hear, and an-swer; and be not pen-sive when it is + time to con-verse. + + "Gaze not on the marks or blem-ish-es of o-thers, and ask + not how they came. + + "Think be-fore you speak, pro-nounce not im-per-fect-ly, nor + bring out your words too hast-i-ly, but or-der-ly and + dis-tinct-ly. + + "Treat with men at fit times a-bout bus-i-ness; and whis-per + not in the com-pa-ny of o-thers. + + "Be not cu-ri-ous to know the af-fairs of o-thers, nor go + near to those that speak in pri-vate. + + "Un-der-take not to do what you can-not per-form, but be + care-ful to keep your prom-ise. + + "Speak not e-vil of the ab-sent, for it is un-just. + + "Make no show of ta-king great delight in your food; feed + not with greed-i-ness; cut your bread with a knife; lean not + on the ta-ble; nei-ther find fault with what you eat. + + "When you speak of God, let it be grave-ly and in + re-ver-ence. Hon-or and o-bey your pa-rents, al-though they + be poor. + + "Let your a-muse-ments be man-ful, not sin-ful. + + "La-bor to keep a live in your breast that lit-tle spark of + ce-les-ti-al fire, called con-sci-ence." + +It is not known where George found these rules he took so much pains +to write out, but it is plain that he set great store by them, and +made use of them through out his whole life. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +YOUTH. + + +George was a great pet with his bro-ther, Law-rence Wash-ing-ton, who +thought it would be a nice thing for him to serve on board one of the +King's ships-of-war. While Law-rence was in the West In-dies he was on +good terms with Gen-er-al Went-worth and Ad-mi-ral Ver-non, and he had +no doubt they would do their best to get his bro-ther a good place. He +spoke to George a-bout it, and the boy was wild with joy. His +mo-ther's pride was roused, and at first she did not put a straw in +his way, but gave him all the help she could. But as the time drew +near, her heart, which had been so strong and brave and full of pride, +gave way and she felt that she could not part with her dear boy. + +One of her friends wrote to Law-rence that Mrs. Wash-ing-ton had made +up her mind not to let George go to sea. She said that some of her +friends had told her it was a bad plan, and "I find," said he "that +one word a-gainst his go-ing has more weight than ten for it." + +So they gave up the scheme, and George was sent back to school. + +He would, on fine days, go out in the fields and tracts of land +a-round the school-house, and with line and rod take the size and +shape, the length and width, and mark it all down in one of his books, +and so much pains did he take that from the first to the last page not +a blot or blur is to be seen. + +These neat ways, formed in his youth, were kept up through all his +life, and what seems strange is that day-books, and such books as you +will find in great use now-a-days were not known at that time. The +plan had been thought out by George Wash-ing-ton when a boy of 16, and +shows the cast of his mind. + +Near this time George was sent to live with his bro-ther Law-rence, at +his fine place on the Po-to-mac, which he had called Mount Ver-non, to +show how much he thought of the ad-mi-ral of that name. + +Here George had a chance to make friends with those of high rank, and +he spent much of his time with George Fair-fax who made his home at +_Bel-voir_, near Mount Ver-non. Lord Fair-fax, a man of wealth and +worth was much at Bel-voir at that time. He had bought large tracts of +land in Vir-gin-i-a, which had not been staked out, or set off in-to +lots. In fact he did not know their size or shape, but he had heard +that men had sought out some of the best spots, and had built homes +there, and laid out farms for which they paid no rent, and he thought +it quite time to put a stop to such things. + +In March, 1748, George Wash-ing-ton, who had been picked out by Lord +Fair-fax for this task, went on his first trip with George Fair-fax to +stake off these wild lands. He wrote down what was done from day to +day, and by these notes we learn that he had quite a rough time of it, +and yet found much that was to his taste. He and the men with him rode +for miles and miles through lands rich in grain, hemp, and to-bac-co, +and through fine groves of trees on the bank of a broad stream. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON'S FIRST SPEECH TO THE INDIANS.--P. 19.] + +One night, writes George, when they had been hard at work all day, +they came to the house where they were to be fed and lodged. The +wood-men went to bed with their clothes on, but George took his off, +and as he turned in he found his bed was of loose straw with not a +thing on it but the thread-bare blank-et he was to wrap him-self in. +The fleas and bugs soon forced George to get up and put on his clothes +and lie as the rest of the men did, and "had we not been so tired," he +says "I am sure we should not have slept much that night." He made a +vow then that he would sleep out of doors near a fire when on such +tramps, and run no more such risks. + +On March 18, they reached a point on the Po-to-mac, which they were +told they could not ford. There had been a great rain-fall and the +stream had not been so high, by six feet, as it was at that time. They +made up their minds to stay there for a day or two; went to see the +Warm Springs, and at night camped out in the field. At the end of two +days, as the stream was still high, they swam their steeds to the +Mar-y-land side. The men crossed in birch-bark boats, and rode all the +next day in a rain storm to a place two-score miles from where they +had set out that morn. Wash-ing-ton writes that the road was "the +worst that had ever been trod by man or beast." + +On March 23, they fell in with a score or two of red-men who had been +off to war and brought home but one scalp, and they had a chance to +see a war-dance. The red-men cleared a large space, and built a fire +in the midst of it, round which they all sat. One of the men then made +a grand speech in which he told them how they were to dance. + +When he had done, the one who could dance the best sprang up as if he +had just been roused from sleep, and ran and jumped round the ring in +a queer kind of way. The rest soon joined him, and did just as he did. +By this time the band made it-self heard, and I shall have to tell you +what a fine band it was. + +There was a pot half full of water with a piece of deer-skin stretched +tight on the top, and a gourd with some shot in it, and a piece of +horse's tail tied to it to make it look fine. One man shook the gourd, +and one drummed all the while the rest danced, and I doubt if you +would care to hear the noise that was made. + +Late in the day of March 26, they came to a place where dwelt a man +named Hedge, who was in the pay of King George as justice of the +peace. Here they camped, and at the meal that was spread there was not +a knife nor a fork to eat with but such as the guests had brought with +them. + +On the night of the first of A-pril the wind blew and the rain fell. +The straw on which they lay took fire, and George was saved by one of +the men, who woke him when it was in a blaze. + +"I have not slept for four nights in a bed," wrote Wash-ing-ton at +this time to one of his young friends at home, "but when I have walked +a good deal in the day, I lie down on a heap of straw, or a bear-skin +by the fire, with man, wife, young ones, dogs, and cats; and he is in +luck who gets the place next the fire." + +For three years he kept up this mode of life, but as it was a hard +life to lead he could be out but a few weeks at a time. His pay was a +doub-loon a day, and some-times six pis-toles. + +A doub-loon is a gold coin of Spain, worth not quite 16 dol-lars. A +pis-tole is a small gold coin of Spain, worth not quite four dol-lars. + +This rough kind of life, though he did not know it, was to fit him for +the toils and ills of war, of which he may have dreamt in those days, +as he still kept up his love for war-like things. + +While at work on the land round the Blue Ridge, he now and then made +his way to _Green-way Court_ where Lord Fair-fax dwelt at this time. +Here he had a chance to read choice books, for Lord Fair-fax had a +fine mind though his tastes were queer. He lived on a knoll, in a +small house not more than twelve feet square. All round him were the +huts for his "help," black and white. Red-men, half breeds, and +wood-men thronged the place, where they were sure they would get a +good meal. He had steeds of fine breed, and hounds of keen scent, for +he was fond of the chase, and the woods and hills were full of game. + +Here was a grand chance for George, who had a great taste for +field-sports, and his rides, and walks, and talks with Lord Fair-fax +were a rich treat to the home-bred youth. This wise friend lent George +good books which he took with him to the woods and read with great +care, and in this way stored his mind with rich thoughts. + +In Vir-gin-i-a there were some few men who had served in the late war +'twixt Eng-land and Spain, and they put George through such a drill +with sword and with gun that he learned to use them both with great +skill. + +A Dutch-man, named Van-Bra-am, was one of these men, and he claimed to +know a great deal of the art of war. He it was that took George in +hand to teach him the use of the sword, and how to fence. + +When he was 19 years of age the red-men and the French had made such +in-roads on the front, that it was thought best to place men on guard +to keep back these foes, and to up-hold the laws of the state of +Vir-gin-i-a. There was need of some one to take charge of a +school-of-arms at one of the chief out-posts where the French sought +to get a foot-hold, and the choice fell on George Wash-ing-ton, who +set to work at once to fit him-self for the place. + +His broth-er's ill health caused this scheme to be dropped for a time, +as Law-rence was forced to go to the West In-dies for change of air, +and begged George to go with him. George gave up all thought of self, +and the two set sail for Bar-ba-does, Sep-tem-ber 28, 1751. At sea he +kept a log-book, took notes of the course of the winds, and if the +days were fair or foul, and learned all he could of the ways of a ship +and how to sail one. + +They reached Bar-ba-does on No-vem-ber 3, and were pleased with the +place, and all the strange sights that met their gaze. On all sides +were fields of corn and sweet cane, and groves of trees rich in leaves +and fruit, and all things held out a hope of cure for the sick man, +whose lungs were in a weak state. + +They had been but two weeks in Bar-ba-does when George fell ill with +small-pox, and this for a time put an end to all their sports. But he +had the best of care, and at the end of three weeks was so well that +he could go out of doors. + +Law-rence soon tired of this place, and longed for a change of scene. +They had to ride out by the first dawn of day, for by the time the sun +was half an hour high it was as hot as at mid-day. There was no change +in the sick man's health, and he made up his mind to go to Ber-mu-da +in the spring. He was lone-some with-out his wife, so it was planned +that George should go back home and bring her out to Ber-mu-da. + +George set sail, De-cem-ber 22, and reached Vir-gin-i-a at the end of +five weeks. He must have been glad to step on shore once more, for the +cold winds and fierce storms to be met with at sea, at that time of +the year, made life on ship-board some-thing of a hard-ship. + +Law-rence did not gain in health, and ere his wife could join him he +wrote her that he would start for home--"to his grave." He reached +Mount Ver-non in time to die 'neath his own roof, and with kind +friends at his bed-side. His death took place on the 26th of Ju-ly, +1752, when he was but 34 years of age. + +He had been like a fa-ther to George, and their hearts were bound by +ties so strong and sweet that it was a great grief for them to part. + +But George had no time to sit down and mourn his loss. There was work +for him to do. New cares were thrust on him by his bro-ther's death, +that took up all his time and thoughts for some months; and he had to +keep up his drills with the men at the school-of-arms, for which he +was paid by the State. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FIRST STEP TO FAME. + + +The time had now come when Wash-ing-ton was to take a fresh start in +life, and win for him-self high rank. + +The French, who thought they had just as good a right as the Eng-lish +to take up land in A-mer-i-ca, pressed their claims, and built forts +on the great Lakes and on the banks of the O-hi-o Riv-er. They made +friends of the red-men at or near these posts, and made it known that +they would fight the Eng-lish at all points. + +The red-men on the north shore of Lake On-ta-ri-o were good friends +with the French; but those on the south shore were not. They had been +well dealt with by the Eng-lish, and their chief, Half-King did not +like the war-like move that was made by the French. + +He went to the French post on Lake E-rie, and spoke thus to the +troops there: "You have no right to come here and build towns, and +take our land from us by fraud and force. We raised a flame in +Mon-tre-al some time a-go, where we asked you to stay and not to come +here on our land. I now ask you to go back to that place, for this +land is ours. + +"Had you come in a peace-ful way, like the Eng-lish, we should have +let you trade with us as they do, but we will not let you come and +build on our land and take it by force. + +"You and the Eng-lish are white. We live in a land be-tween you, to +which you and they have no right. The Great Be-ing gave it to us. We +have told the Eng-lish to move off, and they have heard us, and now we +tell it to you. We do not fear you, and we mean to keep you both at +arm's length." + +The French-man said to Half-King: "You talk like a fool. This land is +mine, and I will have it, let who will stand up a-gainst me. I have no +fear of such as you. I tell you that down the O-hi-o I will go, and +build forts on it. If it were blocked up I have troops e-nough to +break through it and to tread down all who would try to stop me. My +force is as the sand of the sea!" + +This proud speech made Half-King feel as if he had been stabbed to the +heart. It was the death-blow to his race. But he turned with hope and +trust to the Eng-lish, who thus far had not shown a wish to do what +was not just to his tribe. + +On Oc-to-ber 30, 1753, Wash-ing-ton set out from Will-iams-burg in +Vir-gin-i-a with a small band of men. He was just of age, and ranked +as Ma-jor Wash-ing-ton. He was to go to the French out-post near Lake +E-rie, with a note from Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die to the head man there, +and to ask for a re-ply in the name of King George. + +He was to find out where forts had been built, and how large a force +of troops had crossed the Lakes, and to learn all that he could of +those who had dared to set up the flag of France on soil which the +Eng-lish claimed as their own. + +Wash-ing-ton's route lay through thick woods and swamps where the foot +of man had not trod; he had to climb steep and rough hills where wild +beasts had their lairs; and to cross streams on frail rafts, if they +could not swim or ford them. There were but eight men in the whole +band, and the post they were to reach lay 560 miles off, and the whole +of the way had to be made on horse-back or on foot. + +They met some of the In-di-an chiefs at a place called Logs-town and +Wash-ing-ton made his first speech to the red-men. He told them what +he had come for, and asked that some of their braves might go with him +as guides and safe-guards for the rest of the way. He then gave them +what was called a "speech-belt," wrought with beads, as a sign that +they were friends and full of peace and good-will. + +The chiefs were mild and full of peace. They said that Wash-ing-ton +might have some of their men as guides, but he would have to wait for +two or three days as the young braves had gone out in search of game. + +This Wash-ing-ton could not do. There was no time to lose, and so he +set out with but four red-men as guides, and Half-King was one of +them. + +Through rain and snow, through a long stretch of dark woods that +seemed to have no end, through deep streams and swamps where there was +no sure foot-hold for man or beast, the brave band kept on their way. +At the end of 35 days from the time they left Will-iams-burg they +reached a place called Ven-an-go, where they saw a house from the top +of which a French flag flew, and Wash-ing-ton called a halt. The head +man in charge asked him and his friends to sup with him. The wine was +passed with a free hand, but Wash-ing-ton did not drink like his +French host. He knew he would need to keep a cool head for his work. +When the French-man had his tongue loosed by the wine, he told a good +deal. + +"We have got the land," he said, "and we mean to keep it. You Eng-lish +may have two men to our one, but you are slow. It takes you a long +time to move." + +The man's tongue wagged on in a free way, and Wash-ing-ton, who had +kept his wits, wrote down all he said that could be of use to him. + +The next day it rained hard and they could not go on. Then for the +first time the French-man found that there were red-men with the +Eng-lish. Wash-ing-ton had kept them back, for he feared to trust them +to the wiles of the French. But now the shrewd man made a great time, +and hailed them as dear friends. He was so glad to see them! How could +they be so near and not come to see him? He gave them gifts and plied +them with strong drink, till Half-King and his braves thought no more +of what they had pledged to the Eng-lish. They were soon in such a +state that they did not care to move. It took some time for +Wash-ing-ton to get them free from the wiles of the French, and it +took four days more of snow and rain, through mire and swamp, to reach +the fort for which they had set out. + +Here Wash-ing-ton met the chief of the fort and made known the cause +that had brought him. He gave him the note from Gov-er-nor +Din-wid-die, in which it was asked why the French had come in-to a +State that was owned by Great Brit-ain, and they were bid to go in +peace. The French took two days in which to think of the course they +should take, and in this time Wash-ing-ton set down in his note book +the size and strength of the fort and all that he could find out. He +told his men to use their eyes, and to count the boats in the stream, +and the guns in the fort. + +The first chance he had, Wash-ing-ton drew a plan of this fort, and it +was sent to Eng-land for King George to see. + +Wash-ing-ton saw that the Half-King and the braves with him had much +to say to the French, and he did not trust them. He heard that the +Eng-lish who sought to trade on the O-hi-o were seized by the French, +and that some red-men had passed the fort with two or three white +scalps. + +All this made him wish to get off safe with his small band, and when +the French chief gave him a sealed note, he had a shrewd guess as to +what was in it. At last, when the start was to be made, the French +chief had large stores of food and wine put on their boats, and made a +great show of good will, but at the same time he tried to keep the +red-men with him, and told them he would give them guns for gifts the +next day. Wash-ing-ton was pressed by the red-men to wait that long +for them, and the next morn the French had to give the guns. Then they +tried to get the red-men to drink once more, but Wash-ing-ton plead +with them, and at last got them to start. + +It was hard to steer the boats, as the stream was full of ice, and at +times they had to leap out and stand in the wet for half an hour at a +time, to drag the boats by main force off the shoals. On the part of +the trip that had to be made by land, they had a hard time too. It was +cold, the roads were deep in mire, and the steeds were so worn out, +that it was feared they would fall by the way. Wash-ing-ton gave up +his horse to help bear the food and things for use, and he asked his +friends to do so too. They all went on foot, and the cold grew worse. +There was deep snow that froze as it fell. For three days they toiled +on in a slow way. + +At last Wash-ing-ton made up his mind to leave the men and steeds in +charge of one of his band, and to strike off with his pack on his +back and his gun in his hand by a way which, it seemed to him, would +take him home by a short cut. He had the sealed note that he wished to +give up as soon as he could. He took but one man with him. At night +they lit a fire, and camped by it in the woods. At two in the morn, +they were once more on foot. + +They fell in with a red-man who claimed to know Mr. Gist, the man who +was with Wash-ing-ton, and called him by his name in his own tongue +and seemed glad to see him. They asked the red-man if he would go with +them and show them a short-cut to the Forks of the Al-le-gha-ny +Riv-er. The red-man seemed glad to serve them, and took Wash-ing-ton's +pack on his own back. Then the three set out, and walked at a brisk +pace for eight or ten miles. + +By this time Wash-ing-ton's feet were so sore that he could not take a +step with-out pain, and he was well tired out. He thought it best to +camp where they were, and the red-man begged Wash-ing-ton to let him +bear his gun. But the Ma-jor would not let it go out of his own hands. +This made the red-man cross, and he urged them to keep on and said +there were red-skins in the woods who would scalp them if they lay out +all night. He would take them to his own hut where they would be safe. + +The white men lost faith in their guide, and were soon quite ill at +ease. When the red-man found that he could not make them go his way, +or do as he said, he ceased to wear the face of a friend. At heart he +was the foe of all white men. All at once he made a stop, and then +turned and fired on them. + +Wash-ing-ton found that he was not hit, so he turned to Mr. Gist, and +said, "Are you shot?" + +"No," said Gist. Then the red-man ran to a big white oak tree to load +his gun. Gist would have killed him, but Wash-ing-ton would not let +him. + +Gist says, "We let him charge his gun. We found he put in a ball; then +we took care of him. The Ma-jor or I stood by the guns. We made him +make a fire for us by a small run as if we meant to sleep there. I +said to the Ma-jor; 'As you will not have him killed, we must get rid +of him in some way, and then we must march on all night;' on which I +said to the red-man, 'I suppose you were lost and fired your gun.' + +"He said he knew the way to his log-hut and it was not far off. +'Well,' said I, 'do you go home; and as we are tired we will fol-low +your track in the morn-ing, and here is a cake of bread for you, and +you must give us meat in the morn-ing.' He was glad to get off," +Wash-ing-ton says, "We walked all the rest of the night, and made no +stop, that we might get the start so far as to be out of their reach +the next day, since we were quite sure they would get on our track as +soon as it was light." + +But no more was seen or heard of them, and the next night, at dusk, +the two white men came to the Al-le-gha-ny, which they thought to +cross on the ice. + +This they could not do, so they had to go to work with but one small +axe, and a poor one at that, and make a raft. It was a whole day's +work. They next got it launched, and went on board of it; then set +off. + +But when they were in mid-stream the raft was jammed in the ice in +such a way that death seemed to stare them in the face. + +Wash-ing-ton put out his pole to stay the raft so that the ice might +pass by; but the tide was so swift that it drove the ice with great +force. It bore down on the pole so hard that Wash-ing-ton was thrown +in-to the stream where it was at least ten feet deep. He would have +been swept out of sight if he had not caught hold of one of the raft +logs. As they found they could not cross the stream, or get back to +the shore they had left, they quit the raft, and got on a small isle +near which they were borne by the tide. + +But this was not the end of their ill luck. It was so cold that Mr. +Gist's hands and feet froze, and both he and Wash-ing-ton were in +great pain through-out the long dark night. A gleam of hope came with +the dawn of day, for they found the ice 'twixt them and the east bank +of the stream was so hard as to bear their weight, and they made their +way on it, and the same day came to a place where they could rest. +Here they spent two or three days. + +They set out on the first of Jan-u-a-ry, and the next day came to +Mon-on-ga-he-la, where Wash-ing-ton bought a horse. On the 11th he got +to Bel-voir, where he stopped one day to take the rest he was in need +of, and then set out and reached Will-iams-burg on the 16th of +Jan-u-a-ry. He gave to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die the note he had brought +from the French chief, showed him the plans of the fort, and told him +all that he had seen and done. + +The fame of his deeds, of the ills he had borne, and the nerve and +pluck he had shown, was soon noised a-broad, and George Wash-ing-ton, +though a mere youth, was looked up to by young and old. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TO THE FRONT! + + +The French chief in his note to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die had said, in +words that were smooth but clear, that he would not leave the banks of +the O-hi-o; so the Eng-lish felt as if it were time for them to make +a move, though they did not wish to bring on a war. + +Land was set off on the O-hi-o where a fort was built, and the rest +of it left for the use of the troops. + +Wash-ing-ton was asked to lead the troops, but he shrank from it as a +charge too great for one so young. So Josh-u-a Fry was made Col-o-nel, +and Wash-ing-ton Lieu-ten-ant Col-o-nel of a force of 300 men. + +It was hard work to get men to join the ranks. The pay was small, and +those who had good farms and good homes did not care to leave them. +Those who had a mind to go were for the most part men who did not like +to work, and had no house or home they could call their own. + +Some were bare-foot, some had no shirts to their backs, and not a few +were with-out coat or waist-coat, as the vest was called in those +days. + +If it was hard work to get this kind of men, it was still more of a +task to find those who would serve as chiefs, and Wash-ing-ton found +him-self left in charge of a lot of raw troops who knew no will but +their own. + +But Van-Bra-am, who had taught Wash-ing-ton how to use the sword, was +with him, and gave him just the aid he had need of at this time. + +On A-pril 2, 1754, Wash-ing-ton, at the head of 150 men, set off for +the new fort at the Fork of the O-hi-o. The roads were rough, and the +march was slow, and it was not till A-pril 20 that they reached Will's +Creek. Here they were met by a small force, in charge of Cap-tain +Ad-am Ste-phen. The rest of the force, with the field-guns, were to +come by way of the Po-to-mac. These last were in charge of Col-o-nel +Fry. + +When Wash-ing-ton reached Will's Creek word was brought him that a +large force of French troops had borne down on the new fort. Cap-tain +Trent, who was in charge of the few troops in the fort, was a-way at +the time, and the young En-sign Ward did not know what to do. He +sought the aid of Half-King, who told him to plead with the French, +and to beg them to wait till the Cap-tain came back, and the two went +at once to the French camp. But the French would not wait, or make +terms of peace. They had come as foes, and told En-sign Ward that if +he did not leave the fort at once, with all his men, they would put +him out by force. All the French would grant was that our men might +take their tools with them; so the next morn they filed out of the +fort, gave up their arms, and took the path to the woods. The French +took the fort and built it up, and called it Fort Du-quesne (_kane_), +which was the name of the Gov-er-nor of Can-a-da. + +When the sad news was brought to Wash-ing-ton he was at a loss to know +what to do, or which way to turn. Here he was with a small band of raw +troops right in the midst of foes, red and white, who would soon hem +them in and use them ill if they found out where they were. Yet it +would not do to turn back, or show signs of fear. Col-o-nel Fry had +not yet come up and the weight of care was thrown on Wash-ing-ton. + +He let the Gov-er-nors of Penn-syl-va-ni-a and Ma-ry-land know of his +plight, and urged them to send on troops. But none came to his aid. + +He had a talk with his chief men, and they all thought it would be +best to push on through the wild lands, make the road as they went on, +and try to reach the mouth of Red-stone Creek, where they would build +a fort. By this means the men would be kept at work, their fears would +be quelled, and a way made for the smooth and swift march of the +troops in the rear. + +There was so much to be done that the men, work as hard as they might, +could not clear the way with much speed. There were great trees to be +cut down, rocks to be moved, swamps to be filled up, and streams to be +bridged. While in the midst of these toils, the bread gave out, and +the lack of food made the men too weak to work. In spite of all these +ills they made out to move at the rate of four miles a day, up steep +hills, and through dense woods that have since borne the name of "The +Shades of Death." + +While at a large stream where they had to stop to build a bridge, +Wash-ing-ton was told that it was not worth while for him to try to go +by land to Red-stone Creek, when he could go by boat in much less +time. + +This would be a good plan, if it would work; and to make sure, +Wash-ing-ton took five men with him in a bark boat down the stream. +One of these men was a red-skin guide. When they had gone ten miles, +the guide said that that was as far as he would go. Wash-ing-ton said, +"Why do you want to leave us now? We need you, and you know that we +can not get on with-out you. Tell us why you wish to leave." + +The red-man said, "Me want gifts. The red-men will not work with-out +them. The French know this, and are wise. If you want the red-men to +be your guides, you must buy them. They do not love you so well that +they will serve you with-out pay." + +Wash-ing-ton told the guide that when they got back he would give him +a fine white shirt with a frill on it, and a good great-coat, and this +put an end to the "strike" for that time. They kept on in the small +boat for a score of miles, till they came to a place where there was a +falls in the stream at least 40 feet. This put a stop to their course, +and Wash-ing-ton went back to camp with his mind made up to go on by +land. + +He was on his way to join his troops when word was brought him from +Half-King to be on his guard, as the French were close at hand. They +had been on the march for two days, and meant to strike the first foe +they should see. + +Half-King said that he and the rest of his chiefs would be with +Wash-ing-ton in five days to have a talk. + +Wash-ing-ton set to work at once to get his troops in shape to meet +the foe. Scouts were sent out. There was a scare in the night. The +troops sprang to arms, and kept on the march till day-break. In the +mean-time, at nine o'clock at night, word came from Half-King, who was +then six miles from the camp, that he had seen the tracks of two +French-men, and the whole force was near that place. + +Wash-ing-ton put him-self at the head of two score men, left the rest +to guard the camp, and set off to join Half-King. The men had to grope +their way by foot-paths through the woods. The night was dark and +there had been quite a fall of rain, so that they slipped and fell, +and lost their way, and had to climb the great rocks, and the trees +that had been blown down and blocked their way. + +It was near sun-rise when they came to the camp of Half-King, who at +once set out with a few of his braves to show Wash-ing-ton the tracks +he had seen. Then Half-King called up two of his braves, showed them +the tracks, and told them what to do. They took the scent, and went +off like hounds, and brought back word that they had traced the +foot-prints to a place shut in by rocks and trees where the French +were in camp. + +It was planned to take them off their guard. Wash-ing-ton was to move +on the right, Half-King and his men on the left. They made not a +sound. Wash-ing-ton was the first on the ground, and as he came out +from the rocks and trees at the head of his men, the French caught +sight of him and ran to their arms. + +A sharp fire was kept up on both sides. De Ju-mon-ville, who led the +French troops, was killed, with ten of his men. One of Wash-ing-ton's +men was killed, and two or three met with wounds. None of the red-men +were hurt, as the French did not aim their guns at them at all. In +less than half an hour the French gave way, and ran, but +Wash-ing-ton's men soon came up with them, took them, and they were +sent, in charge of a strong guard, to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die. + +This was the first act of war, in which blood had been shed, and +Wash-ing-ton had to bear a great deal of blame from both France and +Eng-land till the truth was made known. He was thought to have been +too rash, and too bold, and in more haste to make war than to seek for +peace. These sins were charged to his youth, for it was not known then +how much more calm, and wise, and shrewd he was than most men who were +twice his age. + +The French claimed that this band had been sent out to ask +Wash-ing-ton, in a kind way, to leave the lands that were held by the +crown of France. But Wash-ing-ton was sure they were spies; and +Half-King said they had bad hearts, and if our men were such fools as +to let them go, he would give them no more aid. + +Half-King was full of fight, and Wash-ing-ton was flushed with pride, +and in haste to move on and brave the worst. He wrote home: "The +Min-goes have struck the French, and I hope will give a good blow +be-fore they have done." + +Then he told of the fight he had been in, and how he had won it, and +was not hurt though he stood in the midst of the fierce fire. The +balls whizzed by him, "and," said Wash-ing-ton "I was charmed with the +sound." + +This boast came to the ears of George II. who said, in a dry sort of a +way, "He would not say so if he had heard ma-ny." + +When long years had passed, some one asked Wash-ing-ton if he had made +such a speech. "If I did," said he, "it was when I was young." And he +was but 22 years of age. + +He knew that as soon as the French heard of the fight and their bad +luck, they would send a strong force out to meet him, so he set all +his men to work to add to the size of the earth-work, and to fence it +in so that it might be more of a strong-hold. Then he gave to it the +name of _Fort Ne-ces-si-ty_, for it had been thrown up in great haste +in time of great need, when food was so scant it was feared the troops +would starve to death. At one time, for six days they had no flour, +and, of course, no bread. + +News came of the death of Col-o-nel Fry, at Will's creek, and +Wash-ing-ton was forced to take charge of the whole force. Fry's +troops--300 in all--came up from Will's Creek, and Half-King brought +40 red-men with their wives and young ones and these all had to be fed +and cared for. + +Young as he was Wash-ing-ton was like a fa-ther to this strange group +of men. On Sundays, when in camp, he read to them from the word of +God, and by all his acts made them feel that he was a good and true +man, and fit to be their chief. + +The red-men did quite well as spies and scouts, but were not of much +use in the field, and they, and some men from South Car-o-li-na, did +much to vex young Wash-ing-ton. + +Half-King did not like the way that white men fought, so he took +him-self and his band off to a safe place. The white men from South +Car-o-li-na, who had come out to serve their king, were too proud to +soil their hands or to do hard work, nor would they be led by a man of +the rank of Col-o-nel. + +In the midst of all these straits Wash-ing-ton stood calm and firm. + +The South Car-o-li-na troops were left to guard the fort, while the +rest of the men set out to clear the road to Red-stone Creek. Their +march was slow, and full of toil, and at the end of two weeks they had +gone but 13 miles. Here at Gist's home, where they stopped to rest, +word came to Wash-ing-ton that a large force of the French were to be +sent out to fight him. Word was sent to the fort to have the men that +were there join them with all speed. + +They reached Gist's at dusk, and by dawn of the next day all our +troops were in that place, where it was at first thought they would +wait for the foe. + +But this plan they gave up, for it was deemed best to make haste back +to the fort, where they might at least screen them-selves from the +fire of the foe. + +The roads were rough; the heat was great; the food was scant, and the +men weak and worn out. There were but few steeds, and these had to +bear such great loads that they could not move with speed. + +Wash-ing-ton gave up his own horse and went on foot, and the rest of +the head men did the same. + +The troops from Vir-gin-i-a worked with a will and would take turns +and haul the big field guns, while the King's troops, from South +Car-o-li-na, walked at their ease, and would not lend a hand, or do a +stroke of work. + +On the morn of Ju-ly 3, scouts brought word to the fort that the +French were but four miles off, and in great force. Wash-ing-ton at +once drew up his men on the ground out-side of the fort, to wait for +the foe. + +Ere noon the French were quite near the fort and the sound of their +guns was heard. + +Wash-ing-ton thought this was a trick to draw his men out in-to the +woods, so he told them to hold their fire till the foe came in sight. +But as the French did not show them-selves, though they still kept up +their fire, he drew his troops back to the fort and bade them fire at +will, and do their best to hit their mark. + +The rain fell all day long, so that the men in the fort were half +drowned, and some of the guns scarce fit for use. + +The fire was kept up till eight o'clock at night, when the French +sent word they would like to make terms with our men. + +Wash-ing-ton thought it was a trick to find out the state of things in +the fort, and for a time gave no heed to the call. The French sent two +or three times, and at last brought the terms for Wash-ing-ton to +read. They were in French. There was no-thing at hand to write with, +so Van Bra-am, who could speak French, was called on to give the key. + +It was a queer scene. A light was brought, and held close to his face +so that he could see to read. The rain fell in such sheets that it was +hard work to keep up the flame. Van Bra-am mixed up Dutch, French, and +Eng-lish in a sad way, while Wash-ing-ton and his chief aids stood +near with heads bent, and tried their best to guess what was meant. + +They made out at last that the main terms were that the troops might +march out of the fort, and fear no harm from French or red-skins as +they made their way back to their homes. The drums might beat and the +flags fly, and they could take with them all the goods and stores, and +all that was in the fort--but the large guns. These the French would +break up. And our men should pledge them-selves not to build on the +lands which were claimed by the King of France for the space of one +year. + +The weak had to yield to the strong, and Wash-ing-ton and his men laid +down their arms and marched out of the fort. + +A note of thanks was sent to Wash-ing-ton, and all his head men but +Van Bra-am, who was thought to have read the terms in such a way as to +harm our side and serve the French. + +But there were those who felt that Van Bra-am was as true as he was +brave, and that it was the fault of his head and not his heart, for it +was a hard task for a Dutch-man to turn French in-to Eng-lish, and +make sense of it. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AS AIDE-DE-CAMP. + + +In spite of the way in which the fight at Great Mead-ows came to an +end Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die made up his mind that the troops, led by +Wash-ing-ton, should cross the hills and drive the French from Fort +Du-quesne. + +Wash-ing-ton thought it a wild scheme; for the snow lay deep on the +hills, his men were worn out, and had no arms, nor tents, nor clothes, +nor food, such as would fit them to take the field. It would need gold +to buy these things, as well as to pay for fresh troops. + +Gold was placed in the Gov-er-nor's hands to use as he pleased. Our +force was spread out in-to ten bands, of 100 men each. The King's +troops were put in high rank, and Col-o-nel Wash-ing-ton was made +Cap-tain. This, of course, was more than he could bear, so he left +the ar-my at once, and with a sad heart. + +In a short time Gov-er-nor Sharpe of Ma-ry-land was placed by King +George at the head of all the force that was to fight the French. He +knew that he would need the aid of Wash-ing-ton, and he begged him to +come back and serve with him in the field. But Wash-ing-ton did not +like the terms, and paid no heed to the call. + +The next Spring, Gen-er-al Brad-dock came from Eng-land with two large +bands of well-trained troops, which it was thought would drive the +French back in-to Can-a-da. Our men were full of joy, and thought the +war would soon be at an end. Brad-dock urged Wash-ing-ton to join him +in the field. Wash-ing-ton felt that he could be of great use, as he +knew the land and the ways of red-men, so he took up the sword once +more, as Brad-dock's aide-de-camp. + +Ben-ja-min Frank-lin, who had charge of the mails, lent his aid to the +cause, and did all that he could to serve Brad-dock and his men. +Brad-dock, with his staff and a guard of horse-men, set out for Will's +Creek, by the way of Win-ches-ter, in A-pril, 1755. He rode in a fine +turn-out that he had bought of Gov-er-nor Sharpe, which he soon found +out was not meant for use on rough roads. But he had fought with +dukes, and men of high rank, and was fond of show, and liked to put on +a great deal of style. + +He thought that this would make the troops look up to him, and would +add much to his fame. + +In May the troops went in-to camp, and Wash-ing-ton had a chance to +learn much of the art of war that was new and strange to him, and to +see some things that made him smile. + +All the rules and forms of camp-life were kept up. One of the head +men who died while in camp, was borne to the grave in this style: A +guard marched in front of the corpse, the cap-tain of it in the rear. +Each man held his gun up-side down, as a sign that the dead would war +no more, and the drums beat the dead march. When near the grave the +guard formed two lines that stood face to face, let their guns rest on +the ground, and leaned their heads on the butts. The corpse was borne +twixt these two rows of men with the sword and sash on the top of the +box in which he lay, and in the rear of it the men of rank marched two +and two. When the corpse was put in the ground, the guard fired their +guns three times, and then all the troops marched back to camp. + +The red-men--the Del-a-wares and Shaw-nees came to aid Gen-er-al +Brad-dock. With them were White Thun-der, who had charge of the +"speech-belts," and Sil-ver Heels, who was swift of foot. Half-King +was dead, and White Thun-der reigned in his stead. + +The red-men had a camp to them-selves, where they would sing, and +dance, and howl and yell for half the night. It was fun for the King's +troops to watch them at their sports and games, and they soon found a +great charm in this wild sort of life. + +In the day time the red-men and their squaws, rigged up in their +plumes and war paint, hung round Brad-dock's camp, and gazed +spell-bound at the troops as they went through their drills. + +But this state of things did not last long, and strife rose twixt the +red and white men, and some of the red-skins left the camp. They told +Brad-dock they would meet him on his march, but they did not keep +their word. + +Wash-ing-ton was sent to Will-iams-burg to bring the gold of which +there was need, and when he came back he found that Brad-dock had +left a small guard at Fort Cum-ber-land, on Will's Creek, and was then +on his way to Fort Du-quesne. He would give no heed to those who knew +more of the back-woods than he did, nor call on the red-men to serve +as scouts and guides. He was not used to that kind of war-fare, and +scorned to be taught by such a youth as George Wash-ing-ton. + +The march was a hard one for man and beast. Up steep hills and through +rough roads they had to drag the guns, and Brad-dock soon found out +that these new fields were not like the old ones on which he had been +wont to fight. + +Hard as it was for his pride to seek the aid of so young a man, he was +at last forced to ask Wash-ing-ton to help him out of these straits. + +They had then made a halt at Lit-tle Mead-ows. Wash-ing-ton said there +was no time to lose. They must push on at once. + +While at this place Cap-tain Jack, and his brave band of hunts-men +came in-to camp. They were fond of the chase, and were well-armed with +knives and guns, and looked quite like a tribe of red-skins as they +came out of the wood. + +Brad-dock met them in a stiff sort of way. Cap-tain Jack stepped in +front of his band and said that he and his men were used to rough +work, and knew how to deal with the red-men, and would be glad to join +the force. + +Brad-dock looked on him with a gaze of scorn, and spoke to him in a +way that roused the ire of Cap-tain Jack. He told his men what had +been said, and the whole band turned their backs on the camp, and went +through the woods to their old haunts where they were known and prized +at their true worth. + +In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton, who had had a head-ache for some days, +grew so ill that he could not ride on his horse, and had to be borne +part of the time in a cart. + +Brad-dock--who well knew what a loss his death would be--said that he +should not go on. Wash-ing-ton plead with him, but Brad-dock was firm, +and made him halt on the road. Here he was left with a guard, and in +care of Doc-tor Craik, and here he had to stay for two long weeks. By +that time he could move, but not with-out much pain, for he was still +quite weak. It was his wish to join the troops in time for the great +blow, and while yet too weak to mount his horse, he set off with his +guards in a close cart, and reached Brad-dock's camp on the eighth of +Ju-ly. + +He was just in time, for the troops were to move on Fort Du-quesne the +next day. The fort was on the same side of the Mon-on-ga-he-la as the +camp, but twixt them lay a pass two miles in length, with the stream +on the left and a high range of hills on the right. The plan was to +ford the stream near the camp, march on the west bank of the stream +for five miles or so, and then cross to the east side and push on to +the fort. + +By sun-rise the next day the troops turned out in fine style, and +marched off to the noise of drum and fife. To Wash-ing-ton this was a +grand sight. Though still weak and ill, he rode his horse, and took +his place on the staff as aide-de-camp. + +At one o'clock the whole force had crossed the ford north of the fort, +and were on their way up the bank, when they were met by a fierce and +sharp fire from foes they could not see. Wild war-whoops and fierce +yells rent the air. What Wash-ing-ton feared, had come to pass. +Brad-dock did his best to keep the troops in line; but as fast as they +moved up, they were cut down by foes screened by rocks and trees. + +Now and then one of the red-men would dart out of the woods with a +wild yell to scalp a red-coat who had been shot down. Wild fear seized +Brad-dock's men, who fired and took no aim. Those in the front rank +were killed by those in the rear. Some of the Vir-gin-i-a troops took +post back of trees, and fought as the red-men did. Wash-ing-ton +thought it would be a good plan for Brad-dock's men to do the same. +But he thought there was but one way for troops to fight, and that +brave men ought not to skulk in that way. When some of them took to +the trees, Brad-dock stormed at them, and called them hard names, and +struck them with the flat of his sword. + +All day long Wash-ing-ton rode here and there in the midst of the +fight. He was in all parts of the field, a fine mark for the guns of +the foe, and yet not a shot struck him to do him harm. Four small +shots went through his coat. Two of his steeds were shot down; and +though those who stood near him fell dead at his side, Wash-ing-ton +had not one wound. + +The fight raged on. Death swept through the ranks of the red-coats. +The men at the guns were seized with fright. Wash-ing-ton sprang from +his horse, wheeled a brass field-piece with his own hand, and sent a +good shot through the woods. But this act did not bring the men back +to their guns. + +Brad-dock was on the field the whole day, and did his best to turn the +tide. But most of his head-men had been slain in his sight; five times +had he been forced to mount a fresh horse, as one by one was struck +down by the foe-man's shot, and still he kept his ground and tried to +check the flight of his men. + +At last a shot struck him in the right arm and went in-to his lungs. +He fell from his horse, and was borne from the field. The troops took +fright at once, and most of them fled. The yells of the red-men still +rang in their ears. + +"All is lost!" they cried. + +"Brad-dock is killed!" + +Wash-ing-ton had been sent to a camp 40 miles off, and was on his way +back when he heard the sad news. + +But Brad-dock did not die at once. He was brought back to camp, and +for two days lay in a calm state but full of pain. Now and then his +lips would move and he was heard to say, "Who would have thought it! +We shall know how to deal with them the next time!" + +He died at Fort Ne-ces-si-ty on the night of Ju-ly 13. Had he done as +Wash-ing-ton told him he might have saved his own life, and won the +day. But he was a proud man, and when he made up his mind to do a +thing he would do it at all risks. Through this fault he missed the +fame he hoped to win, lost his life, and found a grave in a strange +land. + +His loss was a great gain to Wash-ing-ton, for all felt that he, so +calm, so grave, so free from fear, was the right sort of man to lead +troops to war. Those who had seen him in the field thought that he +bore a charmed life, for though he stood where the shot fell thick and +fast he was not hurt, and showed no signs of fear. But Wash-ing-ton +was weak, and in need of rest, and as the death of Brad-dock left him +with no place in the force, he went back to Mount Ver-non where he +thought to spend the rest of his days. + +The fight which he took part in as aide-de-camp, and which had so sad +an end, goes by the name of _Brad-dock's de-feat_. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +COL-O-NEL OF VIR-GIN-I-A TROOPS. + + +The troops in Vir-gin-i-a were left with-out a head. There was no one +to lead them out to war, and if this fact came to the ears of the +French, they would be more bold. + +Wash-ing-ton's friends urged him to ask for the place. But this he +would not do. His brother wrote him thus: "Our hopes rest on you, dear +George. You are the man for the place: all are loud in your praise." + +But Wash-ing-ton was firm. He wrote back and told in plain words all +that he had borne, and how he had been served for the past two years. + +"I love my land," he said, "and shall be glad to serve it, but not on +the same terms that I have done so." + +His mo-ther begged him not to risk his life in these wars. He wrote +her that he should do all that he could to keep out of harm's way, but +if he should have a call to drive the foes from the land of his birth, +he would have to go! And this he was sure would give her much more +pride than if he were to stay at home. + +On the same day, Au-gust 13, that this note was sent, word came to +Wash-ing-ton that he had been made chief of all the troops in +Vir-gin-i-a, and the next month he went to Win-ches-ter to stay. + +Here he found much to do. There was need of more troops, and it was +hard work to get them. Forts had to be built, and he drew up a plan of +his own and set men to work it out, and went out from time to time to +see how they got on with it. He rode off thus at the risk of his life, +for red-men lay in wait for scalps, and were fierce to do deeds of +blood. + +The stir of war put new life in-to the veins of old Lord Fair-fax. He +got up a troop of horse, and put them through a drill on the lawn at +Green-way Court. He was fond of the chase, and knew how to run the sly +fox to the ground. The red-man was a sort of fox, and Fair-fax was +keen for the chase, and now and then would mount his steed and call on +George Wash-ing-ton, who was glad to have his kind friend so near. + +In a short time he had need of his aid, for word came from the fort at +Will's Creek that a band of red-men were on the war-path with +fire-brands, and knives, and were then on their way to Win-ches-ter. + +A man on a fleet horse was sent post-haste to Wash-ing-ton, who had +been called to Will-iams-burg, the chief town. + +In the mean-time Lord Fair-fax sent word to all the troops near his +home to arm and haste to the aid of Win-ches-ter. + +Those on farms flocked to the towns, where they thought they would be +safe; and the towns-folks fled to the west side of the Blue Ridge. In +the height of this stir Wash-ing-ton rode in-to town, and the sight of +him did much to quell their fears. + +He thought that there were but a few red-skins who had caused this +great scare, and it was his wish to take the field at once and go out +and put them to flight. But he could get but a few men to go with him. +The rest of the town troops would not stir. + +All the old fire-arms that were in the place were brought out, and +smiths set to work to scour off the rust and make them fit to use. + +Caps, such as are now used on guns, were not known in those days. +Flint stones took their place. One of these was put in the lock, so +that when it struck a piece of steel it would flash fire, and the +spark would set off the gun. These were called flint-lock guns. + +Such a thing as a match had not been thought of, and flint stones were +made use of to light all fires. + +Carts were sent off for balls, and flints, and for food with which to +feed all those who had flocked to Win-ches-ter. + +The tribes of red-men that had once served with Wash-ing-ton, were now +on good terms with the French. One of their chiefs, named Ja-cob, +laughed at forts that were built of wood, and made his boast that no +fort was safe from him if it would catch fire. + +The town where these red-men dwelt was two score miles from Fort +Du-quesne, and a band of brave white men, with John Arm-strong and +Hugh Mer-cer at their head, set out from Win-ches-ter to put them to +rout. + +At the end of a long march they came at night on the red-men's +strong-hold, and took them off their guard. The red-men, led by the +fierce chief Ja-cob, who chose to die ere he would yield, made a +strong fight, but in the end most of them were killed, their huts were +set on fire, and the brave strong-hold was a strong-hold no more. + +In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton had left Win-ches-ter and gone to Fort +Cum-ber-land, on Will's Creek. Here he kept his men at work on new +roads and old ones. Some were sent out as scouts. Brig-a-dier +Gen-er-al Forbes, who was in charge of the whole force, was on his way +from Phil-a-del-phi-a, but his march was a slow one as he was not in +good health. The plan was when he came to move on the French fort. The +work that was to have been done north of the fort, by Lord Lou-doun, +hung fire. It was felt that he was not the right man for the place, +and so his lord-ship was sent back to Eng-land. + +Ma-jor Gen-er-al Ab-er-crom-bie then took charge of the King's troops +at the north. These were to charge on Crown Point. Ma-jor Gen-er-al +Am-herst with a large force of men was with the fleet of Ad-mi-ral +Bos-caw-en, that set sail from Hal-i-fax the last of May. These were +to lay siege to Lou-is-berg and the isle of Cape Bre-ton, which is at +the mouth of the Gulf of St. Law-rence. Forbes was to move on Fort +Du-quesne, and was much too slow to suit Wash-ing-ton who was in haste +to start. His men had worn out their old clothes and were in great +need of new ones, which they could not get for some time. He liked the +dress the red-men wore. It was light and cool, and, what had to be +thought of most, it was cheap. Wash-ing-ton had some of his men put +on this dress, and it took well, and has since been worn by those who +roam the woods and plains of our great land. + +I will not tell you of all that took place near the great Lakes at +this time, as I wish to keep your mind on George Wash-ing-ton. + +The schemes laid out by Gen-er-al Forbes did not please Wash-ing-ton, +who urged a prompt march on the fort, while the roads were good. He +wrote to Ma-jor Hal-ket, who had been with Brad-dock, and was now on +Forbes' staff: "I find him fixed to lead you a new way to the O-hi-o, +through a road each inch of which must be cut when we have scarce time +left to tread the old track, which is known by all to be the best path +through the hills." He made it plain that if they went that new way +all would be lost, and they would be way-laid by the red-skins and +meet with all sorts of ills. + +But no heed was paid to his words, and the warm days came to an end. +Six weeks were spent in hard work on the new road with a gain of less +than three-score miles, when the whole force might have been in front +of the French fort had they marched by the old road as Wash-ing-ton +had urged. + +At a place known as Loy-al Han-nan, the troops were brought to a halt, +as Forbes thought this was a good place to build a fort. Some men in +charge of Ma-jor Grant went forth as scouts. At dusk they drew near a +fort, and set fire to a log house near its walls. This was a rash +thing to do, as it let the French know just where they were. + +But not a gun was fired from the fort. This the King's troops took for +a sign of fear, and were bold and proud, and quite sure that they +would win the day. So Brad-dock had thought, and we know his fate. + +At length--when Forbes and his men were off their guard--the French +made a dash from the fort, and poured their fire on the King's +troops. On their right and left flanks fell a storm of shot from the +red-skins who had hid back of trees, rocks, and shrubs. + +The King's troops were then brought up in line, and for a while stood +firm and fought for their lives. But they were no match for the +red-skins, whose fierce yells made the blood run chill. Ma-jor Lew-is +fought hand to hand with a "brave" whom he laid dead at his feet. +Red-skins came up at once to take the white-man's scalp, and there was +but one way in which he could save his life. This was to give him-self +up to the French, which both he and Ma-jor Grant were forced to do, as +their troops had been put to rout with great loss. + +Wash-ing-ton won much praise for the way in which the Vir-gin-i-a +troops had fought, and he was at once put in charge of a large force, +who were to lead the van, serve as scouts, and do their best to drive +back the red-skins--work that called for the best skill and nerve. + +It was late in the fall of the year when the King's troops all met at +Loy-al Han-nan, and so much had to be done to clear the roads, that +snow would be on the ground ere they could reach the fort. But from +those of the French that they had seized in the late fight, they found +out that there were but few troops in the fort, that food was scarce, +and the red-skins false to their trust. + +This lent hope to the King's troops, who made up their minds to push +on. They took up their march at once, with no tents or stores, and but +few large guns. + +Wash-ing-ton rode at the head. It was a sad march, for the ground was +strewn with the bones of those who had fought with Grant and with +Brad-dock, and been slain by the foe, or died of their wounds. + +At length the troops drew near the fort, and made their way up to it +with great care, for they thought the French would be in wait for +them, and that there would be a fierce fight. + +But the French had had such bad luck in Can-a-da, that they had lost +heart, and those in the fort were left to take care of them-selves. So +when the Eng-lish were one day's march from the fort, the French stole +out at night, got in-to boats, set the fort on fire, and went down the +O-hi-o by the light of the flames. + +So the fort which had been the cause of so much blood-shed, fell at +last with-out a blow, and on No-vem-ber 25, 1758, Wash-ing-ton, with +his van-guard, marched in and placed the Brit-ish flag on the wreck of +the once proud strong-hold, the name of which was changed to Fort +Pitt. + +The French gave up all claim to the O-hi-o from that time. The +red-skins were quick to make friends with those who held sway, and +there was peace with all the tribes twixt the O-hi-o and the Lakes. + +Wash-ing-ton had made up his mind to leave the field when this war +came to an end, and in De-cem-ber of the same year he bade his troops +good-bye. + +He had been with them for five years in a hard school, and the strain +on his mind had been so great that he lost his health, and felt that +he could war no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HOME OF WASH-ING-TON. + + +In the year 1758, while Wash-ing-ton was with his troops at +Win-ches-ter, he met and fell in love with Mrs. Mar-tha Cus-tis. Her +home was known as the White House, and here she dwelt in fine style, +for she had great wealth. She had a boy six years of age, and a girl +of four. + +Such were her charms that men of wealth and rank sought for her hand, +but Wash-ing-ton, so calm and grave, and with his way yet to make in +the world, won her heart, and they were to be wed at the close of the +war. + +She had heard of the brave deeds he had done, and was proud to be the +wife of such a man, so on Jan-u-a-ry 6, 1759, the two were made one. + +In the course of a few months Wash-ing-ton went to live at _Mount +Ver-non_, where he spent much of his time in the care of his own +lands, and those of his wife. + +He had a seat with those who made laws for the State, and no man was +thought more of than George Wash-ing-ton. + +Wash-ing-ton loved to be at _Mount Ver-non_, where he had spent a +great part of his boy-hood, with his bro-ther, Law-rence, of whom he +was so fond. The house stood on a knoll, and near it were wild woods +and deep dells, haunts of the fox and the deer, and bright streams +where fish could be found at all times. + +His chief sport was the chase, and, at the right time of the year, he +would go out two or three times a week, with dogs and horns and +trained steeds, in search of the sly fox who would lead him and his +friends a fine run. + +Some times he would go out with his gun and shoot wild-ducks, great +flocks of which might be found on the streams close at hand. Or he +would scour the woods for the game with which they were filled, and +which none but those who owned the place had a right to kill. + +A man who had a bad name and paid no heed to the laws that were made, +was wont to make his way to the grounds near Mount Ver-non and shoot +just what game he chose. More than once he had been told to leave and +not come back, but he paid no more heed than if he had been deaf, and +was sure to take his pick from the best kind of ducks. + +One day when Wash-ing-ton was out on horse-back he heard the sound of +a gun down near the edge of the stream. He put spurs to his horse, +dashed through bush and brake, and soon came up to the rogue who had +just time to jump in his boat and push from shore. Then the bad man +raised his gun, cocked it, and took aim at Wash-ing-ton, whom he would +no doubt have shot down in cold-blood. + +But Wash-ing-ton rode at once in-to the stream, and seized the prow of +the boat, and drew it to shore. Then he sprang from his horse, +wrenched the gun from the thief's hand, and laid on the lash in such a +way that the rogue took to his heels when let loose, and came no more +near Mount Ver-non. + +As I have told you, men of great wealth dwelt on the shores of the +Po-to-mac, and kept house in fine style. They had a large force of +slaves, and made great feasts for their friends. One of them used to +come out in a rich barge to meet Wash-ing-ton. This barge was rowed by +six black men in check shirts and black vel-vet caps. + +Wash-ing-ton had a coach and four, with black foot-men, for Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton to use when she drove out; but he chose to go on +horse-back. Some-times he and his wife went to An-na-po-lis, to a ball +or feast of some sort, where Wash-ing-ton took part in the dance, and +all the belles of the day were proud to dance with him, for he had a +grand style that made him seem like no one else in the room. + +When storms kept him in the house, he would read, or spend the time at +his desk with pen in hand. + +He was kind to his slaves, and took the best of care of them when they +were sick, but was quick to see that they did not shirk their work. He +knew, too, just the kind of work each one was fit for, and which he +could do the best. + +Four of his slaves set out to hew and shape a large log. Wash-ing-ton +kept his eye on them and thought they loafed too much. So he sat down, +took out his watch, and timed them: how long it took them to get their +cross-cut saw and the rest of their tools; how long to cut off the +limbs from the tree they had laid low; how long to hew and saw it; +what time they spent in talk; and how much work they did while he sat +there and took notes. In this way he found out just how much work four +men could do in the course of a day--and take their ease. + +Wash-ing-ton was quick to lend a hand in time of need, and once when +word was brought him that the dam had broke loose, and the mill would +soon be swept off, he ran at the head of all his slaves and work-men, +and toiled as hard as they in a fierce rain-storm, to check the force +of the flood. + +The cares of home and state made such calls on his time and thoughts, +that he could not be said to live quite at his ease, and he left his +mark--a high one--on all that he did. + +His crops were of the best, and he sought to cheat no one. The flour +he sold from year to year was put up with so much care, and was of +such a good kind and so true in weight that all that bore the brand of +_George Wash-ing-ton_, _Mount Ver-non_, was held at a high rate in the +West In-di-a ports. + +Quite a trade was kept up with Eu-rope, where all the goods had to be +bought that were used in the house or on the farm. + +Twice a year Wash-ing-ton sent on a long list of such things as he had +need of: ploughs, hoes, scythes, horse-goods, and clothes for all the +house-hold. For these last he had to give size and height, name, and +age, of those who were to wear them. + +In one of these lists Wash-ing-ton, who had need of a new suit of +clothes, said he was six feet in height, quite thin, and had long +limbs. He was then 31 years old. + +You will see by what I have told you just how Wash-ing-ton spent much +of his time for at least five years. They were five sweet years to +him; full of peace, and rest, and joy. He was fond of his home, and +felt as much pride in Nel-lie and John Parke Cus-tis as if they had +been his own boy and girl. Nel-lie was a frail child, and did not gain +in strength, though she had the best of care. Her death took place +June 19, 1773, when she was but 17 years of age. + +This was a sad blow to Wash-ing-ton, as well as to his wife, and then +all their hopes were placed on the son, who bade fair to be a fine +strong man. But he died in the year 1781, at the age of 28. + +While Wash-ing-ton dwelt in peace at Mount Ver-non, war was rife in +the land, but as he had with-drawn from those who bore arms he took +no part in it It was called Pon-ti-ac's war, as it was led by a chief +of that name, but the O-hi-o tribes were with him, and the plot was +deep laid. + +Large tracts of wood-land were laid waste; homes were burnt, and those +who dwelt in them robbed and slain; and so sly and shrewd were the +red-skins that it was some time ere the white men could put a stop to +their deeds of blood. + +It was in 1760 that King George the Third made up his mind to tax the +folks in A-mer-i-ca for all the goods they bought in Eng-land. The +trade was large, and in this way the king could add much to his +wealth. But the scheme did not work well. It was first tried in +Bos-ton, and set all the folks there by the ears. They claimed that +they had rights as well as the king. They had come to this land to be +free, and free they would be. They would do with-out tea and such +things, and dress as well as they could in clothes made out of +home-made goods. + +The king next said that goods bought from Eng-land must bear the +king's stamp, for which a sum was to be paid more than the cost of the +goods. This was known as the Stamp Act. The folks in A-mer-i-ca were +poor. They had not the means to pay this tax. The thought of it filled +them with rage; and for five years there was much talk of the wrong +the king had done to those who dwelt in A-mer-i-ca. + +On the first day of No-vem-ber, 1765, the Stamp Act was to go in-to +force, and all New Eng-land was in arms. At Bos-ton bells were tolled; +flags were hung at half-mast; shops were shut, and bon-fires built. + +In New York, the Act--in clear print--was borne through the streets on +a pole, on top of which was a death's head. + +A man named Col-den whose place it was to serve out the stamps had to +flee to the fort, round which was placed a strong guard from a +ship-of-war. The mob broke in-to his coach-house, drew out his coach, +put in it a form--stuffed and dressed to look some-what like +Col-den--and marched up to the Park where they hung it on a tree. + +At night they took the form down, put it in a coach, and bore it back +to Bow-ling Green, where the whole thing--coach and all--was burnt +right in range of the guns of the fort where the King's troops were. + +In March 1766, the king drew back the Stamp Act, which gave great joy +to those who had the good of A-mer-i-ca at heart, and to none more +than to George Wash-ing-ton. But he made it known that he felt it to +be his right as their king to tax them as he chose, and this hurt the +pride of those who wished to make their own laws, and be in bonds to +no one. + +Wash-ing-ton--as did most of those who had Eng-lish blood in their +veins--looked up-on that land as his home, and was loath to break the +chain that bound him to it. But he did not think well of the Stamp +Act, and saw what was sure to come to pass if the king pressed too +hard on the A-mer-i-cans. + +On Sep-tem-ber 5, 1774, a band of true men from all the States met for +the first time in Phil-a-del-phi-a, and Wash-ing-ton set out from +Mount Ver-non on horse-back to take his seat with them. With him were +Pat-rick Hen-ry and Ed-mund Pen-dle-ton; and as they rode side by side +they talked of the land they loved, and of the hopes they had that all +would be well. + +The band met with closed doors. Each man wore a grave face. Pat-rick +Hen-ry made a strong speech at the close of which he said, "All +A-mer-i-ca is thrown in-to one mass. Where are your land-marks? * * * +They are all thrown down." + +He said he did not call him-self by the name of the _State_ in which +he was born, but by the name of the _land_ which gave him birth--then +known as "the land of the free." + +Wash-ing-ton was not a man of words, but of deeds. But what he said +was of great weight as it came from a wise brain and a true heart. + +Pat-rick Hen-ry said there was no man in the whole band so great as +George Wash-ing-ton. The band broke up in No-vem-ber, and Wash-ing-ton +went back to Mount Ver-non. But not to the gay times and good cheer he +once had known. George Fair-fax--who had been his friend from +boy-hood--had gone to Eng-land to live, and Bel-voir took fire one +night and was burnt to the ground. + +The stir in Bos-ton, and in the West where the red-skins were on the +war-path, made the whole land ill at ease. Troops were kept on drill, +and the roll of the drum was heard in all the small towns. Men came to +talk with Wash-ing-ton and to find out what he thought was the best +thing to do, and the best way to drill or to arm troops. + +It was of no use to plead with the king. He had made up his mind and +would not yield an inch. A large force of the best men in Vir-gin-i-a +met at Rich-mond, March 20, 1775, and Wash-ing-ton was called on for +some plan as to what their course should be. + +He told them that he thought there was but one thing to do. Pat-rick +Hen-ry put it in-to words that rang through the land: "We must fight! +I repeat it, Sir, we must fight! An ap-peal to arms, and the God of +hosts, is all that is left us!" + +All hearts were full of zeal; and Wash-ing-ton wrote to his bro-ther, +Au-gus-tine, that if there was need of it he would lead troops to war, +and risk his life and all his wealth in the cause, which seemed to him +a most just one. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL. + + +In the year 1775 war was rife in New Eng-land. The King's laws were +felt to be more for slaves than for free-men, and all made up their +minds to throw off the yoke. They could not bear the sight of the +red-coats; and the King's troops were just as fierce in their hate of +our men. + +Ships-of-war brought a large force of troops to New Eng-land, led by +men of rank and fame. They filled the streets of Bos-ton, and it was +thought they might bring the A-mer-i-cans to terms, and not a drop of +blood be shed. But this was not to be. + +A large force of our men were in camp on the hills and fields near +Bos-ton, the sight of whom might well cause the well-clad Brit-ish to +smile. They had left their farms in great haste at the cry of "To +arms!" had seized their guns, and come in the home-spun clothes it +was their pride to wear. Those from Mas-sa-chu-setts were led by +Gen-er-al Ar-te-mas Ward; those from New Hamp-shire by Col-o-nel John +Stark; those from Rhode Isl-and by Gen-er-al Na-than-i-el Greene; and +those from Con-nect-i-cut by Gen-er-al Is-ra-el Put-nam; all brave and +true men, and full of fight. + +But the troops had need to be well armed; and all the guns and such +things as there was need of in war times were in Bos-ton, where the +red-coats were on guard. But though sharp eyes were on the watch, sly +deeds were done by those who knew the ways in and out of each +store-house. Carts went out of town heaped high with dirt in which +guns and balls were hid; and all sorts of tricks were used to get +such things past the red-coats. + +At length it came to the ears of Gen-er-al Gage, that some field guns +were at Sa-lem, and he sent troops there to seize them. But when they +reached Sa-lem they found no guns there. + +Then word came to Gen-er-al Gage that there was a large stock of arms +and war-stores at Con-cord, which was less than a score of miles from +Bos-ton. + +In the night of A-pril 18, the red-coats set out for Con-cord. +Gen-er-al Gage had said that no one but the troops should leave the +town, but the news was borne to Lex-ing-ton--a town on the road to +Con-cord--by those who were as swift as the hare, and as sly as the +fox. + +The folks there met in groups, with hearts on fire. Bells were rung +and guns were fired. Men who heard these sounds ran as fast as they +could to Lex-ing-ton, to hold the bridge, and keep back the foe. + +At five o'clock, on the morn of A-pril 19, the red-coats came in +sight, and at once three-score and ten men stood out on the green near +the wall to meet them. + +Ma-jor Pit-cairn who was at the head of the King's troops called out +to these brave men to lay down their arms and leave the place. But +they paid no heed to his words. Then he sprang from the ranks, shot +off a small gun, swung his sword in air, and told his men to fire. The +troops ran up, with loud cheers, and poured a storm of shot on our +men, some of whom were killed. Then they pushed on to Con-cord, and +did all the harm they could at that place: spiked guns, threw pounds +and pounds of shot down the wells, and spoiled a large lot of flour +and food that had been stored there for use in time of need. + +When the King's troops turned back to Lex-ing-ton, they were quite +worn out with what they had done, and would have been cut down by our +men if Gage had not sent a force to their aid. + +For the blue-coats had flown to arms, and poured in-to Lex-ing-ton by +all the roads that led led there-to. The red-coats might laugh at +their clothes, and the way in which they tried to keep step, but they +found out that they knew how to use guns, and that each man was a +dead-shot. + +The fresh troops Gage sent up from Bos-ton had to form a square, so +that the worn out men who had had a long march and hard work might +have a chance to rest. Then they all set out to march back to Bos-ton, +with two field guns in the rear to keep off the "flock of Yan-kees," +who dogged their steps, and kept up a fire in front and rear, and from +each stone-wall and hedge that lined the road. + +There was loss on both sides, but what hurt the King's troops the most +was to be put to flight by such a lot of scare crows, as they thought +our troops were. + +A close watch was kept on Bos-ton by our men, who were soon in such +force that it would not have been safe for the red-coats to try to +leave the town. The Kings troops did not like to be shut in, in this +way, and lost no chance to mock at and taunt those who kept them at +bay. + +On the north side of Bos-ton lay a long strip of land, from the +heights of which one could see the town and all the ships at or near +the wharves. Put-nam thought it would be a good plan to seize these +heights and place troops there; but Ward and War-ner thought it was +not safe to risk it. It might bring on a fierce fight and cause much +blood to be shed. + +Put-nam had no fear of his own men. He knew how brave they were, and +how well they could fight back of a screen. "They have no fear of +their heads," he said, "their chief thought is their legs. Shield +them, and they'll fight on till doom's-day." + +Two or three of those who had led troops in the French war, were of +the same mind as Put-nam, and their words had weight. The chief man +was Col-o-nel Pres-cott, who was just the style of man, in port and in +dress, that a lot of raw troops would look up to. He wore a fine hat, +a top-wig, and a blue coat faced and lapped up at the skirts. + +He it was whom Gen-er-al Ward chose to lead the troops which were to +seize the heights, build the earth-works there, and guard them from +the foe. There were 1200 in all, and they set out on the night of June +16, 1775. Not a light was shown. Not a sound was heard, but the +tramp--tramp--tramp of these men on their way to face death. + +A small neck of land joined Charles-town to the main-land, and as they +drew near this the troops hushed their steps, and moved with great +care. For on this the red-coats kept a close watch. Five of their +ships-of-war stood so that their guns would sweep this neck of land, +and earth-works were on Copp's Hill, which faced Charles-town. + +On the blue-coats went, past the guards, past the guns, past the Neck, +and up to the heights of Bunk-er's Hill. Here they were to make their +stand, but it was found that Breed's Hill, which was half a mile off, +was not quite so steep, and would give them more of a chance at the +red-coats, while Bunk-er's Hill would shield them in the rear. + +Put-nam thought Breed's Hill was the right place and was in haste for +the work to go on. There was no time to lose. So pick and spade were +brought out, and the earth dug out so as to serve as a wall to screen +them from the fire of the foe. + +The night was warm and still. Now and then Pres-cott would steal down +to the edge of the stream, to see and hear if the red-coats had made a +stir. There was not a sound save the cry of "All's well! All's well!" +from the watch-man on guard in the town, and on the ships-of-war. + +All night the work on the heights went on. At dawn of day the men +there were seen by the sea-men on the ships-of-war, and at once their +guns were brought up and turned on the hill. Their shot did not harm +the works, but one man who went out-side was killed, and this threw +the rest in-to a great fright. They were not used to scenes of war, +and the sight of a man shot down in their midst was more than their +nerves could stand. + +Some took to their heels at once, and did not come back, and had +Pres-cott not been a brave man him-self he could not have held his +troops as he did. He stood up on top of the earth-works in full view +of the red-coats, and talked with his men, and his words of cheer put +new strength in their hearts, so that they were in less dread of the +balls that whizzed near them. + +The noise of the guns roused the red-coats in Bos-ton, and Gen-er-al +Gage gazed at Breed's Hill like one in a dream. A fort full of men had +sprung up in the night! How had it been done? What kind of men were +these he had to meet? As he stood on Copp's Hill and looked through +his field glass, he spied the tall form of Pres-cott, in his blue +coat, on the wall of the fort. + +"Will he fight?" asked Gage, "Yes, _sir_," said one who stood near, +and who knew Pres-cott. "He will fight to the last drop of blood; but +I can't say as much for his men." + +"We must seize the works!" cried Gage, and at once called up his +chiefs for a talk, and to plan the best way to do this deed. + +The noise in the streets of Bos-ton, the roll of the drum, the sound +of the trump that calls to war, the sharp click of hoofs, and the deep +roll of wheels that bore the field guns, were heard on the heights, +and let the troops there know that war was at hand. + +The men were worn out with their hard task, and their loss of sleep. +They had not brought much food with them, and their thirst was great. +The heat made them feel weak and dull. There was need of more men, and +a lot of raw New Hamp-shire troops, led by Col-o-nel Stark came to +their aid. In the mean time those on the height had to bear the fire +of the guns from the ships and from Copp's Hill, which broke on them +at ten o'clock. + +At noon the blue-coats saw more than a score of boats full of troops +cross from Bos-ton in straight lines. The sun shone on their +red-coats, and flashed from the tips of the guns they bore, and from +the brass field guns that stood on the deck. It was a gay scene. They +made their way to a point north of Breed's Hill, where Gen-er-al Howe, +who led them, could see the full strength of the blue-coats. They had +more troops than he thought, and he caught sight of fresh ones on +their way to Breed's Hill. + +Howe at once sent to Gage for more troops, and more balls for the +field guns, and as it would take some time for them to be sent round, +the red-coats in the mean-time were served with food and drink. The +"grog" was passed round in pails, and the men sat round on the grass, +and ate and drank their fill, while the poor men on the heights looked +down and longed to share their feast. + +But while the red-coats took their ease, the blue-coats had a chance +to add to the strength of their fort, and to push out the breast-works +to a point known as the Slough. + +Near this was a pass where the foe might turn the left-flank of the +troops or seize Bunk-er's Hill. + +Put-nam chose one of his men, a Cap-tain Knowl-ton, to hold this pass +with his Con-nect-i-cut troops. He at once set to work to build a sort +of fort, back of which his men could fight with more ease than if they +stood out in the field. Not a long way off was a post-and-rail fence +set in a low foot-wall of stone, and this fence ran down to the +Mys-tic Riv-er. The posts and rails of a fence, near this, were torn +up in haste, and set a few feet at the rear of it, and the space +'twixt the two was filled with new-mown hay brought from the fields +near at hand. + +While Knowl-ton and his men were at work on this fence, Put-nam and +his troops threw up the work on Bunk-er's Hill. + +In the mean time Stark had set out from Med-ford on a six mile march. +He was a cool, calm man, and had been through the French war, of which +I have told you. He led his men at a slow pace, so that they would be +fresh and strong to take part in the fight. As they came up to the +Neck, which they had to cross, and which was lined with guns on both +sides, one of the aides urged him to let the men take a quick step. + +The old man shook his head, and said, "One fresh man in a fight is +worth ten tired ones," and kept on at the same pace; and did good +work that day back of the post-and-rail screen. + +War-ren, who had been made a Ma-jor Gen-er-al, came to serve in the +ranks. Put-nam said he might lead the troops at the fence. He said he +did not care to lead; he was there to fight. "Where will the fire be +the hot-test?" he asked. He was told that the fort on Breed's Hill was +the point the foe sought to gain. "If we can hold that," said Put-nam, +"the day is ours." + +War-ren at once made his way there, and the troops gave a round of +cheers when he stepped in-to the fort. Pres-cott, who was not so high +in rank, sought to have War-ren take charge of the troops. But he +would not. "I have come to serve in the ranks," he said, "and shall be +glad to learn from one so well-skilled as your-self." + +The red-coats thought to take the works with ease, and win the day. +Gen-er-al Pig-ot, with the left wing, was to mount the hill and seize +the earth-works, while Gen-er-al Howe came up with the right wing to +turn the left-flank of our men and stop all flight at the rear. + +Pig-ot and his men came up the height, and not a gun was fired by our +troops till the red-coats were in range. Then, as they were all good +marks-men each shot told, and some of the best men fell at the first +fire. The foe fell back in haste, but were brought up once more by +those who stood at their head with drawn swords. + +They were met by a fire more fierce than the first, and vexed by the +guns that bore on their flank from the band of men in Charles-town. So +much blood had been shed, and the men were in such a state of fright, +that Pig-ot was forced to give the word to fall back. + +We will now see what sort of luck Gen-er-al Howe had. He led his +troops up the bank of the stream, and thought to take the slight +breast-work with ease, and so get in the rear of the fort. But he did +not know the ground, and could not bring his large guns through the +swamp he met with. In the pause some of his men were hurt and some +killed by the guns that were set by the post-and-rail fence. + +Howe's men kept up a fire as they came on, but as they did not take +good aim the balls flew o'er the heads of our troops, who had been +told to hold their fire till the red-coats were quite near. + +Some few did not do as they were told, and Put-nam rode up and swore +he would cut down the next man that fired ere he had the word to do +so. When the red-coats were in the right range, such a storm of lead +poured on them from guns in the hands of men who did not miss a mark +that the place was like a field of blood. + +Such a host were slain that the red-coats lost heart, and fell back in +great haste. Some of them ran back as far as the boats, and got on +board of them that they might be safe from the fire of the marks-men. + +Once more the red-coats charged the fort, which it was their aim to +get in-to their own hands. In the mean time the shells from Copp's +Hill and the ships-of-war had set Charles-town on fire. The town was +built of wood, and was soon a mass of flames. The dense smoke put out +the light of the sun On all sides was heard the din of war. The big +guns kept up their great roar. Bomb-shells burst in the air. The sharp +hiss of the small balls, and the shouts and yells of the men made a +scene to strike the heart with awe. + +Our men stood firm, and with eyes fixed on the foe, who, as soon as +they were close at hand, were shot down by the guns whose aim was so +sure. + +The red-coats stood the first shock, and then kept on, but were met by +such a stream of fire that they were soon brought to a halt. In vain +did the men who led them urge them on with drawn swords. Whole ranks +were mowed down. Some of Gen-er-al Howe's staff were slain, and the +troops, wild with fear, broke ranks and fled down the hill. + +For a third time Gen-er-al Howe brought up his men, some of whom threw +off their knap-sacks and some their coats that they might not be +weighed down by them. + +The red-coats made a feint as if they would take the fort at the +fence, and did much harm there to our men. While some of his troops +were at work at that point, Howe brought the rest of his force to the +front and rear of the main fort, which was then stormed on three sides +at once. + +Pres-cott told some of his men to stand at the back part of the fort +and fire at the red-coats that showed them-selves on the wall. Soon +one leaped up and cried out "The day is ours!" and was shot down at +once, as were all those who had joined him. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON CHOSEN FOR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF--P. 62.] + +But our men had fired their last round, and there was nought for them +to do but to meet the foe in a hand-to-hand fight. With stones and the +butt-ends of their guns they sought to drive back the red-coats, but +the tide was too strong for them, and they had to give way. + +War-ren, who had done brave work that day, was the last to leave the +fort. He scarce had done so ere he was struck by a ball and fell dead +on the spot. + +As our troops fled by way of Bunk-er Hill, Put-nam ran to the rear and +cried, "Halt! make a stand here! We can check them yet! In God's name +form, and give them one shot more!" + +But the troops could not be brought to a stand, and the red-coats won +the day, but with the loss of more than half of their men. And it hurt +their pride to think that it had cost them so dear to take these +earth-works that had been thrown up in one night by a mere hand-ful of +raw troops. + +Their loss was 1,054. + +Our loss was 450. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. + + +The deeds done ere this by the King's troops had made a great stir +through-out the land. The chief men of each State met in +Phil-a-del-phi-a, and sought out ways and means to help those who were +in arms, as foes of King George, and a large force of men, from +Ma-ry-land, Penn-syl-va-ni-a, and Vir-gin-i-a, were soon on hand to +march and join the troops near Bos-ton. + +But who was to lead them? The choice at once fell on George +Wash-ing-ton, but he held back. He thought that Mas-sa-chu-setts' +troops might not care to be led by a man from the south; and, too, +Gen-er-al Ward, who was then at their head had the first right, for +Wash-ing-ton's rank was not so high as his. + +There was much talk on this score, and in the midst of it a +Mas-sa-chu-setts man, John Ad-ams, rose and said that the man he +thought fit to lead our troops was in that room, and he came from +Vir-gin-i-a. + +All knew whom he meant, and as Wash-ing-ton heard his own name he rose +from his seat and left the room. + +Then votes were cast, and all were for Wash-ing-ton, and he felt that +he could not say No to such a call. He spoke his thanks in a few +words, and said that he would do the best that he could, and serve +with-out pay. He set out from Phil-a-del-phi-a June 21, 1775. With him +were Gen-er-al Lee and Gen-er-al Schuy-ler, and a troop of +light-horse, which went all the way to New York. + +As soon as it was known that Wash-ing-ton was on the road, crowds ran +out to meet him, and to show their pride in him. + +When he reached New York he heard of the fight at Bunk-er Hill, and +made haste to join the troops in their camp at Cam-bridge. He reached +there Ju-ly 2. The next day all the troops were drawn out in line, and +Wash-ing-ton rode out at the head of his staff till he came to a large +elm tree. Here he wheeled his horse, and drew his sword and took +charge of all our troops as their Com-mand-er-in-chief. + +He found much to do, and much to bear from his own men as well as from +the red-coats. It came to his ears that our men who fell in-to the +hands of the red-coats at Bunk-er's Hill, were not well used, and he +wrote at once to Gage and asked him to be less harsh. Gage, who had +fought by his side in 1753, when both were young men, wrote back that +he thought he should have praise and not blame, since he had saved the +lives of those who were doomed to be hung. + +Wash-ing-ton at first thought he would do as he was done by, but his +heart failed him, and those of the red-coats that were in the hands +of our troops were set free, if they gave their word they would not +fight for King George. + +By such acts Wash-ing-ton sought to show that "A-mer-i-cans are as +mer-ci-ful as they are brave." + +The camps in which Wash-ing-ton found his troops were as odd as the +men them-selves. Some of the tents were made of boards, some of +sail-cloth, or bits of both, while here and there were those made of +stone and turf, brick and brush-wood. Some were thrown up in haste and +bore no marks of care, while a few were wrought with wreaths and +twigs, and spoke well for the taste of those who made them. + +The best camp of all was that of the Rhode Is-land men in charge of +Gen-er-al Na-than-i-el Greene. Here were found as good tents as the +red-coats had, and the men were well-drilled and well-dressed. Greene +was brought up on a farm. His fa-ther was a black-smith, and at times +his son worked with the plough, or took his place at the forge. + +At the first note of war, Greene left the farm and in the month of +May, 1775, was in charge of all the troops of his own small state. He +went to Bos-ton, and took notes while there of all that the red-coats +did, and in this way learned much that he could put to good use. His +troops had fought at Bunk-er Hill, and there were none in the whole +force that bore them-selves so well, or made so fine a show. + +Greene was six feet tall, and not quite two score years of age. He was +strong and well built, and his frank way won the heart of +Wash-ing-ton, and the two were warm friends from that time. + +Wash-ing-ton now set to work to add strength to the weak parts of his +line, and to throw up fresh works round the main forts. All the live +stock had to be kept off the coast so that they would not fall in-to +the hands of the foe. + +He sought to draw the red-coats out of Bos-ton, but they would not +stir. When Wash-ing-ton took charge of the troops, he thought that he +could go back to his home when the cold days came on, and spend some +time there with his wife. + +But there was no chance for him to leave, so he wrote to Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton to join him in the camp. She came and staid with him till +the next spring; and this was her course all through the war. + +She came in her own coach and four, with her son and his wife. The +black foot-men were drest in red and white, and the whole turn-out was +in the style in use in Vir-gin-i-a at that day. + +Wash-ing-ton had his rooms in the Crai-gie House, in Cam-bridge, and +here Mrs. Wash-ing-ton took charge and gave the place more of a +home-like air. + +At that time the camp of Cam-bridge was filled with all sorts of +troops. Some had spent the most of their lives in boats, some were +brought up on farms, some came from the woods, and each group wore the +dress that pleased them best, and laughed at those who were not drest +the same. + +This made sport for some time and jokes flew thick and fast. + +One day some men came in-to camp drest in an odd garb, such as was +worn to hunt in. The suit was made of deer-skin, and the long shirt +had a deep fringe all round. This dress was the cause of much mirth to +men who came from the sea-shore, and were used to short coats, and +rough plain clothes. + +There was snow on the ground, and when the jokes gave out, snow-balls +took their place, for a war of words is quite sure to end in blows. +Men came up to the aid of both sides. Fists were used, and all took +part in the hand-to-hand fight, and there was a great stir in the +camp. + +While the fight was at its height Wash-ing-ton rode up. None of his +aides were with him. He threw the reins of his own horse in-to the +hands of the black-man who rode near, sprang from his seat, and rushed +in-to the thick of the fray. Then he seized two of the tall stout +hunts-men by the throat, and talked to them and shook them while he +held them at arm's length. + +This put an end to the brawl at once, and the rest of the crowd slunk +off in haste, and left but three men on the ground: Wash-ing-ton, and +the two he held in his grasp. + +As the cold days and nights came on the men grew home-sick, and longed +to be by their own fire-sides. It was right that some of them should +go, for they had served out their time, and this made the rest +lone-some and sad. Songs would not cheer them, and they paid no heed +to the words of those who sought to rouse them from these depths of +woe. + +Wash-ing-ton was full of fears, which were shared by all those who +were near him in rank, yet he did not lose hope. Gen-er-al Greene +wrote, "They seem to be so sick of this way of life, and so home-sick, +that I fear a large part of our best troops will soon go home." Still +his heart did not lose hope. All would come right in time; and his +words of cheer were a great help to Wash-ing-ton at this time. + +The year 1775 had been a dark one for our land, and there was no ray +of hope to light the dawn of 1776. There were but 10,000 troops to +take the field. There was a lack of arms, a lack of clothes, and a +lack of food, and these things made camp-life hard to bear, and were a +great grief to the heart of the chief. He could not sleep. Had the foe +known of their plight, they would have borne down on them and swept +them out of sight. But God took care of them. + +In the first month of the year there was a stir on the Bos-ton +wharves. A large fleet of boats lay in the stream, on board of which +the red-coats swarmed, and there were two sloops-of-war filled with +guns and war-like stores. + +All were in charge of Gen-er-al Howe, and Wash-ing-ton guessed what +his plans were! and felt that the time had come for him to strive to +wrest Bos-ton from the King's troops. + +The out-look was bright. More troops had come to his aid, and he made +up his mind to place part of his force on Dor-ches-ter Heights, and, +if he could, draw out the foe to fight at that place. At a sign, the +troops on the Heights and at Nook's Hill were to fire at the same +time, and rake the town with balls and bomb-shells. At the same time +boats full of troops were to start from the mouth of Charles Riv-er, +and act in the rear of the red-coats. It was thought that these moves +on the part of our troops would bring on such a fight as they had had +on Breed's Hill. + +On the night of March 4, our men made their way to the Heights, and +at dawn of the next day strong forts loomed up, and seemed as if they +must have been brought there at the touch of a wand. + +Howe gazed on them and said, "The reb-els have done more work in one +night than my whole ar-my would have done in a month." + +He must drive them from the Heights, or leave Bos-ton. While pride +urged him on, fear held him back, for he knew that his loss would be +great. But he must make a move of some sort, so he made up his mind to +send boats out that night with a force of troops in charge of Lord +Per-cy. But a storm came up from the east; the surf beat high on the +shore where the boats would have to land; and the scheme was put off +till the next day. But it stormed just as hard the next day; the rain +came down in sheets; and the boats staid where they were. + +In the mean time our men kept at work on the hills on the north side +and south side, and when the storm ceased Gen-er-al Howe saw that the +forts were now so strong there would be no chance to take them. + +Nor was it safe for him to stay in Bos-ton. Yet the Ad-mi-ral said +that if Howe's troops did not seize the Heights, the ships-of-war +should not stay near Bos-ton; so his lord-ship would have to leave +with what grace he could, much as it might wound his pride. + +When the word went forth that the troops were to leave, strange sights +were seen in Bos-ton town and bay. For some days the red-coats went +this way and that in great haste. More than three-score-and-ten boats +were cast loose for sea, with at least 12,000 men on board of them. +While this stir took place not a shot was sent from the Heights, and +it was well that this was so, as the red-coats had laid plans to set +the town in a blaze if our troops fired one gun. + +The red-coats left Bos-ton March 17, and our troops, in charge of "Old +Put"--as the brave Put-nam was called--marched in-to town in fine +style. + +For some days the fleet lay off the coast of Rhode Isl-and, and it was +feared for a-while that they meant to strike a blow and win back what +they had lost. But no such thing took place, and ere long the fleet +sailed out of sight. + +"Where they are bound," wrote Wash-ing-ton, "and where they next will +pitch their tents, I know not." + +He thought they were on their way to New York, but such was not the +case. They had steered for Hal-i-fax, to wait there for more troops, +and for the large fleet that was to come from Eng-land. + +A vote of thanks and a large gold coin with his face on one side of +it, were sent to Wash-ing-ton by the chief men of the land, as part of +his due for what he had so far done to save A-mer-i-ca from King +George's rule. + +Wash-ing-ton, who thought the next move of the red-coats would be on +New York, set out for that place, and reached there A-pril 13. He went +to work at once to build forts, and to send out troops, and to make +the place as strong as it ought to be. He did not know the plans of +the foe, nor from what point they would hurl the bolts of war. + +All was guess-work, but still in the midst of doubt it would not do to +be slack. + +The town was put in charge of the troops, and the rules were quite +strict. Those who went in or out had to give the pass-word. "We all +live here, shut up like nuns," wrote one who was fond of a gay life, +"There's no one in town that we can go to see, and none to come and +see us." + +Good times in New York were at an end. Our troops had been forced to +leave Can-a-da, and it was known that the red-coats would push their +way to New York. Forts were built on high banks up the Hud-son, and +on the isles at its mouth, and all done that could be done to check +them in their march. + +In the mean time it had been thought a good plan to set a day in which +it might be shown through-out the land that A-mer-i-ca was, and, of a +right, ought to be, a free land. So in Ju-ly an Act was drawn up and +signed by the wise men who met in Phil-a-del-phi-a to frame the laws +for the new States, and there was great joy, for it was a great day. + +Bells were rung. Shouts and cheers rent the air. Fires blazed, and +hearts burned, and men knelt to pray, and give thanks to God. + +John Ad-ams said the Fourth of Ju-ly ought to be kept up with great +pomp through-out A-mer-i-ca,--"with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, +and bon-fires"--till the end of time. + +The news did not reach New York till Ju-ly 9, and at six o'clock that +night Wash-ing-ton read the Act to his troops. + +New York was wild with joy, and felt that more must be done than just +to ring bells and light fires. + +In Bow-ling Green, in front of the fort, there stood a cast of George +Third, made of lead. This a mob of men pulled down and broke up, that +the lead might be run in-to small shot and be used in the cause for +which they fought. + +This did not please Wash-ing-ton, and he told his troops that they +must not take part in such deeds. + +The joy did not last long, for on Ju-ly 12, the ships-of-war in the +bay sent out a broad-side, and it was thought they would at once fire +the town. Crowds were on the streets. The troops flocked to their +posts. Fear was in each heart, and New York was in a great stir. But +two ships--the _Phoe-nix_ and the _Rose_--left the fleet and shaped +their course up the Hud-son. + +Then the guns were still, and fear died out for a-while. That night +there was a fresh scare. Guns boomed and clouds of smoke were seen +near the ships-of-war down the bay. + +Men on the look-out told that a ship-of-the-line had come in from sea, +and each man-of-war gave her a round of guns as she passed by. At her +fore-top mast-head she bore the flag of St. George. No need to tell +more. "Lord Howe is come! Lord Howe is come!" was the cry that went +from mouth to mouth, and the word soon flew through the town, and all +felt that the hour of doom was close at hand. + +Lord Howe sought peace, and not blood-shed, and hoped, by the terms he +would make, to bring not a few hearts back to their King. But he came +too late. + +The Kings troops did not think much of the rank that was borne by our +men, who, they felt, had no right to put on the airs they did, and +call them-selves grand names. + +In a few days Lord Howe sent one of his men on shore with a flag of +truce, to seek speech with Wash-ing-ton. The man's name was Brown. His +boat was met half-way by a barge which had on board one of our troops, +named Reed, to whom Brown said he had a note for _Mis-ter_ +Wash-ing-ton. + +Reed said that he knew no man of that name. + +Brown held out to him the note he had in his hand, which bore on its +face: _George Wash-ing-ton, Esq._ + +Reed said that he could not take the note. He knew what was due to his +chief. So there was naught for Brown to do but to take to his oars. He +had not gone far when he came back to ask "What style should be used +to please Gen--(here he caught him-self and said) _Mis-ter_ +Wash-ing-ton." Reed told him that Wash-ing-ton's rank was well known, +and Lord Howe could be at no loss as to the right style. + +In a day or two an aide-de-camp came with a flag from Lord Howe, and +asked if Col-o-nel Pat-ter-son might have speech with _Gen-er-al_ +Wash-ing-ton. Reed, who met the aide was prompt to grant this and +pledged him-self that no harm should come to him who came in the +King's name. + +So the next day Pat-ter-son came, and when he stood face to face with +Wash-ing-ton, bowed and said "_Your Ex-cel-len-cy_." Wash-ing-ton met +him with much form and state. He was not a vain man, but was proud of +the rank he held, and thought that no man--were he a king--had a right +to look down on A-mer-i-ca, or show the least slight to her +Com-mand-er-in-chief. + +When he came to hear the terms on which Lord Howe sought to make +peace, he found they were not such as he could take, so the war went +on. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +IN AND NEAR NEW YORK. + + +The red-coats had a camp on Stat-en Isl-and, and for the next month or +so ships-of-war came that far up the bay, and brought with them a +large force of troops. North-east of them was the long stretch of land +known as Long Isl-and, where they could land their troops with ease, +and make their way to New York. + +Wash-ing-ton knew that he could not keep them back, but he meant to +vex them all he could. Gen-er-al Greene was placed with a large force +on Brook-lyn Heights, to guard the shore, and troops were sent a mile +back to throw up earth-works to check the march of the foe if they +should try to come up on the land side. + +At mid-night of Au-gust 21, a spy brought word that the King's troops +were on the move, and would soon show their strength, and "put all to +the sword." + +The next day the sound of great guns was heard, and a cloud of smoke +was seen to rise from the groves on the south side of Long Isl-and. +Word soon came to New York that the King's troops were at Graves-end, +and that our troops had fled and set fire to the stacks of wheat to +keep them out of the hands of the foe. + +Wash-ing-ton at once sent off a large force to check the foe at +Brook-lyn, and to lend aid to those in the fort on the Heights. He +told them to be cool, but firm; not to fire when the foe were a long +way off, but to wait till they were so near that each shot would tell. +And if one of them should skulk, or lie down, or leave his place in +the ranks, he was to be shot down at once. + +Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton led the King's troops, and Lord Corn-wal-lis had +charge of the field-guns. Corn-wal-lis made haste to seize a pass that +ran through the hills, but found Col-o-nel Hand there with a fine lot +of marks-men, and so made a halt at Flat-bush. + +This was so near New York that great fright spread through the town. +Those who had the means left the place. There was good cause for fear, +as it had been told that if our troops had to leave New York it would +at once be set on fire. This was false, but they did not know it. +Their hearts were full of dread. + +Gen-er-al Put-nam was sent to take the place of Gen-er-al Greene who +was sick in bed. The brave man was glad when he had leave to go, for +he did not want to be kept in New York when there was a chance to +fight for the land he loved. + +It was nine o'clock on the night of Oc-to-ber 26, that Sir Hen-ry +Clin-ton set out with his van-guard, on his march from Flat-bush. +Lord Corn-wal-lis brought up the rear-guard with all the large guns, +and the large force of troops led by Gen-er-al Howe. + +Not a drum was heard, nor the sound of a trump as they took their +course through by-roads and on cause-ways till they came near the pass +through the Bed-ford Hills where they made a halt. + +No guard had been put on the road or the pass by Gen-er-al Greene, who +must have thought it too far out of the way to need such care. + +Clin-ton was quick to see this, and at the first break of day his +troops were on the Heights, and with-in three miles of Bed-ford. + +In the mean-time scouts had brought word to our lines that the foe +were in force on the right, and Put-nam at once sent out troops to +hold them in check. + +At day-light small fights took place here and there. A brisk fire was +kept up at Flat-bush. Now was heard the big boom of a large +field-piece. Then a ship-of-war would send forth a broad-side on the +fort at Red Hook. Wash-ing-ton was still in doubt if this was part of +the main fight in which New York was to share. Five ships of the line +tried to beat up the bay, but were kept back by a strong head wind. As +the day wore on, and there were no signs that the red-coats meant to +strike New York, Wash-ing-ton went to Brook-lyn in his barge, and rode +with all speed to the Heights. He was just in time to see the fight in +the woods, which he could do naught to stay. + +He stood on a hill, and through his large spy-glass had a view of the +whole field. He saw his men cut their way through a host of foes. He +saw them caught in traps, and hemmed in so that they were 'twixt two +fires. + +The whole pass was a scene of blood, and through it rang the clash of +arms, the tramp of steeds, the storm of shot, and the cries of men +who fought for their lives. On this side and that, our troops were +swept down or put to rout by a force they had not strength to meet. +Wash-ing-ton wrung his hands at the sight. "Good God!" he cried, "what +brave men I must this day lose!" + +The red-coats went in-to camp that night in front of our lines, but +out of reach of the guns of the fort. + +Our loss was 3,000. + +Theirs less than 400. + +The next day New York Bay and the small isles were wrapped in a dense +fog, from which New York was quite free. Here was a chance for the +troops to leave the works on the Heights, and make their way to New +York. + +Fresh troops were sent down from Fort Wash-ing-ton and King's Bridge, +and Wash-ing-ton felt that no time should be lost. His fear was that +the King's ships would come up the bay at the turn of the tide, sail +up the East Riv-er and catch in a trap all our troops that were on +Long Isl-and. + +It was late at night when the troops stole out from the breast works. +In the dead of night a big gun went off with a great roar, that gave a +shock to the nerves of those who were in dread that the least sound +might warn the foe of their flight to the New York side. + +But no harm came of it, the fog shut out the view, and by day-break +our troops had all left the fort and were safe on the New York side. +Wash-ing-ton, who had not slept for two days and nights, and had spent +the most of the time on horse-back, would not step in-to the boat till +he saw that all his troops were on board. + +The fog rose as the rear boats were in mid-stream, and when the +red-coats climbed the crest of the earth-works they found not a sign +of life there, and not a thing they could use. Our men had made a +clean sweep, and were proud of the way in which they stole a march on +the red-coats. + +Still, New York was not safe; and Wash-ing-ton sought in all ways to +find out the plans of the foe. Ships-of-war went up the Sound, and up +the Hud-son, and guns were fired on the forts that lay on each side of +the town. But he knew that if the red-coats took New York they would +soon be made to give it up, and so he made up his mind that his best +course was to with-draw his troops, to Har-lem Heights. This was done, +with the loss of a few men who had a fight with some red-coats on the +way, and there he staid a few days, and spent much time on horse-back. + +He took note of the land, and chose sites for forts, and breast works, +and on Oc-to-ber 23, took his stand at White Plains, where a strong +fort was built. + +Soon the din of war was heard. The guns from Fort Wash-ing-ton and +Fort Lee poured their fire on the men-of-war, but could not keep them +back, and the red-coats still gave chase to our troops. Fort +Wash-ing-ton fell in-to the hands of the foe in spite of a strong +fight made to hold it. + +One day Wash-ing-ton went out with some of his staff to look at a +height at the north where it was thought he might make a stand, and +leave the camp where he then was. + +One of them said, "There is the ground where we ought to be." + +"Let us go then and view it," said Wash-ing-ton. + +They were on their way to the place, when a horse-man rode up in haste +and cried out, "The red-coats are in camp, Sir!" + +"Then," said Wash-ing-ton, "we have some-thing else to do than this," +and at once put spurs to his horse and set off for the camp at full +speed. + +When he reached there he found all his troops drawn up to meet the foe +that was close at hand. In his calm way he turned to those who had +been out with him on the hills, and said "Go back to your posts, and +do the best you can." + +A short, sharp fight took place, in which our troops made a brave +stand, but the red-coats were too strong for them, and drove them back +to the camp, and seized the hill on which they had stood. + +That night the troops of Wash-ing-ton and Howe lay not far a-part. +Wash-ing-ton kept his men at work, and forts were built, and +earth-works thrown up. These works were made of the stalks of corn, or +maize, which the men took from a field near at hand. The roots of the +stalks, with the earth on them, were placed on the face of the works, +in the same way that sods of grass, and logs of wood were used. The +tops were turned in, and loose earth thrown on them so that they were +held in place, and made a good shield from the fire of small-arms. + +The next day, when Howe saw how much had been done by our troops to +add to their strength, he made a change in his plans. His own men +were in a sad plight, and not fit to cope with the well-fed troops +that kept them at bay. The nights were cold, the Fall rains set in, +and not a few of the red-coats were ill. Their chiefs knew how to +fight in straight lines, but were not so shrewd and so quick to make +use of what lay at hand as our chiefs were. So he broke up his camp, +and in a few days the whole force of red-coats fell back from White +Plains. + +But the strife was kept up at the North, and the foes were at work on +sea and on land from New York to Al-ba-ny. Our troops met with +ill-luck, and Wash-ing-ton was filled with grief. + +Fort Wash-ing-ton was in the hands of the foe; Fort Lee was of no use; +and the next move of the red-coats was to cross the Hud-son, north of +Fort Lee, and make their way through New Jer-sey. By that means they +could shut in all our troops 'twixt the Hud-son and the Hack-en-sack. + +Wash-ing-ton at once sent off his men to save the bridge at +Hack-en-sack. No time was to be lost. They left the camp with all +haste, but ere they could reach the Hack-en-sack the van-guard of the +foe was close at their heels. It was thought that a fight would take +place, but Corn-wal-lis turned back and some of his troops slept that +night in the tents that our men had left. + +These were dark days. Wash-ing-ton led his troops through New Jer-sey, +hard pressed by Corn-wal-lis, whose van-guard came in-to New-ark just +as Wash-ing-ton's rear-guard had left it. His whole camp were in +flight. He staid a few days at New Bruns-wick, in hopes that fresh +troops would be sent to his aid, but none came, though his needs were +so great. The men who, as he thought, would seize their guns and join +his ranks, fled from their homes and sought a safe place as soon as +they heard that the red-coats were near. + +[Illustration: CROSSING THE DELAWARE.--P. 78.] + +On De-cem-ber 2, Wash-ing-ton was at Tren-ton, where he made but a +brief halt. Then he crossed the Del-a-ware, and left New Jer-sey in +the hands of the foe. If he and his men once got to Phil-a-del-phi-a, +they would find troops there with whose aid they might hope to turn +back the red-coats so close on their track. + +Gen-er-al Lee, who was at the heels of the foe, was at Mor-ris-town, +De-cem-ber 11, where his troops had been forced to halt for two days +for want of shoes. He was a man who loved his ease, and to lie late in +bed. + +One day as he sat at a desk with pen in hand, one of his aides named +Wil-kin-son, who was with him, looked down the lane that led from the +house to the main road and saw a band of red-coats on horse-back. + +He cried out to Lee "Here are the red-coats!" + +"Where?" said Lee. + +"Round the house!" + +"Where is the guard?" said Lee with an oath. "Where is the guard? Why +don't they fire?" + +The guards had not thought it worth while to keep watch, when their +chief was so much at his ease, so they had stacked their arms and sat +down on the south side of a house to sun them-selves. As the horse-men +came up they gave chase to the guards who fled for their lives, and +left Lee and his aide to do the best that they could. + +The red-coats drew near the house where Lee was, and swore that they +would set fire to it if the Gen-er-al showed fight. So he was forced +to yield, and was brought out in great haste--for they wished to make +sure of their prize--and placed on Wil-kin-son's horse which stood at +the door. He was but half-drest, had no hat on his head, and wore low +shoes, and a loose rough coat. In this style he had to ride to New +Bruns-wick, where the King's troops at sight of him set off their big +guns, for their joy was great. + +The loss of Lee was thought at the time to be a great blow to our +cause, as it was hoped that he would do much to bring the war to an +end, and to lead the troops out of their sore straits. + +In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton was on his way to cross the Del-a-ware. +There was snow on the ground, and the march of the troops could be +traced by the blood-spots from the feet of those whose shoes were worn +out. + +The red-coats were in force at Tren-ton, in charge of a man, named +Rahl, who had done brave work for King George at White Plains and +Fort Wash-ing-ton. + +Wash-ing-ton's plan was to add to his force, and, as soon as he could, +cross the Del-a-ware and strive to wrest Tren-ton from the hands of +the foe. He and his force were to cross the stream nine miles north of +the town; Gen-er-al Ew-ing was to cross with his troops a mile south +of the town; and Gen-er-al Put-nam to leave at a point south of +Bur-ling-ton. + +It was a bold scheme, full of risk to all who took part in it, yet +there was naught to be done but to push on, and hope for the best. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SAD YEAR. + + +Christ-mas night was the time set to cross the Del-a-ware, and at +sun-set the troops were on the move. It was a dark, cold night. The +wind was high, the tide strong, and the stream full of cakes of ice +which drove the boats out of their course. It seemed at times as if +the boats would be crushed to bits, Men who were used to boats, and +had been brought up on the sea, and had fought with fierce storms and +wild gales, found it hard work, with all their skill, to make their +way from shore to shore. + +Wash-ing-ton, who crossed with the troops, stood on the east bank till +all the field-guns were brought to land, and it was four o'clock ere +the men took up their line of march. Tren-ton was nine miles off, and +they could not reach there till day-light, too late to take the King's +troops off their guard. + +Most of the troops at Tren-ton were Hes-sians, from Hesse, a small +Ger-man state whose prince had lent his troops to King George for +hire. As I have told you they were in charge of Rahl. Rahl thought +more of his brass band than he did of his men, was full of good cheer +and liked to have a good time. He would sit up till a late hour in the +night, and then lie in bed till nine o'clock the next day. + +The one who leads troops to war should be like a watch-dog, quick to +see and to hear all that goes on, and to be on guard at all times. + +Each day he had the guns drawn out and dragged through the town, just +to make a stir and have the band out. But when the Ma-jor told him +that he should have earth-works thrown up on which to place the guns +he said, "Pooh! pooh! Let the foe come on! We'll charge on them with +the bay-o-net!" + +"But Herr Col-o-nel," said the old Ma-jor, "it costs not much, and if +it does not help it will not harm." + +But Rahl laughed as if he thought it a good joke, turned on his heel +and went off, and the works were not thrown up. + +On this night, too, there was a great stir in the camp at Tren-ton, +for the men did their best to keep Christ-mas, and their thoughts were +of home and the dear ones there. They made what cheer they could, and +did not dream that the foe was so near. + +A storm of hail and snow set in as soon as our troops took up their +march. They could scarce see their way through the sleet they had to +face. The night was so cold that two of the men froze to death. At +dawn of day some of the men came to a halt at a cross-road, where they +did their best to dry their guns. But some were past use, and word was +sent to Wash-ing-ton of the state of their arms. They were in doubt +what to do. + +Wash-ing-ton in a burst of rage bade the man go back to his chief at +once, and tell him to push on and charge if he could not fire. + +At eight o'clock Wash-ing-ton drew near the town at the head of his +troops. He went up to a man who had come out to chop wood by the +road-side and asked him where the guard was who stood at the out-post +of Rahl's camp. + +The man said in a harsh voice, "I don't know." + +"You may tell him," said one of our men who stood near, "for that is +Gen-er-al Wash-ing-ton." + +At once a great change came o'er the man to whom Wash-ing-ton spoke. +He raised his hands, and cried, "God bless you! God bless you!" and +then showed where the guards could be found. + +Soon was heard the cry from Rahl's men, "The foe! the foe! turn out! +turn out!" Drums beat to arms. The whole place was in a stir. +Wash-ing-ton came in on the north, Sul-li-van on the west, and Stark +at the south end of the town. + +Rahl scarce knew how to act. He rode to the front of his troops and +got them out of the town. Then he seemed to feel that it was a shame +to fly in that way, for he was a brave man, so he led his men back in +a wild dash out of the woods and in-to the town to meet the foe. + +In the midst of the fight, a shot struck him and he fell from his +horse. The troops would heed no voice but that of their chief, and +fled up the banks of a creek on the way to Prince-ton. + +Wash-ing-ton saw the stir and thought they had wheeled to form a new +line. He was told that they had laid down their arms, and his joy was +great. The day was ours! + +But for the wild flight of Rahl's men, it would have gone hard with +our troops. Wash-ing-ton did not know it at the time, but he found out +that Ew-ing and Put-nam had tried to cross the stream but were kept +back by the ice, and he with his raw troops would, he was sure, have +been put to rout had Rahl and his men been on their guard. + +The poor Ma-jor, who had in vain urged Rahl to throw up breast-works, +had a bad wound of which he died in Tren-ton; and Rahl him-self, to +whom the red-coats owed their ill-luck, was laid to rest in a +grave-yard in that town. + +And where was Gen-er-al Howe all this time? In New York, where he +thought to take his ease till the Del-a-ware froze so that his troops +could cross. He was much shocked at the news that the Hes-sians who +had been brought up to war should have laid down their arms for a +troop of raw men in rags. He sent Lord Corn-wal-lis back to take +Jer-sey, and, as he said, "to bag the fox." + +By the third of Jan-u-a-ry red-coats, with Corn-wal-lis at their head, +were near at hand. Wash-ing-ton was in a tight place, with a small +creek 'twixt his few raw troops and the large force of the foe. Back +of him lay the Del-a-ware which it was now not safe to cross. + +In this dark hour a gleam of hope came to his mind. He saw a way out +of the trap, and that was by a quick night-march to get at the rear of +the King's troops, dash on the camp at Prince-ton, seize the stores +that were left there, and push on to New Bruns-wick. + +A thaw had set in which made the roads deep with mire, but in the +course of the night the wind veered to the north, and in two hours +the roads were once more hard and frost-bound. + +That the foe might not guess his plan, Wash-ing-ton bade some of his +men keep at work with their spades on the pits near the bridge, go the +rounds, change guards at each bridge and ford, and keep up the +camp-fires till day-break, when they were to join those on the way to +Prince-ton. + +In the dead of the night Wash-ing-ton drew his troops out of camp and +the march took place. The road which they had to take was cut through +woods, and the stumps of the trees made the march a slow one, so that +it was near sun-rise when Wash-ing-ton came to the bridge at the brook +three miles from Prince-ton. + +As our troops left the woods they came face to face with a force of +red-coats, and a sharp fight took place, which did not last long. + +Wash-ing-ton was in the midst of it. In the heat of the fight, his +aide-de-camp lost sight of him in the dusk and smoke. The young man +dropped the reins on the neck of his horse, drew down his cap to hide +the tears in his eyes, and gave him up for lost. When he saw +Wash-ing-ton come out from the cloud with his hat raised and the foe +in flight, he spurred up to his side. + +"Thank God you are safe!" cried he. + +"A-way, and bring up the troops," said Wash-ing-ton, "the day is our +own!" + +At day-break, when Gen-er-al Howe thought to bag his fox, he found the +prize had slipped from his grasp, and soon learned that the King's +troops had lost their hold on New Jer-sey. + +The fame of Wash-ing-ton, and of the brave deeds of those who fought +to be free, went a-cross the sea, and made friends for him and the +cause. Not a few came to their aid. One of these brave souls was a +Pole, whose name was Kos-ci-us-ko. + +The com-mand-er-in-chief said to him "What do you seek here?" + +"To fight for the cause you have at heart." + +"What can you do?" + +"Try me." + +This style of speech, and the air of the man, pleased Wash-ing-ton so +well that he at once made him an aide-de-camp. This was in 1777. He +served the cause well, and went back to his own land in 1786 with the +rank of Brig-a-dier Gen-er-al. + +In 1777 La-fay-ette came from France to join the troops led by +Wash-ing-ton. He had wealth and high rank in his own land, and had +lived but a score of years. He left his young wife, and the gay court +of France, and made his way to A-mer-i-ca to do what he could to aid +the foes of King George. + +He came, he said, to learn and not to teach, and would serve with-out +pay, and as one who came of his own free-will. + +He soon won his way to the heart of Wash-ing-ton, and a strong bond of +love grew up 'twixt the two which naught but death could break. + +In the mean-time the whole of our land south of the Great Lakes was a +scene of strife and blood-shed, and it was hard work for our troops to +keep the red-skins and red-coats at bay. + +I have not space to tell you of all the fights that took place, nor +the ways in which Wash-ing-ton sought to vex the King's troops. + +On the third of Oc-to-ber of this year--1777--we find him at +Ger-man-town, where the main force of the red-coats were in camp. His +plan was to drive them out, but though his troops fought with much +skill and in the midst of a dense fog, they were forced back, and the +day was lost. + +The ships-of-war in the Del-a-ware led Wash-ing-ton to think that Lord +Howe meant to turn his guns on Phil-a-del-phi-a, and his mind was +filled with doubts and fears. + +In the same month word came to him that Bur-goyne--who was at the +head of the King's troops in the north--had been forced to yield to +Gen-er-al Gates at Fish-kill. This was such a blow to the King's +cause that the troops at West Point and else where on the Hud-son, +who were to have gone to the aid of Bur-goyne, left the forts and made +their way to New York. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +FOES IN THE CAMP. + + +It is much worse to have one foe in the camp than to have a host of +foes out-side, for who can tell what harm he may do who comes in the +guise of a friend? + +In the year 1774 a young man, named John An-dré, came with the King's +troops, and fought in their ranks at St. John's and Crown Point. + +He had a brave heart, and a fine mind, and did much to keep up the +hearts of the men when in the camp. He was fond of the fair sex and +had praised in rhyme the charms of a Miss Ship-pen who wed Ben-e-dict +Ar-nold in the year 1780. + +Ar-nold had fought well on our side at the north, and won much +praise. He had been a sea-man in his youth, and was both strong and +brave. But he grew proud and vain, and sought to rank as high as the +Com-mand-er-in-chief, with whom he found much fault. + +Wash-ing-ton had great faith in him, and did not dream he was false at +heart. + +For some ill-deeds while at Phil-a-del-phi-a Ar-nold had been brought +to court and tried and his guilt proved, and this had made him wroth +with Wash-ing-ton, and the cause he had sworn to aid. + +He sought for a way to pay back the slight and raise him-self to +fame. With this end in view he wrote to Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton--but did +not use his own name--that he would like to join the cause of King +George on the terms that he set forth. He was in need of funds for he +was deep in debt, but Clin-ton did not see fit to make use of him. + +Two or three more of his schemes failed, and at last he asked that he +might have charge of the post at West Point. This Wash-ing-ton gave +him, and in Au-gust Ar-nold fixed him-self in a fine house that stood +on the east side of the stream, half a mile or so south of West Point. + +From this place he sent notes to An-dré, the aide-de-camp of Clin-ton, +who wrote back and signed his name _John An-der-son_. + +Ar-nold's plan was to throw West Point and the High-lands in-to the +hands of Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton at the time that Wash-ing-ton was at +King's Bridge, and the Eng-lish troops in New York. + +A fleet, with a large land force on board, was to come up to the +High-lands, and Ar-nold would at once yield up the post in-to their +hands. This act he thought would bring the war to an end, with the +flag of King George at high mast, and then great would be the name and +fame of Ben-e-dict Ar-nold. + +That the scheme might not fail, Ar-nold wrote to An-dré to meet him at +Dobb's Fer-ry, Sep-tem-ber 11, at noon. + +But Ar-nold had spent the night of the 10th at Hav-er-straw, on the +west shore, and on his way back in his barge, as he had no flag, he +was fired on by the guard boats of the King's troops. So he had to put +off his plans for a day or two. + +In the mean-time the sloop-of-war _Vul-ture_--a good name for such a +bird of prey--was brought up the Hud-son so as to be near at hand to +aid in the vile scheme. + +On Sep-tem-ber 18, Wash-ing-ton with his suite crossed the Hud-son at +Ver-planck's Point, in Ar-nold's barge, on his way to Hart-ford. +Ar-nold went with him as far as Peeks-kill, and talked with him in a +frank way, and as if he were most true to the cause. + +An-dré went up the Hud-son on the 20th and went on board the Vul-ture +where he thought to meet Ar-nold. But Ar-nold knew it would not be +safe for him to be there; so he kept in the back-ground. + +The next night a boat crept up to the side of the _Vul-ture_ in which +were two men. Their oars scarce made a sound. + +An-dré, who wore a blue great coat, went on board this boat and was +rowed to the west side of the stream. Six miles south of Sto-ny Point +they came to shore at the foot of a high mount known as the Long +Clove. It was mid-night. Dark was the hour, and dark the place, and +dark the deed. + +Ar-nold was there hid in the shade of the woods. A man was near who +came to wait on him and take care of his horse. He and An-dré had a +long talk. One, two, three hours passed, and still there was more to +say. One of the men who had brought An-dré, and whose name was Smith, +warned them that it was near day-break, and the boat would be seen by +our guards if they did not go back soon. + +Ar-nold feared that the sight of a boat on its way to the _Vul-ture_ +might bring harm to him and his scheme, so he urged An-dré to stay on +shore till the next night. The boat was sent to a creek up the +Hud-son, and An-dré on the horse that Ar-nold's man had rode, set off +with Ar-nold for Smith's house. + +The road took them through the small town of Hav-er-straw. As they +rode on in the dark the voice of one of the guards at an out-post made +An-dré start, for he knew he must be with-in our lines. But it was too +late to turn back, and at day-break they reached Smith's house. + +Scarce was the door closed on them when the boom of great guns was +heard from down the stream. An-dré felt ill at ease, and had good +cause for fear. + +The fact was that as soon as Liv-ing-ston, who had charge of our +troops at Ver-planck's Point, heard that the _Vul-ture_ was with-in +shot of Tel-ler's Point, which juts out 'twixt Hav-er-straw Bay and +Tap-pan Sea, he sent some men and some big guns to that point in the +night to fire on the sloop-of-war. + +An-dré kept a close watch on the scene from a top room in Smith's +house. At one time he thought the _Vul-ture_ was on fire; but his +heart gave a throb of joy when he saw the sloop-of-war drop down the +stream out of reach of gun shot. + +Ar-nold gave An-dré the plans of the works at West Point, and told him +what and how he was to do. As the _Vul-ture_ had changed her place, he +told An-dré it would be far more safe for him to go back to New York +by land. And he would reach there in less time. + +But An-dré said that he must be put on board the sloop-of-war the next +night; and in case he should change his mind Ar-nold gave him a pass +that he might go by sea or by land. At ten o'clock that morn Ar-nold +left him to his fate. + +Time moved at a slow pace with poor An-dré. Once on board the +_Vul-ture_ he would be safe; his task would be done, and West Point +would soon be in the hands of the red-coats. As night set in he grew +still more ill at ease, and asked Smith how he had planned to get him +on board the _Vul-ture_. + +It gave him a shock to learn that Smith had not done the least thing. +The boat-men had gone home, and he would not take him on board the +_Vul-ture_. But he said he would cross the Hud-son with him and start +him on the road to New York by land, and go some of the way with him +on horse-back. + +They set off at sun-set, and went for eight miles on the road to White +Plains when they were brought to a halt by a band of our troops who +were out as watch-men. + +An-dré showed his pass signed with Ar-nold's name, and so they took +him for a friend and not a foe. He wore a coat of Smith's that made +him look like a plain man. + +The two were warned that it was not safe for them to be on the road at +night, as they might meet the Cow-Boys from the King's troops, who but +a short time since had swept through that part of the land. + +Smith was full of fears, and An-dré had to yield to his wish to take a +bed in a farm-house near at hand. This they did, but An-dré could not +sleep. He knew that he was not safe. At day-break he woke Smith, and +made him haste to leave the place. + +Two and a half miles from Pine's Bridge, on the Cro-ton Riv-er, An-dré +and Smith took a scant meal at a farm-house which had been stripped by +the Cow-Boys. + +Here Smith took leave of An-dré, who was to go the rest of the way to +New York a-lone. He felt no fear now, as he had passed our lines, and +was clear of those who kept watch on the out-posts. + +Six miles from Pine's Bridge he came to a fork in the road. The left +branch led to White Plains. The right branch led to the Hud-son. He +had thought at first that he would take the left hand road, as the +right one was said to be filled with Cow-Boys. But he had naught to +fear from them, as he was on their side; and as it was a more straight +road to New York, he turned down it and took his course on the banks +of the Hud-son. + +He had not gone far when he came to a place where a small stream +crossed the road and ran down a dell that was thick with trees. A man +stepped out with a gun and brought An-dré to a stand. Two more armed +men came up to aid the first one, whose name was Paul-ding. +Paul-ding's coat was in rags, and was of the kind that was worn by the +King's troops. When An-dré caught sight of it his heart leapt for joy, +for he was sure he was safe. So sure that he did not guard his tongue. +He asked the men if they were on his side, and they said they were. He +then told who he was, and that he had been sent to a post up the +Hud-son and was in haste to get back. As he spoke he drew out a gold +watch, such as few owned in those days, and none but men of wealth. + +Think what a shock it must have been to An-dré when Paul-ding said +they were not his friends but his foes, and he was in their hands. + +Then An-dré tried to make out that what he first told was a lie, but +that he would now tell the truth; and he drew forth his pass to prove +that he was all right. Had he done this in the first place he might +have gone on his way. "A still tongue shows a wise head." + +The men seized his horse by the rein and told An-dré to get off. He +warned them that he had been sent out by Gen-er-al Ar-nold and that +they would be ill dealt with if they held him back. + +"We care not for that," they said, as they led him through the shrubs +on the edge of the brook. They then went to work to search him, and +took note of the way in which he was drest. They were poor men, and +had not had a chance to see such fine clothes. + +An-dré wore a round hat, a blue great-coat, 'neath which was a red +coat decked off with gold-lace, a nan-keen vest, small-clothes and +boots. + +They made him take off his coat and vest, and found naught to prove +that he had sought to harm their cause, and they had a mind to let him +go. + +Paul-ding, who had been twice in the hands of the red-coats and +ill-used by them, was still not quite free from doubt. A thought came +to his mind. + +"Boys," said he, "his boots must come off." + +At this An-dré's face flushed, and he said that his boots were hard to +get off, and he begged that he might not lose time in this way. + +But the men were firm. They made him sit down, his boots were drawn +off, and the plans that Ar-nold gave him were brought to light. + +Paul-ding looked at them and cried out, + +"He is a spy!" + +He then asked An-dré where he had got these plans. "From a man at Pine +Bridge" he said; "a man whom I did not know." + +As he put on his clothes An-dré begged the men to let him go. He would +pay them a large sum, and stay with two of the men while one went to +New York to get it. + +Here Paul-ding broke in, "Keep your gold! We want none of it. Were it +ten times as much, you should not stir one step!" + +An-dré had to yield to his fate, and was led by the men to our post +which was ten or twelve miles off. An-dré rode on horse-back with one +man in front, and one at each side. + +At noon they came to a farm-house, and those who dwelt there sat at +the mid-day meal. The house-wife, whose heart was touched by a sight +of An-dré's youth and look of grief, asked him to draw near and take +some of the food. Then as she caught sight of his gold-laced coat, the +good dame said that she knew it was poor fare for such as he, but it +was the best she had. + +Poor An-dré shook his head, and said, "Oh, it is all good, but in-deed +I can-not eat!" + +When the four reached the out-post and Jame-son, who was in charge, +saw the plans that had been found on An-dré, he at once saw that they +had been drawn up by the hand of Ben-e-dict Ar-nold. + +He at once did the thing he ought not to have done, which was to write +to Ar-nold, and tell him that a man who said his name was _John +An-derson_ had been caught, and held, though he bore a pass signed by +him. The plans found on him had been sent to the Com-mand-er-in-chief, +and An-dré, with a strong guard was sent with the note to Ar-nold. + +In a short time, Ma-jor Tall-madge, who was next in rank to Jame-son, +came back from a trip to White Plains. He had a clear head, and as +soon as he heard the case he at once urged Jame-son to send a man in +haste to bring An-dré back. This was done, but Jame-son had not +thought to have the note to Ar-nold brought back, so it sped on to let +the knave know that his plot had failed. + +As soon as Ar-nold read the note he sprang on the horse of the man who +brought it, and rode with all speed to the dock where his six-oared +barge lay moored. He threw him-self in-to it and bade his men pull out +in mid-stream and row as fast as they could to Tel-ler's Point, as he +must be back in time to meet Wash-ing-ton, who was then on his way to +West Point. + +The guards knew his barge, so they did not fire on it, and a bit of +white cloth waved in the air served as a flag of truce. He soon was on +board the _Vul-ture_, where he gave him-self up, and the cox-swain and +six barge-men with him. This was a mean act, and showed just what kind +of a man Ar-nold was, but as soon as the men made it known that they +had been led to think that all was right, and that a flag of truce +gave them a safe pass, they were at once set free. + +Ar-nold gave the red-coats much aid, and they were glad to make use of +him. But they did not care to make friends with so base a man. At the +close of the war, he went to Eng-land, and made his home there. He was +shunned by all, and died in the year 1801, at the age of three-score. + +As Wash-ing-ton drew near the fort at West Point, he thought it +strange that no guns were fired. "Is not Gen-er-al Ar-nold here?" he +asked of the man who came down to the shore to meet him. + +"No, sir. He has not been here for two days past; nor have I heard +from him in that time." + +This was strange; but soon the note from Jame-son was placed in his +hands, and when he had read of the deep-laid scheme, he said with a +deep sigh, "Whom can we trust now?" + +Word was at once sent out to the guards to check Ar-nold's flight, but +it was too late. He had slipped from their grasp. + +Let us now see how An-dré bore his hard fate. He had the best of care, +and made hosts of friends, who grieved that one so young, so +well-bred, and of such high rank, should have done a crime for which +he must be hung. + +It was a great grief to Wash-ing-ton, who would have felt no pang had +Ar-nold been in An-dré's place. But death to the spy! was one of the +rules of war, and Oc-to-ber 2 was the day set for An-dré to be hung. +He had asked that since it was his lot to die he might choose the mode +of death; and begged that he might be shot. This Wash-ing-ton could +not grant, though in his heart he longed to do so; but thought it best +that An-dré should not know. + +On the morn of the 2d, An-dré drest him-self with great care, in the +full suit worn by those who bore his rank in the King's troops. He was +calm, while all those near him were in tears. + +He walked with a firm step to the place where he was to end his life, +arm in arm with two of our troops. When he caught sight of the rope he +gave a start, and asked if he was not to be shot. When told that no +change could be made, he said "How hard is my fate!--But it will be +but a brief pang!" + +[Illustration: WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE--P. 94.] + +Then he stepped in-to the cart, took off his hat and stock, loosed his +shirt at the throat, put the noose round his neck and bound his own +eyes. + +When told that there was a chance for him to speak if he chose, he +said "I pray you to note that I meet my fate like a brave man." + +Then the cart was moved off and he was left in mid-air, and death took +place in a short time. An-dré was laid in a grave near the place where +he was hung, but in 1821 was borne to the land of his birth, and +placed near the tombs of Kings and Queens. + +He that breaks laws must pay the price. If you want to make friends, +and to have them love and trust you--_be true_. Let no one coax you to +sin. The eye of God is on you, and he sees all your deeds. You may +hide your crime for a while, but you may "be sure your sin will find +you out." Be not an Ar-nold nor an An-dré. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE HARDSHIPS OF WAR. + + +We will now go back to the place we left, and see where Wash-ing-ton +was at the close of the year 1777. He had been forced to leave New +Jer-sey in the hands of the King's troops. His own troops were worn +down by long and hard toil, and had need of rest. They were in want of +clothes too, and could not keep warm in the tents, so he sought out a +place where they could build huts and screen them-selves from the cold +winds and storms. + +He chose Val-ley Forge, which was on the west bank of the Schuyl +(_school_)-kill Riv-er, and a score of miles from Phil-a-del-phi-a. +Sad was the march of the troops to Val-ley Forge. Food was scant, +their clothes were worn out, and a track of blood marked the way they +trod. They had fought hard, but not to win, and this made their hearts +low. + +On De-cem-ber 17, they reached Val-ley Forge, and had to freeze in +their tents till they could cut down the trees and build the huts they +were to live in. + +The walls were six feet and a half high, and were made of logs filled +in with clay. The roofs were made of logs split in half. + +No pen can paint the hard lot of those poor men shut in at Val-ley +Forge. For some days they had no meat. For three days they had no +bread. Some of the men had to sit up all night by the fires, as there +were no clothes for their beds, and they could not sleep for the cold. +Some of the men were so scant of clothes that they could not leave +their huts. + +Wash-ing-ton was kept short of funds and of troops, though he plead +hard for both, and was sore pressed on all sides. He scarce knew what +to do. There was but one thing he could do, and that was to wait. + +While his troops were in this sad plight--some of them sick un-to +death--the red-coats, who held Phil-a-del-phi-a in siege, led a gay +sort of life, and were much at their ease. + +Near the first of March a Ger-man came to Wash-ing-ton's camp to lend +him his aid. + +His name was Bar-on Steu-ben. He had fought for long years in the wars +that had been waged in Eu-rope, had been aide-de-camp to Fred-er-ick +the Great, and had won much fame by his brave deeds. The French, who +were friends to our cause, knew that we had need of such a man as +Bar-on Steu-ben, and urged him to come to A-mer-i-ca, and he was at +once sent to join the troops at Val-ley Forge. + +Our troops had had no chance to drill, there was no one to teach them, +and they had fought with a rush and a dash, and in a pell-mell sort of +way. Steu-ben went to work to drill these men, the best of whom had +much to learn, and he found it a hard task at first as he could not +speak our tongue. At last a man was found who spoke French, and him +Steu-ben made his aide-de-camp and kept him close at hand. + +The men were slow to learn, for the drills were new to them, and +Steu-ben would get wroth with them and call them "block-heads," and +all sorts of hard names. But though he had a sharp tongue, and was +quick to get in a rage, he had a kind, true heart, and soon won the +love of the men. + +For eight months the red-coats had held Phil-a-del-phi-a. In the +spring Gen-er-al Howe went home, and left his troops in charge of Sir +Hen-ry Clin-ton, who made up his mind to lead the troops back to New +York. But he did not wish his plans to be known. + +In the mean-time, Wash-ing-ton knew that a scheme of some sort was on +foot--so he sent troops out to check the King's troops should they +move by land. The red-coats left Phil-a-del-phi-a on June 18, and as +there was but one road for them to take, their train stretched out for +twelve miles. They made a halt at Al-len-town, and Clin-ton had not +quite made up his mind which way to go from that place. He at first +thought he would go as far as the Rar-i-tan Riv-er, and then ship his +troops to New York; but when he found that our troops were not far +off, he turned to the right and took the road to Mon-mouth. + +His march was a slow one; the heat was great; the rains made the roads +bad, and they had to stop to bridge the streams, and to build +cause-ways so that they could cross the swamps. + +Wash-ing-ton in the mean-time had gone on to Kings-ton; but as soon as +he learned Clin-ton's course, he moved his troops so as to get in the +rear of the red-coats. + +On the night of June 27, the foe went in camp on the high ground near +Mon-mouth Court House. The van-guard of our troops was five miles off, +and in charge of Gen-er-al Lee. + +At day-break the van-guard of the red-coats set forth down the hill, +while Clin-ton with his choice troops staid in camp on the heights of +Free-hold, to give the long train of carts and pack mules a chance to +get well on the way. At eight o'clock all were in line of march to +Mid-dle-town. + +As soon as Lee heard that the foe were on the move, he set out to meet +them, and was joined by the troops in charge of La-fay-ette. As Lee +stood on one of the hills he caught sight of a band of red-coats hid +some-what by the woods, which he thought was a part of the main force. +So he sent some of his troops to draw their fire and check them in the +rear, while he with the rest of his force would take a short cut, +through the woods, get in front of the corps, and cut it off from the +main force. + +Wash-ing-ton was on his way with his main force, when the boom of big +guns rang out on the air. The sound caused him to change his pace to a +quick step, and when he drew near Free-hold church, where the road +forked, he sent Greene with part of his force to the right, while he +with the rest of the troops took the left hand road. + +Wash-ing-ton stood on the ground with his arm thrown up on the neck of +his horse, when a man rode up and said the blue-coats were in flight. +Wash-ing-ton was vexed, for he was quite sure it was not true. Then up +came one with fife in hand, quite out of breath, and in great fright. +He was seized at once so that he would not scare the troops then on +their way, and told that he would be flogged if he dared to spread the +tale he had brought. + +Wash-ing-ton sprang on his horse, and sent men out to learn the +truth, while he spurred past the Free-hold church. The news seemed too +strange to be true. He had heard but a few guns, and did not think +there had been much of a fight. Was Lee to blame for this wrong move? +He feared so. As he reached the high ground he saw Lee and his men in +full flight, and by this time he was in a fine rage. + +"What do you mean by this?" he asked in a fierce stern tone as Lee +rode up to him. + +At sight of Wash-ing-ton's face Lee was struck dumb for a-while, but +when he could speak he tried to tell why he had thought it best to +fall back. There was not much time for a talk, as the foe were not far +off. The sight of their Com-mand-er-in-chief put a stop to the flight, +and plans were at once made to turn the luck. The place where they +were was good for a stand, as it was on high ground which the foe +could not reach but by a cause-way. + +Lee knew that Wash-ing-ton had lost faith in him, so he held back, +and would give no aid to his chief. Wash-ing-ton rode back to Lee in a +calm mood, and said to him; "Will you keep the com-mand on this +height, or not? If you will, I will go back to the main force and have +it formed on the next height." + +Lee said it was all the same to him where he was placed, that he would +do just as Wash-ing-ton said, and "not be the first to leave the +ground." + +Soon guns were heard on both sides. Lee and his men, who were in the +fore-ground made a brave stand, but were at length forced to fall +back. Lee brought off his troops in good style by the cause-way that +crossed the swamps, in front of our troops in charge of Lord +Stir-ling, and was the last to leave the ground. When he had formed +his men in line back of the swamp, he rode up to Wash-ing-ton, and +said, "Here, sir, are my troops, what do you wish me to do with them?" + +Wash-ing-ton saw that the men were worn out with long tramps, hard +fights, and the great heat, so he told Lee to take them to the rear, +and call in all those he might meet with who had fled from his ranks. + +The foe sought to turn both our flanks, but were checked by a sharp +fire, and at length they gave way and fell back to the ground where +Lee had been that morn. Here the woods and swamps were on their +flanks, and their front could not be reached but by the cause-way. +Great as was the risk, Wash-ing-ton made up his mind to charge on the +foe, and this was his plan: Gen-er-al Poor was to move round on their +right, Gen-er-al Wood-ford on the left, while the big field guns +should gall them in front. But night set in ere they could act on this +plan. Some of the troops had sunk on the ground, and all were in need +of rest. Wash-ing-ton told them to lie on their arms just where they +chanced to be when it grew dark, as he meant to go on with the fight +at dawn of the next day. He lay on his cloak at the foot of a tree, +and La-fay-ette lay near him. + +At day-break the beat of drums roused them from their sleep, but the +foe had fled, and had been so long on the way that Wash-ing-ton could +not hope to check them. + +Our loss in the fight at Mon-mouth was 69, while 250 of the King's +troops were left dead on the field. Some of the troops on both sides +had died in the swamp, and some were found on the edge of a stream +that ran through it, where, worn out with their toils, and weak from +heat and thirst they had crawled to drink and die. + +Lee's pride had been so hurt that he wrote to Wash-ing-ton in a way +that he should not have done to his Com-mand-er-in-chief, and he was +brought to court by the Board of War and tried for his wrong deeds. +His guilt was proved, and he was told that he could not serve for the +next twelve months. He went to his home in Vir-gin-i-a where he led a +queer kind of a life. His house was a mere shell, and had but one +room, but lines were chalked on the floor and each space was used as +if it was a room by it-self. Here was his bed, there were his books; +in this space he kept all his horse gear, and in that one he cooked +and ate his meals. + +With pen and with tongue he strove to harm Wash-ing-ton, whom his +shafts failed to hurt, and who spoke not an ill word of Lee. He liked +him as a friend but did not think he was fit to lead troops to war. +Lee died in the course of four years, and on his death-bed he thought +he was on the field of war, and his last words were a call to his men +to stand by him. + +For a year or two more the strife was kept up on the coast from Maine +to Flor-i-da, and both red-coats and red-skins took part in scenes +that chill the blood to read of. Houses were burnt and land laid +waste, forts were stormed and seized from our troops whose force was +too small to hold them. Now and then there was a gain for our side, +but in spite of his ill luck Wash-ing-ton held on with a brave heart, +and would die at his post but would not yield. + +In the first part of the year 1780 we find Wash-ing-ton in camp at +Mor-ris-town, with a lot of half-fed and half-clad troops. + +No such cold had been known in this zone. The Bay of New York froze so +hard that the ships-of-war that lay in it were ice-bound. Food was +scant, and there was a lack of fire-wood. + +Wash-ing-ton saw what a chance there was for a bold stroke, but he had +no funds with which to fit out his troops, or to move them to the +coast. The cost of war was great, and gold was scarce. He could not +strike a big blow for New York to wrest it from the hands of the foe, +as he might have done at this time had his troops been well-fed and +well-clad but he would do what he could in a small way. + +A bridge of ice had formed 'twixt New Jer-sey and Stat-en Isl-and, so +Wash-ing-ton sent Lord Stir-ling with 2,500 men to start up and seize +a force of 1,200 red-coats. His lord-ship crossed in the night, but +was seen and had to fall back to E-liz-a-beth-town. Some of his men +fell in-to the hands of the King's troops, and some in-to the hands of +Jack Frost. + +This raid gave a start to the foe and they set out to tease and vex +our out-posts, which they thought could be done at small risk, as +there was snow on the ground, and the troops could be borne on +sleighs. + +Not far from White Plains--and a score of miles from the out-posts of +the red-coats--300 of our men had a post in a stone house known as +Young's house, as that was the name of the man who owned it. It faced +a road which ran north and south down through a rich plain, and so on +to New York. Our men kept a close watch on this road, to stop the +red-coats who might seek to pass with food or live-stock. The +red-coats made up their mind to break up this nest of blue-birds, and +the night of Feb-ru-a-ry 2, was set for the task. + +The King's troops set out from King's Bridge, some in sleighs and some +on horse-back. The snow was deep, and it was hard for the sleighs to +break their way through. The troops at length left them, and marched +on foot. They could not bring their field guns with them. Now and then +they would come to a place where the snow was more than two feet deep, +and they had to take by-ways and cross roads so as not to get near our +out-guards. + +The sun rose while they were yet six miles or more from Young's house. +This spoiled their plan, but still they kept on. Ere they could reach +the house, the news flew like wild-fire that the red-coats were near, +and men left their farms and homes to aid those in Young's house. But +though they fought well, they had not strength to hold the fort. Not a +few were killed. The house was sacked and set on fire, and the +red-coats made haste to get back to their lines with those of our men +whom they had seized, and who were sent to New York and put in the +vile jails there. + +In the year 1780, France sent ships-of-war and troops to aid our +cause, and to drive the red-coats from New York. The French troops +were in charge of Count de Ro-cham-beau, who was told to do just as +Wash-ing-ton said; for he was Com-mand-er-in-chief. + +Wash-ing-ton's heart gave a throb of joy at this proof of good-will, +and his grief was that he had not more troops of his own to join with +these that he might push for New York at once. He must wait till the +rest of the French troops, then on their way, came to port. + +In the mean-time his thoughts were turned to the South, where the +red-coats, led by Corn-wal-lis, waged a fierce war. Our troops there +were in charge of Gen-er-al Greene, who was full of cheer, and did his +best to keep the foe at bay, but with poor luck as his force was +small. + +But Wash-ing-ton had faith in him; yet such a large force of the +King's troops had been sent by sea to aid Corn-wal-lis that +Wash-ing-ton feared that Greene would not be safe. So he wrote to +La-fay-ette, who was on his way to meet the French fleet that had been +sent to Ches-a-peake Bay, to push on and join the troops at the South. + +At this time Wash-ing-ton was at a place near West Point, and his +whole force on the Hud-son, in May 1781, was not more than 7,000; half +of whom were not fit to take the field. + +Here word came to him of feuds at the North, and that the foe were in +force on the north side of Cro-ton Riv-er. + +Col-o-nel De-lan-cey, who led this raid, held the place that An-dré +had filled, and bore the same rank, and De-lan-cey's horse-men were +the dread of all those who dwelt in that part of the land. Our troops +had an out-post not far from Pine's Bridge, in charge of Col-o-nel +Greene of Rhode Isl-and, who had served all through the war. + +De-lan-cey set out at night at the head of 100 men on horse-back and +200 on foot. They crossed the Cro-ton at day-break, just as the +night-guard had been called off, and bore down on the out-post. + +They first went to the farm-house where Col-o-nel Greene and Ma-jor +Flagg slept, and put a strong guard round it. Ma-jor Flagg sprang from +his bed, threw up the sash, and fired at the foe, but was shot through +the head and then hacked with sword cuts and thrusts. + +They then burst through the door of Greene's room. He was a man of +great strength, and for some time kept the foes at bay with his sword, +but at last he fell, for what could one man do in such a fight? + +By the time the troops sent out by Wash-ing-ton reached the post, +De-lan-cey's men had flown. They tried to take Greene with them, but +he died on the way, and they left him at the edge of the woods. + +Wash-ing-ton felt sad at heart when he heard of the death of his brave +and true friend, Col-o-nel Greene, and the next day he had his corpse +brought to the west bank of the Hud-son. Guns were fired to tell that +one who had fought well had gone to his rest, and strong men shed +tears as he was laid in his grave, for his loss was a source of great +grief to all. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CLOSE OF THE WAR. + + +In the month of May, Corn-wal-lis had planned to bring his troops to +Pe-ters-burg and strike a blow at La-fay-ette, who was near Rich-mond. +La-fay-ette fled as soon as he heard that Corn-wal-lis had crossed the +James Riv-er, for he had but few troops and did not care to bring on a +big fight till the men came up who were then on the way to aid him. + +Corn-wal-lis thought he could soon catch "the boy"--as he called +him--but his youth made him spry, and the red-coats did not get up to +him. + +On June 10, Gen-er-al Wayne came up with 900 men, to add to +La-fay-ette's strength, and this made him change his whole plan. With +4,000 men and Ba-ron Steu-ben he might hope to win in a fight with the +red-coats, and he turned his face to the foe. Corn-wal-lis was at +that time 'twixt La-fay-ette and Al-be-marle Court House, where +stores were kept. The Mar-quis, by a night march through a road that +had long been out of use, got in front of the King's troops, and held +them in check. + +Corn-wal-lis turned back, and marched first to Rich-mond, and then to +Will-iams-burg, while La-fay-ette kept close in his rear. Here they +had a fierce fight, in which the loss was great on both sides, and the +gain but small. + +At this time word came to Corn-wal-lis that Wash-ing-ton had borne +down on New York and that he must send some of his troops to that +town. This would leave him too weak to stay where he was, so on Ju-ly +4 he set out for Ports-mouth. + +La-fay-ette gave chase the next day and took post nine miles from his +camp. His plan was to fall on the rear-guard, when the main force +should have crossed the ford at James-town. But Corn-wal-lis guessed +what he meant to do and laid a trap for him. A sharp fight took place, +in-to which Wayne threw him-self like a mad-man, but the foe were as +ten to one and our troops were forced back to Green Springs. + +In Ju-ly La-fay-ette wrote to Wash-ing-ton that Corn-wal-lis had left +Ports-mouth by sea, and he thought he was on his way to New York. It +was true the troops had gone on board the boats, but though wind and +tide were fair they did not sail. + +With the French fleet to help him, Wash-ing-ton saw a chance to fight +the foe by land and sea, so he turned from New York and marched to +Vir-gin-i-a to aid La-fay-ette, who longed to have his chief at the +head of his troops but did not know he was so near. + +As our war-worn troops went through Phil-a-del-phi-a they were hailed +with shouts and cheers from the throngs that filled the streets. They +kept step to the sound of the drum and fife, and raised a great cloud +of dust, for there had been quite a drought. + +The French troops passed through the next day, but not in the same +style. They made a halt a mile from the town, where they brushed off +the dust from their guns, and their gay white and green clothes, and +then marched with a light step to the sound of a fine band. Crowds +were on the streets, and bright smiles and loud shouts met these who +had come from France to lay down their lives if need be for the cause +we had at heart. + +When Wash-ing-ton turned his back on New York, Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton +sent word to Corn-wal-lis that he would not need the troops he had +asked for; so Corn-wal-lis went from Ports-mouth to York-town, where +he took his stand. + +York-town was a small place on the south side of York Riv-er. The +stream at this point was not more than a mile wide, but it was so deep +that ships of large size and weight could go through. Here he threw up +works on both sides of the stream, which gave him a fine strong-hold, +as the banks were high and set out from the main-land. He thought +there was no foe near but La-fay-ette, and he had no great fear of one +so young. + +He felt so safe that he wrote to Clin-ton that he could let him have a +large force of men to add strength to New York, where it was thought +our troops would strike the next blow. + +In the mean-time La-fay-ette threw out troops to the rear, to work +with the French fleets that would soon be in Ches-a-peake Bay, and so +a net was drawn round Corn-wal-lis at a time when he thought he was +most safe. + +Wash-ing-ton was at Phil-a-del-phi-a on Sep-tem-ber 5, and at +Bal-ti-more three days from that time. He left Bal-ti-more on the +ninth, at day-break, with but one of his suite, as he was in haste to +reach Mount Ver-non. The rest of his suite rode at their ease, and +joined him the next day at noon. It was six years since Wash-ing-ton +had seen his old home, and how full of toil and care those years had +been! In three days he had to leave the dear old place, and with his +guests push on to join La-fay-ette, who was at Will-iams-burg. By +Sep-tem-ber 25, the French and our troops were in camp near that town, +and at once set to work to get things in train for the next fight. + +Corn-wal-lis had built forts on the north and south banks of the +stream, and had done all he could to add strength to York-town. +Ships-of-war were in front, and boats had been sunk at the mouth of +the stream. Field-works were at the rear with big guns on top, and +there were long rows of trees that had been cut down and left so that +their limbs stuck out and made a fence it would not be safe to climb. +At the right and left of York-town were deep dells and creeks, and it +was not strange that Corn-wal-lis felt that he was in a sure +strong-hold. + +Our troops were twelve miles off when they took up their march on +Sep-tem-ber 28, and that night they went in camp two miles from +York-town. Wash-ing-ton and his staff slept on the ground, his head on +the root of a tree. The next morn our troops drew out on each side of +Bea-ver Dam Creek, the A-mer-i-cans on the east side and the French on +the west. The Count de Grasse, with the main fleet, staid in Lynn +Haven Bay so as to keep off the ships that might come from sea to aid +the red-coats. + +On the night of the first of Oc-to-ber our troops threw up two +earth-works, on which the red-coats turned their guns at day-light and +killed three of the men. While Wash-ing-ton stood near the works a +shot struck the ground close by him and threw up a great cloud of +dust. One of his staff who stood near was in a great fright, but +Wash-ing-ton was calm and showed no signs of fear. + +On Oc-to-ber 6, our troops set out to dig the trench that the first +line would use in the siege of York-town. So dark was the night, and +so still were the men, that the foe did not know of it till day-light. +Then they fired on them from the forts, but the men were screened and +kept at their work. By the ninth the trench was dug and the guns fixed +to fire at the town. + +Wash-ing-ton put the match to the first gun, and a storm of balls and +bomb-shells dared Corn-wal-lis to come out and fight. For three or +four days the fire was kept up on both sides, and bomb-shells crossed +in mid-air, and at night flashed forth like great stars with tails a +blaze of light. Our shells did much harm in the town, and to the +earth-works of the foe. + +The red-hot shot from the French forts north-west of the town reached +the King's ships-of-war. The Char-on a 44 gun ship, and three large +boats for troops, were set on fire by them. The flames ran up to the +tops of the masts, and as the night was dark the scene was a grand one +to the eye, but a sad one to the heart. + +On the night of the 11th, a new ditch was dug by the troops led by +Bar-on Steu-ben, and for two or three days the foe kept up a fire on +the men at work. + +At eight o'clock on the night of Oc-to-ber 14, they set out to storm +both York-town and the Point on the north bank at the same time. + +The van-guard of our troops was led by Al-ex-an-der Ham-il-ton. When +at school he wrote to one of his boy friends, "I wish there was a +war;" and in 1776 when he was but 19 years of age, he was placed at +the head of the men who fired the guns and bomb-shells. The next year +he was aide-de-camp to Wash-ing-ton, in whom he found a true and wise +friend. With great joy and pride Ham-il-ton led the van in a head-long +dash past the trees, which they pushed or pulled down with their own +hands, where they could not climb them, and was the first to mount the +wall. One of his men knelt so that Ham-il-ton could use him for steps, +and the rest of the men got up the best way they could. Not a gun was +fired, and the fort fell in-to the hands of our troops with a small +loss on both sides. + +The French stormed the fort at the Point in as brave a way, but with +less speed, and lost more men. + +Wash-ing-ton stood on the ground in the grand fort where he could see +all that took place. An aide-de-camp near him spoke up and said that +he ran a great risk from a chance shot through one of the port-holes. +"If you think so," said Wash-ing-ton, "you can step back." + +Soon a ball struck the gun in the port-hole, rolled on, and fell at +his feet. Gen-er-al Knox seized him by the arm. "My dear Gen-er-al," +said he, "we can't spare you yet." + +"It is a spent ball," said Wash-ing-ton in a calm voice; "no harm is +done." + +When each charge was made and both forts were in our hands, he drew a +long breath, turned to Knox and said, "The work is done _and well +done_!" Then he said to his black man, "Bring me my horse," and rode +off to see where next his lines should move, and how the trap could be +closed on Corn-wal-lis. + +Corn-wal-lis found that he could not hold his forts; no troops had +come to his aid, and he would soon have to yield to the foe. + +This was too much for his pride, so he made up his mind to leave those +who were sick or had wounds, and fly from York-town. His scheme was to +cross the stream at night, fall on the French camp ere day-break, push +on with all speed, and force his way to the north and join Sir Hen-ry +Clin-ton in New York. + +A large part of his troops had crossed the stream on the night of +Oc-to-ber 16, and the rest were on their way when a fierce storm of +wind and rain drove the boats down the stream. They could not be +brought back till day-light and it was then too late for them to move +on or to turn back. + +The hopes of Lord Corn-wal-lis were at an end, and on the 17th he sent +a flag of truce and a note to Wash-ing-ton and asked that his guns +might cease their fire for one day so that terms of peace could be +drawn up. + +Wash-ing-ton feared that in the mean-time troops from New York would +reach Corn-wal-lis, so he sent word back that his guns should cease +their fire for but two hours. Wash-ing-ton did not like the terms +drawn up by Corn-wal-lis, so he made a rough draft of such terms as he +would grant. These were sent to Corn-wal-lis on the 19th, and he was +forced to sign them, and in two hours his troops were to march out of +the forts. + +[Illustration: THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN.--P. 109.] + +At noon our troops were drawn up in two lines more than a mile in +length; the A-mer-i-cans on the right side of the road, the French on +the left. At two o'clock the red-coats passed out with slow steps, and +were led to a field where they were to ground their arms. Some of +them, in their rage, threw down their guns with such force as to well +nigh break them. + +On the day that Corn-wal-lis had been forced to lay down his arms at +York-town, the large force that was to aid him set sail from New York. +They did not reach Ches-a-peake Bay till Oc-to-ber 29, and when they +found they were too late they turned their prows and went back to New +York. + +The down-fall of Corn-wal-lis was felt to be a death-blow to the war, +and great joy was felt through-out the land. Votes of thanks were sent +to Wash-ing-ton, to De Ro-cham-beau and De Grasse, and Wash-ing-ton +gave high praise to all the troops for the way in which they had +fought at the siege of York-town. + +From that time the red-coats lost heart, and on No-vem-ber 25, 1783, +they marched out of New York, and Wash-ing-ton marched in at the head +of his brave men, who had fought and bled and borne all the ills that +flesh could bear that the land they loved might be free. + +In a few days Wash-ing-ton was called to An-na-po-lis to meet with +those who made the laws, and his chief men who had been with him +through all the sad scenes of the war, came to bid him good-bye. + +With a heart full of love he said to them, "I can-not come to each of +you to take my leave, but shall be glad if each of you will come and +take me by the hand." This they did. No one spoke a word. Tears were +in all their eyes. + +Wash-ing-ton left the room, and went on foot to the boat which lay at +the end of what was then and is now White-hall Street. His friends +kept close in the rear. When Wash-ing-ton was in his barge he turned, +took off his hat, and waved good-bye, and those on shore did the same, +and watched the barge till it passed out of their sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +FIRST IN PEACE. + + +At the close of the war, and of the year 1783, Wash-ing-ton went back +to Mount Ver-non. He reached his home to his great joy on the eve of +Christ-mas day, and he was in a good state of mind to keep the feast. + +"The scene is at last closed," he wrote, "and I am eased of a load of +care. I hope to spend the rest of my days in peace." + +Mount Ver-non was locked in ice and snow for some time. Wash-ing-ton +wrote that he was so used to camp life that he could not help feel +when he woke each day that he must hear the drums beat, and must go +out to plan or to lead his troops. He was now at his ease, and longed +for the spring so that his friends could come to him. "My way of life +is plain," he said; "I do not mean to be put out of it. But a glass of +wine and a bit of meat can be had at all times." + +He would not give notes of his life to those who wished to write it up +at this time lest it should look vain. "I will leave it to those who +are to come to think and say what they please of me," he wrote. "I +will not by an act of mine seem to boast of what I have done." + +As spring came on, friends flocked to Mount Ver-non, and Wash-ing-ton +met them in a frank way. His wife, too, was full of good sense and +good cheer. She loved to knit, and had been used all through the war +to knit socks for the poor men who were in the ranks. + +But as Wash-ing-ton took his rides through his place, he felt the +changes there since he had left. Old friends were gone, and the scenes +of his youth were no more. La-fay-ette spent a few days with him, and +the love he felt for the brave young man was as strong as at first. + +He wrote a sad note to him when he was gone which showed what a warm +place the young French-man had in his heart. He said, "As you left me, +I asked if this were the last sight I should have of you. And though I +wished to say 'No,' my fears said 'Yes.' I called to mind the days of +my youth and found they had long since fled to come back no more. I +must now go down the hill I have climbed all these years. I am blessed +with strength, but I some of a short-lived race, and may soon go to +the tomb. All these thoughts gave a gloom to the hour in which I +parted with you." + +Wash-ing-ton made a trip through some of the states of the West, and +saw there was a chance for great trade there, and he wrote much of +what he had seen. But his chief joy was in his home and land, where he +planted trees and loved to watch them grow. He writes down each month +of what he sets out; now it is a choice slip of grape vine from +France; or it may be a tree that stays green all the year round. Some +of the bushes he set out still stand strong in their growth on the +place. + +He notes the trees best for shade and which will not hurt the grass. +He writes of rides to the Mill Swamp in quest of young elms, ash +trees, and white thorn, and of the walks he lays out and the trees and +shrubs he plants by them. + +A plan of the way in which he laid out his grounds is still kept at +Mount Ver-non, and the pla-ces are marked on it for the trees and +shrubs. He owned five farms, and he kept maps of each. He read much of +soils, the way to raise good crops, and the best style of ploughs and +farm tools to use. He rode the first half of the day to see that all +went well. When he had dined, he would write till dark if he had no +guests. If friends came he did all he could to make them feel at ease +and at home. He was kind, and loved by all. He would not talk much of +the war nor of what he had done in it. He took great care not to talk +of his own acts, so that if there had been a guest who did not know +the facts, he would not have found out by a word from Wash-ing-ton +that he was one who had won a great name in the eyes of the world. + +Though grave in his looks and ways, he loved to see youth glad and +gay. He was fond of the dance, and it was long the boast of more than +one fair dame that she had danced with the chief. There had been +balls in camp in the dark days of the war. + +Wash-ing-ton, as we have seen, had been fond of the hunt in his youth, +and La-fay-ette sent him some hounds from France, so he took up his +old sport. But the French hounds did not do well, and he found they +could not be trusted. + +Ere the war had been long past, it was found that there was need of +new laws by which the States should be ruled. The chief men of the +land were called to Phil-a-del-phi-a to form them, and Wash-ing-ton +went from Mount Ver-non to take part in the work. It was then that the +code of laws was drawn up which bears the name of "Con-sti-tu-tion of +the U-ni-ted States." + +These laws said that the States should be ruled by a Pres-i-dent. The +choice for this post fell on Wash-ing-ton, and in the spring of 1788 +he bade good-bye to Mount Ver-non and made his way to New York, where +he was to take the oath that he would serve the land and be true to +her in peace and in war. + +As he passed through the towns, crowds came out to cheer him, flags +were raised, guns roared, and at night there was a great show of +fire-works. + +When he came to Tren-ton, the place where in the past he had crossed +the stream in the storm, through clouds of snow and drifts of ice, he +found a scene of peace and love. Crowds were on the bank, the stream +gleamed in the sun, the sky was blue, and all hailed him with joy. + +On the bridge that crossed the Del-a-ware an arch was raised and +twined with wreaths of green and gay blooms. As Wash-ing-ton passed +'neath it a band of young girls, drest in white and with wreaths on +their heads, threw bright blooms at his feet, and sang an ode that +spoke the love and praise that were in all hearts. + +At E-liz-a-beth-town Point he was met by men who had been sent from +New York, and led to a barge which had been made for his use. It was +filled with sea-men of high rank, who made a fine show in their white +suits. + +Boats of all sorts, gay with flags, and some with bands on board, fell +in the wake of Wash-ing-ton's barge, and as they swept up the bay of +New York the sight was a grand one. The ships at the wharves or in +mid-stream, dipped their flags, and fired their guns, bells were rung, +and on all the piers were great crowds that made the air ring with +their shouts. + +On the last day of A-pril, 1789, Wash-ing-ton took the oath in front +of the hall where the wise men of the land had been wont to meet in +New York. He stood in full view of a great crowd to whom this was a +new and strange sight. The States were to be as one, and this man, +whose name and fame were dear to them, was to pledge him-self to keep +them so. + +On a ledge that bulged out from the main part of the house, was a +stand spread with a rich red cloth on which lay the Word of God, the +Book of Books. Wash-ing-ton was clad in a full suit of dark-brown +home-made cloth, white silk hose, and dress sword with steel hilt, and +his hair was drest in the style of the day. + +As he came in sight he was hailed with the shouts of the crowds in the +streets and on the roofs. He came to the front of the ledge close to +the rail, so that he could be seen by all, laid his hand on his heart, +bowed three or four times, and then went back and took his seat in an +arm-chair near the stand. + +In a short time he rose and went once more to the front with John +Ad-ams, who was to be next him in rank, and the friends who were to +stand by him in this new field. While the oath was read Wash-ing-ton +stood with his hand on the Word of God, and at the close he said, "I +swear--so help me God!" One of the men would have raised the book to +Wash-ing-ton's lips, but he bent his head and kissed it. + +Then there was a cry of "Long live George Wash-ing-ton!" and all the +bells in the town rang out a peal of joy, and the crowd rent the air +with their shouts and cheers. + +Wash-ing-ton bowed and made a speech that was full of good sense. Then +all went on foot to St. Paul's Church to pray that God would bless the +land. + +Wash-ing-ton felt most of all as he wrote to his friends, a fear lest +he should come short of what the land hoped to find in him. The eyes +of the world were on him. He had won fame in the field, but how would +he rule the State? There was still much to be done. Great Brit-ain +held some of the posts at the West, on the plea that debts due to some +of her men had not been paid; the red-men were still a source of fear +to the homes in the Wild West; and there was no hard cash with which +the States could pay their debts. + +He found that his time was no more his own. From dawn till dark men +came to him, and he saw that he must be saved from this or he could do +no work. Mrs. Wash-ing-ton joined him and soon days were fixed for the +calls of friends. The house was kept well, but there was no waste. One +who dined there wrote that there was no show. The Pres-i-dent said a +short grace as he sat down. One glass of wine was passed to each, and +no toasts were drank. He was kind to his guests and strove to put them +at their ease. He was strict in the way he kept the Lord's day. He +went to church and would have no calls on that day. + +As to Mrs. Wash-ing-ton, those who knew her at the time speak of her +as free from all art. She met her guests in a well-bred way as one who +had ruled in a great house. She, too, was more fond of their home at +Mount Ver-non than of the new rank and place. To stay at home was the +first and most dear wish of her heart. + +Wash-ing-ton was touched to the quick when he heard that I some one +had said that there was more pomp at his house than at St. James, +where King George held his court, and that his bows were much too +stiff and cold. + +Wash-ing-ton wrote, "I grieve that my bows were not to his taste, for +they were the best I can make. I can say with truth that I feel no +pride of place, and would be more glad to be at Mount Ver-non with a +few friends at my side, than here with men from all the courts of the +world." He then goes on to tell how they treat their guests. "At two +or three o'clock each Tues-day they come and go. They go in and out of +the rooms and chat as they please. When they first come in they speak +to me, and I talk with all I can. What pomp there is in all this I do +not see!" + +The red-men, who could not be kept in peace, roused the land once more +to arms. Wash-ing-ton did not wish for war, but he had to call out +troops. They went forth and laid waste In-di-an towns. Wash-ing-ton +thought it would be a good plan to meet the In-di-an chiefs and talk +with them. Three chiefs came to him, and said they would go to the +rest and try to make peace. Wash-ing-ton made a set speech and told +them it would be a good work to do, or else those tribes, "if they +thieved and killed as they had done, would be swept from the face of +the earth." + +He had thought much of the state of the red-men in the land. He had +but small faith in schools for the youth, save as far as to teach them +to read and write. The true means to do them good, he thought, was to +teach them to till the ground and raise crops in the same way as the +white folks, and he said if the tribes were pleased to learn such +arts, he would find a way to have them taught. + +In the end, Gen-er-al St. Clair had to be sent out with troops to put +the red-men down. Wash-ing-ton's last words to him were to be on the +watch, for the red-skins were sly and would wait for a chance to find +him off his guard. + +But St. Clair did not pay heed to these wise words, and the red-skins +got in-to his camp, some of his best men were slain, and the whole +force was put to rout. + +When the news was brought to Wash-ing-ton he said in a quick way, "I +knew it would be so! Here on this spot I took leave of him and told +him to be on his guard! I said to him 'you know how the red-skins +fight us!' I warned him--and yet he could let them steal in-to his +camp and hack and slay that ar-my!" He threw up his hands, and his +frame shook, as he cried out "O what a crime! what a crime!" + +Then he grew calm, and said that St. Clair should have a chance to +speak, and he would be just to him. St. Clair was tried, and was found +free from guilt. + +Wash-ing-ton's mo-ther died at Fred-er-icks-burg, Vir-gin-i-a, Au-gust +25, 1789, aged 82. When her son first went to war, she would shake her +head and say, "Ah, George should stay at home and take care of his +farm." As he rose step by step, and the news of his fame was brought +to her, she would say "George was a good boy," and she had no fear but +that he would be a good man, and do what was right. + +In the year 1789, a great war broke out in France, in which Lou-is XVI +lost his crown and his head, and deeds were done that you could scarce +read of with-out tears. Men seemed like fiends in their mad rage, and +like wild beasts in their thirst for blood. + +In 1793 France made war on Eng-land; and in 1797 sought to break up +the peace of the U-ni-ted States, but of this I will tell you by and +by. + +In the mean-time the four years--which was the full term Wash-ing-ton +was to rule--came to an end. He had no wish to serve for two terms, +but the choice fell on him, and he once more took the oath, on March +4, 1792. In 1796, as France was still at war, it was thought best that +Wash-ing-ton should hold his place for a third term. + +But this he would not do. He had made up his mind to leave these +scenes and to give up that sort of life, and those who plead with him +could not move him. He took leave of his friends in a way that moved +them to tears; and his fare-well speech, though in plain style, +touched all hearts and made them feel what a loss it was to part with +so great and good a man. + +On March 4, 1797, John Ad-ams took the oath, and bound him-self to +serve as Pres-i-dent for a term of four years. Wash-ing-ton was +there, and as he rose to leave the house there was a great rush to the +door, as all wished to catch the last look of one who had had for so +long a time the first place in their hearts. So great was the crush +that it was feared there would be loss of limbs if not of life. + +As Wash-ing-ton stood in the street he waved his hat as cheer on cheer +rose from the crowd, and his gray hairs streamed forth in the wind. +When he came to his own door he turned to the throng with a grave face +and tried to say a word or two. But tears rose to his eyes, his heart +was full, and he could not speak but by signs. + +He soon set off for Mount Ver-non, the dear home of his heart. He had +been there but a few months when the French, by their acts, seemed to +want to bring on a war with the U-ni-ted States. They took our ships +at sea, and there was no way left but to stand up for our rights. + +Pres-i-dent Ad-ams wrote to Wash-ing-ton, "We must have your name, if +you will let us have it. There will be more in it than in a host of +men! If the French come here we shall have to march with a quick +step." + +Wash-ing-ton wrote to Pres-i-dent Ad-ams, "I had no thought that in so +short a time I should be called from the shade of Mount Ver-non. But +if a foe should come in our land, I would not plead my age or wish to +stay at home." + +He saw the dark clouds that showed a storm, and he feared his days of +peace would be few. It was with a sad heart that he felt his rest was +at an end, but he had so strong a sense of what was right that he did +not hold back. He said he would do all he could for the troops, but he +would not take the field till the foe was at hand. + +For months Wash-ing-ton led a life full of hard work. He had much to +do for the troops, and at the same time work at home. He would write +for hours, and took long rides each day. To his great joy, there was, +in the end, no war with France. + +He seemed in first-rate health up to De-cem-ber 12, 1799. On that day +a storm set in, first of snow, then of hail, and then of rain, and +Wash-ing-ton was out in it for at least two hours. When he reached the +house his clerk, Mr. Lear, saw that the snow hung from his hair, and +asked him if he was not wet through. "No," said Wash-ing-ton, "my +great coat kept me dry." But the next day his throat was sore and he +was quite hoarse; and though much worse at night he made light of it +and thought it would soon pass off. + +When he went to bed Mr. Lear asked him if he did not think it best to +take some-thing. "Oh, no," said Wash-ing-ton. "Let it go as it came." +But he grew worse in the night, and it was hard for him to breathe, +and though his wife wished to call up one of the maids he would not +let her rise lest she should take cold. + +At day-break, when the maid came in to light the fire, she was sent to +call Mr. Lear. All was done that could be done to ease him of his +pain, but he felt him-self that he had but a short time to live. Mr. +Lear was like a son to him, and was with him night and day. + +When Mr. Lear would try to raise and turn him so that he could breathe +with more ease, Wash-ing-ton would say, "I fear I tire you too much." +When Lear told him that he did not, he said, "Well, it is a debt we +must all pay, and when you want aid of this kind I hope you'll find +it." + +His black man had been in the room the whole day and most of the time +on his feet, and when Wash-ing-ton took note of it he told him in a +kind voice to sit down. + +I tell you these things that you may see what a kind heart he had, and +how at his last hour he thought not of him-self. + +His old friend, Dr. Craik, who stood by his side when he first went +forth to war, in the year 1754, was with him in these last hours, when +Death was the foe that Wash-ing-ton had to meet. He said to Dr. Craik, +"I die hard, but I am not a-fraid to go, my breath can-not last long." +He felt his own pulse, and breathed his last on the night of +De-cem-ber 14, 1799. + +His wife, who sat at the foot of the bed, asked with a firm voice, "Is +he gone?" Lear, who could not speak, made a sign that he was no more. +"'Tis well," said she in the same voice. "All is now at an end, and I +shall soon join him." + +Thus lived and died this great and good man, "first in war, first in +peace, and first in the hearts of" those who love "the land of the +free." + +Praise did not spoil him or make him vain; but from first to last he +was the same wise, calm, true friend, full of love to God and of +good-will to man. + +Great and good men have been born in-to the world, but none whose name +and fame rank as high as that of GEORGE WASH-ING-TON. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of George Washington, by Josephine Pollard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON *** + +***** This file should be named 36183-8.txt or 36183-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/8/36183/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of George Washington + in Words of One Syllable + +Author: Josephine Pollard + +Release Date: May 22, 2011 [EBook #36183] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 510px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="510" height="650" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 532px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="532" height="650" alt="EARLY LOVE OF TRUTH.—P. 6." title="" /> +<span class="caption">EARLY LOVE OF TRUTH.—P. 6.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.</h1> + +<h2><i>IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.</i></h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>JOSEPHINE POLLARD,</h2> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF "OUR HERO, GENERAL GRANT," "OUR NAVAL HEROES," "THE HISTORY +OF THE UNITED STATES," "THE LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS," ETC., ETC.</h4> + + +<p class="center">NEW YORK:<br /> + +McLOUGHLIN BROTHERS.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>The Life story of a public man cannot help being to some extent the +same thing as a history of the times in which he lived, and to the +case of none does this remark apply with more force than to that of +the "Father of his Country;" which very title shows the degree to +which the personality of its bearer became identified with the public +life of the nation. While a great deal of the space in this book, +consequently, has had to be devoted to American Revolutionary History, +it is hoped that excess in this direction has been avoided, and that +the main purpose of the work will be attained, i.e. to give its young +readers a distinct and vivid idea of the exalted character and +priceless services of Washington, so far as these can be brought +within the understanding of a child.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<p> +<span class="tocnum">PAGE.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span> BOYHOOD <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_5'>05</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter II.</span> YOUTH <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_11'>11</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter III.</span> THE FIRST STEP TO FAME <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_17'>17</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span> TO THE FRONT <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_24'>24</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span> AS AIDE-DE-CAMP <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_33'>33</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span> COLONEL OF VIRGINIA TROOPS <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_39'>39</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter VII.</span> THE HOME OF WASHINGTON <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter VIII.</span> THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_52'>52</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter IX.</span> COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_61'>61</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter X.</span> IN AND NEAR NEW YORK <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_71'>71</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter XI.</span> A SAD YEAR <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_78'>78</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter XII.</span> FOES IN THE CAMP <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_84'>84</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter XIII.</span> THE HARDSHIPS OF WAR <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter XIV.</span> THE CLOSE OF THE WAR <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_103'>103</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapter XV.</span> FIRST IN PEACE <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_110'>110</a></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LIFE OF<br /> +GEORGE WASHINGTON.</h2> + + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>BOY-HOOD.</h3> + + +<p>George Wash-ing-ton was born in the State of Vir-gin-i-a, at a place +known as Bridg-es Creek, on Feb-ru-a-ry 22, 1732. His great +grand-sire, John Wash-ing-ton, came from Eng-land in the year 1657, +and took up lands in that state and was a rich man. George was the son +of his grand-son Au-gus-tine. Au-gus-tine's first wife was Jane +But-ler who died and left him with two boys. His next wife was Ma-ry +Ball, and George was her first child.</p> + +<p>The old home-stead in which George was born stood near the banks of +the Po-to-mac Riv-er, and was built with a steep roof that sloped down +to low eaves that hung out far from the main wall. There were four +rooms on the ground floor, and some near the roof, and at each end of +the house was a great fire-place built of brick, with broad +hearth-stones, such as were in style in those days.</p> + +<p>A stone is all that marks the birth-place of George Wash-ing-ton. He +was not more than eight years of age when his fa-ther went to live on +a farm near the Rap-pa-han-nock Riv-er. The house was built much in +the same style as the one at Bridg-es Creek, but it stood on high +ground, and here all his boy-hood days were spent.</p> + +<p>As there were no good schools in A-mer-i-ca at that time, those who +had the means sent their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> sons to Eng-land to be taught and trained. +Law-rence Wash-ing-ton was sent when he was 15 years of age, and as he +was the first-born it was thought that he would in time take his +fa-ther's place, as head of the house.</p> + +<p>The school to which George was sent stood in a field on his fa-ther's +land, and was taught by a man named Hob-by. This gave it the name of +the "Hob-by School."</p> + +<p>There were but three things taught there: How to read—How to +write—and How to do sums—and some folks thought that these were all +their boys and girls had need to learn. Books were scarce and dear, +and as most of the men raised fine crops, and kept up a brisk trade, +they were well pleased to have their boys learn how to buy and sell, +and to make out bills. George had been trained by his fa-ther, who was +a strict and yet a just man, to love the truth and to do right at all +times. He was made to feel that it was a sin to tell a lie, and much +worse to hide a fault than to own it.</p> + +<p>George had a small axe of which he was quite proud, and boy-like, he +cut right and left with it, and thought not of the harm he might do. +On the lawn stood a small tree which his fa-ther hoped to see grow up +to a good height and to bear fine fruit. George made a great gash in +this tree with his sharp axe, and when his fa-ther saw it he was quite +sad. He called the boy to his side, and in a stern voice said:</p> + +<p>"Who did this? Who cut this tree?"</p> + +<p>George hung his head with shame. He knew he had done wrong; and he +stood in fear of his fa-ther, who he knew would use the rod where +there was need of it. It was a chance for the boy to show what kind of +stuff he was made of. George raised his face, still red with the blush +of shame, and said in his frank way, and with-out a sign of fear:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I did it, fa-ther, I can-not tell a lie."</p> + +<p>There was no need to use the rod on such a boy as that, and the +fa-ther must have felt a thrill of joy when he found that the great +truths he had taught his son had such a hold on his mind and had +struck their roots deep in-to his heart.</p> + +<p>It is told that he clasped George to his breast, and said with tears +in his eyes; that it would grieve him less to lose scores and scores +of trees, than to have his boy tell one lie.</p> + +<p>But you must not think that George Wash-ing-ton was such a good-good +boy that he could guide him-self, and did not need to be kept in +check. He was high strung, as quick as a flash, and felt that he was +born to rule, and these traits his mo-ther had to keep down and train +so that they would not wreck the young boy, for when George was not +yet twelve years of age his fa-ther died, and his mo-ther was left +with the care of five young folks. The task was one for which she was +well fit, as she had rare good sense, a fine mind, a strong will, and +a kind heart.</p> + +<p>She used to read to her boys and girls each day out of some good book, +talk with them, and tell them how they could best serve God and man, +and George laid up each word in his heart, and sought to pay her back +as well as he could for all her kind love and care.</p> + +<p>She said of George that he was "a good boy;" and it has been said in +her praise that "a no-ble mo-ther must have borne so brave a son."</p> + +<p>When George was 13 and his half-bro-ther Law-rence 21, Eng-land and +Spain went to war, and Law-rence went with the troops that were sent +to the West In-dies. The sight of Law-rence in war-like trim, the +sound of drum and fife, and the march of troops through the streets, +fired the heart of the young lad, and from that time his plays and +games, in school and out, took on a war-like turn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a boy at school, named Wil-li-am Bus-tle, who took up arms +and marched with as much zeal as George Wash-ing-ton. But George was +at all times com-mand-er-in-chief!</p> + +<p>He was fond of all the sports that boys love, and could run, and jump, +and climb, and toss bars, and took part in all those feats that kept +him in health and strength.</p> + +<p>He could pitch quoits with great skill, and the place is shown at +Fred-er-icks-burg where, when a boy, he flung a stone a-cross the +Rap-pa-han-nock. He was fond of a horse, and there was no steed so +wild that George could not mount on his back and tame him.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wash-ing-ton had a colt which she thought so much of that she let +it run loose in the field. He was so fierce that no one had dared to +get on his back.</p> + +<p>One day George went out to view the colt with some of his boy friends, +and he told them that if they would help him put the bit in the +colt's mouth he would mount. The boys drove the colt in-to a small +lot, put the bit in his mouth, and Wash-ing-ton was soon on his back. +The beast rushed in-to the field, but was soon curbed by the strong +arms of the boy on his back. Then the colt reared and plunged and +tried in all sorts of ways to get rid of the lad, who clung to the +colt's bare back as if he had been glued there. Mad with rage the colt +tried once more to throw him, but strained too hard, and fell to the +ground and died in a short time.</p> + +<p>The group of boys were well scared at this sad end of their fun, and +scarce knew what to do. When they went back to the house Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton asked the boys if they had seen her fine breed of colts. +"The one I am most proud of," said she, "I am told is as large as his +sire." Some of the lads hung their heads and knew not what to say; but +George spoke up in his frank way and said that the colt was dead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dead!" cried she; "and from what cause?"</p> + +<p>Then George told her just what had been done, and how hard the beast +had fought to get free, and how at the last, with one wild fierce +plunge, he fell down and died.</p> + +<p>A flush rose to the mo-ther's cheek, and then she said to her boy: "It +is well; but while I grieve at the loss of my fine colt, I feel a +pride and joy in my son, who speaks the truth at all times."</p> + +<p>George was fond of his books too, and was so wise a lad, and so full +of thought, and had so keen a sense of what was just, that his +school-mates came to him when they got in-to a war of words, or of +blows, that he might say which side was right and which was wrong, and +thus put an end to the fight. This use of his mind made George look at +things in a clear light, and gave him that look of true pride which +all men of high mind, the real kings of earth, are wont to wear.</p> + +<p>In due time George out-grew the Hob-by School, and was sent to live +with his half-bro-ther Au-gus-tine, at Bridg-es Creek, where there was +a school of a high grade. But George had no taste for Lat-in or Greek, +and liked best to do sums, and to draw maps. He wrote with great care, +page after page of what he called "Forms of Wri-ting."</p> + +<p>These were notes of hand, bills of sale, deeds, bonds, and the like, +such as one would think a boy of 13 would not care much a-bout.</p> + +<p>In this same book (it is kept to this day) George wrote out one +hun-dred and ten "Rules," which were to guide him in act and speech at +home and a-broad. Some few of these I will give you, that you may see +at how young an age this boy set out to train him-self, and fit +him-self for the high place he was to fill. It al-most seems as if he +must have known the high rank he was to take; but this could not be. +His soul was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> fixed on high things; he had; no low tastes; and he was +led by the hand of God.</p> + +<p>Here are some of the rules that George Wash-ing-ton took as the guide +of his youth.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In the pres-ence of o-thers sing not to your-self with a +hum-ming noise, nor drum with your fin-gers or feet.</p> + +<p>"Sleep not when o-thers speak, sit not when o-thers stand, +speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not when +o-thers stop.</p> + +<p>"Turn not your back to o-thers when speak-ing; jog not the +ta-ble or desk on which an-o-ther reads or writes; lean not +on a-ny one.</p> + +<p>"Read no let-ters, books, or pa-pers in com-pa-ny; but when +there is a need for do-ing it, you must ask leave. Come not +near the books or wri-tings of a-ny one so as to read them, +un-less asked to do so, nor give your o-pin-ion of them +un-asked; al-so look not nigh when an-o-ther is wri-ting a +let-ter.</p> + +<p>"In wri-ting or speak-ing give to each per-son his due +ti-tle ac-cord-ing to his rank and the cus-tom of the place.</p> + +<p>"When a man does all he can, though it suc-ceeds not well, +blame not him that did it.</p> + +<p>"Be slow to be-lieve e-vil re-ports of a-ny one.</p> + +<p>"Be mod-est in your dress and seek to suit na-ture rather +than to win ad-mi-ra-tion. Keep to the fash-ion of your +e-quals, such as are civ-il and or-der-ly with re-spect to +times and pla-ces.</p> + +<p>"Play not the pea-cock, look-ing all a-bout you to see if +you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, your stock-ings +sit neat-ly, and your clothes hand-some-ly.</p> + +<p>"Make friends with those of good char-ac-ter, if you care +for your own rep-u-ta-tion, for it is bet-ter to be a-lone +than in bad com-pa-ny.</p> + +<p>"Speak not of dole-ful things in time of mirth, nor at the +ta-ble; speak not of mourn-ful things, as death, and wounds, +and if o-thers men-tion them, change, if you can, the +dis-course.</p> + +<p>"Ut-ter not base and fool-ish things 'mongst grave and +learn-ed men; nor hard ques-tions or sub-jects a-mong the +ig-no-rant; nor things hard to be believed.</p> + +<p>"Be not for-ward, but friendly and court-e-ous; the first to +sa-lute, hear, and an-swer; and be not pen-sive when it is +time to con-verse.</p> + +<p>"Gaze not on the marks or blem-ish-es of o-thers, and ask +not how they came.</p> + +<p>"Think be-fore you speak, pro-nounce not im-per-fect-ly, nor +bring out your words too hast-i-ly, but or-der-ly and +dis-tinct-ly.</p> + +<p>"Treat with men at fit times a-bout bus-i-ness; and whis-per +not in the com-pa-ny of o-thers.</p> + +<p>"Be not cu-ri-ous to know the af-fairs of o-thers, nor go +near to those that speak in pri-vate.</p> + +<p>"Un-der-take not to do what you can-not per-form, but be +care-ful to keep your prom-ise.</p> + +<p>"Speak not e-vil of the ab-sent, for it is un-just.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Make no show of ta-king great delight in your food; feed +not with greed-i-ness; cut your bread with a knife; lean not +on the ta-ble; nei-ther find fault with what you eat.</p> + +<p>"When you speak of God, let it be grave-ly and in +re-ver-ence. Hon-or and o-bey your pa-rents, al-though they +be poor.</p> + +<p>"Let your a-muse-ments be man-ful, not sin-ful.</p> + +<p>"La-bor to keep a live in your breast that lit-tle spark of +ce-les-ti-al fire, called con-sci-ence."</p></div> + +<p>It is not known where George found these rules he took so much pains +to write out, but it is plain that he set great store by them, and +made use of them through out his whole life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>YOUTH.</h3> + + +<p>George was a great pet with his bro-ther, Law-rence Wash-ing-ton, who +thought it would be a nice thing for him to serve on board one of the +King's ships-of-war. While Law-rence was in the West In-dies he was on +good terms with Gen-er-al Went-worth and Ad-mi-ral Ver-non, and he had +no doubt they would do their best to get his bro-ther a good place. He +spoke to George a-bout it, and the boy was wild with joy. His +mo-ther's pride was roused, and at first she did not put a straw in +his way, but gave him all the help she could. But as the time drew +near, her heart, which had been so strong and brave and full of pride, +gave way and she felt that she could not part with her dear boy.</p> + +<p>One of her friends wrote to Law-rence that Mrs. Wash-ing-ton had made +up her mind not to let George go to sea. She said that some of her +friends had told her it was a bad plan, and "I find," said he "that +one word a-gainst his go-ing has more weight than ten for it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>So they gave up the scheme, and George was sent back to school.</p> + +<p>He would, on fine days, go out in the fields and tracts of land +a-round the school-house, and with line and rod take the size and +shape, the length and width, and mark it all down in one of his books, +and so much pains did he take that from the first to the last page not +a blot or blur is to be seen.</p> + +<p>These neat ways, formed in his youth, were kept up through all his +life, and what seems strange is that day-books, and such books as you +will find in great use now-a-days were not known at that time. The +plan had been thought out by George Wash-ing-ton when a boy of 16, and +shows the cast of his mind.</p> + +<p>Near this time George was sent to live with his bro-ther Law-rence, at +his fine place on the Po-to-mac, which he had called Mount Ver-non, to +show how much he thought of the ad-mi-ral of that name.</p> + +<p>Here George had a chance to make friends with those of high rank, and +he spent much of his time with George Fair-fax who made his home at +<i>Bel-voir</i>, near Mount Ver-non. Lord Fair-fax, a man of wealth and +worth was much at Bel-voir at that time. He had bought large tracts of +land in Vir-gin-i-a, which had not been staked out, or set off in-to +lots. In fact he did not know their size or shape, but he had heard +that men had sought out some of the best spots, and had built homes +there, and laid out farms for which they paid no rent, and he thought +it quite time to put a stop to such things.</p> + +<p>In March, 1748, George Wash-ing-ton, who had been picked out by Lord +Fair-fax for this task, went on his first trip with George Fair-fax to +stake off these wild lands. He wrote down what was done from day to +day, and by these notes we learn that he had quite a rough time of it, +and yet found much that was to his taste. He and the men with him rode +for miles and miles through lands rich in grain, hemp, and to-bac-co, +and through fine groves of trees on the bank of a broad stream.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 526px;"> +<img src="images/illus026.jpg" width="526" height="650" alt="WASHINGTON'S FIRST SPEECH TO THE INDIANS.—P. 19." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WASHINGTON'S FIRST SPEECH TO THE INDIANS.—P. 19.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>One night, writes George, when they had been hard at work all day, +they came to the house where they were to be fed and lodged. The +wood-men went to bed with their clothes on, but George took his off, +and as he turned in he found his bed was of loose straw with not a +thing on it but the thread-bare blank-et he was to wrap him-self in. +The fleas and bugs soon forced George to get up and put on his clothes +and lie as the rest of the men did, and "had we not been so tired," he +says "I am sure we should not have slept much that night." He made a +vow then that he would sleep out of doors near a fire when on such +tramps, and run no more such risks.</p> + +<p>On March 18, they reached a point on the Po-to-mac, which they were +told they could not ford. There had been a great rain-fall and the +stream had not been so high, by six feet, as it was at that time. They +made up their minds to stay there for a day or two; went to see the +Warm Springs, and at night camped out in the field. At the end of two +days, as the stream was still high, they swam their steeds to the +Mar-y-land side. The men crossed in birch-bark boats, and rode all the +next day in a rain storm to a place two-score miles from where they +had set out that morn. Wash-ing-ton writes that the road was "the +worst that had ever been trod by man or beast."</p> + +<p>On March 23, they fell in with a score or two of red-men who had been +off to war and brought home but one scalp, and they had a chance to +see a war-dance. The red-men cleared a large space, and built a fire +in the midst of it, round which they all sat. One of the men then made +a grand speech in which he told them how they were to dance.</p> + +<p>When he had done, the one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> who could dance the best sprang up as if he +had just been roused from sleep, and ran and jumped round the ring in +a queer kind of way. The rest soon joined him, and did just as he did. +By this time the band made it-self heard, and I shall have to tell you +what a fine band it was.</p> + +<p>There was a pot half full of water with a piece of deer-skin stretched +tight on the top, and a gourd with some shot in it, and a piece of +horse's tail tied to it to make it look fine. One man shook the gourd, +and one drummed all the while the rest danced, and I doubt if you +would care to hear the noise that was made.</p> + +<p>Late in the day of March 26, they came to a place where dwelt a man +named Hedge, who was in the pay of King George as justice of the +peace. Here they camped, and at the meal that was spread there was not +a knife nor a fork to eat with but such as the guests had brought with +them.</p> + +<p>On the night of the first of A-pril the wind blew and the rain fell. +The straw on which they lay took fire, and George was saved by one of +the men, who woke him when it was in a blaze.</p> + +<p>"I have not slept for four nights in a bed," wrote Wash-ing-ton at +this time to one of his young friends at home, "but when I have walked +a good deal in the day, I lie down on a heap of straw, or a bear-skin +by the fire, with man, wife, young ones, dogs, and cats; and he is in +luck who gets the place next the fire."</p> + +<p>For three years he kept up this mode of life, but as it was a hard +life to lead he could be out but a few weeks at a time. His pay was a +doub-loon a day, and some-times six pis-toles.</p> + +<p>A doub-loon is a gold coin of Spain, worth not quite 16 dol-lars. A +pis-tole is a small gold coin of Spain, worth not quite four dol-lars.</p> + +<p>This rough kind of life, though he did not know it, was to fit him for +the toils and ills of war,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> of which he may have dreamt in those days, +as he still kept up his love for war-like things.</p> + +<p>While at work on the land round the Blue Ridge, he now and then made +his way to <i>Green-way Court</i> where Lord Fair-fax dwelt at this time. +Here he had a chance to read choice books, for Lord Fair-fax had a +fine mind though his tastes were queer. He lived on a knoll, in a +small house not more than twelve feet square. All round him were the +huts for his "help," black and white. Red-men, half breeds, and +wood-men thronged the place, where they were sure they would get a +good meal. He had steeds of fine breed, and hounds of keen scent, for +he was fond of the chase, and the woods and hills were full of game.</p> + +<p>Here was a grand chance for George, who had a great taste for +field-sports, and his rides, and walks, and talks with Lord Fair-fax +were a rich treat to the home-bred youth. This wise friend lent George +good books which he took with him to the woods and read with great +care, and in this way stored his mind with rich thoughts.</p> + +<p>In Vir-gin-i-a there were some few men who had served in the late war +'twixt Eng-land and Spain, and they put George through such a drill +with sword and with gun that he learned to use them both with great +skill.</p> + +<p>A Dutch-man, named Van-Bra-am, was one of these men, and he claimed to +know a great deal of the art of war. He it was that took George in +hand to teach him the use of the sword, and how to fence.</p> + +<p>When he was 19 years of age the red-men and the French had made such +in-roads on the front, that it was thought best to place men on guard +to keep back these foes, and to up-hold the laws of the state of +Vir-gin-i-a. There was need of some one to take charge of a +school-of-arms at one of the chief out-posts where the French sought +to get a foot-hold, and the choice fell on George Wash-ing-ton,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> who +set to work at once to fit him-self for the place.</p> + +<p>His broth-er's ill health caused this scheme to be dropped for a time, +as Law-rence was forced to go to the West In-dies for change of air, +and begged George to go with him. George gave up all thought of self, +and the two set sail for Bar-ba-does, Sep-tem-ber 28, 1751. At sea he +kept a log-book, took notes of the course of the winds, and if the +days were fair or foul, and learned all he could of the ways of a ship +and how to sail one.</p> + +<p>They reached Bar-ba-does on No-vem-ber 3, and were pleased with the +place, and all the strange sights that met their gaze. On all sides +were fields of corn and sweet cane, and groves of trees rich in leaves +and fruit, and all things held out a hope of cure for the sick man, +whose lungs were in a weak state.</p> + +<p>They had been but two weeks in Bar-ba-does when George fell ill with +small-pox, and this for a time put an end to all their sports. But he +had the best of care, and at the end of three weeks was so well that +he could go out of doors.</p> + +<p>Law-rence soon tired of this place, and longed for a change of scene. +They had to ride out by the first dawn of day, for by the time the sun +was half an hour high it was as hot as at mid-day. There was no change +in the sick man's health, and he made up his mind to go to Ber-mu-da +in the spring. He was lone-some with-out his wife, so it was planned +that George should go back home and bring her out to Ber-mu-da.</p> + +<p>George set sail, De-cem-ber 22, and reached Vir-gin-i-a at the end of +five weeks. He must have been glad to step on shore once more, for the +cold winds and fierce storms to be met with at sea, at that time of +the year, made life on ship-board some-thing of a hard-ship.</p> + +<p>Law-rence did not gain in health, and ere his wife could join him he +wrote her that he would start for home—"to his grave." He reached +Mount<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> Ver-non in time to die 'neath his own roof, and with kind +friends at his bed-side. His death took place on the 26th of Ju-ly, +1752, when he was but 34 years of age.</p> + +<p>He had been like a fa-ther to George, and their hearts were bound by +ties so strong and sweet that it was a great grief for them to part.</p> + +<p>But George had no time to sit down and mourn his loss. There was work +for him to do. New cares were thrust on him by his bro-ther's death, +that took up all his time and thoughts for some months; and he had to +keep up his drills with the men at the school-of-arms, for which he +was paid by the State.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST STEP TO FAME.</h3> + + +<p>The time had now come when Wash-ing-ton was to take a fresh start in +life, and win for him-self high rank.</p> + +<p>The French, who thought they had just as good a right as the Eng-lish +to take up land in A-mer-i-ca, pressed their claims, and built forts +on the great Lakes and on the banks of the O-hi-o Riv-er. They made +friends of the red-men at or near these posts, and made it known that +they would fight the Eng-lish at all points.</p> + +<p>The red-men on the north shore of Lake On-ta-ri-o were good friends +with the French; but those on the south shore were not. They had been +well dealt with by the Eng-lish, and their chief, Half-King did not +like the war-like move that was made by the French.</p> + +<p>He went to the French post on Lake E-rie, and spoke thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> to the +troops there: "You have no right to come here and build towns, and +take our land from us by fraud and force. We raised a flame in +Mon-tre-al some time a-go, where we asked you to stay and not to come +here on our land. I now ask you to go back to that place, for this +land is ours.</p> + +<p>"Had you come in a peace-ful way, like the Eng-lish, we should have +let you trade with us as they do, but we will not let you come and +build on our land and take it by force.</p> + +<p>"You and the Eng-lish are white. We live in a land be-tween you, to +which you and they have no right. The Great Be-ing gave it to us. We +have told the Eng-lish to move off, and they have heard us, and now we +tell it to you. We do not fear you, and we mean to keep you both at +arm's length."</p> + +<p>The French-man said to Half-King: "You talk like a fool. This land is +mine, and I will have it, let who will stand up a-gainst me. I have no +fear of such as you. I tell you that down the O-hi-o I will go, and +build forts on it. If it were blocked up I have troops e-nough to +break through it and to tread down all who would try to stop me. My +force is as the sand of the sea!"</p> + +<p>This proud speech made Half-King feel as if he had been stabbed to the +heart. It was the death-blow to his race. But he turned with hope and +trust to the Eng-lish, who thus far had not shown a wish to do what +was not just to his tribe.</p> + +<p>On Oc-to-ber 30, 1753, Wash-ing-ton set out from Will-iams-burg in +Vir-gin-i-a with a small band of men. He was just of age, and ranked +as Ma-jor Wash-ing-ton. He was to go to the French out-post near Lake +E-rie, with a note from Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die to the head man there, +and to ask for a re-ply in the name of King George.</p> + +<p>He was to find out where forts had been built, and how large a force +of troops had crossed the Lakes, and to learn all that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> he could of +those who had dared to set up the flag of France on soil which the +Eng-lish claimed as their own.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton's route lay through thick woods and swamps where the foot +of man had not trod; he had to climb steep and rough hills where wild +beasts had their lairs; and to cross streams on frail rafts, if they +could not swim or ford them. There were but eight men in the whole +band, and the post they were to reach lay 560 miles off, and the whole +of the way had to be made on horse-back or on foot.</p> + +<p>They met some of the In-di-an chiefs at a place called Logs-town and +Wash-ing-ton made his first speech to the red-men. He told them what +he had come for, and asked that some of their braves might go with him +as guides and safe-guards for the rest of the way. He then gave them +what was called a "speech-belt," wrought with beads, as a sign that +they were friends and full of peace and good-will.</p> + +<p>The chiefs were mild and full of peace. They said that Wash-ing-ton +might have some of their men as guides, but he would have to wait for +two or three days as the young braves had gone out in search of game.</p> + +<p>This Wash-ing-ton could not do. There was no time to lose, and so he +set out with but four red-men as guides, and Half-King was one of +them.</p> + +<p>Through rain and snow, through a long stretch of dark woods that +seemed to have no end, through deep streams and swamps where there was +no sure foot-hold for man or beast, the brave band kept on their way. +At the end of 35 days from the time they left Will-iams-burg they +reached a place called Ven-an-go, where they saw a house from the top +of which a French flag flew, and Wash-ing-ton called a halt. The head +man in charge asked him and his friends to sup with him. The wine was +passed with a free hand, but Wash-ing-ton did not drink like his +French host. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> knew he would need to keep a cool head for his work. +When the French-man had his tongue loosed by the wine, he told a good +deal.</p> + +<p>"We have got the land," he said, "and we mean to keep it. You Eng-lish +may have two men to our one, but you are slow. It takes you a long +time to move."</p> + +<p>The man's tongue wagged on in a free way, and Wash-ing-ton, who had +kept his wits, wrote down all he said that could be of use to him.</p> + +<p>The next day it rained hard and they could not go on. Then for the +first time the French-man found that there were red-men with the +Eng-lish. Wash-ing-ton had kept them back, for he feared to trust them +to the wiles of the French. But now the shrewd man made a great time, +and hailed them as dear friends. He was so glad to see them! How could +they be so near and not come to see him? He gave them gifts and plied +them with strong drink, till Half-King and his braves thought no more +of what they had pledged to the Eng-lish. They were soon in such a +state that they did not care to move. It took some time for +Wash-ing-ton to get them free from the wiles of the French, and it +took four days more of snow and rain, through mire and swamp, to reach +the fort for which they had set out.</p> + +<p>Here Wash-ing-ton met the chief of the fort and made known the cause +that had brought him. He gave him the note from Gov-er-nor +Din-wid-die, in which it was asked why the French had come in-to a +State that was owned by Great Brit-ain, and they were bid to go in +peace. The French took two days in which to think of the course they +should take, and in this time Wash-ing-ton set down in his note book +the size and strength of the fort and all that he could find out. He +told his men to use their eyes, and to count the boats in the stream, +and the guns in the fort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first chance he had, Wash-ing-ton drew a plan of this fort, and it +was sent to Eng-land for King George to see.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton saw that the Half-King and the braves with him had much +to say to the French, and he did not trust them. He heard that the +Eng-lish who sought to trade on the O-hi-o were seized by the French, +and that some red-men had passed the fort with two or three white +scalps.</p> + +<p>All this made him wish to get off safe with his small band, and when +the French chief gave him a sealed note, he had a shrewd guess as to +what was in it. At last, when the start was to be made, the French +chief had large stores of food and wine put on their boats, and made a +great show of good will, but at the same time he tried to keep the +red-men with him, and told them he would give them guns for gifts the +next day. Wash-ing-ton was pressed by the red-men to wait that long +for them, and the next morn the French had to give the guns. Then they +tried to get the red-men to drink once more, but Wash-ing-ton plead +with them, and at last got them to start.</p> + +<p>It was hard to steer the boats, as the stream was full of ice, and at +times they had to leap out and stand in the wet for half an hour at a +time, to drag the boats by main force off the shoals. On the part of +the trip that had to be made by land, they had a hard time too. It was +cold, the roads were deep in mire, and the steeds were so worn out, +that it was feared they would fall by the way. Wash-ing-ton gave up +his horse to help bear the food and things for use, and he asked his +friends to do so too. They all went on foot, and the cold grew worse. +There was deep snow that froze as it fell. For three days they toiled +on in a slow way.</p> + +<p>At last Wash-ing-ton made up his mind to leave the men and steeds in +charge of one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> his band, and to strike off with his pack on his +back and his gun in his hand by a way which, it seemed to him, would +take him home by a short cut. He had the sealed note that he wished to +give up as soon as he could. He took but one man with him. At night +they lit a fire, and camped by it in the woods. At two in the morn, +they were once more on foot.</p> + +<p>They fell in with a red-man who claimed to know Mr. Gist, the man who +was with Wash-ing-ton, and called him by his name in his own tongue +and seemed glad to see him. They asked the red-man if he would go with +them and show them a short-cut to the Forks of the Al-le-gha-ny +Riv-er. The red-man seemed glad to serve them, and took Wash-ing-ton's +pack on his own back. Then the three set out, and walked at a brisk +pace for eight or ten miles.</p> + +<p>By this time Wash-ing-ton's feet were so sore that he could not take a +step with-out pain, and he was well tired out. He thought it best to +camp where they were, and the red-man begged Wash-ing-ton to let him +bear his gun. But the Ma-jor would not let it go out of his own hands. +This made the red-man cross, and he urged them to keep on and said +there were red-skins in the woods who would scalp them if they lay out +all night. He would take them to his own hut where they would be safe.</p> + +<p>The white men lost faith in their guide, and were soon quite ill at +ease. When the red-man found that he could not make them go his way, +or do as he said, he ceased to wear the face of a friend. At heart he +was the foe of all white men. All at once he made a stop, and then +turned and fired on them.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton found that he was not hit, so he turned to Mr. Gist, and +said, "Are you shot?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Gist. Then the red-man ran to a big white oak tree to load +his gun. Gist would have killed him, but Wash-ing-ton would not let +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gist says, "We let him charge his gun. We found he put in a ball; then +we took care of him. The Ma-jor or I stood by the guns. We made him +make a fire for us by a small run as if we meant to sleep there. I +said to the Ma-jor; 'As you will not have him killed, we must get rid +of him in some way, and then we must march on all night;' on which I +said to the red-man, 'I suppose you were lost and fired your gun.'</p> + +<p>"He said he knew the way to his log-hut and it was not far off. +'Well,' said I, 'do you go home; and as we are tired we will fol-low +your track in the morn-ing, and here is a cake of bread for you, and +you must give us meat in the morn-ing.' He was glad to get off," +Wash-ing-ton says, "We walked all the rest of the night, and made no +stop, that we might get the start so far as to be out of their reach +the next day, since we were quite sure they would get on our track as +soon as it was light."</p> + +<p>But no more was seen or heard of them, and the next night, at dusk, +the two white men came to the Al-le-gha-ny, which they thought to +cross on the ice.</p> + +<p>This they could not do, so they had to go to work with but one small +axe, and a poor one at that, and make a raft. It was a whole day's +work. They next got it launched, and went on board of it; then set +off.</p> + +<p>But when they were in mid-stream the raft was jammed in the ice in +such a way that death seemed to stare them in the face.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton put out his pole to stay the raft so that the ice might +pass by; but the tide was so swift that it drove the ice with great +force. It bore down on the pole so hard that Wash-ing-ton was thrown +in-to the stream where it was at least ten feet deep. He would have +been swept out of sight if he had not caught hold of one of the raft +logs. As they found they could not cross the stream, or get back to +the shore they had left, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> quit the raft, and got on a small isle +near which they were borne by the tide.</p> + +<p>But this was not the end of their ill luck. It was so cold that Mr. +Gist's hands and feet froze, and both he and Wash-ing-ton were in +great pain through-out the long dark night. A gleam of hope came with +the dawn of day, for they found the ice 'twixt them and the east bank +of the stream was so hard as to bear their weight, and they made their +way on it, and the same day came to a place where they could rest. +Here they spent two or three days.</p> + +<p>They set out on the first of Jan-u-a-ry, and the next day came to +Mon-on-ga-he-la, where Wash-ing-ton bought a horse. On the 11th he got +to Bel-voir, where he stopped one day to take the rest he was in need +of, and then set out and reached Will-iams-burg on the 16th of +Jan-u-a-ry. He gave to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die the note he had brought +from the French chief, showed him the plans of the fort, and told him +all that he had seen and done.</p> + +<p>The fame of his deeds, of the ills he had borne, and the nerve and +pluck he had shown, was soon noised a-broad, and George Wash-ing-ton, +though a mere youth, was looked up to by young and old.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>TO THE FRONT!</h3> + + +<p>The French chief in his note to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die had said, in +words that were smooth but clear, that he would not leave the banks of +the O-hi-o; so the Eng-lish felt as if it were time for them to make +a move, though they did not wish to bring on a war.</p> + +<p>Land was set off on the O-hi-o<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> where a fort was built, and the rest +of it left for the use of the troops.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was asked to lead the troops, but he shrank from it as a +charge too great for one so young. So Josh-u-a Fry was made Col-o-nel, +and Wash-ing-ton Lieu-ten-ant Col-o-nel of a force of 300 men.</p> + +<p>It was hard work to get men to join the ranks. The pay was small, and +those who had good farms and good homes did not care to leave them. +Those who had a mind to go were for the most part men who did not like +to work, and had no house or home they could call their own.</p> + +<p>Some were bare-foot, some had no shirts to their backs, and not a few +were with-out coat or waist-coat, as the vest was called in those +days.</p> + +<p>If it was hard work to get this kind of men, it was still more of a +task to find those who would serve as chiefs, and Wash-ing-ton found +him-self left in charge of a lot of raw troops who knew no will but +their own.</p> + +<p>But Van-Bra-am, who had taught Wash-ing-ton how to use the sword, was +with him, and gave him just the aid he had need of at this time.</p> + +<p>On A-pril 2, 1754, Wash-ing-ton, at the head of 150 men, set off for +the new fort at the Fork of the O-hi-o. The roads were rough, and the +march was slow, and it was not till A-pril 20 that they reached Will's +Creek. Here they were met by a small force, in charge of Cap-tain +Ad-am Ste-phen. The rest of the force, with the field-guns, were to +come by way of the Po-to-mac. These last were in charge of Col-o-nel +Fry.</p> + +<p>When Wash-ing-ton reached Will's Creek word was brought him that a +large force of French troops had borne down on the new fort. Cap-tain +Trent, who was in charge of the few troops in the fort, was a-way at +the time, and the young En-sign Ward did not know what to do. He +sought the aid of Half-King,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> who told him to plead with the French, +and to beg them to wait till the Cap-tain came back, and the two went +at once to the French camp. But the French would not wait, or make +terms of peace. They had come as foes, and told En-sign Ward that if +he did not leave the fort at once, with all his men, they would put +him out by force. All the French would grant was that our men might +take their tools with them; so the next morn they filed out of the +fort, gave up their arms, and took the path to the woods. The French +took the fort and built it up, and called it Fort Du-quesne (<i>kane</i>), +which was the name of the Gov-er-nor of Can-a-da.</p> + +<p>When the sad news was brought to Wash-ing-ton he was at a loss to know +what to do, or which way to turn. Here he was with a small band of raw +troops right in the midst of foes, red and white, who would soon hem +them in and use them ill if they found out where they were. Yet it +would not do to turn back, or show signs of fear. Col-o-nel Fry had +not yet come up and the weight of care was thrown on Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>He let the Gov-er-nors of Penn-syl-va-ni-a and Ma-ry-land know of his +plight, and urged them to send on troops. But none came to his aid.</p> + +<p>He had a talk with his chief men, and they all thought it would be +best to push on through the wild lands, make the road as they went on, +and try to reach the mouth of Red-stone Creek, where they would build +a fort. By this means the men would be kept at work, their fears would +be quelled, and a way made for the smooth and swift march of the +troops in the rear.</p> + +<p>There was so much to be done that the men, work as hard as they might, +could not clear the way with much speed. There were great trees to be +cut down, rocks to be moved, swamps to be filled up, and streams to be +bridged. While<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> in the midst of these toils, the bread gave out, and +the lack of food made the men too weak to work. In spite of all these +ills they made out to move at the rate of four miles a day, up steep +hills, and through dense woods that have since borne the name of "The +Shades of Death."</p> + +<p>While at a large stream where they had to stop to build a bridge, +Wash-ing-ton was told that it was not worth while for him to try to go +by land to Red-stone Creek, when he could go by boat in much less +time.</p> + +<p>This would be a good plan, if it would work; and to make sure, +Wash-ing-ton took five men with him in a bark boat down the stream. +One of these men was a red-skin guide. When they had gone ten miles, +the guide said that that was as far as he would go. Wash-ing-ton said, +"Why do you want to leave us now? We need you, and you know that we +can not get on with-out you. Tell us why you wish to leave."</p> + +<p>The red-man said, "Me want gifts. The red-men will not work with-out +them. The French know this, and are wise. If you want the red-men to +be your guides, you must buy them. They do not love you so well that +they will serve you with-out pay."</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton told the guide that when they got back he would give him +a fine white shirt with a frill on it, and a good great-coat, and this +put an end to the "strike" for that time. They kept on in the small +boat for a score of miles, till they came to a place where there was a +falls in the stream at least 40 feet. This put a stop to their course, +and Wash-ing-ton went back to camp with his mind made up to go on by +land.</p> + +<p>He was on his way to join his troops when word was brought him from +Half-King to be on his guard, as the French were close at hand. They +had been on the march for two days, and meant to strike the first foe +they should see.</p> + +<p>Half-King said that he and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> the rest of his chiefs would be with +Wash-ing-ton in five days to have a talk.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton set to work at once to get his troops in shape to meet +the foe. Scouts were sent out. There was a scare in the night. The +troops sprang to arms, and kept on the march till day-break. In the +mean-time, at nine o'clock at night, word came from Half-King, who was +then six miles from the camp, that he had seen the tracks of two +French-men, and the whole force was near that place.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton put him-self at the head of two score men, left the rest +to guard the camp, and set off to join Half-King. The men had to grope +their way by foot-paths through the woods. The night was dark and +there had been quite a fall of rain, so that they slipped and fell, +and lost their way, and had to climb the great rocks, and the trees +that had been blown down and blocked their way.</p> + +<p>It was near sun-rise when they came to the camp of Half-King, who at +once set out with a few of his braves to show Wash-ing-ton the tracks +he had seen. Then Half-King called up two of his braves, showed them +the tracks, and told them what to do. They took the scent, and went +off like hounds, and brought back word that they had traced the +foot-prints to a place shut in by rocks and trees where the French +were in camp.</p> + +<p>It was planned to take them off their guard. Wash-ing-ton was to move +on the right, Half-King and his men on the left. They made not a +sound. Wash-ing-ton was the first on the ground, and as he came out +from the rocks and trees at the head of his men, the French caught +sight of him and ran to their arms.</p> + +<p>A sharp fire was kept up on both sides. De Ju-mon-ville, who led the +French troops, was killed, with ten of his men. One of Wash-ing-ton's +men was killed, and two or three met<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> with wounds. None of the red-men +were hurt, as the French did not aim their guns at them at all. In +less than half an hour the French gave way, and ran, but +Wash-ing-ton's men soon came up with them, took them, and they were +sent, in charge of a strong guard, to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die.</p> + +<p>This was the first act of war, in which blood had been shed, and +Wash-ing-ton had to bear a great deal of blame from both France and +Eng-land till the truth was made known. He was thought to have been +too rash, and too bold, and in more haste to make war than to seek for +peace. These sins were charged to his youth, for it was not known then +how much more calm, and wise, and shrewd he was than most men who were +twice his age.</p> + +<p>The French claimed that this band had been sent out to ask +Wash-ing-ton, in a kind way, to leave the lands that were held by the +crown of France. But Wash-ing-ton was sure they were spies; and +Half-King said they had bad hearts, and if our men were such fools as +to let them go, he would give them no more aid.</p> + +<p>Half-King was full of fight, and Wash-ing-ton was flushed with pride, +and in haste to move on and brave the worst. He wrote home: "The +Min-goes have struck the French, and I hope will give a good blow +be-fore they have done."</p> + +<p>Then he told of the fight he had been in, and how he had won it, and +was not hurt though he stood in the midst of the fierce fire. The +balls whizzed by him, "and," said Wash-ing-ton "I was charmed with the +sound."</p> + +<p>This boast came to the ears of George II. who said, in a dry sort of a +way, "He would not say so if he had heard ma-ny."</p> + +<p>When long years had passed, some one asked Wash-ing-ton if he had made +such a speech. "If I did," said he, "it was when I was young." And he +was but 22 years of age.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>He knew that as soon as the French heard of the fight and their bad +luck, they would send a strong force out to meet him, so he set all +his men to work to add to the size of the earth-work, and to fence it +in so that it might be more of a strong-hold. Then he gave to it the +name of <i>Fort Ne-ces-si-ty</i>, for it had been thrown up in great haste +in time of great need, when food was so scant it was feared the troops +would starve to death. At one time, for six days they had no flour, +and, of course, no bread.</p> + +<p>News came of the death of Col-o-nel Fry, at Will's creek, and +Wash-ing-ton was forced to take charge of the whole force. Fry's +troops—300 in all—came up from Will's Creek, and Half-King brought +40 red-men with their wives and young ones and these all had to be fed +and cared for.</p> + +<p>Young as he was Wash-ing-ton was like a fa-ther to this strange group +of men. On Sundays, when in camp, he read to them from the word of +God, and by all his acts made them feel that he was a good and true +man, and fit to be their chief.</p> + +<p>The red-men did quite well as spies and scouts, but were not of much +use in the field, and they, and some men from South Car-o-li-na, did +much to vex young Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>Half-King did not like the way that white men fought, so he took +him-self and his band off to a safe place. The white men from South +Car-o-li-na, who had come out to serve their king, were too proud to +soil their hands or to do hard work, nor would they be led by a man of +the rank of Col-o-nel.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all these straits Wash-ing-ton stood calm and firm.</p> + +<p>The South Car-o-li-na troops were left to guard the fort, while the +rest of the men set out to clear the road to Red-stone Creek. Their +march was slow, and full of toil, and at the end of two weeks they had +gone but 13 miles. Here at Gist's home,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> where they stopped to rest, +word came to Wash-ing-ton that a large force of the French were to be +sent out to fight him. Word was sent to the fort to have the men that +were there join them with all speed.</p> + +<p>They reached Gist's at dusk, and by dawn of the next day all our +troops were in that place, where it was at first thought they would +wait for the foe.</p> + +<p>But this plan they gave up, for it was deemed best to make haste back +to the fort, where they might at least screen them-selves from the +fire of the foe.</p> + +<p>The roads were rough; the heat was great; the food was scant, and the +men weak and worn out. There were but few steeds, and these had to +bear such great loads that they could not move with speed.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton gave up his own horse and went on foot, and the rest of +the head men did the same.</p> + +<p>The troops from Vir-gin-i-a worked with a will and would take turns +and haul the big field guns, while the King's troops, from South +Car-o-li-na, walked at their ease, and would not lend a hand, or do a +stroke of work.</p> + +<p>On the morn of Ju-ly 3, scouts brought word to the fort that the +French were but four miles off, and in great force. Wash-ing-ton at +once drew up his men on the ground out-side of the fort, to wait for +the foe.</p> + +<p>Ere noon the French were quite near the fort and the sound of their +guns was heard.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton thought this was a trick to draw his men out in-to the +woods, so he told them to hold their fire till the foe came in sight. +But as the French did not show them-selves, though they still kept up +their fire, he drew his troops back to the fort and bade them fire at +will, and do their best to hit their mark.</p> + +<p>The rain fell all day long, so that the men in the fort were half +drowned, and some of the guns scarce fit for use.</p> + +<p>The fire was kept up till eight o'clock at night, when the French<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +sent word they would like to make terms with our men.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton thought it was a trick to find out the state of things in +the fort, and for a time gave no heed to the call. The French sent two +or three times, and at last brought the terms for Wash-ing-ton to +read. They were in French. There was no-thing at hand to write with, +so Van Bra-am, who could speak French, was called on to give the key.</p> + +<p>It was a queer scene. A light was brought, and held close to his face +so that he could see to read. The rain fell in such sheets that it was +hard work to keep up the flame. Van Bra-am mixed up Dutch, French, and +Eng-lish in a sad way, while Wash-ing-ton and his chief aids stood +near with heads bent, and tried their best to guess what was meant.</p> + +<p>They made out at last that the main terms were that the troops might +march out of the fort, and fear no harm from French or red-skins as +they made their way back to their homes. The drums might beat and the +flags fly, and they could take with them all the goods and stores, and +all that was in the fort—but the large guns. These the French would +break up. And our men should pledge them-selves not to build on the +lands which were claimed by the King of France for the space of one +year.</p> + +<p>The weak had to yield to the strong, and Wash-ing-ton and his men laid +down their arms and marched out of the fort.</p> + +<p>A note of thanks was sent to Wash-ing-ton, and all his head men but +Van Bra-am, who was thought to have read the terms in such a way as to +harm our side and serve the French.</p> + +<p>But there were those who felt that Van Bra-am was as true as he was +brave, and that it was the fault of his head and not his heart, for it +was a hard task for a Dutch-man to turn French in-to Eng-lish, and +make sense of it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>AS AIDE-DE-CAMP.</h3> + + +<p>In spite of the way in which the fight at Great Mead-ows came to an +end Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die made up his mind that the troops, led by +Wash-ing-ton, should cross the hills and drive the French from Fort +Du-quesne.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton thought it a wild scheme; for the snow lay deep on the +hills, his men were worn out, and had no arms, nor tents, nor clothes, +nor food, such as would fit them to take the field. It would need gold +to buy these things, as well as to pay for fresh troops.</p> + +<p>Gold was placed in the Gov-er-nor's hands to use as he pleased. Our +force was spread out in-to ten bands, of 100 men each. The King's +troops were put in high rank, and Col-o-nel Wash-ing-ton was made +Cap-tain. This, of course, was more than he could bear, so he left +the ar-my at once, and with a sad heart.</p> + +<p>In a short time Gov-er-nor Sharpe of Ma-ry-land was placed by King +George at the head of all the force that was to fight the French. He +knew that he would need the aid of Wash-ing-ton, and he begged him to +come back and serve with him in the field. But Wash-ing-ton did not +like the terms, and paid no heed to the call.</p> + +<p>The next Spring, Gen-er-al Brad-dock came from Eng-land with two large +bands of well-trained troops, which it was thought would drive the +French back in-to Can-a-da. Our men were full of joy, and thought the +war would soon be at an end. Brad-dock urged Wash-ing-ton to join him +in the field. Wash-ing-ton felt that he could be of great use, as he +knew the land and the ways of red-men,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> so he took up the sword once +more, as Brad-dock's aide-de-camp.</p> + +<p>Ben-ja-min Frank-lin, who had charge of the mails, lent his aid to the +cause, and did all that he could to serve Brad-dock and his men. +Brad-dock, with his staff and a guard of horse-men, set out for Will's +Creek, by the way of Win-ches-ter, in A-pril, 1755. He rode in a fine +turn-out that he had bought of Gov-er-nor Sharpe, which he soon found +out was not meant for use on rough roads. But he had fought with +dukes, and men of high rank, and was fond of show, and liked to put on +a great deal of style.</p> + +<p>He thought that this would make the troops look up to him, and would +add much to his fame.</p> + +<p>In May the troops went in-to camp, and Wash-ing-ton had a chance to +learn much of the art of war that was new and strange to him, and to +see some things that made him smile.</p> + +<p>All the rules and forms of camp-life were kept up. One of the head +men who died while in camp, was borne to the grave in this style: A +guard marched in front of the corpse, the cap-tain of it in the rear. +Each man held his gun up-side down, as a sign that the dead would war +no more, and the drums beat the dead march. When near the grave the +guard formed two lines that stood face to face, let their guns rest on +the ground, and leaned their heads on the butts. The corpse was borne +twixt these two rows of men with the sword and sash on the top of the +box in which he lay, and in the rear of it the men of rank marched two +and two. When the corpse was put in the ground, the guard fired their +guns three times, and then all the troops marched back to camp.</p> + +<p>The red-men—the Del-a-wares and Shaw-nees came to aid Gen-er-al +Brad-dock. With them were White Thun-der, who had charge of the +"speech-belts," and Sil-ver Heels, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> was swift of foot. Half-King +was dead, and White Thun-der reigned in his stead.</p> + +<p>The red-men had a camp to them-selves, where they would sing, and +dance, and howl and yell for half the night. It was fun for the King's +troops to watch them at their sports and games, and they soon found a +great charm in this wild sort of life.</p> + +<p>In the day time the red-men and their squaws, rigged up in their +plumes and war paint, hung round Brad-dock's camp, and gazed +spell-bound at the troops as they went through their drills.</p> + +<p>But this state of things did not last long, and strife rose twixt the +red and white men, and some of the red-skins left the camp. They told +Brad-dock they would meet him on his march, but they did not keep +their word.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was sent to Will-iams-burg to bring the gold of which +there was need, and when he came back he found that Brad-dock had +left a small guard at Fort Cum-ber-land, on Will's Creek, and was then +on his way to Fort Du-quesne. He would give no heed to those who knew +more of the back-woods than he did, nor call on the red-men to serve +as scouts and guides. He was not used to that kind of war-fare, and +scorned to be taught by such a youth as George Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>The march was a hard one for man and beast. Up steep hills and through +rough roads they had to drag the guns, and Brad-dock soon found out +that these new fields were not like the old ones on which he had been +wont to fight.</p> + +<p>Hard as it was for his pride to seek the aid of so young a man, he was +at last forced to ask Wash-ing-ton to help him out of these straits.</p> + +<p>They had then made a halt at Lit-tle Mead-ows. Wash-ing-ton said there +was no time to lose. They must push on at once.</p> + +<p>While at this place Cap-tain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> Jack, and his brave band of hunts-men +came in-to camp. They were fond of the chase, and were well-armed with +knives and guns, and looked quite like a tribe of red-skins as they +came out of the wood.</p> + +<p>Brad-dock met them in a stiff sort of way. Cap-tain Jack stepped in +front of his band and said that he and his men were used to rough +work, and knew how to deal with the red-men, and would be glad to join +the force.</p> + +<p>Brad-dock looked on him with a gaze of scorn, and spoke to him in a +way that roused the ire of Cap-tain Jack. He told his men what had +been said, and the whole band turned their backs on the camp, and went +through the woods to their old haunts where they were known and prized +at their true worth.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton, who had had a head-ache for some days, +grew so ill that he could not ride on his horse, and had to be borne +part of the time in a cart.</p> + +<p>Brad-dock—who well knew what a loss his death would be—said that he +should not go on. Wash-ing-ton plead with him, but Brad-dock was firm, +and made him halt on the road. Here he was left with a guard, and in +care of Doc-tor Craik, and here he had to stay for two long weeks. By +that time he could move, but not with-out much pain, for he was still +quite weak. It was his wish to join the troops in time for the great +blow, and while yet too weak to mount his horse, he set off with his +guards in a close cart, and reached Brad-dock's camp on the eighth of +Ju-ly.</p> + +<p>He was just in time, for the troops were to move on Fort Du-quesne the +next day. The fort was on the same side of the Mon-on-ga-he-la as the +camp, but twixt them lay a pass two miles in length, with the stream +on the left and a high range of hills on the right. The plan was to +ford the stream near the camp, march on the west bank of the stream +for five miles or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> so, and then cross to the east side and push on to +the fort.</p> + +<p>By sun-rise the next day the troops turned out in fine style, and +marched off to the noise of drum and fife. To Wash-ing-ton this was a +grand sight. Though still weak and ill, he rode his horse, and took +his place on the staff as aide-de-camp.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock the whole force had crossed the ford north of the fort, +and were on their way up the bank, when they were met by a fierce and +sharp fire from foes they could not see. Wild war-whoops and fierce +yells rent the air. What Wash-ing-ton feared, had come to pass. +Brad-dock did his best to keep the troops in line; but as fast as they +moved up, they were cut down by foes screened by rocks and trees.</p> + +<p>Now and then one of the red-men would dart out of the woods with a +wild yell to scalp a red-coat who had been shot down. Wild fear seized +Brad-dock's men, who fired and took no aim. Those in the front rank +were killed by those in the rear. Some of the Vir-gin-i-a troops took +post back of trees, and fought as the red-men did. Wash-ing-ton +thought it would be a good plan for Brad-dock's men to do the same. +But he thought there was but one way for troops to fight, and that +brave men ought not to skulk in that way. When some of them took to +the trees, Brad-dock stormed at them, and called them hard names, and +struck them with the flat of his sword.</p> + +<p>All day long Wash-ing-ton rode here and there in the midst of the +fight. He was in all parts of the field, a fine mark for the guns of +the foe, and yet not a shot struck him to do him harm. Four small +shots went through his coat. Two of his steeds were shot down; and +though those who stood near him fell dead at his side, Wash-ing-ton +had not one wound.</p> + +<p>The fight raged on. Death swept through the ranks of the red-coats. +The men at the guns<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> were seized with fright. Wash-ing-ton sprang from +his horse, wheeled a brass field-piece with his own hand, and sent a +good shot through the woods. But this act did not bring the men back +to their guns.</p> + +<p>Brad-dock was on the field the whole day, and did his best to turn the +tide. But most of his head-men had been slain in his sight; five times +had he been forced to mount a fresh horse, as one by one was struck +down by the foe-man's shot, and still he kept his ground and tried to +check the flight of his men.</p> + +<p>At last a shot struck him in the right arm and went in-to his lungs. +He fell from his horse, and was borne from the field. The troops took +fright at once, and most of them fled. The yells of the red-men still +rang in their ears.</p> + +<p>"All is lost!" they cried.</p> + +<p>"Brad-dock is killed!"</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton had been sent to a camp 40 miles off, and was on his way +back when he heard the sad news.</p> + +<p>But Brad-dock did not die at once. He was brought back to camp, and +for two days lay in a calm state but full of pain. Now and then his +lips would move and he was heard to say, "Who would have thought it! +We shall know how to deal with them the next time!"</p> + +<p>He died at Fort Ne-ces-si-ty on the night of Ju-ly 13. Had he done as +Wash-ing-ton told him he might have saved his own life, and won the +day. But he was a proud man, and when he made up his mind to do a +thing he would do it at all risks. Through this fault he missed the +fame he hoped to win, lost his life, and found a grave in a strange +land.</p> + +<p>His loss was a great gain to Wash-ing-ton, for all felt that he, so +calm, so grave, so free from fear, was the right sort of man to lead +troops to war. Those who had seen him in the field thought that he +bore a charmed life, for though he stood where the shot fell thick and +fast he was not hurt, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> showed no signs of fear. But Wash-ing-ton +was weak, and in need of rest, and as the death of Brad-dock left him +with no place in the force, he went back to Mount Ver-non where he +thought to spend the rest of his days.</p> + +<p>The fight which he took part in as aide-de-camp, and which had so sad +an end, goes by the name of <i>Brad-dock's de-feat</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>COL-O-NEL OF VIR-GIN-I-A TROOPS.</h3> + + +<p>The troops in Vir-gin-i-a were left with-out a head. There was no one +to lead them out to war, and if this fact came to the ears of the +French, they would be more bold.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton's friends urged him to ask for the place. But this he +would not do. His brother wrote him thus: "Our hopes rest on you, dear +George. You are the man for the place: all are loud in your praise."</p> + +<p>But Wash-ing-ton was firm. He wrote back and told in plain words all +that he had borne, and how he had been served for the past two years.</p> + +<p>"I love my land," he said, "and shall be glad to serve it, but not on +the same terms that I have done so."</p> + +<p>His mo-ther begged him not to risk his life in these wars. He wrote +her that he should do all that he could to keep out of harm's way, but +if he should have a call to drive the foes from the land of his birth, +he would have to go! And this he was sure would give her much more +pride than if he were to stay at home.</p> + +<p>On the same day, Au-gust 13, that this note was sent, word came to +Wash-ing-ton that he had been made chief of all the troops in +Vir-gin-i-a, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> next month he went to Win-ches-ter to stay.</p> + +<p>Here he found much to do. There was need of more troops, and it was +hard work to get them. Forts had to be built, and he drew up a plan of +his own and set men to work it out, and went out from time to time to +see how they got on with it. He rode off thus at the risk of his life, +for red-men lay in wait for scalps, and were fierce to do deeds of +blood.</p> + +<p>The stir of war put new life in-to the veins of old Lord Fair-fax. He +got up a troop of horse, and put them through a drill on the lawn at +Green-way Court. He was fond of the chase, and knew how to run the sly +fox to the ground. The red-man was a sort of fox, and Fair-fax was +keen for the chase, and now and then would mount his steed and call on +George Wash-ing-ton, who was glad to have his kind friend so near.</p> + +<p>In a short time he had need of his aid, for word came from the fort at +Will's Creek that a band of red-men were on the war-path with +fire-brands, and knives, and were then on their way to Win-ches-ter.</p> + +<p>A man on a fleet horse was sent post-haste to Wash-ing-ton, who had +been called to Will-iams-burg, the chief town.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time Lord Fair-fax sent word to all the troops near his +home to arm and haste to the aid of Win-ches-ter.</p> + +<p>Those on farms flocked to the towns, where they thought they would be +safe; and the towns-folks fled to the west side of the Blue Ridge. In +the height of this stir Wash-ing-ton rode in-to town, and the sight of +him did much to quell their fears.</p> + +<p>He thought that there were but a few red-skins who had caused this +great scare, and it was his wish to take the field at once and go out +and put them to flight. But he could get but a few men to go with him. +The rest of the town troops would not stir.</p> + +<p>All the old fire-arms that were in the place were brought out,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> and +smiths set to work to scour off the rust and make them fit to use.</p> + +<p>Caps, such as are now used on guns, were not known in those days. +Flint stones took their place. One of these was put in the lock, so +that when it struck a piece of steel it would flash fire, and the +spark would set off the gun. These were called flint-lock guns.</p> + +<p>Such a thing as a match had not been thought of, and flint stones were +made use of to light all fires.</p> + +<p>Carts were sent off for balls, and flints, and for food with which to +feed all those who had flocked to Win-ches-ter.</p> + +<p>The tribes of red-men that had once served with Wash-ing-ton, were now +on good terms with the French. One of their chiefs, named Ja-cob, +laughed at forts that were built of wood, and made his boast that no +fort was safe from him if it would catch fire.</p> + +<p>The town where these red-men dwelt was two score miles from Fort +Du-quesne, and a band of brave white men, with John Arm-strong and +Hugh Mer-cer at their head, set out from Win-ches-ter to put them to +rout.</p> + +<p>At the end of a long march they came at night on the red-men's +strong-hold, and took them off their guard. The red-men, led by the +fierce chief Ja-cob, who chose to die ere he would yield, made a +strong fight, but in the end most of them were killed, their huts were +set on fire, and the brave strong-hold was a strong-hold no more.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton had left Win-ches-ter and gone to Fort +Cum-ber-land, on Will's Creek. Here he kept his men at work on new +roads and old ones. Some were sent out as scouts. Brig-a-dier +Gen-er-al Forbes, who was in charge of the whole force, was on his way +from Phil-a-del-phi-a, but his march was a slow one as he was not in +good health. The plan was when he came to move on the French fort. The +work that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> was to have been done north of the fort, by Lord Lou-doun, +hung fire. It was felt that he was not the right man for the place, +and so his lord-ship was sent back to Eng-land.</p> + +<p>Ma-jor Gen-er-al Ab-er-crom-bie then took charge of the King's troops +at the north. These were to charge on Crown Point. Ma-jor Gen-er-al +Am-herst with a large force of men was with the fleet of Ad-mi-ral +Bos-caw-en, that set sail from Hal-i-fax the last of May. These were +to lay siege to Lou-is-berg and the isle of Cape Bre-ton, which is at +the mouth of the Gulf of St. Law-rence. Forbes was to move on Fort +Du-quesne, and was much too slow to suit Wash-ing-ton who was in haste +to start. His men had worn out their old clothes and were in great +need of new ones, which they could not get for some time. He liked the +dress the red-men wore. It was light and cool, and, what had to be +thought of most, it was cheap. Wash-ing-ton had some of his men put +on this dress, and it took well, and has since been worn by those who +roam the woods and plains of our great land.</p> + +<p>I will not tell you of all that took place near the great Lakes at +this time, as I wish to keep your mind on George Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>The schemes laid out by Gen-er-al Forbes did not please Wash-ing-ton, +who urged a prompt march on the fort, while the roads were good. He +wrote to Ma-jor Hal-ket, who had been with Brad-dock, and was now on +Forbes' staff: "I find him fixed to lead you a new way to the O-hi-o, +through a road each inch of which must be cut when we have scarce time +left to tread the old track, which is known by all to be the best path +through the hills." He made it plain that if they went that new way +all would be lost, and they would be way-laid by the red-skins and +meet with all sorts of ills.</p> + +<p>But no heed was paid to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> words, and the warm days came to an end. +Six weeks were spent in hard work on the new road with a gain of less +than three-score miles, when the whole force might have been in front +of the French fort had they marched by the old road as Wash-ing-ton +had urged.</p> + +<p>At a place known as Loy-al Han-nan, the troops were brought to a halt, +as Forbes thought this was a good place to build a fort. Some men in +charge of Ma-jor Grant went forth as scouts. At dusk they drew near a +fort, and set fire to a log house near its walls. This was a rash +thing to do, as it let the French know just where they were.</p> + +<p>But not a gun was fired from the fort. This the King's troops took for +a sign of fear, and were bold and proud, and quite sure that they +would win the day. So Brad-dock had thought, and we know his fate.</p> + +<p>At length—when Forbes and his men were off their guard—the French +made a dash from the fort, and poured their fire on the King's +troops. On their right and left flanks fell a storm of shot from the +red-skins who had hid back of trees, rocks, and shrubs.</p> + +<p>The King's troops were then brought up in line, and for a while stood +firm and fought for their lives. But they were no match for the +red-skins, whose fierce yells made the blood run chill. Ma-jor Lew-is +fought hand to hand with a "brave" whom he laid dead at his feet. +Red-skins came up at once to take the white-man's scalp, and there was +but one way in which he could save his life. This was to give him-self +up to the French, which both he and Ma-jor Grant were forced to do, as +their troops had been put to rout with great loss.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton won much praise for the way in which the Vir-gin-i-a +troops had fought, and he was at once put in charge of a large force, +who were to lead the van, serve as scouts, and do their best to drive +back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> the red-skins—work that called for the best skill and nerve.</p> + +<p>It was late in the fall of the year when the King's troops all met at +Loy-al Han-nan, and so much had to be done to clear the roads, that +snow would be on the ground ere they could reach the fort. But from +those of the French that they had seized in the late fight, they found +out that there were but few troops in the fort, that food was scarce, +and the red-skins false to their trust.</p> + +<p>This lent hope to the King's troops, who made up their minds to push +on. They took up their march at once, with no tents or stores, and but +few large guns.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton rode at the head. It was a sad march, for the ground was +strewn with the bones of those who had fought with Grant and with +Brad-dock, and been slain by the foe, or died of their wounds.</p> + +<p>At length the troops drew near the fort, and made their way up to it +with great care, for they thought the French would be in wait for +them, and that there would be a fierce fight.</p> + +<p>But the French had had such bad luck in Can-a-da, that they had lost +heart, and those in the fort were left to take care of them-selves. So +when the Eng-lish were one day's march from the fort, the French stole +out at night, got in-to boats, set the fort on fire, and went down the +O-hi-o by the light of the flames.</p> + +<p>So the fort which had been the cause of so much blood-shed, fell at +last with-out a blow, and on No-vem-ber 25, 1758, Wash-ing-ton, with +his van-guard, marched in and placed the Brit-ish flag on the wreck of +the once proud strong-hold, the name of which was changed to Fort +Pitt.</p> + +<p>The French gave up all claim to the O-hi-o from that time. The +red-skins were quick to make friends with those who held sway, and +there was peace with all the tribes twixt the O-hi-o and the Lakes.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton had made up his mind to leave the field when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> this war +came to an end, and in De-cem-ber of the same year he bade his troops +good-bye.</p> + +<p>He had been with them for five years in a hard school, and the strain +on his mind had been so great that he lost his health, and felt that +he could war no more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE HOME OF WASH-ING-TON.</h3> + + +<p>In the year 1758, while Wash-ing-ton was with his troops at +Win-ches-ter, he met and fell in love with Mrs. Mar-tha Cus-tis. Her +home was known as the White House, and here she dwelt in fine style, +for she had great wealth. She had a boy six years of age, and a girl +of four.</p> + +<p>Such were her charms that men of wealth and rank sought for her hand, +but Wash-ing-ton, so calm and grave, and with his way yet to make in +the world, won her heart, and they were to be wed at the close of the +war.</p> + +<p>She had heard of the brave deeds he had done, and was proud to be the +wife of such a man, so on Jan-u-a-ry 6, 1759, the two were made one.</p> + +<p>In the course of a few months Wash-ing-ton went to live at <i>Mount +Ver-non</i>, where he spent much of his time in the care of his own +lands, and those of his wife.</p> + +<p>He had a seat with those who made laws for the State, and no man was +thought more of than George Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton loved to be at <i>Mount Ver-non</i>, where he had spent a +great part of his boy-hood, with his bro-ther, Law-rence, of whom he +was so fond. The house stood on a knoll, and near it were wild woods +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> deep dells, haunts of the fox and the deer, and bright streams +where fish could be found at all times.</p> + +<p>His chief sport was the chase, and, at the right time of the year, he +would go out two or three times a week, with dogs and horns and +trained steeds, in search of the sly fox who would lead him and his +friends a fine run.</p> + +<p>Some times he would go out with his gun and shoot wild-ducks, great +flocks of which might be found on the streams close at hand. Or he +would scour the woods for the game with which they were filled, and +which none but those who owned the place had a right to kill.</p> + +<p>A man who had a bad name and paid no heed to the laws that were made, +was wont to make his way to the grounds near Mount Ver-non and shoot +just what game he chose. More than once he had been told to leave and +not come back, but he paid no more heed than if he had been deaf, and +was sure to take his pick from the best kind of ducks.</p> + +<p>One day when Wash-ing-ton was out on horse-back he heard the sound of +a gun down near the edge of the stream. He put spurs to his horse, +dashed through bush and brake, and soon came up to the rogue who had +just time to jump in his boat and push from shore. Then the bad man +raised his gun, cocked it, and took aim at Wash-ing-ton, whom he would +no doubt have shot down in cold-blood.</p> + +<p>But Wash-ing-ton rode at once in-to the stream, and seized the prow of +the boat, and drew it to shore. Then he sprang from his horse, +wrenched the gun from the thief's hand, and laid on the lash in such a +way that the rogue took to his heels when let loose, and came no more +near Mount Ver-non.</p> + +<p>As I have told you, men of great wealth dwelt on the shores of the +Po-to-mac, and kept house in fine style. They had a large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> force of +slaves, and made great feasts for their friends. One of them used to +come out in a rich barge to meet Wash-ing-ton. This barge was rowed by +six black men in check shirts and black vel-vet caps.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton had a coach and four, with black foot-men, for Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton to use when she drove out; but he chose to go on +horse-back. Some-times he and his wife went to An-na-po-lis, to a ball +or feast of some sort, where Wash-ing-ton took part in the dance, and +all the belles of the day were proud to dance with him, for he had a +grand style that made him seem like no one else in the room.</p> + +<p>When storms kept him in the house, he would read, or spend the time at +his desk with pen in hand.</p> + +<p>He was kind to his slaves, and took the best of care of them when they +were sick, but was quick to see that they did not shirk their work. He +knew, too, just the kind of work each one was fit for, and which he +could do the best.</p> + +<p>Four of his slaves set out to hew and shape a large log. Wash-ing-ton +kept his eye on them and thought they loafed too much. So he sat down, +took out his watch, and timed them: how long it took them to get their +cross-cut saw and the rest of their tools; how long to cut off the +limbs from the tree they had laid low; how long to hew and saw it; +what time they spent in talk; and how much work they did while he sat +there and took notes. In this way he found out just how much work four +men could do in the course of a day—and take their ease.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was quick to lend a hand in time of need, and once when +word was brought him that the dam had broke loose, and the mill would +soon be swept off, he ran at the head of all his slaves and work-men, +and toiled as hard as they in a fierce rain-storm, to check the force +of the flood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>The cares of home and state made such calls on his time and thoughts, +that he could not be said to live quite at his ease, and he left his +mark—a high one—on all that he did.</p> + +<p>His crops were of the best, and he sought to cheat no one. The flour +he sold from year to year was put up with so much care, and was of +such a good kind and so true in weight that all that bore the brand of +<i>George Wash-ing-ton</i>, <i>Mount Ver-non</i>, was held at a high rate in the +West In-di-a ports.</p> + +<p>Quite a trade was kept up with Eu-rope, where all the goods had to be +bought that were used in the house or on the farm.</p> + +<p>Twice a year Wash-ing-ton sent on a long list of such things as he had +need of: ploughs, hoes, scythes, horse-goods, and clothes for all the +house-hold. For these last he had to give size and height, name, and +age, of those who were to wear them.</p> + +<p>In one of these lists Wash-ing-ton, who had need of a new suit of +clothes, said he was six feet in height, quite thin, and had long +limbs. He was then 31 years old.</p> + +<p>You will see by what I have told you just how Wash-ing-ton spent much +of his time for at least five years. They were five sweet years to +him; full of peace, and rest, and joy. He was fond of his home, and +felt as much pride in Nel-lie and John Parke Cus-tis as if they had +been his own boy and girl. Nel-lie was a frail child, and did not gain +in strength, though she had the best of care. Her death took place +June 19, 1773, when she was but 17 years of age.</p> + +<p>This was a sad blow to Wash-ing-ton, as well as to his wife, and then +all their hopes were placed on the son, who bade fair to be a fine +strong man. But he died in the year 1781, at the age of 28.</p> + +<p>While Wash-ing-ton dwelt in peace at Mount Ver-non, war was rife in +the land, but as he had with-drawn from those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> bore arms he took +no part in it It was called Pon-ti-ac's war, as it was led by a chief +of that name, but the O-hi-o tribes were with him, and the plot was +deep laid.</p> + +<p>Large tracts of wood-land were laid waste; homes were burnt, and those +who dwelt in them robbed and slain; and so sly and shrewd were the +red-skins that it was some time ere the white men could put a stop to +their deeds of blood.</p> + +<p>It was in 1760 that King George the Third made up his mind to tax the +folks in A-mer-i-ca for all the goods they bought in Eng-land. The +trade was large, and in this way the king could add much to his +wealth. But the scheme did not work well. It was first tried in +Bos-ton, and set all the folks there by the ears. They claimed that +they had rights as well as the king. They had come to this land to be +free, and free they would be. They would do with-out tea and such +things, and dress as well as they could in clothes made out of +home-made goods.</p> + +<p>The king next said that goods bought from Eng-land must bear the +king's stamp, for which a sum was to be paid more than the cost of the +goods. This was known as the Stamp Act. The folks in A-mer-i-ca were +poor. They had not the means to pay this tax. The thought of it filled +them with rage; and for five years there was much talk of the wrong +the king had done to those who dwelt in A-mer-i-ca.</p> + +<p>On the first day of No-vem-ber, 1765, the Stamp Act was to go in-to +force, and all New Eng-land was in arms. At Bos-ton bells were tolled; +flags were hung at half-mast; shops were shut, and bon-fires built.</p> + +<p>In New York, the Act—in clear print—was borne through the streets on +a pole, on top of which was a death's head.</p> + +<p>A man named Col-den whose place it was to serve out the stamps had to +flee to the fort, round which was placed a strong guard from a +ship-of-war. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> mob broke in-to his coach-house, drew out his coach, +put in it a form—stuffed and dressed to look some-what like +Col-den—and marched up to the Park where they hung it on a tree.</p> + +<p>At night they took the form down, put it in a coach, and bore it back +to Bow-ling Green, where the whole thing—coach and all—was burnt +right in range of the guns of the fort where the King's troops were.</p> + +<p>In March 1766, the king drew back the Stamp Act, which gave great joy +to those who had the good of A-mer-i-ca at heart, and to none more +than to George Wash-ing-ton. But he made it known that he felt it to +be his right as their king to tax them as he chose, and this hurt the +pride of those who wished to make their own laws, and be in bonds to +no one.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton—as did most of those who had Eng-lish blood in their +veins—looked up-on that land as his home, and was loath to break the +chain that bound him to it. But he did not think well of the Stamp +Act, and saw what was sure to come to pass if the king pressed too +hard on the A-mer-i-cans.</p> + +<p>On Sep-tem-ber 5, 1774, a band of true men from all the States met for +the first time in Phil-a-del-phi-a, and Wash-ing-ton set out from +Mount Ver-non on horse-back to take his seat with them. With him were +Pat-rick Hen-ry and Ed-mund Pen-dle-ton; and as they rode side by side +they talked of the land they loved, and of the hopes they had that all +would be well.</p> + +<p>The band met with closed doors. Each man wore a grave face. Pat-rick +Hen-ry made a strong speech at the close of which he said, "All +A-mer-i-ca is thrown in-to one mass. Where are your land-marks? * * * +They are all thrown down."</p> + +<p>He said he did not call him-self by the name of the <i>State</i> in which +he was born, but by the name of the <i>land</i> which gave him birth—then +known as "the land of the free."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was not a man of words, but of deeds. But what he said +was of great weight as it came from a wise brain and a true heart.</p> + +<p>Pat-rick Hen-ry said there was no man in the whole band so great as +George Wash-ing-ton. The band broke up in No-vem-ber, and Wash-ing-ton +went back to Mount Ver-non. But not to the gay times and good cheer he +once had known. George Fair-fax—who had been his friend from +boy-hood—had gone to Eng-land to live, and Bel-voir took fire one +night and was burnt to the ground.</p> + +<p>The stir in Bos-ton, and in the West where the red-skins were on the +war-path, made the whole land ill at ease. Troops were kept on drill, +and the roll of the drum was heard in all the small towns. Men came to +talk with Wash-ing-ton and to find out what he thought was the best +thing to do, and the best way to drill or to arm troops.</p> + +<p>It was of no use to plead with the king. He had made up his mind and +would not yield an inch. A large force of the best men in Vir-gin-i-a +met at Rich-mond, March 20, 1775, and Wash-ing-ton was called on for +some plan as to what their course should be.</p> + +<p>He told them that he thought there was but one thing to do. Pat-rick +Hen-ry put it in-to words that rang through the land: "We must fight! +I repeat it, Sir, we must fight! An ap-peal to arms, and the God of +hosts, is all that is left us!"</p> + +<p>All hearts were full of zeal; and Wash-ing-ton wrote to his bro-ther, +Au-gus-tine, that if there was need of it he would lead troops to war, +and risk his life and all his wealth in the cause, which seemed to him +a most just one.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.</h3> + + +<p>In the year 1775 war was rife in New Eng-land. The King's laws were +felt to be more for slaves than for free-men, and all made up their +minds to throw off the yoke. They could not bear the sight of the +red-coats; and the King's troops were just as fierce in their hate of +our men.</p> + +<p>Ships-of-war brought a large force of troops to New Eng-land, led by +men of rank and fame. They filled the streets of Bos-ton, and it was +thought they might bring the A-mer-i-cans to terms, and not a drop of +blood be shed. But this was not to be.</p> + +<p>A large force of our men were in camp on the hills and fields near +Bos-ton, the sight of whom might well cause the well-clad Brit-ish to +smile. They had left their farms in great haste at the cry of "To +arms!" had seized their guns, and come in the home-spun clothes it +was their pride to wear. Those from Mas-sa-chu-setts were led by +Gen-er-al Ar-te-mas Ward; those from New Hamp-shire by Col-o-nel John +Stark; those from Rhode Isl-and by Gen-er-al Na-than-i-el Greene; and +those from Con-nect-i-cut by Gen-er-al Is-ra-el Put-nam; all brave and +true men, and full of fight.</p> + +<p>But the troops had need to be well armed; and all the guns and such +things as there was need of in war times were in Bos-ton, where the +red-coats were on guard. But though sharp eyes were on the watch, sly +deeds were done by those who knew the ways in and out of each +store-house. Carts went out of town heaped high with dirt in which +guns and balls were hid; and all sorts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> tricks were used to get +such things past the red-coats.</p> + +<p>At length it came to the ears of Gen-er-al Gage, that some field guns +were at Sa-lem, and he sent troops there to seize them. But when they +reached Sa-lem they found no guns there.</p> + +<p>Then word came to Gen-er-al Gage that there was a large stock of arms +and war-stores at Con-cord, which was less than a score of miles from +Bos-ton.</p> + +<p>In the night of A-pril 18, the red-coats set out for Con-cord. +Gen-er-al Gage had said that no one but the troops should leave the +town, but the news was borne to Lex-ing-ton—a town on the road to +Con-cord—by those who were as swift as the hare, and as sly as the +fox.</p> + +<p>The folks there met in groups, with hearts on fire. Bells were rung +and guns were fired. Men who heard these sounds ran as fast as they +could to Lex-ing-ton, to hold the bridge, and keep back the foe.</p> + +<p>At five o'clock, on the morn of A-pril 19, the red-coats came in +sight, and at once three-score and ten men stood out on the green near +the wall to meet them.</p> + +<p>Ma-jor Pit-cairn who was at the head of the King's troops called out +to these brave men to lay down their arms and leave the place. But +they paid no heed to his words. Then he sprang from the ranks, shot +off a small gun, swung his sword in air, and told his men to fire. The +troops ran up, with loud cheers, and poured a storm of shot on our +men, some of whom were killed. Then they pushed on to Con-cord, and +did all the harm they could at that place: spiked guns, threw pounds +and pounds of shot down the wells, and spoiled a large lot of flour +and food that had been stored there for use in time of need.</p> + +<p>When the King's troops turned back to Lex-ing-ton, they were quite +worn out with what they had done, and would have been cut down by our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +men if Gage had not sent a force to their aid.</p> + +<p>For the blue-coats had flown to arms, and poured in-to Lex-ing-ton by +all the roads that led led there-to. The red-coats might laugh at +their clothes, and the way in which they tried to keep step, but they +found out that they knew how to use guns, and that each man was a +dead-shot.</p> + +<p>The fresh troops Gage sent up from Bos-ton had to form a square, so +that the worn out men who had had a long march and hard work might +have a chance to rest. Then they all set out to march back to Bos-ton, +with two field guns in the rear to keep off the "flock of Yan-kees," +who dogged their steps, and kept up a fire in front and rear, and from +each stone-wall and hedge that lined the road.</p> + +<p>There was loss on both sides, but what hurt the King's troops the most +was to be put to flight by such a lot of scare crows, as they thought +our troops were.</p> + +<p>A close watch was kept on Bos-ton by our men, who were soon in such +force that it would not have been safe for the red-coats to try to +leave the town. The Kings troops did not like to be shut in, in this +way, and lost no chance to mock at and taunt those who kept them at +bay.</p> + +<p>On the north side of Bos-ton lay a long strip of land, from the +heights of which one could see the town and all the ships at or near +the wharves. Put-nam thought it would be a good plan to seize these +heights and place troops there; but Ward and War-ner thought it was +not safe to risk it. It might bring on a fierce fight and cause much +blood to be shed.</p> + +<p>Put-nam had no fear of his own men. He knew how brave they were, and +how well they could fight back of a screen. "They have no fear of +their heads," he said, "their chief thought is their legs. Shield +them, and they'll fight on till doom's-day."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two or three of those who had led troops in the French war, were of +the same mind as Put-nam, and their words had weight. The chief man +was Col-o-nel Pres-cott, who was just the style of man, in port and in +dress, that a lot of raw troops would look up to. He wore a fine hat, +a top-wig, and a blue coat faced and lapped up at the skirts.</p> + +<p>He it was whom Gen-er-al Ward chose to lead the troops which were to +seize the heights, build the earth-works there, and guard them from +the foe. There were 1200 in all, and they set out on the night of June +16, 1775. Not a light was shown. Not a sound was heard, but the +tramp—tramp—tramp of these men on their way to face death.</p> + +<p>A small neck of land joined Charles-town to the main-land, and as they +drew near this the troops hushed their steps, and moved with great +care. For on this the red-coats kept a close watch. Five of their +ships-of-war stood so that their guns would sweep this neck of land, +and earth-works were on Copp's Hill, which faced Charles-town.</p> + +<p>On the blue-coats went, past the guards, past the guns, past the Neck, +and up to the heights of Bunk-er's Hill. Here they were to make their +stand, but it was found that Breed's Hill, which was half a mile off, +was not quite so steep, and would give them more of a chance at the +red-coats, while Bunk-er's Hill would shield them in the rear.</p> + +<p>Put-nam thought Breed's Hill was the right place and was in haste for +the work to go on. There was no time to lose. So pick and spade were +brought out, and the earth dug out so as to serve as a wall to screen +them from the fire of the foe.</p> + +<p>The night was warm and still. Now and then Pres-cott would steal down +to the edge of the stream, to see and hear if the red-coats had made a +stir. There was not a sound save the cry of "All's well! All's well!" +from the watch-man on guard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> in the town, and on the ships-of-war.</p> + +<p>All night the work on the heights went on. At dawn of day the men +there were seen by the sea-men on the ships-of-war, and at once their +guns were brought up and turned on the hill. Their shot did not harm +the works, but one man who went out-side was killed, and this threw +the rest in-to a great fright. They were not used to scenes of war, +and the sight of a man shot down in their midst was more than their +nerves could stand.</p> + +<p>Some took to their heels at once, and did not come back, and had +Pres-cott not been a brave man him-self he could not have held his +troops as he did. He stood up on top of the earth-works in full view +of the red-coats, and talked with his men, and his words of cheer put +new strength in their hearts, so that they were in less dread of the +balls that whizzed near them.</p> + +<p>The noise of the guns roused the red-coats in Bos-ton, and Gen-er-al +Gage gazed at Breed's Hill like one in a dream. A fort full of men had +sprung up in the night! How had it been done? What kind of men were +these he had to meet? As he stood on Copp's Hill and looked through +his field glass, he spied the tall form of Pres-cott, in his blue +coat, on the wall of the fort.</p> + +<p>"Will he fight?" asked Gage, "Yes, <i>sir</i>," said one who stood near, +and who knew Pres-cott. "He will fight to the last drop of blood; but +I can't say as much for his men."</p> + +<p>"We must seize the works!" cried Gage, and at once called up his +chiefs for a talk, and to plan the best way to do this deed.</p> + +<p>The noise in the streets of Bos-ton, the roll of the drum, the sound +of the trump that calls to war, the sharp click of hoofs, and the deep +roll of wheels that bore the field guns, were heard on the heights, +and let the troops there know that war was at hand.</p> + +<p>The men were worn out with their hard task, and their loss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> of sleep. +They had not brought much food with them, and their thirst was great. +The heat made them feel weak and dull. There was need of more men, and +a lot of raw New Hamp-shire troops, led by Col-o-nel Stark came to +their aid. In the mean time those on the height had to bear the fire +of the guns from the ships and from Copp's Hill, which broke on them +at ten o'clock.</p> + +<p>At noon the blue-coats saw more than a score of boats full of troops +cross from Bos-ton in straight lines. The sun shone on their +red-coats, and flashed from the tips of the guns they bore, and from +the brass field guns that stood on the deck. It was a gay scene. They +made their way to a point north of Breed's Hill, where Gen-er-al Howe, +who led them, could see the full strength of the blue-coats. They had +more troops than he thought, and he caught sight of fresh ones on +their way to Breed's Hill.</p> + +<p>Howe at once sent to Gage for more troops, and more balls for the +field guns, and as it would take some time for them to be sent round, +the red-coats in the mean-time were served with food and drink. The +"grog" was passed round in pails, and the men sat round on the grass, +and ate and drank their fill, while the poor men on the heights looked +down and longed to share their feast.</p> + +<p>But while the red-coats took their ease, the blue-coats had a chance +to add to the strength of their fort, and to push out the breast-works +to a point known as the Slough.</p> + +<p>Near this was a pass where the foe might turn the left-flank of the +troops or seize Bunk-er's Hill.</p> + +<p>Put-nam chose one of his men, a Cap-tain Knowl-ton, to hold this pass +with his Con-nect-i-cut troops. He at once set to work to build a sort +of fort, back of which his men could fight with more ease than if they +stood out in the field. Not a long way off was a post-and-rail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> fence +set in a low foot-wall of stone, and this fence ran down to the +Mys-tic Riv-er. The posts and rails of a fence, near this, were torn +up in haste, and set a few feet at the rear of it, and the space +'twixt the two was filled with new-mown hay brought from the fields +near at hand.</p> + +<p>While Knowl-ton and his men were at work on this fence, Put-nam and +his troops threw up the work on Bunk-er's Hill.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Stark had set out from Med-ford on a six mile march. +He was a cool, calm man, and had been through the French war, of which +I have told you. He led his men at a slow pace, so that they would be +fresh and strong to take part in the fight. As they came up to the +Neck, which they had to cross, and which was lined with guns on both +sides, one of the aides urged him to let the men take a quick step.</p> + +<p>The old man shook his head, and said, "One fresh man in a fight is +worth ten tired ones," and kept on at the same pace; and did good +work that day back of the post-and-rail screen.</p> + +<p>War-ren, who had been made a Ma-jor Gen-er-al, came to serve in the +ranks. Put-nam said he might lead the troops at the fence. He said he +did not care to lead; he was there to fight. "Where will the fire be +the hot-test?" he asked. He was told that the fort on Breed's Hill was +the point the foe sought to gain. "If we can hold that," said Put-nam, +"the day is ours."</p> + +<p>War-ren at once made his way there, and the troops gave a round of +cheers when he stepped in-to the fort. Pres-cott, who was not so high +in rank, sought to have War-ren take charge of the troops. But he +would not. "I have come to serve in the ranks," he said, "and shall be +glad to learn from one so well-skilled as your-self."</p> + +<p>The red-coats thought to take the works with ease, and win the day. +Gen-er-al Pig-ot, with the left wing, was to mount the hill and seize +the earth-works,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> while Gen-er-al Howe came up with the right wing to +turn the left-flank of our men and stop all flight at the rear.</p> + +<p>Pig-ot and his men came up the height, and not a gun was fired by our +troops till the red-coats were in range. Then, as they were all good +marks-men each shot told, and some of the best men fell at the first +fire. The foe fell back in haste, but were brought up once more by +those who stood at their head with drawn swords.</p> + +<p>They were met by a fire more fierce than the first, and vexed by the +guns that bore on their flank from the band of men in Charles-town. So +much blood had been shed, and the men were in such a state of fright, +that Pig-ot was forced to give the word to fall back.</p> + +<p>We will now see what sort of luck Gen-er-al Howe had. He led his +troops up the bank of the stream, and thought to take the slight +breast-work with ease, and so get in the rear of the fort. But he did +not know the ground, and could not bring his large guns through the +swamp he met with. In the pause some of his men were hurt and some +killed by the guns that were set by the post-and-rail fence.</p> + +<p>Howe's men kept up a fire as they came on, but as they did not take +good aim the balls flew o'er the heads of our troops, who had been +told to hold their fire till the red-coats were quite near.</p> + +<p>Some few did not do as they were told, and Put-nam rode up and swore +he would cut down the next man that fired ere he had the word to do +so. When the red-coats were in the right range, such a storm of lead +poured on them from guns in the hands of men who did not miss a mark +that the place was like a field of blood.</p> + +<p>Such a host were slain that the red-coats lost heart, and fell back in +great haste. Some of them ran back as far as the boats, and got on +board of them that they might be safe from the fire of the marks-men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once more the red-coats charged the fort, which it was their aim to +get in-to their own hands. In the mean time the shells from Copp's +Hill and the ships-of-war had set Charles-town on fire. The town was +built of wood, and was soon a mass of flames. The dense smoke put out +the light of the sun On all sides was heard the din of war. The big +guns kept up their great roar. Bomb-shells burst in the air. The sharp +hiss of the small balls, and the shouts and yells of the men made a +scene to strike the heart with awe.</p> + +<p>Our men stood firm, and with eyes fixed on the foe, who, as soon as +they were close at hand, were shot down by the guns whose aim was so +sure.</p> + +<p>The red-coats stood the first shock, and then kept on, but were met by +such a stream of fire that they were soon brought to a halt. In vain +did the men who led them urge them on with drawn swords. Whole ranks +were mowed down. Some of Gen-er-al Howe's staff were slain, and the +troops, wild with fear, broke ranks and fled down the hill.</p> + +<p>For a third time Gen-er-al Howe brought up his men, some of whom threw +off their knap-sacks and some their coats that they might not be +weighed down by them.</p> + +<p>The red-coats made a feint as if they would take the fort at the +fence, and did much harm there to our men. While some of his troops +were at work at that point, Howe brought the rest of his force to the +front and rear of the main fort, which was then stormed on three sides +at once.</p> + +<p>Pres-cott told some of his men to stand at the back part of the fort +and fire at the red-coats that showed them-selves on the wall. Soon +one leaped up and cried out "The day is ours!" and was shot down at +once, as were all those who had joined him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 530px;"> +<img src="images/illus138.jpg" width="530" height="650" alt="WASHINGTON CHOSEN FOR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF—P. 62." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WASHINGTON CHOSEN FOR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF—P. 62.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>But our men had fired their last round, and there was nought for them +to do but to meet the foe in a hand-to-hand fight. With stones and the +butt-ends of their guns they sought to drive back the red-coats, but +the tide was too strong for them, and they had to give way.</p> + +<p>War-ren, who had done brave work that day, was the last to leave the +fort. He scarce had done so ere he was struck by a ball and fell dead +on the spot.</p> + +<p>As our troops fled by way of Bunk-er Hill, Put-nam ran to the rear and +cried, "Halt! make a stand here! We can check them yet! In God's name +form, and give them one shot more!"</p> + +<p>But the troops could not be brought to a stand, and the red-coats won +the day, but with the loss of more than half of their men. And it hurt +their pride to think that it had cost them so dear to take these +earth-works that had been thrown up in one night by a mere hand-ful of +raw troops.</p> + +<p>Their loss was 1,054.</p> + +<p>Our loss was 450.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.</h3> + + +<p>The deeds done ere this by the King's troops had made a great stir +through-out the land. The chief men of each State met in +Phil-a-del-phi-a, and sought out ways and means to help those who were +in arms, as foes of King George, and a large force of men, from +Ma-ry-land, Penn-syl-va-ni-a, and Vir-gin-i-a, were soon on hand to +march and join the troops near Bos-ton.</p> + +<p>But who was to lead them? The choice at once fell on George +Wash-ing-ton, but he held back. He thought that Mas-sa-chu-setts' +troops might not care to be led by a man from the south; and, too, +Gen-er-al Ward, who was then at their head had the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> first right, for +Wash-ing-ton's rank was not so high as his.</p> + +<p>There was much talk on this score, and in the midst of it a +Mas-sa-chu-setts man, John Ad-ams, rose and said that the man he +thought fit to lead our troops was in that room, and he came from +Vir-gin-i-a.</p> + +<p>All knew whom he meant, and as Wash-ing-ton heard his own name he rose +from his seat and left the room.</p> + +<p>Then votes were cast, and all were for Wash-ing-ton, and he felt that +he could not say No to such a call. He spoke his thanks in a few +words, and said that he would do the best that he could, and serve +with-out pay. He set out from Phil-a-del-phi-a June 21, 1775. With him +were Gen-er-al Lee and Gen-er-al Schuy-ler, and a troop of +light-horse, which went all the way to New York.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was known that Wash-ing-ton was on the road, crowds ran +out to meet him, and to show their pride in him.</p> + +<p>When he reached New York he heard of the fight at Bunk-er Hill, and +made haste to join the troops in their camp at Cam-bridge. He reached +there Ju-ly 2. The next day all the troops were drawn out in line, and +Wash-ing-ton rode out at the head of his staff till he came to a large +elm tree. Here he wheeled his horse, and drew his sword and took +charge of all our troops as their Com-mand-er-in-chief.</p> + +<p>He found much to do, and much to bear from his own men as well as from +the red-coats. It came to his ears that our men who fell in-to the +hands of the red-coats at Bunk-er's Hill, were not well used, and he +wrote at once to Gage and asked him to be less harsh. Gage, who had +fought by his side in 1753, when both were young men, wrote back that +he thought he should have praise and not blame, since he had saved the +lives of those who were doomed to be hung.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton at first thought he would do as he was done by, but his +heart failed him, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> those of the red-coats that were in the hands +of our troops were set free, if they gave their word they would not +fight for King George.</p> + +<p>By such acts Wash-ing-ton sought to show that "A-mer-i-cans are as +mer-ci-ful as they are brave."</p> + +<p>The camps in which Wash-ing-ton found his troops were as odd as the +men them-selves. Some of the tents were made of boards, some of +sail-cloth, or bits of both, while here and there were those made of +stone and turf, brick and brush-wood. Some were thrown up in haste and +bore no marks of care, while a few were wrought with wreaths and +twigs, and spoke well for the taste of those who made them.</p> + +<p>The best camp of all was that of the Rhode Is-land men in charge of +Gen-er-al Na-than-i-el Greene. Here were found as good tents as the +red-coats had, and the men were well-drilled and well-dressed. Greene +was brought up on a farm. His fa-ther was a black-smith, and at times +his son worked with the plough, or took his place at the forge.</p> + +<p>At the first note of war, Greene left the farm and in the month of +May, 1775, was in charge of all the troops of his own small state. He +went to Bos-ton, and took notes while there of all that the red-coats +did, and in this way learned much that he could put to good use. His +troops had fought at Bunk-er Hill, and there were none in the whole +force that bore them-selves so well, or made so fine a show.</p> + +<p>Greene was six feet tall, and not quite two score years of age. He was +strong and well built, and his frank way won the heart of +Wash-ing-ton, and the two were warm friends from that time.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton now set to work to add strength to the weak parts of his +line, and to throw up fresh works round the main forts. All the live +stock had to be kept off the coast so that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> they would not fall in-to +the hands of the foe.</p> + +<p>He sought to draw the red-coats out of Bos-ton, but they would not +stir. When Wash-ing-ton took charge of the troops, he thought that he +could go back to his home when the cold days came on, and spend some +time there with his wife.</p> + +<p>But there was no chance for him to leave, so he wrote to Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton to join him in the camp. She came and staid with him till +the next spring; and this was her course all through the war.</p> + +<p>She came in her own coach and four, with her son and his wife. The +black foot-men were drest in red and white, and the whole turn-out was +in the style in use in Vir-gin-i-a at that day.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton had his rooms in the Crai-gie House, in Cam-bridge, and +here Mrs. Wash-ing-ton took charge and gave the place more of a +home-like air.</p> + +<p>At that time the camp of Cam-bridge was filled with all sorts of +troops. Some had spent the most of their lives in boats, some were +brought up on farms, some came from the woods, and each group wore the +dress that pleased them best, and laughed at those who were not drest +the same.</p> + +<p>This made sport for some time and jokes flew thick and fast.</p> + +<p>One day some men came in-to camp drest in an odd garb, such as was +worn to hunt in. The suit was made of deer-skin, and the long shirt +had a deep fringe all round. This dress was the cause of much mirth to +men who came from the sea-shore, and were used to short coats, and +rough plain clothes.</p> + +<p>There was snow on the ground, and when the jokes gave out, snow-balls +took their place, for a war of words is quite sure to end in blows. +Men came up to the aid of both sides. Fists were used, and all took +part in the hand-to-hand fight, and there was a great stir in the +camp.</p> + +<p>While the fight was at its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> height Wash-ing-ton rode up. None of his +aides were with him. He threw the reins of his own horse in-to the +hands of the black-man who rode near, sprang from his seat, and rushed +in-to the thick of the fray. Then he seized two of the tall stout +hunts-men by the throat, and talked to them and shook them while he +held them at arm's length.</p> + +<p>This put an end to the brawl at once, and the rest of the crowd slunk +off in haste, and left but three men on the ground: Wash-ing-ton, and +the two he held in his grasp.</p> + +<p>As the cold days and nights came on the men grew home-sick, and longed +to be by their own fire-sides. It was right that some of them should +go, for they had served out their time, and this made the rest +lone-some and sad. Songs would not cheer them, and they paid no heed +to the words of those who sought to rouse them from these depths of +woe.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was full of fears, which were shared by all those who +were near him in rank, yet he did not lose hope. Gen-er-al Greene +wrote, "They seem to be so sick of this way of life, and so home-sick, +that I fear a large part of our best troops will soon go home." Still +his heart did not lose hope. All would come right in time; and his +words of cheer were a great help to Wash-ing-ton at this time.</p> + +<p>The year 1775 had been a dark one for our land, and there was no ray +of hope to light the dawn of 1776. There were but 10,000 troops to +take the field. There was a lack of arms, a lack of clothes, and a +lack of food, and these things made camp-life hard to bear, and were a +great grief to the heart of the chief. He could not sleep. Had the foe +known of their plight, they would have borne down on them and swept +them out of sight. But God took care of them.</p> + +<p>In the first month of the year there was a stir on the Bos-ton +wharves. A large fleet of boats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> lay in the stream, on board of which +the red-coats swarmed, and there were two sloops-of-war filled with +guns and war-like stores.</p> + +<p>All were in charge of Gen-er-al Howe, and Wash-ing-ton guessed what +his plans were! and felt that the time had come for him to strive to +wrest Bos-ton from the King's troops.</p> + +<p>The out-look was bright. More troops had come to his aid, and he made +up his mind to place part of his force on Dor-ches-ter Heights, and, +if he could, draw out the foe to fight at that place. At a sign, the +troops on the Heights and at Nook's Hill were to fire at the same +time, and rake the town with balls and bomb-shells. At the same time +boats full of troops were to start from the mouth of Charles Riv-er, +and act in the rear of the red-coats. It was thought that these moves +on the part of our troops would bring on such a fight as they had had +on Breed's Hill.</p> + +<p>On the night of March 4, our men made their way to the Heights, and +at dawn of the next day strong forts loomed up, and seemed as if they +must have been brought there at the touch of a wand.</p> + +<p>Howe gazed on them and said, "The reb-els have done more work in one +night than my whole ar-my would have done in a month."</p> + +<p>He must drive them from the Heights, or leave Bos-ton. While pride +urged him on, fear held him back, for he knew that his loss would be +great. But he must make a move of some sort, so he made up his mind to +send boats out that night with a force of troops in charge of Lord +Per-cy. But a storm came up from the east; the surf beat high on the +shore where the boats would have to land; and the scheme was put off +till the next day. But it stormed just as hard the next day; the rain +came down in sheets; and the boats staid where they were.</p> + +<p>In the mean time our men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> kept at work on the hills on the north side +and south side, and when the storm ceased Gen-er-al Howe saw that the +forts were now so strong there would be no chance to take them.</p> + +<p>Nor was it safe for him to stay in Bos-ton. Yet the Ad-mi-ral said +that if Howe's troops did not seize the Heights, the ships-of-war +should not stay near Bos-ton; so his lord-ship would have to leave +with what grace he could, much as it might wound his pride.</p> + +<p>When the word went forth that the troops were to leave, strange sights +were seen in Bos-ton town and bay. For some days the red-coats went +this way and that in great haste. More than three-score-and-ten boats +were cast loose for sea, with at least 12,000 men on board of them. +While this stir took place not a shot was sent from the Heights, and +it was well that this was so, as the red-coats had laid plans to set +the town in a blaze if our troops fired one gun.</p> + +<p>The red-coats left Bos-ton March 17, and our troops, in charge of "Old +Put"—as the brave Put-nam was called—marched in-to town in fine +style.</p> + +<p>For some days the fleet lay off the coast of Rhode Isl-and, and it was +feared for a-while that they meant to strike a blow and win back what +they had lost. But no such thing took place, and ere long the fleet +sailed out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Where they are bound," wrote Wash-ing-ton, "and where they next will +pitch their tents, I know not."</p> + +<p>He thought they were on their way to New York, but such was not the +case. They had steered for Hal-i-fax, to wait there for more troops, +and for the large fleet that was to come from Eng-land.</p> + +<p>A vote of thanks and a large gold coin with his face on one side of +it, were sent to Wash-ing-ton by the chief men of the land, as part of +his due for what he had so far done to save A-mer-i-ca from King +George's rule.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton, who thought the next move of the red-coats would be on +New York, set out for that place, and reached there A-pril 13. He went +to work at once to build forts, and to send out troops, and to make +the place as strong as it ought to be. He did not know the plans of +the foe, nor from what point they would hurl the bolts of war.</p> + +<p>All was guess-work, but still in the midst of doubt it would not do to +be slack.</p> + +<p>The town was put in charge of the troops, and the rules were quite +strict. Those who went in or out had to give the pass-word. "We all +live here, shut up like nuns," wrote one who was fond of a gay life, +"There's no one in town that we can go to see, and none to come and +see us."</p> + +<p>Good times in New York were at an end. Our troops had been forced to +leave Can-a-da, and it was known that the red-coats would push their +way to New York. Forts were built on high banks up the Hud-son, and +on the isles at its mouth, and all done that could be done to check +them in their march.</p> + +<p>In the mean time it had been thought a good plan to set a day in which +it might be shown through-out the land that A-mer-i-ca was, and, of a +right, ought to be, a free land. So in Ju-ly an Act was drawn up and +signed by the wise men who met in Phil-a-del-phi-a to frame the laws +for the new States, and there was great joy, for it was a great day.</p> + +<p>Bells were rung. Shouts and cheers rent the air. Fires blazed, and +hearts burned, and men knelt to pray, and give thanks to God.</p> + +<p>John Ad-ams said the Fourth of Ju-ly ought to be kept up with great +pomp through-out A-mer-i-ca,—"with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, +and bon-fires"—till the end of time.</p> + +<p>The news did not reach New York till Ju-ly 9, and at six o'clock that +night Wash-ing-ton read the Act to his troops.</p> + +<p>New York was wild with joy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> and felt that more must be done than just +to ring bells and light fires.</p> + +<p>In Bow-ling Green, in front of the fort, there stood a cast of George +Third, made of lead. This a mob of men pulled down and broke up, that +the lead might be run in-to small shot and be used in the cause for +which they fought.</p> + +<p>This did not please Wash-ing-ton, and he told his troops that they +must not take part in such deeds.</p> + +<p>The joy did not last long, for on Ju-ly 12, the ships-of-war in the +bay sent out a broad-side, and it was thought they would at once fire +the town. Crowds were on the streets. The troops flocked to their +posts. Fear was in each heart, and New York was in a great stir. But +two ships—the <i>Phœ-nix</i> and the <i>Rose</i>—left the fleet and shaped +their course up the Hud-son.</p> + +<p>Then the guns were still, and fear died out for a-while. That night +there was a fresh scare. Guns boomed and clouds of smoke were seen +near the ships-of-war down the bay.</p> + +<p>Men on the look-out told that a ship-of-the-line had come in from sea, +and each man-of-war gave her a round of guns as she passed by. At her +fore-top mast-head she bore the flag of St. George. No need to tell +more. "Lord Howe is come! Lord Howe is come!" was the cry that went +from mouth to mouth, and the word soon flew through the town, and all +felt that the hour of doom was close at hand.</p> + +<p>Lord Howe sought peace, and not blood-shed, and hoped, by the terms he +would make, to bring not a few hearts back to their King. But he came +too late.</p> + +<p>The Kings troops did not think much of the rank that was borne by our +men, who, they felt, had no right to put on the airs they did, and +call them-selves grand names.</p> + +<p>In a few days Lord Howe sent one of his men on shore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> with a flag of +truce, to seek speech with Wash-ing-ton. The man's name was Brown. His +boat was met half-way by a barge which had on board one of our troops, +named Reed, to whom Brown said he had a note for <i>Mis-ter</i> +Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>Reed said that he knew no man of that name.</p> + +<p>Brown held out to him the note he had in his hand, which bore on its +face: <i>George Wash-ing-ton, Esq.</i></p> + +<p>Reed said that he could not take the note. He knew what was due to his +chief. So there was naught for Brown to do but to take to his oars. He +had not gone far when he came back to ask "What style should be used +to please Gen—(here he caught him-self and said) <i>Mis-ter</i> +Wash-ing-ton." Reed told him that Wash-ing-ton's rank was well known, +and Lord Howe could be at no loss as to the right style.</p> + +<p>In a day or two an aide-de-camp came with a flag from Lord Howe, and +asked if Col-o-nel Pat-ter-son might have speech with <i>Gen-er-al</i> +Wash-ing-ton. Reed, who met the aide was prompt to grant this and +pledged him-self that no harm should come to him who came in the +King's name.</p> + +<p>So the next day Pat-ter-son came, and when he stood face to face with +Wash-ing-ton, bowed and said "<i>Your Ex-cel-len-cy</i>." Wash-ing-ton met +him with much form and state. He was not a vain man, but was proud of +the rank he held, and thought that no man—were he a king—had a right +to look down on A-mer-i-ca, or show the least slight to her +Com-mand-er-in-chief.</p> + +<p>When he came to hear the terms on which Lord Howe sought to make +peace, he found they were not such as he could take, so the war went +on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>IN AND NEAR NEW YORK.</h3> + + +<p>The red-coats had a camp on Stat-en Isl-and, and for the next month or +so ships-of-war came that far up the bay, and brought with them a +large force of troops. North-east of them was the long stretch of land +known as Long Isl-and, where they could land their troops with ease, +and make their way to New York.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton knew that he could not keep them back, but he meant to +vex them all he could. Gen-er-al Greene was placed with a large force +on Brook-lyn Heights, to guard the shore, and troops were sent a mile +back to throw up earth-works to check the march of the foe if they +should try to come up on the land side.</p> + +<p>At mid-night of Au-gust 21, a spy brought word that the King's troops +were on the move, and would soon show their strength, and "put all to +the sword."</p> + +<p>The next day the sound of great guns was heard, and a cloud of smoke +was seen to rise from the groves on the south side of Long Isl-and. +Word soon came to New York that the King's troops were at Graves-end, +and that our troops had fled and set fire to the stacks of wheat to +keep them out of the hands of the foe.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton at once sent off a large force to check the foe at +Brook-lyn, and to lend aid to those in the fort on the Heights. He +told them to be cool, but firm; not to fire when the foe were a long +way off, but to wait till they were so near that each shot would tell. +And if one of them should skulk, or lie down, or leave his place in +the ranks, he was to be shot down at once.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton led the King's troops, and Lord Corn-wal-lis had +charge of the field-guns. Corn-wal-lis made haste to seize a pass that +ran through the hills, but found Col-o-nel Hand there with a fine lot +of marks-men, and so made a halt at Flat-bush.</p> + +<p>This was so near New York that great fright spread through the town. +Those who had the means left the place. There was good cause for fear, +as it had been told that if our troops had to leave New York it would +at once be set on fire. This was false, but they did not know it. +Their hearts were full of dread.</p> + +<p>Gen-er-al Put-nam was sent to take the place of Gen-er-al Greene who +was sick in bed. The brave man was glad when he had leave to go, for +he did not want to be kept in New York when there was a chance to +fight for the land he loved.</p> + +<p>It was nine o'clock on the night of Oc-to-ber 26, that Sir Hen-ry +Clin-ton set out with his van-guard, on his march from Flat-bush. +Lord Corn-wal-lis brought up the rear-guard with all the large guns, +and the large force of troops led by Gen-er-al Howe.</p> + +<p>Not a drum was heard, nor the sound of a trump as they took their +course through by-roads and on cause-ways till they came near the pass +through the Bed-ford Hills where they made a halt.</p> + +<p>No guard had been put on the road or the pass by Gen-er-al Greene, who +must have thought it too far out of the way to need such care.</p> + +<p>Clin-ton was quick to see this, and at the first break of day his +troops were on the Heights, and with-in three miles of Bed-ford.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time scouts had brought word to our lines that the foe +were in force on the right, and Put-nam at once sent out troops to +hold them in check.</p> + +<p>At day-light small fights took place here and there. A brisk fire was +kept up at Flat-bush.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> Now was heard the big boom of a large +field-piece. Then a ship-of-war would send forth a broad-side on the +fort at Red Hook. Wash-ing-ton was still in doubt if this was part of +the main fight in which New York was to share. Five ships of the line +tried to beat up the bay, but were kept back by a strong head wind. As +the day wore on, and there were no signs that the red-coats meant to +strike New York, Wash-ing-ton went to Brook-lyn in his barge, and rode +with all speed to the Heights. He was just in time to see the fight in +the woods, which he could do naught to stay.</p> + +<p>He stood on a hill, and through his large spy-glass had a view of the +whole field. He saw his men cut their way through a host of foes. He +saw them caught in traps, and hemmed in so that they were 'twixt two +fires.</p> + +<p>The whole pass was a scene of blood, and through it rang the clash of +arms, the tramp of steeds, the storm of shot, and the cries of men +who fought for their lives. On this side and that, our troops were +swept down or put to rout by a force they had not strength to meet. +Wash-ing-ton wrung his hands at the sight. "Good God!" he cried, "what +brave men I must this day lose!"</p> + +<p>The red-coats went in-to camp that night in front of our lines, but +out of reach of the guns of the fort.</p> + +<p>Our loss was 3,000.</p> + +<p>Theirs less than 400.</p> + +<p>The next day New York Bay and the small isles were wrapped in a dense +fog, from which New York was quite free. Here was a chance for the +troops to leave the works on the Heights, and make their way to New +York.</p> + +<p>Fresh troops were sent down from Fort Wash-ing-ton and King's Bridge, +and Wash-ing-ton felt that no time should be lost. His fear was that +the King's ships would come up the bay at the turn of the tide, sail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +up the East Riv-er and catch in a trap all our troops that were on +Long Isl-and.</p> + +<p>It was late at night when the troops stole out from the breast works. +In the dead of night a big gun went off with a great roar, that gave a +shock to the nerves of those who were in dread that the least sound +might warn the foe of their flight to the New York side.</p> + +<p>But no harm came of it, the fog shut out the view, and by day-break +our troops had all left the fort and were safe on the New York side. +Wash-ing-ton, who had not slept for two days and nights, and had spent +the most of the time on horse-back, would not step in-to the boat till +he saw that all his troops were on board.</p> + +<p>The fog rose as the rear boats were in mid-stream, and when the +red-coats climbed the crest of the earth-works they found not a sign +of life there, and not a thing they could use. Our men had made a +clean sweep, and were proud of the way in which they stole a march on +the red-coats.</p> + +<p>Still, New York was not safe; and Wash-ing-ton sought in all ways to +find out the plans of the foe. Ships-of-war went up the Sound, and up +the Hud-son, and guns were fired on the forts that lay on each side of +the town. But he knew that if the red-coats took New York they would +soon be made to give it up, and so he made up his mind that his best +course was to with-draw his troops, to Har-lem Heights. This was done, +with the loss of a few men who had a fight with some red-coats on the +way, and there he staid a few days, and spent much time on horse-back.</p> + +<p>He took note of the land, and chose sites for forts, and breast works, +and on Oc-to-ber 23, took his stand at White Plains, where a strong +fort was built.</p> + +<p>Soon the din of war was heard. The guns from Fort Wash-ing-ton and +Fort Lee poured their fire on the men-of-war, but could not keep them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +back, and the red-coats still gave chase to our troops. Fort +Wash-ing-ton fell in-to the hands of the foe in spite of a strong +fight made to hold it.</p> + +<p>One day Wash-ing-ton went out with some of his staff to look at a +height at the north where it was thought he might make a stand, and +leave the camp where he then was.</p> + +<p>One of them said, "There is the ground where we ought to be."</p> + +<p>"Let us go then and view it," said Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>They were on their way to the place, when a horse-man rode up in haste +and cried out, "The red-coats are in camp, Sir!"</p> + +<p>"Then," said Wash-ing-ton, "we have some-thing else to do than this," +and at once put spurs to his horse and set off for the camp at full +speed.</p> + +<p>When he reached there he found all his troops drawn up to meet the foe +that was close at hand. In his calm way he turned to those who had +been out with him on the hills, and said "Go back to your posts, and +do the best you can."</p> + +<p>A short, sharp fight took place, in which our troops made a brave +stand, but the red-coats were too strong for them, and drove them back +to the camp, and seized the hill on which they had stood.</p> + +<p>That night the troops of Wash-ing-ton and Howe lay not far a-part. +Wash-ing-ton kept his men at work, and forts were built, and +earth-works thrown up. These works were made of the stalks of corn, or +maize, which the men took from a field near at hand. The roots of the +stalks, with the earth on them, were placed on the face of the works, +in the same way that sods of grass, and logs of wood were used. The +tops were turned in, and loose earth thrown on them so that they were +held in place, and made a good shield from the fire of small-arms.</p> + +<p>The next day, when Howe saw how much had been done by our troops to +add to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> strength, he made a change in his plans. His own men +were in a sad plight, and not fit to cope with the well-fed troops +that kept them at bay. The nights were cold, the Fall rains set in, +and not a few of the red-coats were ill. Their chiefs knew how to +fight in straight lines, but were not so shrewd and so quick to make +use of what lay at hand as our chiefs were. So he broke up his camp, +and in a few days the whole force of red-coats fell back from White +Plains.</p> + +<p>But the strife was kept up at the North, and the foes were at work on +sea and on land from New York to Al-ba-ny. Our troops met with +ill-luck, and Wash-ing-ton was filled with grief.</p> + +<p>Fort Wash-ing-ton was in the hands of the foe; Fort Lee was of no use; +and the next move of the red-coats was to cross the Hud-son, north of +Fort Lee, and make their way through New Jer-sey. By that means they +could shut in all our troops 'twixt the Hud-son and the Hack-en-sack.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton at once sent off his men to save the bridge at +Hack-en-sack. No time was to be lost. They left the camp with all +haste, but ere they could reach the Hack-en-sack the van-guard of the +foe was close at their heels. It was thought that a fight would take +place, but Corn-wal-lis turned back and some of his troops slept that +night in the tents that our men had left.</p> + +<p>These were dark days. Wash-ing-ton led his troops through New Jer-sey, +hard pressed by Corn-wal-lis, whose van-guard came in-to New-ark just +as Wash-ing-ton's rear-guard had left it. His whole camp were in +flight. He staid a few days at New Bruns-wick, in hopes that fresh +troops would be sent to his aid, but none came, though his needs were +so great. The men who, as he thought, would seize their guns and join +his ranks, fled from their homes and sought a safe place as soon as +they heard that the red-coats were near.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 524px;"> +<img src="images/illus176.jpg" width="524" height="650" alt="CROSSING THE DELAWARE.—P. 78." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CROSSING THE DELAWARE.—P. 78.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>On De-cem-ber 2, Wash-ing-ton was at Tren-ton, where he made but a +brief halt. Then he crossed the Del-a-ware, and left New Jer-sey in +the hands of the foe. If he and his men once got to Phil-a-del-phi-a, +they would find troops there with whose aid they might hope to turn +back the red-coats so close on their track.</p> + +<p>Gen-er-al Lee, who was at the heels of the foe, was at Mor-ris-town, +De-cem-ber 11, where his troops had been forced to halt for two days +for want of shoes. He was a man who loved his ease, and to lie late in +bed.</p> + +<p>One day as he sat at a desk with pen in hand, one of his aides named +Wil-kin-son, who was with him, looked down the lane that led from the +house to the main road and saw a band of red-coats on horse-back.</p> + +<p>He cried out to Lee "Here are the red-coats!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" said Lee.</p> + +<p>"Round the house!"</p> + +<p>"Where is the guard?" said Lee with an oath. "Where is the guard? Why +don't they fire?"</p> + +<p>The guards had not thought it worth while to keep watch, when their +chief was so much at his ease, so they had stacked their arms and sat +down on the south side of a house to sun them-selves. As the horse-men +came up they gave chase to the guards who fled for their lives, and +left Lee and his aide to do the best that they could.</p> + +<p>The red-coats drew near the house where Lee was, and swore that they +would set fire to it if the Gen-er-al showed fight. So he was forced +to yield, and was brought out in great haste—for they wished to make +sure of their prize—and placed on Wil-kin-son's horse which stood at +the door. He was but half­drest, had no hat on his head, and wore low +shoes, and a loose rough coat. In this style he had to ride to New +Bruns-wick, where the King's troops at sight of him set off their big +guns, for their joy was great.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>The loss of Lee was thought at the time to be a great blow to our +cause, as it was hoped that he would do much to bring the war to an +end, and to lead the troops out of their sore straits.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton was on his way to cross the Del-a-ware. +There was snow on the ground, and the march of the troops could be +traced by the blood-spots from the feet of those whose shoes were worn +out.</p> + +<p>The red-coats were in force at Tren-ton, in charge of a man, named +Rahl, who had done brave work for King George at White Plains and +Fort Wash-ing-ton.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton's plan was to add to his force, and, as soon as he could, +cross the Del-a-ware and strive to wrest Tren-ton from the hands of +the foe. He and his force were to cross the stream nine miles north of +the town; Gen-er-al Ew-ing was to cross with his troops a mile south +of the town; and Gen-er-al Put-nam to leave at a point south of +Bur-ling-ton.</p> + +<p>It was a bold scheme, full of risk to all who took part in it, yet +there was naught to be done but to push on, and hope for the best.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>A SAD YEAR.</h3> + + +<p>Christ-mas night was the time set to cross the Del-a-ware, and at +sun-set the troops were on the move. It was a dark, cold night. The +wind was high, the tide strong, and the stream full of cakes of ice +which drove the boats out of their course. It seemed at times as if +the boats would be crushed to bits, Men who were used to boats, and +had been brought up on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> the sea, and had fought with fierce storms and +wild gales, found it hard work, with all their skill, to make their +way from shore to shore.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton, who crossed with the troops, stood on the east bank till +all the field-guns were brought to land, and it was four o'clock ere +the men took up their line of march. Tren-ton was nine miles off, and +they could not reach there till day-light, too late to take the King's +troops off their guard.</p> + +<p>Most of the troops at Tren-ton were Hes-sians, from Hesse, a small +Ger-man state whose prince had lent his troops to King George for +hire. As I have told you they were in charge of Rahl. Rahl thought +more of his brass band than he did of his men, was full of good cheer +and liked to have a good time. He would sit up till a late hour in the +night, and then lie in bed till nine o'clock the next day.</p> + +<p>The one who leads troops to war should be like a watch-dog, quick to +see and to hear all that goes on, and to be on guard at all times.</p> + +<p>Each day he had the guns drawn out and dragged through the town, just +to make a stir and have the band out. But when the Ma-jor told him +that he should have earth-works thrown up on which to place the guns +he said, "Pooh! pooh! Let the foe come on! We'll charge on them with +the bay-o-net!"</p> + +<p>"But Herr Col-o-nel," said the old Ma-jor, "it costs not much, and if +it does not help it will not harm."</p> + +<p>But Rahl laughed as if he thought it a good joke, turned on his heel +and went off, and the works were not thrown up.</p> + +<p>On this night, too, there was a great stir in the camp at Tren-ton, +for the men did their best to keep Christ-mas, and their thoughts were +of home and the dear ones there. They made what cheer they could, and +did not dream that the foe was so near.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>A storm of hail and snow set in as soon as our troops took up their +march. They could scarce see their way through the sleet they had to +face. The night was so cold that two of the men froze to death. At +dawn of day some of the men came to a halt at a cross-road, where they +did their best to dry their guns. But some were past use, and word was +sent to Wash-ing-ton of the state of their arms. They were in doubt +what to do.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton in a burst of rage bade the man go back to his chief at +once, and tell him to push on and charge if he could not fire.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock Wash-ing-ton drew near the town at the head of his +troops. He went up to a man who had come out to chop wood by the +road-side and asked him where the guard was who stood at the out-post +of Rahl's camp.</p> + +<p>The man said in a harsh voice, "I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You may tell him," said one of our men who stood near, "for that is +Gen-er-al Wash-ing-ton."</p> + +<p>At once a great change came o'er the man to whom Wash-ing-ton spoke. +He raised his hands, and cried, "God bless you! God bless you!" and +then showed where the guards could be found.</p> + +<p>Soon was heard the cry from Rahl's men, "The foe! the foe! turn out! +turn out!" Drums beat to arms. The whole place was in a stir. +Wash-ing-ton came in on the north, Sul-li-van on the west, and Stark +at the south end of the town.</p> + +<p>Rahl scarce knew how to act. He rode to the front of his troops and +got them out of the town. Then he seemed to feel that it was a shame +to fly in that way, for he was a brave man, so he led his men back in +a wild dash out of the woods and in-to the town to meet the foe.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the fight, a shot struck him and he fell from his +horse. The troops would heed no voice but that of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> chief, and +fled up the banks of a creek on the way to Prince-ton.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton saw the stir and thought they had wheeled to form a new +line. He was told that they had laid down their arms, and his joy was +great. The day was ours!</p> + +<p>But for the wild flight of Rahl's men, it would have gone hard with +our troops. Wash-ing-ton did not know it at the time, but he found out +that Ew-ing and Put-nam had tried to cross the stream but were kept +back by the ice, and he with his raw troops would, he was sure, have +been put to rout had Rahl and his men been on their guard.</p> + +<p>The poor Ma-jor, who had in vain urged Rahl to throw up breast-works, +had a bad wound of which he died in Tren-ton; and Rahl him-self, to +whom the red-coats owed their ill-luck, was laid to rest in a +grave-yard in that town.</p> + +<p>And where was Gen-er-al Howe all this time? In New York, where he +thought to take his ease till the Del-a-ware froze so that his troops +could cross. He was much shocked at the news that the Hes-sians who +had been brought up to war should have laid down their arms for a +troop of raw men in rags. He sent Lord Corn-wal-lis back to take +Jer-sey, and, as he said, "to bag the fox."</p> + +<p>By the third of Jan-u-a-ry red-coats, with Corn-wal-lis at their head, +were near at hand. Wash-ing-ton was in a tight place, with a small +creek 'twixt his few raw troops and the large force of the foe. Back +of him lay the Del-a-ware which it was now not safe to cross.</p> + +<p>In this dark hour a gleam of hope came to his mind. He saw a way out +of the trap, and that was by a quick night-march to get at the rear of +the King's troops, dash on the camp at Prince-ton, seize the stores +that were left there, and push on to New Bruns-wick.</p> + +<p>A thaw had set in which made the roads deep with mire, but in the +course of the night<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> the wind veered to the north, and in two hours +the roads were once more hard and frost-bound.</p> + +<p>That the foe might not guess his plan, Wash-ing-ton bade some of his +men keep at work with their spades on the pits near the bridge, go the +rounds, change guards at each bridge and ford, and keep up the +camp-fires till day-break, when they were to join those on the way to +Prince-ton.</p> + +<p>In the dead of the night Wash-ing-ton drew his troops out of camp and +the march took place. The road which they had to take was cut through +woods, and the stumps of the trees made the march a slow one, so that +it was near sun-rise when Wash-ing-ton came to the bridge at the brook +three miles from Prince-ton.</p> + +<p>As our troops left the woods they came face to face with a force of +red-coats, and a sharp fight took place, which did not last long.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was in the midst of it. In the heat of the fight, his +aide-de-camp lost sight of him in the dusk and smoke. The young man +dropped the reins on the neck of his horse, drew down his cap to hide +the tears in his eyes, and gave him up for lost. When he saw +Wash-ing-ton come out from the cloud with his hat raised and the foe +in flight, he spurred up to his side.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are safe!" cried he.</p> + +<p>"A-way, and bring up the troops," said Wash-ing-ton, "the day is our +own!"</p> + +<p>At day-break, when Gen-er-al Howe thought to bag his fox, he found the +prize had slipped from his grasp, and soon learned that the King's +troops had lost their hold on New Jer-sey.</p> + +<p>The fame of Wash-ing-ton, and of the brave deeds of those who fought +to be free, went a-cross the sea, and made friends for him and the +cause. Not a few came to their aid. One of these brave souls was a +Pole, whose name was Kos-ci-us-ko.</p> + +<p>The com-mand-er-in-chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> said to him "What do you seek here?"</p> + +<p>"To fight for the cause you have at heart."</p> + +<p>"What can you do?"</p> + +<p>"Try me."</p> + +<p>This style of speech, and the air of the man, pleased Wash-ing-ton so +well that he at once made him an aide-de-camp. This was in 1777. He +served the cause well, and went back to his own land in 1786 with the +rank of Brig-a-dier Gen-er-al.</p> + +<p>In 1777 La-fay-ette came from France to join the troops led by +Wash-ing-ton. He had wealth and high rank in his own land, and had +lived but a score of years. He left his young wife, and the gay court +of France, and made his way to A-mer-i-ca to do what he could to aid +the foes of King George.</p> + +<p>He came, he said, to learn and not to teach, and would serve with-out +pay, and as one who came of his own free-will.</p> + +<p>He soon won his way to the heart of Wash-ing-ton, and a strong bond of +love grew up 'twixt the two which naught but death could break.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time the whole of our land south of the Great Lakes was a +scene of strife and blood-shed, and it was hard work for our troops to +keep the red-skins and red-coats at bay.</p> + +<p>I have not space to tell you of all the fights that took place, nor +the ways in which Wash-ing-ton sought to vex the King's troops.</p> + +<p>On the third of Oc-to-ber of this year—1777—we find him at +Ger-man-town, where the main force of the red-coats were in camp. His +plan was to drive them out, but though his troops fought with much +skill and in the midst of a dense fog, they were forced back, and the +day was lost.</p> + +<p>The ships-of-war in the Del-a-ware led Wash-ing-ton to think that Lord +Howe meant to turn his guns on Phil-a-del-phi-a, and his mind was +filled with doubts and fears.</p> + +<p>In the same month word came to him that Bur-goyne—who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> was at the +head of the King's troops in the north—had been forced to yield to +Gen-er-al Gates at Fish-kill. This was such a blow to the King's +cause that the troops at West Point and else where on the Hud-son, +who were to have gone to the aid of Bur-goyne, left the forts and made +their way to New York.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>FOES IN THE CAMP.</h3> + + +<p>It is much worse to have one foe in the camp than to have a host of +foes out-side, for who can tell what harm he may do who comes in the +guise of a friend?</p> + +<p>In the year 1774 a young man, named John An-dré, came with the King's +troops, and fought in their ranks at St. John's and Crown Point.</p> + +<p>He had a brave heart, and a fine mind, and did much to keep up the +hearts of the men when in the camp. He was fond of the fair sex and +had praised in rhyme the charms of a Miss Ship-pen who wed Ben-e-dict +Ar-nold in the year 1780.</p> + +<p>Ar-nold had fought well on our side at the north, and won much +praise. He had been a sea-man in his youth, and was both strong and +brave. But he grew proud and vain, and sought to rank as high as the +Com-mand-er-in-chief, with whom he found much fault.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton had great faith in him, and did not dream he was false at +heart.</p> + +<p>For some ill-deeds while at Phil-a-del-phi-a Ar-nold had been brought +to court and tried and his guilt proved, and this had made him wroth +with Wash-ing-ton, and the cause he had sworn to aid.</p> + +<p>He sought for a way to pay back the slight and raise him-self<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> to +fame. With this end in view he wrote to Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton—but did +not use his own name—that he would like to join the cause of King +George on the terms that he set forth. He was in need of funds for he +was deep in debt, but Clin-ton did not see fit to make use of him.</p> + +<p>Two or three more of his schemes failed, and at last he asked that he +might have charge of the post at West Point. This Wash-ing-ton gave +him, and in Au-gust Ar-nold fixed him-self in a fine house that stood +on the east side of the stream, half a mile or so south of West Point.</p> + +<p>From this place he sent notes to An-dré, the aide-de-camp of Clin-ton, +who wrote back and signed his name <i>John An-der-son</i>.</p> + +<p>Ar-nold's plan was to throw West Point and the High-lands in-to the +hands of Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton at the time that Wash-ing-ton was at +King's Bridge, and the Eng-lish troops in New York.</p> + +<p>A fleet, with a large land force on board, was to come up to the +High-lands, and Ar-nold would at once yield up the post in-to their +hands. This act he thought would bring the war to an end, with the +flag of King George at high mast, and then great would be the name and +fame of Ben-e-dict Ar-nold.</p> + +<p>That the scheme might not fail, Ar-nold wrote to An-dré to meet him at +Dobb's Fer-ry, Sep-tem-ber 11, at noon.</p> + +<p>But Ar-nold had spent the night of the 10th at Hav-er-straw, on the +west shore, and on his way back in his barge, as he had no flag, he +was fired on by the guard boats of the King's troops. So he had to put +off his plans for a day or two.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time the sloop-of-war <i>Vul-ture</i>—a good name for such a +bird of prey—was brought up the Hud-son so as to be near at hand to +aid in the vile scheme.</p> + +<p>On Sep-tem-ber 18, Wash-ing-ton with his suite crossed the Hud-son at +Ver-planck's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> Point, in Ar-nold's barge, on his way to Hart-ford. +Ar-nold went with him as far as Peeks-kill, and talked with him in a +frank way, and as if he were most true to the cause.</p> + +<p>An-dré went up the Hud-son on the 20th and went on board the Vul-ture +where he thought to meet Ar-nold. But Ar-nold knew it would not be +safe for him to be there; so he kept in the back-ground.</p> + +<p>The next night a boat crept up to the side of the <i>Vul-ture</i> in which +were two men. Their oars scarce made a sound.</p> + +<p>An-dré, who wore a blue great coat, went on board this boat and was +rowed to the west side of the stream. Six miles south of Sto-ny Point +they came to shore at the foot of a high mount known as the Long +Clove. It was mid-night. Dark was the hour, and dark the place, and +dark the deed.</p> + +<p>Ar-nold was there hid in the shade of the woods. A man was near who +came to wait on him and take care of his horse. He and An-dré had a +long talk. One, two, three hours passed, and still there was more to +say. One of the men who had brought An-dré, and whose name was Smith, +warned them that it was near day-break, and the boat would be seen by +our guards if they did not go back soon.</p> + +<p>Ar-nold feared that the sight of a boat on its way to the <i>Vul-ture</i> +might bring harm to him and his scheme, so he urged An-dré to stay on +shore till the next night. The boat was sent to a creek up the +Hud-son, and An-dré on the horse that Ar-nold's man had rode, set off +with Ar-nold for Smith's house.</p> + +<p>The road took them through the small town of Hav-er-straw. As they +rode on in the dark the voice of one of the guards at an out-post made +An-dré start, for he knew he must be with-in our lines. But it was too +late to turn back, and at day-break they reached Smith's house.</p> + +<p>Scarce was the door closed on them when the boom of great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> guns was +heard from down the stream. An-dré felt ill at ease, and had good +cause for fear.</p> + +<p>The fact was that as soon as Liv-ing-ston, who had charge of our +troops at Ver-planck's Point, heard that the <i>Vul-ture</i> was with-in +shot of Tel-ler's Point, which juts out 'twixt Hav-er-straw Bay and +Tap-pan Sea, he sent some men and some big guns to that point in the +night to fire on the sloop-of-war.</p> + +<p>An-dré kept a close watch on the scene from a top room in Smith's +house. At one time he thought the <i>Vul-ture</i> was on fire; but his +heart gave a throb of joy when he saw the sloop-of-war drop down the +stream out of reach of gun shot.</p> + +<p>Ar-nold gave An-dré the plans of the works at West Point, and told him +what and how he was to do. As the <i>Vul-ture</i> had changed her place, he +told An-dré it would be far more safe for him to go back to New York +by land. And he would reach there in less time.</p> + +<p>But An-dré said that he must be put on board the sloop-of-war the next +night; and in case he should change his mind Ar-nold gave him a pass +that he might go by sea or by land. At ten o'clock that morn Ar-nold +left him to his fate.</p> + +<p>Time moved at a slow pace with poor An-dré. Once on board the +<i>Vul-ture</i> he would be safe; his task would be done, and West Point +would soon be in the hands of the red-coats. As night set in he grew +still more ill at ease, and asked Smith how he had planned to get him +on board the <i>Vul-ture</i>.</p> + +<p>It gave him a shock to learn that Smith had not done the least thing. +The boat-men had gone home, and he would not take him on board the +<i>Vul-ture</i>. But he said he would cross the Hud-son with him and start +him on the road to New York by land, and go some of the way with him +on horse-back.</p> + +<p>They set off at sun-set, and went for eight miles on the road to White +Plains when they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> brought to a halt by a band of our troops who +were out as watch-men.</p> + +<p>An-dré showed his pass signed with Ar-nold's name, and so they took +him for a friend and not a foe. He wore a coat of Smith's that made +him look like a plain man.</p> + +<p>The two were warned that it was not safe for them to be on the road at +night, as they might meet the Cow-Boys from the King's troops, who but +a short time since had swept through that part of the land.</p> + +<p>Smith was full of fears, and An-dré had to yield to his wish to take a +bed in a farm-house near at hand. This they did, but An-dré could not +sleep. He knew that he was not safe. At day-break he woke Smith, and +made him haste to leave the place.</p> + +<p>Two and a half miles from Pine's Bridge, on the Cro-ton Riv-er, An-dré +and Smith took a scant meal at a farm-house which had been stripped by +the Cow-Boys.</p> + +<p>Here Smith took leave of An-dré, who was to go the rest of the way to +New York a-lone. He felt no fear now, as he had passed our lines, and +was clear of those who kept watch on the out-posts.</p> + +<p>Six miles from Pine's Bridge he came to a fork in the road. The left +branch led to White Plains. The right branch led to the Hud-son. He +had thought at first that he would take the left hand road, as the +right one was said to be filled with Cow-Boys. But he had naught to +fear from them, as he was on their side; and as it was a more straight +road to New York, he turned down it and took his course on the banks +of the Hud-son.</p> + +<p>He had not gone far when he came to a place where a small stream +crossed the road and ran down a dell that was thick with trees. A man +stepped out with a gun and brought An-dré to a stand. Two more armed +men came up to aid the first one, whose name was Paul-ding.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +Paul-ding's coat was in rags, and was of the kind that was worn by the +King's troops. When An-dré caught sight of it his heart leapt for joy, +for he was sure he was safe. So sure that he did not guard his tongue. +He asked the men if they were on his side, and they said they were. He +then told who he was, and that he had been sent to a post up the +Hud-son and was in haste to get back. As he spoke he drew out a gold +watch, such as few owned in those days, and none but men of wealth.</p> + +<p>Think what a shock it must have been to An-dré when Paul-ding said +they were not his friends but his foes, and he was in their hands.</p> + +<p>Then An-dré tried to make out that what he first told was a lie, but +that he would now tell the truth; and he drew forth his pass to prove +that he was all right. Had he done this in the first place he might +have gone on his way. "A still tongue shows a wise head."</p> + +<p>The men seized his horse by the rein and told An-dré to get off. He +warned them that he had been sent out by Gen-er-al Ar-nold and that +they would be ill dealt with if they held him back.</p> + +<p>"We care not for that," they said, as they led him through the shrubs +on the edge of the brook. They then went to work to search him, and +took note of the way in which he was drest. They were poor men, and +had not had a chance to see such fine clothes.</p> + +<p>An-dré wore a round hat, a blue great-coat, 'neath which was a red +coat decked off with gold-lace, a nan-keen vest, small-clothes and +boots.</p> + +<p>They made him take off his coat and vest, and found naught to prove +that he had sought to harm their cause, and they had a mind to let him +go.</p> + +<p>Paul-ding, who had been twice in the hands of the red-coats and +ill-used by them, was still not quite free from doubt. A thought came +to his mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Boys," said he, "his boots must come off."</p> + +<p>At this An-dré's face flushed, and he said that his boots were hard to +get off, and he begged that he might not lose time in this way.</p> + +<p>But the men were firm. They made him sit down, his boots were drawn +off, and the plans that Ar-nold gave him were brought to light.</p> + +<p>Paul-ding looked at them and cried out,</p> + +<p>"He is a spy!"</p> + +<p>He then asked An-dré where he had got these plans. "From a man at Pine +Bridge" he said; "a man whom I did not know."</p> + +<p>As he put on his clothes An-dré begged the men to let him go. He would +pay them a large sum, and stay with two of the men while one went to +New York to get it.</p> + +<p>Here Paul-ding broke in, "Keep your gold! We want none of it. Were it +ten times as much, you should not stir one step!"</p> + +<p>An-dré had to yield to his fate, and was led by the men to our post +which was ten or twelve miles off. An-dré rode on horse-back with one +man in front, and one at each side.</p> + +<p>At noon they came to a farm-house, and those who dwelt there sat at +the mid-day meal. The house-wife, whose heart was touched by a sight +of An-dré's youth and look of grief, asked him to draw near and take +some of the food. Then as she caught sight of his gold-laced coat, the +good dame said that she knew it was poor fare for such as he, but it +was the best she had.</p> + +<p>Poor An-dré shook his head, and said, "Oh, it is all good, but in-deed +I can-not eat!"</p> + +<p>When the four reached the out-post and Jame-son, who was in charge, +saw the plans that had been found on An-dré, he at once saw that they +had been drawn up by the hand of Ben-e-dict Ar-nold.</p> + +<p>He at once did the thing he ought not to have done, which was to write +to Ar-nold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> and tell him that a man who said his name was <i>John +An-derson</i> had been caught, and held, though he bore a pass signed by +him. The plans found on him had been sent to the Com-mand-er-in-chief, +and An-dré, with a strong guard was sent with the note to Ar-nold.</p> + +<p>In a short time, Ma-jor Tall-madge, who was next in rank to Jame-son, +came back from a trip to White Plains. He had a clear head, and as +soon as he heard the case he at once urged Jame-son to send a man in +haste to bring An-dré back. This was done, but Jame-son had not +thought to have the note to Ar-nold brought back, so it sped on to let +the knave know that his plot had failed.</p> + +<p>As soon as Ar-nold read the note he sprang on the horse of the man who +brought it, and rode with all speed to the dock where his six-oared +barge lay moored. He threw him-self in-to it and bade his men pull out +in mid-stream and row as fast as they could to Tel-ler's Point, as he +must be back in time to meet Wash-ing-ton, who was then on his way to +West Point.</p> + +<p>The guards knew his barge, so they did not fire on it, and a bit of +white cloth waved in the air served as a flag of truce. He soon was on +board the <i>Vul-ture</i>, where he gave him-self up, and the cox-swain and +six barge-men with him. This was a mean act, and showed just what kind +of a man Ar-nold was, but as soon as the men made it known that they +had been led to think that all was right, and that a flag of truce +gave them a safe pass, they were at once set free.</p> + +<p>Ar-nold gave the red-coats much aid, and they were glad to make use of +him. But they did not care to make friends with so base a man. At the +close of the war, he went to Eng-land, and made his home there. He was +shunned by all, and died in the year 1801, at the age of three-score.</p> + +<p>As Wash-ing-ton drew near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> the fort at West Point, he thought it +strange that no guns were fired. "Is not Gen-er-al Ar-nold here?" he +asked of the man who came down to the shore to meet him.</p> + +<p>"No, sir. He has not been here for two days past; nor have I heard +from him in that time."</p> + +<p>This was strange; but soon the note from Jame-son was placed in his +hands, and when he had read of the deep-laid scheme, he said with a +deep sigh, "Whom can we trust now?"</p> + +<p>Word was at once sent out to the guards to check Ar-nold's flight, but +it was too late. He had slipped from their grasp.</p> + +<p>Let us now see how An-dré bore his hard fate. He had the best of care, +and made hosts of friends, who grieved that one so young, so +well-bred, and of such high rank, should have done a crime for which +he must be hung.</p> + +<p>It was a great grief to Wash-ing-ton, who would have felt no pang had +Ar-nold been in An-dré's place. But death to the spy! was one of the +rules of war, and Oc-to-ber 2 was the day set for An-dré to be hung. +He had asked that since it was his lot to die he might choose the mode +of death; and begged that he might be shot. This Wash-ing-ton could +not grant, though in his heart he longed to do so; but thought it best +that An-dré should not know.</p> + +<p>On the morn of the 2d, An-dré drest him-self with great care, in the +full suit worn by those who bore his rank in the King's troops. He was +calm, while all those near him were in tears.</p> + +<p>He walked with a firm step to the place where he was to end his life, +arm in arm with two of our troops. When he caught sight of the rope he +gave a start, and asked if he was not to be shot. When told that no +change could be made, he said "How hard is my fate!—But it will be +but a brief pang!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 520px;"> +<img src="images/illus216.jpg" width="520" height="650" alt="WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE—P. 94." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE—P. 94.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he stepped in-to the cart, took off his hat and stock, loosed his +shirt at the throat, put the noose round his neck and bound his own +eyes.</p> + +<p>When told that there was a chance for him to speak if he chose, he +said "I pray you to note that I meet my fate like a brave man."</p> + +<p>Then the cart was moved off and he was left in mid-air, and death took +place in a short time. An-dré was laid in a grave near the place where +he was hung, but in 1821 was borne to the land of his birth, and +placed near the tombs of Kings and Queens.</p> + +<p>He that breaks laws must pay the price. If you want to make friends, +and to have them love and trust you—<i>be true</i>. Let no one coax you to +sin. The eye of God is on you, and he sees all your deeds. You may +hide your crime for a while, but you may "be sure your sin will find +you out." Be not an Ar-nold nor an An-dré.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE HARDSHIPS OF WAR.</h3> + + +<p>We will now go back to the place we left, and see where Wash-ing-ton +was at the close of the year 1777. He had been forced to leave New +Jer-sey in the hands of the King's troops. His own troops were worn +down by long and hard toil, and had need of rest. They were in want of +clothes too, and could not keep warm in the tents, so he sought out a +place where they could build huts and screen them-selves from the cold +winds and storms.</p> + +<p>He chose Val-ley Forge, which was on the west bank of the Schuyl +(<i>school</i>)-kill Riv-er, and a score of miles from Phil-a-del-phi-a. +Sad was the march of the troops to Val-ley Forge. Food was scant, +their clothes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> were worn out, and a track of blood marked the way they +trod. They had fought hard, but not to win, and this made their hearts +low.</p> + +<p>On De-cem-ber 17, they reached Val-ley Forge, and had to freeze in +their tents till they could cut down the trees and build the huts they +were to live in.</p> + +<p>The walls were six feet and a half high, and were made of logs filled +in with clay. The roofs were made of logs split in half.</p> + +<p>No pen can paint the hard lot of those poor men shut in at Val-ley +Forge. For some days they had no meat. For three days they had no +bread. Some of the men had to sit up all night by the fires, as there +were no clothes for their beds, and they could not sleep for the cold. +Some of the men were so scant of clothes that they could not leave +their huts.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was kept short of funds and of troops, though he plead +hard for both, and was sore pressed on all sides. He scarce knew what +to do. There was but one thing he could do, and that was to wait.</p> + +<p>While his troops were in this sad plight—some of them sick un-to +death—the red-coats, who held Phil-a-del-phi-a in siege, led a gay +sort of life, and were much at their ease.</p> + +<p>Near the first of March a Ger-man came to Wash-ing-ton's camp to lend +him his aid.</p> + +<p>His name was Bar-on Steu-ben. He had fought for long years in the wars +that had been waged in Eu-rope, had been aide-de-camp to Fred-er-ick +the Great, and had won much fame by his brave deeds. The French, who +were friends to our cause, knew that we had need of such a man as +Bar-on Steu-ben, and urged him to come to A-mer-i-ca, and he was at +once sent to join the troops at Val-ley Forge.</p> + +<p>Our troops had had no chance to drill, there was no one to teach them, +and they had fought with a rush and a dash, and in a pell-mell sort of +way. Steu-ben<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> went to work to drill these men, the best of whom had +much to learn, and he found it a hard task at first as he could not +speak our tongue. At last a man was found who spoke French, and him +Steu-ben made his aide-de-camp and kept him close at hand.</p> + +<p>The men were slow to learn, for the drills were new to them, and +Steu-ben would get wroth with them and call them "block-heads," and +all sorts of hard names. But though he had a sharp tongue, and was +quick to get in a rage, he had a kind, true heart, and soon won the +love of the men.</p> + +<p>For eight months the red-coats had held Phil-a-del-phi-a. In the +spring Gen-er-al Howe went home, and left his troops in charge of Sir +Hen-ry Clin-ton, who made up his mind to lead the troops back to New +York. But he did not wish his plans to be known.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time, Wash-ing-ton knew that a scheme of some sort was on +foot—so he sent troops out to check the King's troops should they +move by land. The red-coats left Phil-a-del-phi-a on June 18, and as +there was but one road for them to take, their train stretched out for +twelve miles. They made a halt at Al-len-town, and Clin-ton had not +quite made up his mind which way to go from that place. He at first +thought he would go as far as the Rar-i-tan Riv-er, and then ship his +troops to New York; but when he found that our troops were not far +off, he turned to the right and took the road to Mon-mouth.</p> + +<p>His march was a slow one; the heat was great; the rains made the roads +bad, and they had to stop to bridge the streams, and to build +cause-ways so that they could cross the swamps.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton in the mean-time had gone on to Kings-ton; but as soon as +he learned Clin-ton's course, he moved his troops so as to get in the +rear of the red-coats.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the night of June 27, the foe went in camp on the high ground near +Mon-mouth Court House. The van-guard of our troops was five miles off, +and in charge of Gen-er-al Lee.</p> + +<p>At day-break the van-guard of the red-coats set forth down the hill, +while Clin-ton with his choice troops staid in camp on the heights of +Free-hold, to give the long train of carts and pack mules a chance to +get well on the way. At eight o'clock all were in line of march to +Mid-dle-town.</p> + +<p>As soon as Lee heard that the foe were on the move, he set out to meet +them, and was joined by the troops in charge of La-fay-ette. As Lee +stood on one of the hills he caught sight of a band of red-coats hid +some-what by the woods, which he thought was a part of the main force. +So he sent some of his troops to draw their fire and check them in the +rear, while he with the rest of his force would take a short cut, +through the woods, get in front of the corps, and cut it off from the +main force.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was on his way with his main force, when the boom of big +guns rang out on the air. The sound caused him to change his pace to a +quick step, and when he drew near Free-hold church, where the road +forked, he sent Greene with part of his force to the right, while he +with the rest of the troops took the left hand road.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton stood on the ground with his arm thrown up on the neck of +his horse, when a man rode up and said the blue-coats were in flight. +Wash-ing-ton was vexed, for he was quite sure it was not true. Then up +came one with fife in hand, quite out of breath, and in great fright. +He was seized at once so that he would not scare the troops then on +their way, and told that he would be flogged if he dared to spread the +tale he had brought.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton sprang on his horse, and sent men out to learn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> the +truth, while he spurred past the Free-hold church. The news seemed too +strange to be true. He had heard but a few guns, and did not think +there had been much of a fight. Was Lee to blame for this wrong move? +He feared so. As he reached the high ground he saw Lee and his men in +full flight, and by this time he was in a fine rage.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by this?" he asked in a fierce stern tone as Lee +rode up to him.</p> + +<p>At sight of Wash-ing-ton's face Lee was struck dumb for a-while, but +when he could speak he tried to tell why he had thought it best to +fall back. There was not much time for a talk, as the foe were not far +off. The sight of their Com-mand-er-in-chief put a stop to the flight, +and plans were at once made to turn the luck. The place where they +were was good for a stand, as it was on high ground which the foe +could not reach but by a cause-way.</p> + +<p>Lee knew that Wash-ing-ton had lost faith in him, so he held back, +and would give no aid to his chief. Wash-ing-ton rode back to Lee in a +calm mood, and said to him; "Will you keep the com-mand on this +height, or not? If you will, I will go back to the main force and have +it formed on the next height."</p> + +<p>Lee said it was all the same to him where he was placed, that he would +do just as Wash-ing-ton said, and "not be the first to leave the +ground."</p> + +<p>Soon guns were heard on both sides. Lee and his men, who were in the +fore-ground made a brave stand, but were at length forced to fall +back. Lee brought off his troops in good style by the cause-way that +crossed the swamps, in front of our troops in charge of Lord +Stir-ling, and was the last to leave the ground. When he had formed +his men in line back of the swamp, he rode up to Wash-ing-ton, and +said, "Here, sir, are my troops, what do you wish me to do with them?"</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton saw that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> men were worn out with long tramps, hard +fights, and the great heat, so he told Lee to take them to the rear, +and call in all those he might meet with who had fled from his ranks.</p> + +<p>The foe sought to turn both our flanks, but were checked by a sharp +fire, and at length they gave way and fell back to the ground where +Lee had been that morn. Here the woods and swamps were on their +flanks, and their front could not be reached but by the cause-way. +Great as was the risk, Wash-ing-ton made up his mind to charge on the +foe, and this was his plan: Gen-er-al Poor was to move round on their +right, Gen-er-al Wood-ford on the left, while the big field guns +should gall them in front. But night set in ere they could act on this +plan. Some of the troops had sunk on the ground, and all were in need +of rest. Wash-ing-ton told them to lie on their arms just where they +chanced to be when it grew dark, as he meant to go on with the fight +at dawn of the next day. He lay on his cloak at the foot of a tree, +and La-fay-ette lay near him.</p> + +<p>At day-break the beat of drums roused them from their sleep, but the +foe had fled, and had been so long on the way that Wash-ing-ton could +not hope to check them.</p> + +<p>Our loss in the fight at Mon-mouth was 69, while 250 of the King's +troops were left dead on the field. Some of the troops on both sides +had died in the swamp, and some were found on the edge of a stream +that ran through it, where, worn out with their toils, and weak from +heat and thirst they had crawled to drink and die.</p> + +<p>Lee's pride had been so hurt that he wrote to Wash-ing-ton in a way +that he should not have done to his Com-mand-er-in-chief, and he was +brought to court by the Board of War and tried for his wrong deeds. +His guilt was proved, and he was told that he could not serve for the +next twelve months. He went to his home in Vir-gin-i-a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> where he led a +queer kind of a life. His house was a mere shell, and had but one +room, but lines were chalked on the floor and each space was used as +if it was a room by it-self. Here was his bed, there were his books; +in this space he kept all his horse gear, and in that one he cooked +and ate his meals.</p> + +<p>With pen and with tongue he strove to harm Wash-ing-ton, whom his +shafts failed to hurt, and who spoke not an ill word of Lee. He liked +him as a friend but did not think he was fit to lead troops to war. +Lee died in the course of four years, and on his death-bed he thought +he was on the field of war, and his last words were a call to his men +to stand by him.</p> + +<p>For a year or two more the strife was kept up on the coast from Maine +to Flor-i-da, and both red-coats and red-skins took part in scenes +that chill the blood to read of. Houses were burnt and land laid +waste, forts were stormed and seized from our troops whose force was +too small to hold them. Now and then there was a gain for our side, +but in spite of his ill luck Wash-ing-ton held on with a brave heart, +and would die at his post but would not yield.</p> + +<p>In the first part of the year 1780 we find Wash-ing-ton in camp at +Mor-ris-town, with a lot of half-fed and half-clad troops.</p> + +<p>No such cold had been known in this zone. The Bay of New York froze so +hard that the ships-of-war that lay in it were ice-bound. Food was +scant, and there was a lack of fire-wood.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton saw what a chance there was for a bold stroke, but he had +no funds with which to fit out his troops, or to move them to the +coast. The cost of war was great, and gold was scarce. He could not +strike a big blow for New York to wrest it from the hands of the foe, +as he might have done at this time had his troops been well-fed and +well-clad but he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> would do what he could in a small way.</p> + +<p>A bridge of ice had formed 'twixt New Jer-sey and Stat-en Isl-and, so +Wash-ing-ton sent Lord Stir-ling with 2,500 men to start up and seize +a force of 1,200 red-coats. His lord-ship crossed in the night, but +was seen and had to fall back to E-liz-a-beth-town. Some of his men +fell in-to the hands of the King's troops, and some in-to the hands of +Jack Frost.</p> + +<p>This raid gave a start to the foe and they set out to tease and vex +our out-posts, which they thought could be done at small risk, as +there was snow on the ground, and the troops could be borne on +sleighs.</p> + +<p>Not far from White Plains—and a score of miles from the out-posts of +the red-coats—300 of our men had a post in a stone house known as +Young's house, as that was the name of the man who owned it. It faced +a road which ran north and south down through a rich plain, and so on +to New York. Our men kept a close watch on this road, to stop the +red-coats who might seek to pass with food or live-stock. The +red-coats made up their mind to break up this nest of blue-birds, and +the night of Feb-ru-a-ry 2, was set for the task.</p> + +<p>The King's troops set out from King's Bridge, some in sleighs and some +on horse-back. The snow was deep, and it was hard for the sleighs to +break their way through. The troops at length left them, and marched +on foot. They could not bring their field guns with them. Now and then +they would come to a place where the snow was more than two feet deep, +and they had to take by-ways and cross roads so as not to get near our +out-guards.</p> + +<p>The sun rose while they were yet six miles or more from Young's house. +This spoiled their plan, but still they kept on. Ere they could reach +the house, the news flew like wild-fire that the red-coats were near, +and men left their farms and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> homes to aid those in Young's house. But +though they fought well, they had not strength to hold the fort. Not a +few were killed. The house was sacked and set on fire, and the +red-coats made haste to get back to their lines with those of our men +whom they had seized, and who were sent to New York and put in the +vile jails there.</p> + +<p>In the year 1780, France sent ships-of-war and troops to aid our +cause, and to drive the red-coats from New York. The French troops +were in charge of Count de Ro-cham-beau, who was told to do just as +Wash-ing-ton said; for he was Com-mand-er-in-chief.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton's heart gave a throb of joy at this proof of good-will, +and his grief was that he had not more troops of his own to join with +these that he might push for New York at once. He must wait till the +rest of the French troops, then on their way, came to port.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time his thoughts were turned to the South, where the +red-coats, led by Corn-wal-lis, waged a fierce war. Our troops there +were in charge of Gen-er-al Greene, who was full of cheer, and did his +best to keep the foe at bay, but with poor luck as his force was +small.</p> + +<p>But Wash-ing-ton had faith in him; yet such a large force of the +King's troops had been sent by sea to aid Corn-wal-lis that +Wash-ing-ton feared that Greene would not be safe. So he wrote to +La-fay-ette, who was on his way to meet the French fleet that had been +sent to Ches-a-peake Bay, to push on and join the troops at the South.</p> + +<p>At this time Wash-ing-ton was at a place near West Point, and his +whole force on the Hud-son, in May 1781, was not more than 7,000; half +of whom were not fit to take the field.</p> + +<p>Here word came to him of feuds at the North, and that the foe were in +force on the north side of Cro-ton Riv-er.</p> + +<p>Col-o-nel De-lan-cey, who led this raid, held the place that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> An-dré +had filled, and bore the same rank, and De-lan-cey's horse-men were +the dread of all those who dwelt in that part of the land. Our troops +had an out-post not far from Pine's Bridge, in charge of Col-o-nel +Greene of Rhode Isl-and, who had served all through the war.</p> + +<p>De-lan-cey set out at night at the head of 100 men on horse-back and +200 on foot. They crossed the Cro-ton at day-break, just as the +night-guard had been called off, and bore down on the out-post.</p> + +<p>They first went to the farm-house where Col-o-nel Greene and Ma-jor +Flagg slept, and put a strong guard round it. Ma-jor Flagg sprang from +his bed, threw up the sash, and fired at the foe, but was shot through +the head and then hacked with sword cuts and thrusts.</p> + +<p>They then burst through the door of Greene's room. He was a man of +great strength, and for some time kept the foes at bay with his sword, +but at last he fell, for what could one man do in such a fight?</p> + +<p>By the time the troops sent out by Wash-ing-ton reached the post, +De-lan-cey's men had flown. They tried to take Greene with them, but +he died on the way, and they left him at the edge of the woods.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton felt sad at heart when he heard of the death of his brave +and true friend, Col-o-nel Greene, and the next day he had his corpse +brought to the west bank of the Hud-son. Guns were fired to tell that +one who had fought well had gone to his rest, and strong men shed +tears as he was laid in his grave, for his loss was a source of great +grief to all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.</h3> + + +<p>In the month of May, Corn-wal-lis had planned to bring his troops to +Pe-ters-burg and strike a blow at La-fay-ette, who was near Rich-mond. +La-fay-ette fled as soon as he heard that Corn-wal-lis had crossed the +James Riv-er, for he had but few troops and did not care to bring on a +big fight till the men came up who were then on the way to aid him.</p> + +<p>Corn-wal-lis thought he could soon catch "the boy"—as he called +him—but his youth made him spry, and the red-coats did not get up to +him.</p> + +<p>On June 10, Gen-er-al Wayne came up with 900 men, to add to +La-fay-ette's strength, and this made him change his whole plan. With +4,000 men and Ba-ron Steu-ben he might hope to win in a fight with the +red-coats, and he turned his face to the foe. Corn-wal-lis was at +that time 'twixt La-fay-ette and Al-be-marle Court House, where +stores were kept. The Mar-quis, by a night march through a road that +had long been out of use, got in front of the King's troops, and held +them in check.</p> + +<p>Corn-wal-lis turned back, and marched first to Rich-mond, and then to +Will-iams-burg, while La-fay-ette kept close in his rear. Here they +had a fierce fight, in which the loss was great on both sides, and the +gain but small.</p> + +<p>At this time word came to Corn-wal-lis that Wash-ing-ton had borne +down on New York and that he must send some of his troops to that +town. This would leave him too weak to stay where he was, so on Ju-ly +4 he set out for Ports-mouth.</p> + +<p>La-fay-ette gave chase the next day and took post nine miles from his +camp. His plan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> was to fall on the rear-guard, when the main force +should have crossed the ford at James-town. But Corn-wal-lis guessed +what he meant to do and laid a trap for him. A sharp fight took place, +in-to which Wayne threw him-self like a mad-man, but the foe were as +ten to one and our troops were forced back to Green Springs.</p> + +<p>In Ju-ly La-fay-ette wrote to Wash-ing-ton that Corn-wal-lis had left +Ports-mouth by sea, and he thought he was on his way to New York. It +was true the troops had gone on board the boats, but though wind and +tide were fair they did not sail.</p> + +<p>With the French fleet to help him, Wash-ing-ton saw a chance to fight +the foe by land and sea, so he turned from New York and marched to +Vir-gin-i-a to aid La-fay-ette, who longed to have his chief at the +head of his troops but did not know he was so near.</p> + +<p>As our war-worn troops went through Phil-a-del-phi-a they were hailed +with shouts and cheers from the throngs that filled the streets. They +kept step to the sound of the drum and fife, and raised a great cloud +of dust, for there had been quite a drought.</p> + +<p>The French troops passed through the next day, but not in the same +style. They made a halt a mile from the town, where they brushed off +the dust from their guns, and their gay white and green clothes, and +then marched with a light step to the sound of a fine band. Crowds +were on the streets, and bright smiles and loud shouts met these who +had come from France to lay down their lives if need be for the cause +we had at heart.</p> + +<p>When Wash-ing-ton turned his back on New York, Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton +sent word to Corn-wal-lis that he would not need the troops he had +asked for; so Corn-wal-lis went from Ports-mouth to York-town, where +he took his stand.</p> + +<p>York-town was a small place on the south side of York<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> Riv-er. The +stream at this point was not more than a mile wide, but it was so deep +that ships of large size and weight could go through. Here he threw up +works on both sides of the stream, which gave him a fine strong-hold, +as the banks were high and set out from the main-land. He thought +there was no foe near but La-fay-ette, and he had no great fear of one +so young.</p> + +<p>He felt so safe that he wrote to Clin-ton that he could let him have a +large force of men to add strength to New York, where it was thought +our troops would strike the next blow.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time La-fay-ette threw out troops to the rear, to work +with the French fleets that would soon be in Ches-a-peake Bay, and so +a net was drawn round Corn-wal-lis at a time when he thought he was +most safe.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was at Phil-a-del-phi-a on Sep-tem-ber 5, and at +Bal-ti-more three days from that time. He left Bal-ti-more on the +ninth, at day-break, with but one of his suite, as he was in haste to +reach Mount Ver-non. The rest of his suite rode at their ease, and +joined him the next day at noon. It was six years since Wash-ing-ton +had seen his old home, and how full of toil and care those years had +been! In three days he had to leave the dear old place, and with his +guests push on to join La-fay-ette, who was at Will-iams-burg. By +Sep-tem-ber 25, the French and our troops were in camp near that town, +and at once set to work to get things in train for the next fight.</p> + +<p>Corn-wal-lis had built forts on the north and south banks of the +stream, and had done all he could to add strength to York-town. +Ships-of-war were in front, and boats had been sunk at the mouth of +the stream. Field-works were at the rear with big guns on top, and +there were long rows of trees that had been cut down and left so that +their limbs stuck out and made a fence it would not be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> safe to climb. +At the right and left of York-town were deep dells and creeks, and it +was not strange that Corn-wal-lis felt that he was in a sure +strong-hold.</p> + +<p>Our troops were twelve miles off when they took up their march on +Sep-tem-ber 28, and that night they went in camp two miles from +York-town. Wash-ing-ton and his staff slept on the ground, his head on +the root of a tree. The next morn our troops drew out on each side of +Bea-ver Dam Creek, the A-mer-i-cans on the east side and the French on +the west. The Count de Grasse, with the main fleet, staid in Lynn +Haven Bay so as to keep off the ships that might come from sea to aid +the red-coats.</p> + +<p>On the night of the first of Oc-to-ber our troops threw up two +earth-works, on which the red-coats turned their guns at day-light and +killed three of the men. While Wash-ing-ton stood near the works a +shot struck the ground close by him and threw up a great cloud of +dust. One of his staff who stood near was in a great fright, but +Wash-ing-ton was calm and showed no signs of fear.</p> + +<p>On Oc-to-ber 6, our troops set out to dig the trench that the first +line would use in the siege of York-town. So dark was the night, and +so still were the men, that the foe did not know of it till day-light. +Then they fired on them from the forts, but the men were screened and +kept at their work. By the ninth the trench was dug and the guns fixed +to fire at the town.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton put the match to the first gun, and a storm of balls and +bomb-shells dared Corn-wal-lis to come out and fight. For three or +four days the fire was kept up on both sides, and bomb-shells crossed +in mid-air, and at night flashed forth like great stars with tails a +blaze of light. Our shells did much harm in the town, and to the +earth-works of the foe.</p> + +<p>The red-hot shot from the French forts north-west of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> town reached +the King's ships-of-war. The Char-on a 44 gun ship, and three large +boats for troops, were set on fire by them. The flames ran up to the +tops of the masts, and as the night was dark the scene was a grand one +to the eye, but a sad one to the heart.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 11th, a new ditch was dug by the troops led by +Bar-on Steu-ben, and for two or three days the foe kept up a fire on +the men at work.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock on the night of Oc-to-ber 14, they set out to storm +both York-town and the Point on the north bank at the same time.</p> + +<p>The van-guard of our troops was led by Al-ex-an-der Ham-il-ton. When +at school he wrote to one of his boy friends, "I wish there was a +war;" and in 1776 when he was but 19 years of age, he was placed at +the head of the men who fired the guns and bomb-shells. The next year +he was aide-de-camp to Wash-ing-ton, in whom he found a true and wise +friend. With great joy and pride Ham-il-ton led the van in a head-long +dash past the trees, which they pushed or pulled down with their own +hands, where they could not climb them, and was the first to mount the +wall. One of his men knelt so that Ham-il-ton could use him for steps, +and the rest of the men got up the best way they could. Not a gun was +fired, and the fort fell in-to the hands of our troops with a small +loss on both sides.</p> + +<p>The French stormed the fort at the Point in as brave a way, but with +less speed, and lost more men.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton stood on the ground in the grand fort where he could see +all that took place. An aide-de-camp near him spoke up and said that +he ran a great risk from a chance shot through one of the port-holes. +"If you think so," said Wash-ing-ton, "you can step back."</p> + +<p>Soon a ball struck the gun in the port-hole, rolled on, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> fell at +his feet. Gen-er-al Knox seized him by the arm. "My dear Gen-er-al," +said he, "we can't spare you yet."</p> + +<p>"It is a spent ball," said Wash-ing-ton in a calm voice; "no harm is +done."</p> + +<p>When each charge was made and both forts were in our hands, he drew a +long breath, turned to Knox and said, "The work is done <i>and well +done</i>!" Then he said to his black man, "Bring me my horse," and rode +off to see where next his lines should move, and how the trap could be +closed on Corn-wal-lis.</p> + +<p>Corn-wal-lis found that he could not hold his forts; no troops had +come to his aid, and he would soon have to yield to the foe.</p> + +<p>This was too much for his pride, so he made up his mind to leave those +who were sick or had wounds, and fly from York-town. His scheme was to +cross the stream at night, fall on the French camp ere day-break, push +on with all speed, and force his way to the north and join Sir Hen-ry +Clin-ton in New York.</p> + +<p>A large part of his troops had crossed the stream on the night of +Oc-to-ber 16, and the rest were on their way when a fierce storm of +wind and rain drove the boats down the stream. They could not be +brought back till day-light and it was then too late for them to move +on or to turn back.</p> + +<p>The hopes of Lord Corn-wal-lis were at an end, and on the 17th he sent +a flag of truce and a note to Wash-ing-ton and asked that his guns +might cease their fire for one day so that terms of peace could be +drawn up.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton feared that in the mean-time troops from New York would +reach Corn-wal-lis, so he sent word back that his guns should cease +their fire for but two hours. Wash-ing-ton did not like the terms +drawn up by Corn-wal-lis, so he made a rough draft of such terms as he +would grant. These were sent to Corn-wal-lis on the 19th, and he was +forced to sign them, and in two hours his troops were to march out of +the forts.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 528px;"> +<img src="images/illus254.jpg" width="528" height="650" alt="THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN.—P. 109." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN.—P. 109.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>At noon our troops were drawn up in two lines more than a mile in +length; the A-mer-i-cans on the right side of the road, the French on +the left. At two o'clock the red-coats passed out with slow steps, and +were led to a field where they were to ground their arms. Some of +them, in their rage, threw down their guns with such force as to well +nigh break them.</p> + +<p>On the day that Corn-wal-lis had been forced to lay down his arms at +York-town, the large force that was to aid him set sail from New York. +They did not reach Ches-a-peake Bay till Oc-to-ber 29, and when they +found they were too late they turned their prows and went back to New +York.</p> + +<p>The down-fall of Corn-wal-lis was felt to be a death-blow to the war, +and great joy was felt through-out the land. Votes of thanks were sent +to Wash-ing-ton, to De Ro-cham-beau and De Grasse, and Wash-ing-ton +gave high praise to all the troops for the way in which they had +fought at the siege of York-town.</p> + +<p>From that time the red-coats lost heart, and on No-vem-ber 25, 1783, +they marched out of New York, and Wash-ing-ton marched in at the head +of his brave men, who had fought and bled and borne all the ills that +flesh could bear that the land they loved might be free.</p> + +<p>In a few days Wash-ing-ton was called to An-na-po-lis to meet with +those who made the laws, and his chief men who had been with him +through all the sad scenes of the war, came to bid him good-bye.</p> + +<p>With a heart full of love he said to them, "I can-not come to each of +you to take my leave, but shall be glad if each of you will come and +take me by the hand." This they did. No one spoke a word. Tears were +in all their eyes.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton left the room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> and went on foot to the boat which lay at +the end of what was then and is now White-hall Street. His friends +kept close in the rear. When Wash-ing-ton was in his barge he turned, +took off his hat, and waved good-bye, and those on shore did the same, +and watched the barge till it passed out of their sight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>FIRST IN PEACE.</h3> + + +<p>At the close of the war, and of the year 1783, Wash-ing-ton went back +to Mount Ver-non. He reached his home to his great joy on the eve of +Christ-mas day, and he was in a good state of mind to keep the feast.</p> + +<p>"The scene is at last closed," he wrote, "and I am eased of a load of +care. I hope to spend the rest of my days in peace."</p> + +<p>Mount Ver-non was locked in ice and snow for some time. Wash-ing-ton +wrote that he was so used to camp life that he could not help feel +when he woke each day that he must hear the drums beat, and must go +out to plan or to lead his troops. He was now at his ease, and longed +for the spring so that his friends could come to him. "My way of life +is plain," he said; "I do not mean to be put out of it. But a glass of +wine and a bit of meat can be had at all times."</p> + +<p>He would not give notes of his life to those who wished to write it up +at this time lest it should look vain. "I will leave it to those who +are to come to think and say what they please of me," he wrote. "I +will not by an act of mine seem to boast of what I have done."</p> + +<p>As spring came on, friends flocked to Mount Ver-non, and Wash-ing-ton +met them in a frank way. His wife, too, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> full of good sense and +good cheer. She loved to knit, and had been used all through the war +to knit socks for the poor men who were in the ranks.</p> + +<p>But as Wash-ing-ton took his rides through his place, he felt the +changes there since he had left. Old friends were gone, and the scenes +of his youth were no more. La-fay-ette spent a few days with him, and +the love he felt for the brave young man was as strong as at first.</p> + +<p>He wrote a sad note to him when he was gone which showed what a warm +place the young French-man had in his heart. He said, "As you left me, +I asked if this were the last sight I should have of you. And though I +wished to say 'No,' my fears said 'Yes.' I called to mind the days of +my youth and found they had long since fled to come back no more. I +must now go down the hill I have climbed all these years. I am blessed +with strength, but I some of a short-lived race, and may soon go to +the tomb. All these thoughts gave a gloom to the hour in which I +parted with you."</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton made a trip through some of the states of the West, and +saw there was a chance for great trade there, and he wrote much of +what he had seen. But his chief joy was in his home and land, where he +planted trees and loved to watch them grow. He writes down each month +of what he sets out; now it is a choice slip of grape vine from +France; or it may be a tree that stays green all the year round. Some +of the bushes he set out still stand strong in their growth on the +place.</p> + +<p>He notes the trees best for shade and which will not hurt the grass. +He writes of rides to the Mill Swamp in quest of young elms, ash +trees, and white thorn, and of the walks he lays out and the trees and +shrubs he plants by them.</p> + +<p>A plan of the way in which he laid out his grounds is still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> kept at +Mount Ver-non, and the pla-ces are marked on it for the trees and +shrubs. He owned five farms, and he kept maps of each. He read much of +soils, the way to raise good crops, and the best style of ploughs and +farm tools to use. He rode the first half of the day to see that all +went well. When he had dined, he would write till dark if he had no +guests. If friends came he did all he could to make them feel at ease +and at home. He was kind, and loved by all. He would not talk much of +the war nor of what he had done in it. He took great care not to talk +of his own acts, so that if there had been a guest who did not know +the facts, he would not have found out by a word from Wash-ing-ton +that he was one who had won a great name in the eyes of the world.</p> + +<p>Though grave in his looks and ways, he loved to see youth glad and +gay. He was fond of the dance, and it was long the boast of more than +one fair dame that she had danced with the chief. There had been +balls in camp in the dark days of the war.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton, as we have seen, had been fond of the hunt in his youth, +and La-fay-ette sent him some hounds from France, so he took up his +old sport. But the French hounds did not do well, and he found they +could not be trusted.</p> + +<p>Ere the war had been long past, it was found that there was need of +new laws by which the States should be ruled. The chief men of the +land were called to Phil-a-del-phi-a to form them, and Wash-ing-ton +went from Mount Ver-non to take part in the work. It was then that the +code of laws was drawn up which bears the name of "Con-sti-tu-tion of +the U-ni-ted States."</p> + +<p>These laws said that the States should be ruled by a Pres-i-dent. The +choice for this post fell on Wash-ing-ton, and in the spring of 1788 +he bade good-bye to Mount Ver-non<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> and made his way to New York, where +he was to take the oath that he would serve the land and be true to +her in peace and in war.</p> + +<p>As he passed through the towns, crowds came out to cheer him, flags +were raised, guns roared, and at night there was a great show of +fire-works.</p> + +<p>When he came to Tren-ton, the place where in the past he had crossed +the stream in the storm, through clouds of snow and drifts of ice, he +found a scene of peace and love. Crowds were on the bank, the stream +gleamed in the sun, the sky was blue, and all hailed him with joy.</p> + +<p>On the bridge that crossed the Del-a-ware an arch was raised and +twined with wreaths of green and gay blooms. As Wash-ing-ton passed +'neath it a band of young girls, drest in white and with wreaths on +their heads, threw bright blooms at his feet, and sang an ode that +spoke the love and praise that were in all hearts.</p> + +<p>At E-liz-a-beth-town Point he was met by men who had been sent from +New York, and led to a barge which had been made for his use. It was +filled with sea-men of high rank, who made a fine show in their white +suits.</p> + +<p>Boats of all sorts, gay with flags, and some with bands on board, fell +in the wake of Wash-ing-ton's barge, and as they swept up the bay of +New York the sight was a grand one. The ships at the wharves or in +mid-stream, dipped their flags, and fired their guns, bells were rung, +and on all the piers were great crowds that made the air ring with +their shouts.</p> + +<p>On the last day of A-pril, 1789, Wash-ing-ton took the oath in front +of the hall where the wise men of the land had been wont to meet in +New York. He stood in full view of a great crowd to whom this was a +new and strange sight. The States were to be as one, and this man, +whose name and fame were dear to them, was to pledge him-self to keep +them so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>On a ledge that bulged out from the main part of the house, was a +stand spread with a rich red cloth on which lay the Word of God, the +Book of Books. Wash-ing-ton was clad in a full suit of dark-brown +home-made cloth, white silk hose, and dress sword with steel hilt, and +his hair was drest in the style of the day.</p> + +<p>As he came in sight he was hailed with the shouts of the crowds in the +streets and on the roofs. He came to the front of the ledge close to +the rail, so that he could be seen by all, laid his hand on his heart, +bowed three or four times, and then went back and took his seat in an +arm-chair near the stand.</p> + +<p>In a short time he rose and went once more to the front with John +Ad-ams, who was to be next him in rank, and the friends who were to +stand by him in this new field. While the oath was read Wash-ing-ton +stood with his hand on the Word of God, and at the close he said, "I +swear—so help me God!" One of the men would have raised the book to +Wash-ing-ton's lips, but he bent his head and kissed it.</p> + +<p>Then there was a cry of "Long live George Wash-ing-ton!" and all the +bells in the town rang out a peal of joy, and the crowd rent the air +with their shouts and cheers.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton bowed and made a speech that was full of good sense. Then +all went on foot to St. Paul's Church to pray that God would bless the +land.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton felt most of all as he wrote to his friends, a fear lest +he should come short of what the land hoped to find in him. The eyes +of the world were on him. He had won fame in the field, but how would +he rule the State? There was still much to be done. Great Brit-ain +held some of the posts at the West, on the plea that debts due to some +of her men had not been paid; the red-men were still a source of fear +to the homes in the Wild West; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> there was no hard cash with which +the States could pay their debts.</p> + +<p>He found that his time was no more his own. From dawn till dark men +came to him, and he saw that he must be saved from this or he could do +no work. Mrs. Wash-ing-ton joined him and soon days were fixed for the +calls of friends. The house was kept well, but there was no waste. One +who dined there wrote that there was no show. The Pres-i-dent said a +short grace as he sat down. One glass of wine was passed to each, and +no toasts were drank. He was kind to his guests and strove to put them +at their ease. He was strict in the way he kept the Lord's day. He +went to church and would have no calls on that day.</p> + +<p>As to Mrs. Wash-ing-ton, those who knew her at the time speak of her +as free from all art. She met her guests in a well-bred way as one who +had ruled in a great house. She, too, was more fond of their home at +Mount Ver-non than of the new rank and place. To stay at home was the +first and most dear wish of her heart.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton was touched to the quick when he heard that I some one +had said that there was more pomp at his house than at St. James, +where King George held his court, and that his bows were much too +stiff and cold.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton wrote, "I grieve that my bows were not to his taste, for +they were the best I can make. I can say with truth that I feel no +pride of place, and would be more glad to be at Mount Ver-non with a +few friends at my side, than here with men from all the courts of the +world." He then goes on to tell how they treat their guests. "At two +or three o'clock each Tues-day they come and go. They go in and out of +the rooms and chat as they please. When they first come in they speak +to me, and I talk with all I can. What<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> pomp there is in all this I do +not see!"</p> + +<p>The red-men, who could not be kept in peace, roused the land once more +to arms. Wash-ing-ton did not wish for war, but he had to call out +troops. They went forth and laid waste In-di-an towns. Wash-ing-ton +thought it would be a good plan to meet the In-di-an chiefs and talk +with them. Three chiefs came to him, and said they would go to the +rest and try to make peace. Wash-ing-ton made a set speech and told +them it would be a good work to do, or else those tribes, "if they +thieved and killed as they had done, would be swept from the face of +the earth."</p> + +<p>He had thought much of the state of the red-men in the land. He had +but small faith in schools for the youth, save as far as to teach them +to read and write. The true means to do them good, he thought, was to +teach them to till the ground and raise crops in the same way as the +white folks, and he said if the tribes were pleased to learn such +arts, he would find a way to have them taught.</p> + +<p>In the end, Gen-er-al St. Clair had to be sent out with troops to put +the red-men down. Wash-ing-ton's last words to him were to be on the +watch, for the red-skins were sly and would wait for a chance to find +him off his guard.</p> + +<p>But St. Clair did not pay heed to these wise words, and the red-skins +got in-to his camp, some of his best men were slain, and the whole +force was put to rout.</p> + +<p>When the news was brought to Wash-ing-ton he said in a quick way, "I +knew it would be so! Here on this spot I took leave of him and told +him to be on his guard! I said to him 'you know how the red-skins +fight us!' I warned him—and yet he could let them steal in-to his +camp and hack and slay that ar-my!" He threw up his hands, and his +frame shook, as he cried out "O what a crime! what a crime!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he grew calm, and said that St. Clair should have a chance to +speak, and he would be just to him. St. Clair was tried, and was found +free from guilt.</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton's mo-ther died at Fred-er-icks-burg, Vir-gin-i-a, Au-gust +25, 1789, aged 82. When her son first went to war, she would shake her +head and say, "Ah, George should stay at home and take care of his +farm." As he rose step by step, and the news of his fame was brought +to her, she would say "George was a good boy," and she had no fear but +that he would be a good man, and do what was right.</p> + +<p>In the year 1789, a great war broke out in France, in which Lou-is XVI +lost his crown and his head, and deeds were done that you could scarce +read of with-out tears. Men seemed like fiends in their mad rage, and +like wild beasts in their thirst for blood.</p> + +<p>In 1793 France made war on Eng-land; and in 1797 sought to break up +the peace of the U-ni-ted States, but of this I will tell you by and +by.</p> + +<p>In the mean-time the four years—which was the full term Wash-ing-ton +was to rule—came to an end. He had no wish to serve for two terms, +but the choice fell on him, and he once more took the oath, on March +4, 1792. In 1796, as France was still at war, it was thought best that +Wash-ing-ton should hold his place for a third term.</p> + +<p>But this he would not do. He had made up his mind to leave these +scenes and to give up that sort of life, and those who plead with him +could not move him. He took leave of his friends in a way that moved +them to tears; and his fare-well speech, though in plain style, +touched all hearts and made them feel what a loss it was to part with +so great and good a man.</p> + +<p>On March 4, 1797, John Ad-ams took the oath, and bound him-self to +serve as Pres-i-dent for a term of four years. Wash-ing-ton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> was +there, and as he rose to leave the house there was a great rush to the +door, as all wished to catch the last look of one who had had for so +long a time the first place in their hearts. So great was the crush +that it was feared there would be loss of limbs if not of life.</p> + +<p>As Wash-ing-ton stood in the street he waved his hat as cheer on cheer +rose from the crowd, and his gray hairs streamed forth in the wind. +When he came to his own door he turned to the throng with a grave face +and tried to say a word or two. But tears rose to his eyes, his heart +was full, and he could not speak but by signs.</p> + +<p>He soon set off for Mount Ver-non, the dear home of his heart. He had +been there but a few months when the French, by their acts, seemed to +want to bring on a war with the U-ni-ted States. They took our ships +at sea, and there was no way left but to stand up for our rights.</p> + +<p>Pres-i-dent Ad-ams wrote to Wash-ing-ton, "We must have your name, if +you will let us have it. There will be more in it than in a host of +men! If the French come here we shall have to march with a quick +step."</p> + +<p>Wash-ing-ton wrote to Pres-i-dent Ad-ams, "I had no thought that in so +short a time I should be called from the shade of Mount Ver-non. But +if a foe should come in our land, I would not plead my age or wish to +stay at home."</p> + +<p>He saw the dark clouds that showed a storm, and he feared his days of +peace would be few. It was with a sad heart that he felt his rest was +at an end, but he had so strong a sense of what was right that he did +not hold back. He said he would do all he could for the troops, but he +would not take the field till the foe was at hand.</p> + +<p>For months Wash-ing-ton led a life full of hard work. He had much to +do for the troops, and at the same time work at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> home. He would write +for hours, and took long rides each day. To his great joy, there was, +in the end, no war with France.</p> + +<p>He seemed in first-rate health up to De-cem-ber 12, 1799. On that day +a storm set in, first of snow, then of hail, and then of rain, and +Wash-ing-ton was out in it for at least two hours. When he reached the +house his clerk, Mr. Lear, saw that the snow hung from his hair, and +asked him if he was not wet through. "No," said Wash-ing-ton, "my +great coat kept me dry." But the next day his throat was sore and he +was quite hoarse; and though much worse at night he made light of it +and thought it would soon pass off.</p> + +<p>When he went to bed Mr. Lear asked him if he did not think it best to +take some-thing. "Oh, no," said Wash-ing-ton. "Let it go as it came." +But he grew worse in the night, and it was hard for him to breathe, +and though his wife wished to call up one of the maids he would not +let her rise lest she should take cold.</p> + +<p>At day-break, when the maid came in to light the fire, she was sent to +call Mr. Lear. All was done that could be done to ease him of his +pain, but he felt him-self that he had but a short time to live. Mr. +Lear was like a son to him, and was with him night and day.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Lear would try to raise and turn him so that he could breathe +with more ease, Wash-ing-ton would say, "I fear I tire you too much." +When Lear told him that he did not, he said, "Well, it is a debt we +must all pay, and when you want aid of this kind I hope you'll find +it."</p> + +<p>His black man had been in the room the whole day and most of the time +on his feet, and when Wash-ing-ton took note of it he told him in a +kind voice to sit down.</p> + +<p>I tell you these things that you may see what a kind heart he had, and +how at his last hour he thought not of him-self.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>His old friend, Dr. Craik, who stood by his side when he first went +forth to war, in the year 1754, was with him in these last hours, when +Death was the foe that Wash-ing-ton had to meet. He said to Dr. Craik, +"I die hard, but I am not a-fraid to go, my breath can-not last long." +He felt his own pulse, and breathed his last on the night of +De-cem-ber 14, 1799.</p> + +<p>His wife, who sat at the foot of the bed, asked with a firm voice, "Is +he gone?" Lear, who could not speak, made a sign that he was no more. +"'Tis well," said she in the same voice. "All is now at an end, and I +shall soon join him."</p> + +<p>Thus lived and died this great and good man, "first in war, first in +peace, and first in the hearts of" those who love "the land of the +free."</p> + +<p>Praise did not spoil him or make him vain; but from first to last he +was the same wise, calm, true friend, full of love to God and of +good-will to man.</p> + +<p>Great and good men have been born in-to the world, but none whose name +and fame rank as high as that of <span class="smcap">George Wash-ing-ton</span>.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of George Washington, by Josephine Pollard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON *** + +***** This file should be named 36183-h.htm or 36183-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/8/36183/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of George Washington + in Words of One Syllable + +Author: Josephine Pollard + +Release Date: May 22, 2011 [EBook #36183] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +[Illustration: EARLY LOVE OF TRUTH.--P. 6.] + + + + +THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. + +_IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE._ + +BY + +JOSEPHINE POLLARD, + +AUTHOR OF "OUR HERO, GENERAL GRANT," "OUR NAVAL HEROES," "THE HISTORY +OF THE UNITED STATES," "THE LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS," ETC., ETC. + + +NEW YORK: + +McLOUGHLIN BROTHERS. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The Life story of a public man cannot help being to some extent the +same thing as a history of the times in which he lived, and to the +case of none does this remark apply with more force than to that of +the "Father of his Country;" which very title shows the degree to +which the personality of its bearer became identified with the public +life of the nation. While a great deal of the space in this book, +consequently, has had to be devoted to American Revolutionary History, +it is hoped that excess in this direction has been avoided, and that +the main purpose of the work will be attained, i.e. to give its young +readers a distinct and vivid idea of the exalted character and +priceless services of Washington, so far as these can be brought +within the understanding of a child. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE. + +CHAPTER I. BOYHOOD 05 + +CHAPTER II. YOUTH 11 + +CHAPTER III. THE FIRST STEP TO FAME 17 + +CHAPTER IV. TO THE FRONT 24 + +CHAPTER V. AS AIDE-DE-CAMP 33 + +CHAPTER VI. COLONEL OF VIRGINIA TROOPS 39 + +CHAPTER VII. THE HOME OF WASHINGTON 45 + +CHAPTER VIII. THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL 52 + +CHAPTER IX. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 61 + +CHAPTER X. IN AND NEAR NEW YORK 71 + +CHAPTER XI. A SAD YEAR 78 + +CHAPTER XII. FOES IN THE CAMP 84 + +CHAPTER XIII. THE HARDSHIPS OF WAR 93 + +CHAPTER XIV. THE CLOSE OF THE WAR 103 + +CHAPTER XV. FIRST IN PEACE 110 + + + + +THE LIFE OF + +GEORGE WASHINGTON. + + +CHAPTER I. + +BOY-HOOD. + + +George Wash-ing-ton was born in the State of Vir-gin-i-a, at a place +known as Bridg-es Creek, on Feb-ru-a-ry 22, 1732. His great +grand-sire, John Wash-ing-ton, came from Eng-land in the year 1657, +and took up lands in that state and was a rich man. George was the son +of his grand-son Au-gus-tine. Au-gus-tine's first wife was Jane +But-ler who died and left him with two boys. His next wife was Ma-ry +Ball, and George was her first child. + +The old home-stead in which George was born stood near the banks of +the Po-to-mac Riv-er, and was built with a steep roof that sloped down +to low eaves that hung out far from the main wall. There were four +rooms on the ground floor, and some near the roof, and at each end of +the house was a great fire-place built of brick, with broad +hearth-stones, such as were in style in those days. + +A stone is all that marks the birth-place of George Wash-ing-ton. He +was not more than eight years of age when his fa-ther went to live on +a farm near the Rap-pa-han-nock Riv-er. The house was built much in +the same style as the one at Bridg-es Creek, but it stood on high +ground, and here all his boy-hood days were spent. + +As there were no good schools in A-mer-i-ca at that time, those who +had the means sent their sons to Eng-land to be taught and trained. +Law-rence Wash-ing-ton was sent when he was 15 years of age, and as he +was the first-born it was thought that he would in time take his +fa-ther's place, as head of the house. + +The school to which George was sent stood in a field on his fa-ther's +land, and was taught by a man named Hob-by. This gave it the name of +the "Hob-by School." + +There were but three things taught there: How to read--How to +write--and How to do sums--and some folks thought that these were all +their boys and girls had need to learn. Books were scarce and dear, +and as most of the men raised fine crops, and kept up a brisk trade, +they were well pleased to have their boys learn how to buy and sell, +and to make out bills. George had been trained by his fa-ther, who was +a strict and yet a just man, to love the truth and to do right at all +times. He was made to feel that it was a sin to tell a lie, and much +worse to hide a fault than to own it. + +George had a small axe of which he was quite proud, and boy-like, he +cut right and left with it, and thought not of the harm he might do. +On the lawn stood a small tree which his fa-ther hoped to see grow up +to a good height and to bear fine fruit. George made a great gash in +this tree with his sharp axe, and when his fa-ther saw it he was quite +sad. He called the boy to his side, and in a stern voice said: + +"Who did this? Who cut this tree?" + +George hung his head with shame. He knew he had done wrong; and he +stood in fear of his fa-ther, who he knew would use the rod where +there was need of it. It was a chance for the boy to show what kind of +stuff he was made of. George raised his face, still red with the blush +of shame, and said in his frank way, and with-out a sign of fear: + +"I did it, fa-ther, I can-not tell a lie." + +There was no need to use the rod on such a boy as that, and the +fa-ther must have felt a thrill of joy when he found that the great +truths he had taught his son had such a hold on his mind and had +struck their roots deep in-to his heart. + +It is told that he clasped George to his breast, and said with tears +in his eyes; that it would grieve him less to lose scores and scores +of trees, than to have his boy tell one lie. + +But you must not think that George Wash-ing-ton was such a good-good +boy that he could guide him-self, and did not need to be kept in +check. He was high strung, as quick as a flash, and felt that he was +born to rule, and these traits his mo-ther had to keep down and train +so that they would not wreck the young boy, for when George was not +yet twelve years of age his fa-ther died, and his mo-ther was left +with the care of five young folks. The task was one for which she was +well fit, as she had rare good sense, a fine mind, a strong will, and +a kind heart. + +She used to read to her boys and girls each day out of some good book, +talk with them, and tell them how they could best serve God and man, +and George laid up each word in his heart, and sought to pay her back +as well as he could for all her kind love and care. + +She said of George that he was "a good boy;" and it has been said in +her praise that "a no-ble mo-ther must have borne so brave a son." + +When George was 13 and his half-bro-ther Law-rence 21, Eng-land and +Spain went to war, and Law-rence went with the troops that were sent +to the West In-dies. The sight of Law-rence in war-like trim, the +sound of drum and fife, and the march of troops through the streets, +fired the heart of the young lad, and from that time his plays and +games, in school and out, took on a war-like turn. + +There was a boy at school, named Wil-li-am Bus-tle, who took up arms +and marched with as much zeal as George Wash-ing-ton. But George was +at all times com-mand-er-in-chief! + +He was fond of all the sports that boys love, and could run, and jump, +and climb, and toss bars, and took part in all those feats that kept +him in health and strength. + +He could pitch quoits with great skill, and the place is shown at +Fred-er-icks-burg where, when a boy, he flung a stone a-cross the +Rap-pa-han-nock. He was fond of a horse, and there was no steed so +wild that George could not mount on his back and tame him. + +Mrs. Wash-ing-ton had a colt which she thought so much of that she let +it run loose in the field. He was so fierce that no one had dared to +get on his back. + +One day George went out to view the colt with some of his boy friends, +and he told them that if they would help him put the bit in the +colt's mouth he would mount. The boys drove the colt in-to a small +lot, put the bit in his mouth, and Wash-ing-ton was soon on his back. +The beast rushed in-to the field, but was soon curbed by the strong +arms of the boy on his back. Then the colt reared and plunged and +tried in all sorts of ways to get rid of the lad, who clung to the +colt's bare back as if he had been glued there. Mad with rage the colt +tried once more to throw him, but strained too hard, and fell to the +ground and died in a short time. + +The group of boys were well scared at this sad end of their fun, and +scarce knew what to do. When they went back to the house Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton asked the boys if they had seen her fine breed of colts. +"The one I am most proud of," said she, "I am told is as large as his +sire." Some of the lads hung their heads and knew not what to say; but +George spoke up in his frank way and said that the colt was dead. + +"Dead!" cried she; "and from what cause?" + +Then George told her just what had been done, and how hard the beast +had fought to get free, and how at the last, with one wild fierce +plunge, he fell down and died. + +A flush rose to the mo-ther's cheek, and then she said to her boy: "It +is well; but while I grieve at the loss of my fine colt, I feel a +pride and joy in my son, who speaks the truth at all times." + +George was fond of his books too, and was so wise a lad, and so full +of thought, and had so keen a sense of what was just, that his +school-mates came to him when they got in-to a war of words, or of +blows, that he might say which side was right and which was wrong, and +thus put an end to the fight. This use of his mind made George look at +things in a clear light, and gave him that look of true pride which +all men of high mind, the real kings of earth, are wont to wear. + +In due time George out-grew the Hob-by School, and was sent to live +with his half-bro-ther Au-gus-tine, at Bridg-es Creek, where there was +a school of a high grade. But George had no taste for Lat-in or Greek, +and liked best to do sums, and to draw maps. He wrote with great care, +page after page of what he called "Forms of Wri-ting." + +These were notes of hand, bills of sale, deeds, bonds, and the like, +such as one would think a boy of 13 would not care much a-bout. + +In this same book (it is kept to this day) George wrote out one +hun-dred and ten "Rules," which were to guide him in act and speech at +home and a-broad. Some few of these I will give you, that you may see +at how young an age this boy set out to train him-self, and fit +him-self for the high place he was to fill. It al-most seems as if he +must have known the high rank he was to take; but this could not be. +His soul was fixed on high things; he had; no low tastes; and he was +led by the hand of God. + +Here are some of the rules that George Wash-ing-ton took as the guide +of his youth. + + "In the pres-ence of o-thers sing not to your-self with a + hum-ming noise, nor drum with your fin-gers or feet. + + "Sleep not when o-thers speak, sit not when o-thers stand, + speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not when + o-thers stop. + + "Turn not your back to o-thers when speak-ing; jog not the + ta-ble or desk on which an-o-ther reads or writes; lean not + on a-ny one. + + "Read no let-ters, books, or pa-pers in com-pa-ny; but when + there is a need for do-ing it, you must ask leave. Come not + near the books or wri-tings of a-ny one so as to read them, + un-less asked to do so, nor give your o-pin-ion of them + un-asked; al-so look not nigh when an-o-ther is wri-ting a + let-ter. + + "In wri-ting or speak-ing give to each per-son his due + ti-tle ac-cord-ing to his rank and the cus-tom of the place. + + "When a man does all he can, though it suc-ceeds not well, + blame not him that did it. + + "Be slow to be-lieve e-vil re-ports of a-ny one. + + "Be mod-est in your dress and seek to suit na-ture rather + than to win ad-mi-ra-tion. Keep to the fash-ion of your + e-quals, such as are civ-il and or-der-ly with re-spect to + times and pla-ces. + + "Play not the pea-cock, look-ing all a-bout you to see if + you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, your stock-ings + sit neat-ly, and your clothes hand-some-ly. + + "Make friends with those of good char-ac-ter, if you care + for your own rep-u-ta-tion, for it is bet-ter to be a-lone + than in bad com-pa-ny. + + "Speak not of dole-ful things in time of mirth, nor at the + ta-ble; speak not of mourn-ful things, as death, and wounds, + and if o-thers men-tion them, change, if you can, the + dis-course. + + "Ut-ter not base and fool-ish things 'mongst grave and + learn-ed men; nor hard ques-tions or sub-jects a-mong the + ig-no-rant; nor things hard to be believed. + + "Be not for-ward, but friendly and court-e-ous; the first to + sa-lute, hear, and an-swer; and be not pen-sive when it is + time to con-verse. + + "Gaze not on the marks or blem-ish-es of o-thers, and ask + not how they came. + + "Think be-fore you speak, pro-nounce not im-per-fect-ly, nor + bring out your words too hast-i-ly, but or-der-ly and + dis-tinct-ly. + + "Treat with men at fit times a-bout bus-i-ness; and whis-per + not in the com-pa-ny of o-thers. + + "Be not cu-ri-ous to know the af-fairs of o-thers, nor go + near to those that speak in pri-vate. + + "Un-der-take not to do what you can-not per-form, but be + care-ful to keep your prom-ise. + + "Speak not e-vil of the ab-sent, for it is un-just. + + "Make no show of ta-king great delight in your food; feed + not with greed-i-ness; cut your bread with a knife; lean not + on the ta-ble; nei-ther find fault with what you eat. + + "When you speak of God, let it be grave-ly and in + re-ver-ence. Hon-or and o-bey your pa-rents, al-though they + be poor. + + "Let your a-muse-ments be man-ful, not sin-ful. + + "La-bor to keep a live in your breast that lit-tle spark of + ce-les-ti-al fire, called con-sci-ence." + +It is not known where George found these rules he took so much pains +to write out, but it is plain that he set great store by them, and +made use of them through out his whole life. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +YOUTH. + + +George was a great pet with his bro-ther, Law-rence Wash-ing-ton, who +thought it would be a nice thing for him to serve on board one of the +King's ships-of-war. While Law-rence was in the West In-dies he was on +good terms with Gen-er-al Went-worth and Ad-mi-ral Ver-non, and he had +no doubt they would do their best to get his bro-ther a good place. He +spoke to George a-bout it, and the boy was wild with joy. His +mo-ther's pride was roused, and at first she did not put a straw in +his way, but gave him all the help she could. But as the time drew +near, her heart, which had been so strong and brave and full of pride, +gave way and she felt that she could not part with her dear boy. + +One of her friends wrote to Law-rence that Mrs. Wash-ing-ton had made +up her mind not to let George go to sea. She said that some of her +friends had told her it was a bad plan, and "I find," said he "that +one word a-gainst his go-ing has more weight than ten for it." + +So they gave up the scheme, and George was sent back to school. + +He would, on fine days, go out in the fields and tracts of land +a-round the school-house, and with line and rod take the size and +shape, the length and width, and mark it all down in one of his books, +and so much pains did he take that from the first to the last page not +a blot or blur is to be seen. + +These neat ways, formed in his youth, were kept up through all his +life, and what seems strange is that day-books, and such books as you +will find in great use now-a-days were not known at that time. The +plan had been thought out by George Wash-ing-ton when a boy of 16, and +shows the cast of his mind. + +Near this time George was sent to live with his bro-ther Law-rence, at +his fine place on the Po-to-mac, which he had called Mount Ver-non, to +show how much he thought of the ad-mi-ral of that name. + +Here George had a chance to make friends with those of high rank, and +he spent much of his time with George Fair-fax who made his home at +_Bel-voir_, near Mount Ver-non. Lord Fair-fax, a man of wealth and +worth was much at Bel-voir at that time. He had bought large tracts of +land in Vir-gin-i-a, which had not been staked out, or set off in-to +lots. In fact he did not know their size or shape, but he had heard +that men had sought out some of the best spots, and had built homes +there, and laid out farms for which they paid no rent, and he thought +it quite time to put a stop to such things. + +In March, 1748, George Wash-ing-ton, who had been picked out by Lord +Fair-fax for this task, went on his first trip with George Fair-fax to +stake off these wild lands. He wrote down what was done from day to +day, and by these notes we learn that he had quite a rough time of it, +and yet found much that was to his taste. He and the men with him rode +for miles and miles through lands rich in grain, hemp, and to-bac-co, +and through fine groves of trees on the bank of a broad stream. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON'S FIRST SPEECH TO THE INDIANS.--P. 19.] + +One night, writes George, when they had been hard at work all day, +they came to the house where they were to be fed and lodged. The +wood-men went to bed with their clothes on, but George took his off, +and as he turned in he found his bed was of loose straw with not a +thing on it but the thread-bare blank-et he was to wrap him-self in. +The fleas and bugs soon forced George to get up and put on his clothes +and lie as the rest of the men did, and "had we not been so tired," he +says "I am sure we should not have slept much that night." He made a +vow then that he would sleep out of doors near a fire when on such +tramps, and run no more such risks. + +On March 18, they reached a point on the Po-to-mac, which they were +told they could not ford. There had been a great rain-fall and the +stream had not been so high, by six feet, as it was at that time. They +made up their minds to stay there for a day or two; went to see the +Warm Springs, and at night camped out in the field. At the end of two +days, as the stream was still high, they swam their steeds to the +Mar-y-land side. The men crossed in birch-bark boats, and rode all the +next day in a rain storm to a place two-score miles from where they +had set out that morn. Wash-ing-ton writes that the road was "the +worst that had ever been trod by man or beast." + +On March 23, they fell in with a score or two of red-men who had been +off to war and brought home but one scalp, and they had a chance to +see a war-dance. The red-men cleared a large space, and built a fire +in the midst of it, round which they all sat. One of the men then made +a grand speech in which he told them how they were to dance. + +When he had done, the one who could dance the best sprang up as if he +had just been roused from sleep, and ran and jumped round the ring in +a queer kind of way. The rest soon joined him, and did just as he did. +By this time the band made it-self heard, and I shall have to tell you +what a fine band it was. + +There was a pot half full of water with a piece of deer-skin stretched +tight on the top, and a gourd with some shot in it, and a piece of +horse's tail tied to it to make it look fine. One man shook the gourd, +and one drummed all the while the rest danced, and I doubt if you +would care to hear the noise that was made. + +Late in the day of March 26, they came to a place where dwelt a man +named Hedge, who was in the pay of King George as justice of the +peace. Here they camped, and at the meal that was spread there was not +a knife nor a fork to eat with but such as the guests had brought with +them. + +On the night of the first of A-pril the wind blew and the rain fell. +The straw on which they lay took fire, and George was saved by one of +the men, who woke him when it was in a blaze. + +"I have not slept for four nights in a bed," wrote Wash-ing-ton at +this time to one of his young friends at home, "but when I have walked +a good deal in the day, I lie down on a heap of straw, or a bear-skin +by the fire, with man, wife, young ones, dogs, and cats; and he is in +luck who gets the place next the fire." + +For three years he kept up this mode of life, but as it was a hard +life to lead he could be out but a few weeks at a time. His pay was a +doub-loon a day, and some-times six pis-toles. + +A doub-loon is a gold coin of Spain, worth not quite 16 dol-lars. A +pis-tole is a small gold coin of Spain, worth not quite four dol-lars. + +This rough kind of life, though he did not know it, was to fit him for +the toils and ills of war, of which he may have dreamt in those days, +as he still kept up his love for war-like things. + +While at work on the land round the Blue Ridge, he now and then made +his way to _Green-way Court_ where Lord Fair-fax dwelt at this time. +Here he had a chance to read choice books, for Lord Fair-fax had a +fine mind though his tastes were queer. He lived on a knoll, in a +small house not more than twelve feet square. All round him were the +huts for his "help," black and white. Red-men, half breeds, and +wood-men thronged the place, where they were sure they would get a +good meal. He had steeds of fine breed, and hounds of keen scent, for +he was fond of the chase, and the woods and hills were full of game. + +Here was a grand chance for George, who had a great taste for +field-sports, and his rides, and walks, and talks with Lord Fair-fax +were a rich treat to the home-bred youth. This wise friend lent George +good books which he took with him to the woods and read with great +care, and in this way stored his mind with rich thoughts. + +In Vir-gin-i-a there were some few men who had served in the late war +'twixt Eng-land and Spain, and they put George through such a drill +with sword and with gun that he learned to use them both with great +skill. + +A Dutch-man, named Van-Bra-am, was one of these men, and he claimed to +know a great deal of the art of war. He it was that took George in +hand to teach him the use of the sword, and how to fence. + +When he was 19 years of age the red-men and the French had made such +in-roads on the front, that it was thought best to place men on guard +to keep back these foes, and to up-hold the laws of the state of +Vir-gin-i-a. There was need of some one to take charge of a +school-of-arms at one of the chief out-posts where the French sought +to get a foot-hold, and the choice fell on George Wash-ing-ton, who +set to work at once to fit him-self for the place. + +His broth-er's ill health caused this scheme to be dropped for a time, +as Law-rence was forced to go to the West In-dies for change of air, +and begged George to go with him. George gave up all thought of self, +and the two set sail for Bar-ba-does, Sep-tem-ber 28, 1751. At sea he +kept a log-book, took notes of the course of the winds, and if the +days were fair or foul, and learned all he could of the ways of a ship +and how to sail one. + +They reached Bar-ba-does on No-vem-ber 3, and were pleased with the +place, and all the strange sights that met their gaze. On all sides +were fields of corn and sweet cane, and groves of trees rich in leaves +and fruit, and all things held out a hope of cure for the sick man, +whose lungs were in a weak state. + +They had been but two weeks in Bar-ba-does when George fell ill with +small-pox, and this for a time put an end to all their sports. But he +had the best of care, and at the end of three weeks was so well that +he could go out of doors. + +Law-rence soon tired of this place, and longed for a change of scene. +They had to ride out by the first dawn of day, for by the time the sun +was half an hour high it was as hot as at mid-day. There was no change +in the sick man's health, and he made up his mind to go to Ber-mu-da +in the spring. He was lone-some with-out his wife, so it was planned +that George should go back home and bring her out to Ber-mu-da. + +George set sail, De-cem-ber 22, and reached Vir-gin-i-a at the end of +five weeks. He must have been glad to step on shore once more, for the +cold winds and fierce storms to be met with at sea, at that time of +the year, made life on ship-board some-thing of a hard-ship. + +Law-rence did not gain in health, and ere his wife could join him he +wrote her that he would start for home--"to his grave." He reached +Mount Ver-non in time to die 'neath his own roof, and with kind +friends at his bed-side. His death took place on the 26th of Ju-ly, +1752, when he was but 34 years of age. + +He had been like a fa-ther to George, and their hearts were bound by +ties so strong and sweet that it was a great grief for them to part. + +But George had no time to sit down and mourn his loss. There was work +for him to do. New cares were thrust on him by his bro-ther's death, +that took up all his time and thoughts for some months; and he had to +keep up his drills with the men at the school-of-arms, for which he +was paid by the State. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FIRST STEP TO FAME. + + +The time had now come when Wash-ing-ton was to take a fresh start in +life, and win for him-self high rank. + +The French, who thought they had just as good a right as the Eng-lish +to take up land in A-mer-i-ca, pressed their claims, and built forts +on the great Lakes and on the banks of the O-hi-o Riv-er. They made +friends of the red-men at or near these posts, and made it known that +they would fight the Eng-lish at all points. + +The red-men on the north shore of Lake On-ta-ri-o were good friends +with the French; but those on the south shore were not. They had been +well dealt with by the Eng-lish, and their chief, Half-King did not +like the war-like move that was made by the French. + +He went to the French post on Lake E-rie, and spoke thus to the +troops there: "You have no right to come here and build towns, and +take our land from us by fraud and force. We raised a flame in +Mon-tre-al some time a-go, where we asked you to stay and not to come +here on our land. I now ask you to go back to that place, for this +land is ours. + +"Had you come in a peace-ful way, like the Eng-lish, we should have +let you trade with us as they do, but we will not let you come and +build on our land and take it by force. + +"You and the Eng-lish are white. We live in a land be-tween you, to +which you and they have no right. The Great Be-ing gave it to us. We +have told the Eng-lish to move off, and they have heard us, and now we +tell it to you. We do not fear you, and we mean to keep you both at +arm's length." + +The French-man said to Half-King: "You talk like a fool. This land is +mine, and I will have it, let who will stand up a-gainst me. I have no +fear of such as you. I tell you that down the O-hi-o I will go, and +build forts on it. If it were blocked up I have troops e-nough to +break through it and to tread down all who would try to stop me. My +force is as the sand of the sea!" + +This proud speech made Half-King feel as if he had been stabbed to the +heart. It was the death-blow to his race. But he turned with hope and +trust to the Eng-lish, who thus far had not shown a wish to do what +was not just to his tribe. + +On Oc-to-ber 30, 1753, Wash-ing-ton set out from Will-iams-burg in +Vir-gin-i-a with a small band of men. He was just of age, and ranked +as Ma-jor Wash-ing-ton. He was to go to the French out-post near Lake +E-rie, with a note from Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die to the head man there, +and to ask for a re-ply in the name of King George. + +He was to find out where forts had been built, and how large a force +of troops had crossed the Lakes, and to learn all that he could of +those who had dared to set up the flag of France on soil which the +Eng-lish claimed as their own. + +Wash-ing-ton's route lay through thick woods and swamps where the foot +of man had not trod; he had to climb steep and rough hills where wild +beasts had their lairs; and to cross streams on frail rafts, if they +could not swim or ford them. There were but eight men in the whole +band, and the post they were to reach lay 560 miles off, and the whole +of the way had to be made on horse-back or on foot. + +They met some of the In-di-an chiefs at a place called Logs-town and +Wash-ing-ton made his first speech to the red-men. He told them what +he had come for, and asked that some of their braves might go with him +as guides and safe-guards for the rest of the way. He then gave them +what was called a "speech-belt," wrought with beads, as a sign that +they were friends and full of peace and good-will. + +The chiefs were mild and full of peace. They said that Wash-ing-ton +might have some of their men as guides, but he would have to wait for +two or three days as the young braves had gone out in search of game. + +This Wash-ing-ton could not do. There was no time to lose, and so he +set out with but four red-men as guides, and Half-King was one of +them. + +Through rain and snow, through a long stretch of dark woods that +seemed to have no end, through deep streams and swamps where there was +no sure foot-hold for man or beast, the brave band kept on their way. +At the end of 35 days from the time they left Will-iams-burg they +reached a place called Ven-an-go, where they saw a house from the top +of which a French flag flew, and Wash-ing-ton called a halt. The head +man in charge asked him and his friends to sup with him. The wine was +passed with a free hand, but Wash-ing-ton did not drink like his +French host. He knew he would need to keep a cool head for his work. +When the French-man had his tongue loosed by the wine, he told a good +deal. + +"We have got the land," he said, "and we mean to keep it. You Eng-lish +may have two men to our one, but you are slow. It takes you a long +time to move." + +The man's tongue wagged on in a free way, and Wash-ing-ton, who had +kept his wits, wrote down all he said that could be of use to him. + +The next day it rained hard and they could not go on. Then for the +first time the French-man found that there were red-men with the +Eng-lish. Wash-ing-ton had kept them back, for he feared to trust them +to the wiles of the French. But now the shrewd man made a great time, +and hailed them as dear friends. He was so glad to see them! How could +they be so near and not come to see him? He gave them gifts and plied +them with strong drink, till Half-King and his braves thought no more +of what they had pledged to the Eng-lish. They were soon in such a +state that they did not care to move. It took some time for +Wash-ing-ton to get them free from the wiles of the French, and it +took four days more of snow and rain, through mire and swamp, to reach +the fort for which they had set out. + +Here Wash-ing-ton met the chief of the fort and made known the cause +that had brought him. He gave him the note from Gov-er-nor +Din-wid-die, in which it was asked why the French had come in-to a +State that was owned by Great Brit-ain, and they were bid to go in +peace. The French took two days in which to think of the course they +should take, and in this time Wash-ing-ton set down in his note book +the size and strength of the fort and all that he could find out. He +told his men to use their eyes, and to count the boats in the stream, +and the guns in the fort. + +The first chance he had, Wash-ing-ton drew a plan of this fort, and it +was sent to Eng-land for King George to see. + +Wash-ing-ton saw that the Half-King and the braves with him had much +to say to the French, and he did not trust them. He heard that the +Eng-lish who sought to trade on the O-hi-o were seized by the French, +and that some red-men had passed the fort with two or three white +scalps. + +All this made him wish to get off safe with his small band, and when +the French chief gave him a sealed note, he had a shrewd guess as to +what was in it. At last, when the start was to be made, the French +chief had large stores of food and wine put on their boats, and made a +great show of good will, but at the same time he tried to keep the +red-men with him, and told them he would give them guns for gifts the +next day. Wash-ing-ton was pressed by the red-men to wait that long +for them, and the next morn the French had to give the guns. Then they +tried to get the red-men to drink once more, but Wash-ing-ton plead +with them, and at last got them to start. + +It was hard to steer the boats, as the stream was full of ice, and at +times they had to leap out and stand in the wet for half an hour at a +time, to drag the boats by main force off the shoals. On the part of +the trip that had to be made by land, they had a hard time too. It was +cold, the roads were deep in mire, and the steeds were so worn out, +that it was feared they would fall by the way. Wash-ing-ton gave up +his horse to help bear the food and things for use, and he asked his +friends to do so too. They all went on foot, and the cold grew worse. +There was deep snow that froze as it fell. For three days they toiled +on in a slow way. + +At last Wash-ing-ton made up his mind to leave the men and steeds in +charge of one of his band, and to strike off with his pack on his +back and his gun in his hand by a way which, it seemed to him, would +take him home by a short cut. He had the sealed note that he wished to +give up as soon as he could. He took but one man with him. At night +they lit a fire, and camped by it in the woods. At two in the morn, +they were once more on foot. + +They fell in with a red-man who claimed to know Mr. Gist, the man who +was with Wash-ing-ton, and called him by his name in his own tongue +and seemed glad to see him. They asked the red-man if he would go with +them and show them a short-cut to the Forks of the Al-le-gha-ny +Riv-er. The red-man seemed glad to serve them, and took Wash-ing-ton's +pack on his own back. Then the three set out, and walked at a brisk +pace for eight or ten miles. + +By this time Wash-ing-ton's feet were so sore that he could not take a +step with-out pain, and he was well tired out. He thought it best to +camp where they were, and the red-man begged Wash-ing-ton to let him +bear his gun. But the Ma-jor would not let it go out of his own hands. +This made the red-man cross, and he urged them to keep on and said +there were red-skins in the woods who would scalp them if they lay out +all night. He would take them to his own hut where they would be safe. + +The white men lost faith in their guide, and were soon quite ill at +ease. When the red-man found that he could not make them go his way, +or do as he said, he ceased to wear the face of a friend. At heart he +was the foe of all white men. All at once he made a stop, and then +turned and fired on them. + +Wash-ing-ton found that he was not hit, so he turned to Mr. Gist, and +said, "Are you shot?" + +"No," said Gist. Then the red-man ran to a big white oak tree to load +his gun. Gist would have killed him, but Wash-ing-ton would not let +him. + +Gist says, "We let him charge his gun. We found he put in a ball; then +we took care of him. The Ma-jor or I stood by the guns. We made him +make a fire for us by a small run as if we meant to sleep there. I +said to the Ma-jor; 'As you will not have him killed, we must get rid +of him in some way, and then we must march on all night;' on which I +said to the red-man, 'I suppose you were lost and fired your gun.' + +"He said he knew the way to his log-hut and it was not far off. +'Well,' said I, 'do you go home; and as we are tired we will fol-low +your track in the morn-ing, and here is a cake of bread for you, and +you must give us meat in the morn-ing.' He was glad to get off," +Wash-ing-ton says, "We walked all the rest of the night, and made no +stop, that we might get the start so far as to be out of their reach +the next day, since we were quite sure they would get on our track as +soon as it was light." + +But no more was seen or heard of them, and the next night, at dusk, +the two white men came to the Al-le-gha-ny, which they thought to +cross on the ice. + +This they could not do, so they had to go to work with but one small +axe, and a poor one at that, and make a raft. It was a whole day's +work. They next got it launched, and went on board of it; then set +off. + +But when they were in mid-stream the raft was jammed in the ice in +such a way that death seemed to stare them in the face. + +Wash-ing-ton put out his pole to stay the raft so that the ice might +pass by; but the tide was so swift that it drove the ice with great +force. It bore down on the pole so hard that Wash-ing-ton was thrown +in-to the stream where it was at least ten feet deep. He would have +been swept out of sight if he had not caught hold of one of the raft +logs. As they found they could not cross the stream, or get back to +the shore they had left, they quit the raft, and got on a small isle +near which they were borne by the tide. + +But this was not the end of their ill luck. It was so cold that Mr. +Gist's hands and feet froze, and both he and Wash-ing-ton were in +great pain through-out the long dark night. A gleam of hope came with +the dawn of day, for they found the ice 'twixt them and the east bank +of the stream was so hard as to bear their weight, and they made their +way on it, and the same day came to a place where they could rest. +Here they spent two or three days. + +They set out on the first of Jan-u-a-ry, and the next day came to +Mon-on-ga-he-la, where Wash-ing-ton bought a horse. On the 11th he got +to Bel-voir, where he stopped one day to take the rest he was in need +of, and then set out and reached Will-iams-burg on the 16th of +Jan-u-a-ry. He gave to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die the note he had brought +from the French chief, showed him the plans of the fort, and told him +all that he had seen and done. + +The fame of his deeds, of the ills he had borne, and the nerve and +pluck he had shown, was soon noised a-broad, and George Wash-ing-ton, +though a mere youth, was looked up to by young and old. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TO THE FRONT! + + +The French chief in his note to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die had said, in +words that were smooth but clear, that he would not leave the banks of +the O-hi-o; so the Eng-lish felt as if it were time for them to make +a move, though they did not wish to bring on a war. + +Land was set off on the O-hi-o where a fort was built, and the rest +of it left for the use of the troops. + +Wash-ing-ton was asked to lead the troops, but he shrank from it as a +charge too great for one so young. So Josh-u-a Fry was made Col-o-nel, +and Wash-ing-ton Lieu-ten-ant Col-o-nel of a force of 300 men. + +It was hard work to get men to join the ranks. The pay was small, and +those who had good farms and good homes did not care to leave them. +Those who had a mind to go were for the most part men who did not like +to work, and had no house or home they could call their own. + +Some were bare-foot, some had no shirts to their backs, and not a few +were with-out coat or waist-coat, as the vest was called in those +days. + +If it was hard work to get this kind of men, it was still more of a +task to find those who would serve as chiefs, and Wash-ing-ton found +him-self left in charge of a lot of raw troops who knew no will but +their own. + +But Van-Bra-am, who had taught Wash-ing-ton how to use the sword, was +with him, and gave him just the aid he had need of at this time. + +On A-pril 2, 1754, Wash-ing-ton, at the head of 150 men, set off for +the new fort at the Fork of the O-hi-o. The roads were rough, and the +march was slow, and it was not till A-pril 20 that they reached Will's +Creek. Here they were met by a small force, in charge of Cap-tain +Ad-am Ste-phen. The rest of the force, with the field-guns, were to +come by way of the Po-to-mac. These last were in charge of Col-o-nel +Fry. + +When Wash-ing-ton reached Will's Creek word was brought him that a +large force of French troops had borne down on the new fort. Cap-tain +Trent, who was in charge of the few troops in the fort, was a-way at +the time, and the young En-sign Ward did not know what to do. He +sought the aid of Half-King, who told him to plead with the French, +and to beg them to wait till the Cap-tain came back, and the two went +at once to the French camp. But the French would not wait, or make +terms of peace. They had come as foes, and told En-sign Ward that if +he did not leave the fort at once, with all his men, they would put +him out by force. All the French would grant was that our men might +take their tools with them; so the next morn they filed out of the +fort, gave up their arms, and took the path to the woods. The French +took the fort and built it up, and called it Fort Du-quesne (_kane_), +which was the name of the Gov-er-nor of Can-a-da. + +When the sad news was brought to Wash-ing-ton he was at a loss to know +what to do, or which way to turn. Here he was with a small band of raw +troops right in the midst of foes, red and white, who would soon hem +them in and use them ill if they found out where they were. Yet it +would not do to turn back, or show signs of fear. Col-o-nel Fry had +not yet come up and the weight of care was thrown on Wash-ing-ton. + +He let the Gov-er-nors of Penn-syl-va-ni-a and Ma-ry-land know of his +plight, and urged them to send on troops. But none came to his aid. + +He had a talk with his chief men, and they all thought it would be +best to push on through the wild lands, make the road as they went on, +and try to reach the mouth of Red-stone Creek, where they would build +a fort. By this means the men would be kept at work, their fears would +be quelled, and a way made for the smooth and swift march of the +troops in the rear. + +There was so much to be done that the men, work as hard as they might, +could not clear the way with much speed. There were great trees to be +cut down, rocks to be moved, swamps to be filled up, and streams to be +bridged. While in the midst of these toils, the bread gave out, and +the lack of food made the men too weak to work. In spite of all these +ills they made out to move at the rate of four miles a day, up steep +hills, and through dense woods that have since borne the name of "The +Shades of Death." + +While at a large stream where they had to stop to build a bridge, +Wash-ing-ton was told that it was not worth while for him to try to go +by land to Red-stone Creek, when he could go by boat in much less +time. + +This would be a good plan, if it would work; and to make sure, +Wash-ing-ton took five men with him in a bark boat down the stream. +One of these men was a red-skin guide. When they had gone ten miles, +the guide said that that was as far as he would go. Wash-ing-ton said, +"Why do you want to leave us now? We need you, and you know that we +can not get on with-out you. Tell us why you wish to leave." + +The red-man said, "Me want gifts. The red-men will not work with-out +them. The French know this, and are wise. If you want the red-men to +be your guides, you must buy them. They do not love you so well that +they will serve you with-out pay." + +Wash-ing-ton told the guide that when they got back he would give him +a fine white shirt with a frill on it, and a good great-coat, and this +put an end to the "strike" for that time. They kept on in the small +boat for a score of miles, till they came to a place where there was a +falls in the stream at least 40 feet. This put a stop to their course, +and Wash-ing-ton went back to camp with his mind made up to go on by +land. + +He was on his way to join his troops when word was brought him from +Half-King to be on his guard, as the French were close at hand. They +had been on the march for two days, and meant to strike the first foe +they should see. + +Half-King said that he and the rest of his chiefs would be with +Wash-ing-ton in five days to have a talk. + +Wash-ing-ton set to work at once to get his troops in shape to meet +the foe. Scouts were sent out. There was a scare in the night. The +troops sprang to arms, and kept on the march till day-break. In the +mean-time, at nine o'clock at night, word came from Half-King, who was +then six miles from the camp, that he had seen the tracks of two +French-men, and the whole force was near that place. + +Wash-ing-ton put him-self at the head of two score men, left the rest +to guard the camp, and set off to join Half-King. The men had to grope +their way by foot-paths through the woods. The night was dark and +there had been quite a fall of rain, so that they slipped and fell, +and lost their way, and had to climb the great rocks, and the trees +that had been blown down and blocked their way. + +It was near sun-rise when they came to the camp of Half-King, who at +once set out with a few of his braves to show Wash-ing-ton the tracks +he had seen. Then Half-King called up two of his braves, showed them +the tracks, and told them what to do. They took the scent, and went +off like hounds, and brought back word that they had traced the +foot-prints to a place shut in by rocks and trees where the French +were in camp. + +It was planned to take them off their guard. Wash-ing-ton was to move +on the right, Half-King and his men on the left. They made not a +sound. Wash-ing-ton was the first on the ground, and as he came out +from the rocks and trees at the head of his men, the French caught +sight of him and ran to their arms. + +A sharp fire was kept up on both sides. De Ju-mon-ville, who led the +French troops, was killed, with ten of his men. One of Wash-ing-ton's +men was killed, and two or three met with wounds. None of the red-men +were hurt, as the French did not aim their guns at them at all. In +less than half an hour the French gave way, and ran, but +Wash-ing-ton's men soon came up with them, took them, and they were +sent, in charge of a strong guard, to Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die. + +This was the first act of war, in which blood had been shed, and +Wash-ing-ton had to bear a great deal of blame from both France and +Eng-land till the truth was made known. He was thought to have been +too rash, and too bold, and in more haste to make war than to seek for +peace. These sins were charged to his youth, for it was not known then +how much more calm, and wise, and shrewd he was than most men who were +twice his age. + +The French claimed that this band had been sent out to ask +Wash-ing-ton, in a kind way, to leave the lands that were held by the +crown of France. But Wash-ing-ton was sure they were spies; and +Half-King said they had bad hearts, and if our men were such fools as +to let them go, he would give them no more aid. + +Half-King was full of fight, and Wash-ing-ton was flushed with pride, +and in haste to move on and brave the worst. He wrote home: "The +Min-goes have struck the French, and I hope will give a good blow +be-fore they have done." + +Then he told of the fight he had been in, and how he had won it, and +was not hurt though he stood in the midst of the fierce fire. The +balls whizzed by him, "and," said Wash-ing-ton "I was charmed with the +sound." + +This boast came to the ears of George II. who said, in a dry sort of a +way, "He would not say so if he had heard ma-ny." + +When long years had passed, some one asked Wash-ing-ton if he had made +such a speech. "If I did," said he, "it was when I was young." And he +was but 22 years of age. + +He knew that as soon as the French heard of the fight and their bad +luck, they would send a strong force out to meet him, so he set all +his men to work to add to the size of the earth-work, and to fence it +in so that it might be more of a strong-hold. Then he gave to it the +name of _Fort Ne-ces-si-ty_, for it had been thrown up in great haste +in time of great need, when food was so scant it was feared the troops +would starve to death. At one time, for six days they had no flour, +and, of course, no bread. + +News came of the death of Col-o-nel Fry, at Will's creek, and +Wash-ing-ton was forced to take charge of the whole force. Fry's +troops--300 in all--came up from Will's Creek, and Half-King brought +40 red-men with their wives and young ones and these all had to be fed +and cared for. + +Young as he was Wash-ing-ton was like a fa-ther to this strange group +of men. On Sundays, when in camp, he read to them from the word of +God, and by all his acts made them feel that he was a good and true +man, and fit to be their chief. + +The red-men did quite well as spies and scouts, but were not of much +use in the field, and they, and some men from South Car-o-li-na, did +much to vex young Wash-ing-ton. + +Half-King did not like the way that white men fought, so he took +him-self and his band off to a safe place. The white men from South +Car-o-li-na, who had come out to serve their king, were too proud to +soil their hands or to do hard work, nor would they be led by a man of +the rank of Col-o-nel. + +In the midst of all these straits Wash-ing-ton stood calm and firm. + +The South Car-o-li-na troops were left to guard the fort, while the +rest of the men set out to clear the road to Red-stone Creek. Their +march was slow, and full of toil, and at the end of two weeks they had +gone but 13 miles. Here at Gist's home, where they stopped to rest, +word came to Wash-ing-ton that a large force of the French were to be +sent out to fight him. Word was sent to the fort to have the men that +were there join them with all speed. + +They reached Gist's at dusk, and by dawn of the next day all our +troops were in that place, where it was at first thought they would +wait for the foe. + +But this plan they gave up, for it was deemed best to make haste back +to the fort, where they might at least screen them-selves from the +fire of the foe. + +The roads were rough; the heat was great; the food was scant, and the +men weak and worn out. There were but few steeds, and these had to +bear such great loads that they could not move with speed. + +Wash-ing-ton gave up his own horse and went on foot, and the rest of +the head men did the same. + +The troops from Vir-gin-i-a worked with a will and would take turns +and haul the big field guns, while the King's troops, from South +Car-o-li-na, walked at their ease, and would not lend a hand, or do a +stroke of work. + +On the morn of Ju-ly 3, scouts brought word to the fort that the +French were but four miles off, and in great force. Wash-ing-ton at +once drew up his men on the ground out-side of the fort, to wait for +the foe. + +Ere noon the French were quite near the fort and the sound of their +guns was heard. + +Wash-ing-ton thought this was a trick to draw his men out in-to the +woods, so he told them to hold their fire till the foe came in sight. +But as the French did not show them-selves, though they still kept up +their fire, he drew his troops back to the fort and bade them fire at +will, and do their best to hit their mark. + +The rain fell all day long, so that the men in the fort were half +drowned, and some of the guns scarce fit for use. + +The fire was kept up till eight o'clock at night, when the French +sent word they would like to make terms with our men. + +Wash-ing-ton thought it was a trick to find out the state of things in +the fort, and for a time gave no heed to the call. The French sent two +or three times, and at last brought the terms for Wash-ing-ton to +read. They were in French. There was no-thing at hand to write with, +so Van Bra-am, who could speak French, was called on to give the key. + +It was a queer scene. A light was brought, and held close to his face +so that he could see to read. The rain fell in such sheets that it was +hard work to keep up the flame. Van Bra-am mixed up Dutch, French, and +Eng-lish in a sad way, while Wash-ing-ton and his chief aids stood +near with heads bent, and tried their best to guess what was meant. + +They made out at last that the main terms were that the troops might +march out of the fort, and fear no harm from French or red-skins as +they made their way back to their homes. The drums might beat and the +flags fly, and they could take with them all the goods and stores, and +all that was in the fort--but the large guns. These the French would +break up. And our men should pledge them-selves not to build on the +lands which were claimed by the King of France for the space of one +year. + +The weak had to yield to the strong, and Wash-ing-ton and his men laid +down their arms and marched out of the fort. + +A note of thanks was sent to Wash-ing-ton, and all his head men but +Van Bra-am, who was thought to have read the terms in such a way as to +harm our side and serve the French. + +But there were those who felt that Van Bra-am was as true as he was +brave, and that it was the fault of his head and not his heart, for it +was a hard task for a Dutch-man to turn French in-to Eng-lish, and +make sense of it. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AS AIDE-DE-CAMP. + + +In spite of the way in which the fight at Great Mead-ows came to an +end Gov-er-nor Din-wid-die made up his mind that the troops, led by +Wash-ing-ton, should cross the hills and drive the French from Fort +Du-quesne. + +Wash-ing-ton thought it a wild scheme; for the snow lay deep on the +hills, his men were worn out, and had no arms, nor tents, nor clothes, +nor food, such as would fit them to take the field. It would need gold +to buy these things, as well as to pay for fresh troops. + +Gold was placed in the Gov-er-nor's hands to use as he pleased. Our +force was spread out in-to ten bands, of 100 men each. The King's +troops were put in high rank, and Col-o-nel Wash-ing-ton was made +Cap-tain. This, of course, was more than he could bear, so he left +the ar-my at once, and with a sad heart. + +In a short time Gov-er-nor Sharpe of Ma-ry-land was placed by King +George at the head of all the force that was to fight the French. He +knew that he would need the aid of Wash-ing-ton, and he begged him to +come back and serve with him in the field. But Wash-ing-ton did not +like the terms, and paid no heed to the call. + +The next Spring, Gen-er-al Brad-dock came from Eng-land with two large +bands of well-trained troops, which it was thought would drive the +French back in-to Can-a-da. Our men were full of joy, and thought the +war would soon be at an end. Brad-dock urged Wash-ing-ton to join him +in the field. Wash-ing-ton felt that he could be of great use, as he +knew the land and the ways of red-men, so he took up the sword once +more, as Brad-dock's aide-de-camp. + +Ben-ja-min Frank-lin, who had charge of the mails, lent his aid to the +cause, and did all that he could to serve Brad-dock and his men. +Brad-dock, with his staff and a guard of horse-men, set out for Will's +Creek, by the way of Win-ches-ter, in A-pril, 1755. He rode in a fine +turn-out that he had bought of Gov-er-nor Sharpe, which he soon found +out was not meant for use on rough roads. But he had fought with +dukes, and men of high rank, and was fond of show, and liked to put on +a great deal of style. + +He thought that this would make the troops look up to him, and would +add much to his fame. + +In May the troops went in-to camp, and Wash-ing-ton had a chance to +learn much of the art of war that was new and strange to him, and to +see some things that made him smile. + +All the rules and forms of camp-life were kept up. One of the head +men who died while in camp, was borne to the grave in this style: A +guard marched in front of the corpse, the cap-tain of it in the rear. +Each man held his gun up-side down, as a sign that the dead would war +no more, and the drums beat the dead march. When near the grave the +guard formed two lines that stood face to face, let their guns rest on +the ground, and leaned their heads on the butts. The corpse was borne +twixt these two rows of men with the sword and sash on the top of the +box in which he lay, and in the rear of it the men of rank marched two +and two. When the corpse was put in the ground, the guard fired their +guns three times, and then all the troops marched back to camp. + +The red-men--the Del-a-wares and Shaw-nees came to aid Gen-er-al +Brad-dock. With them were White Thun-der, who had charge of the +"speech-belts," and Sil-ver Heels, who was swift of foot. Half-King +was dead, and White Thun-der reigned in his stead. + +The red-men had a camp to them-selves, where they would sing, and +dance, and howl and yell for half the night. It was fun for the King's +troops to watch them at their sports and games, and they soon found a +great charm in this wild sort of life. + +In the day time the red-men and their squaws, rigged up in their +plumes and war paint, hung round Brad-dock's camp, and gazed +spell-bound at the troops as they went through their drills. + +But this state of things did not last long, and strife rose twixt the +red and white men, and some of the red-skins left the camp. They told +Brad-dock they would meet him on his march, but they did not keep +their word. + +Wash-ing-ton was sent to Will-iams-burg to bring the gold of which +there was need, and when he came back he found that Brad-dock had +left a small guard at Fort Cum-ber-land, on Will's Creek, and was then +on his way to Fort Du-quesne. He would give no heed to those who knew +more of the back-woods than he did, nor call on the red-men to serve +as scouts and guides. He was not used to that kind of war-fare, and +scorned to be taught by such a youth as George Wash-ing-ton. + +The march was a hard one for man and beast. Up steep hills and through +rough roads they had to drag the guns, and Brad-dock soon found out +that these new fields were not like the old ones on which he had been +wont to fight. + +Hard as it was for his pride to seek the aid of so young a man, he was +at last forced to ask Wash-ing-ton to help him out of these straits. + +They had then made a halt at Lit-tle Mead-ows. Wash-ing-ton said there +was no time to lose. They must push on at once. + +While at this place Cap-tain Jack, and his brave band of hunts-men +came in-to camp. They were fond of the chase, and were well-armed with +knives and guns, and looked quite like a tribe of red-skins as they +came out of the wood. + +Brad-dock met them in a stiff sort of way. Cap-tain Jack stepped in +front of his band and said that he and his men were used to rough +work, and knew how to deal with the red-men, and would be glad to join +the force. + +Brad-dock looked on him with a gaze of scorn, and spoke to him in a +way that roused the ire of Cap-tain Jack. He told his men what had +been said, and the whole band turned their backs on the camp, and went +through the woods to their old haunts where they were known and prized +at their true worth. + +In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton, who had had a head-ache for some days, +grew so ill that he could not ride on his horse, and had to be borne +part of the time in a cart. + +Brad-dock--who well knew what a loss his death would be--said that he +should not go on. Wash-ing-ton plead with him, but Brad-dock was firm, +and made him halt on the road. Here he was left with a guard, and in +care of Doc-tor Craik, and here he had to stay for two long weeks. By +that time he could move, but not with-out much pain, for he was still +quite weak. It was his wish to join the troops in time for the great +blow, and while yet too weak to mount his horse, he set off with his +guards in a close cart, and reached Brad-dock's camp on the eighth of +Ju-ly. + +He was just in time, for the troops were to move on Fort Du-quesne the +next day. The fort was on the same side of the Mon-on-ga-he-la as the +camp, but twixt them lay a pass two miles in length, with the stream +on the left and a high range of hills on the right. The plan was to +ford the stream near the camp, march on the west bank of the stream +for five miles or so, and then cross to the east side and push on to +the fort. + +By sun-rise the next day the troops turned out in fine style, and +marched off to the noise of drum and fife. To Wash-ing-ton this was a +grand sight. Though still weak and ill, he rode his horse, and took +his place on the staff as aide-de-camp. + +At one o'clock the whole force had crossed the ford north of the fort, +and were on their way up the bank, when they were met by a fierce and +sharp fire from foes they could not see. Wild war-whoops and fierce +yells rent the air. What Wash-ing-ton feared, had come to pass. +Brad-dock did his best to keep the troops in line; but as fast as they +moved up, they were cut down by foes screened by rocks and trees. + +Now and then one of the red-men would dart out of the woods with a +wild yell to scalp a red-coat who had been shot down. Wild fear seized +Brad-dock's men, who fired and took no aim. Those in the front rank +were killed by those in the rear. Some of the Vir-gin-i-a troops took +post back of trees, and fought as the red-men did. Wash-ing-ton +thought it would be a good plan for Brad-dock's men to do the same. +But he thought there was but one way for troops to fight, and that +brave men ought not to skulk in that way. When some of them took to +the trees, Brad-dock stormed at them, and called them hard names, and +struck them with the flat of his sword. + +All day long Wash-ing-ton rode here and there in the midst of the +fight. He was in all parts of the field, a fine mark for the guns of +the foe, and yet not a shot struck him to do him harm. Four small +shots went through his coat. Two of his steeds were shot down; and +though those who stood near him fell dead at his side, Wash-ing-ton +had not one wound. + +The fight raged on. Death swept through the ranks of the red-coats. +The men at the guns were seized with fright. Wash-ing-ton sprang from +his horse, wheeled a brass field-piece with his own hand, and sent a +good shot through the woods. But this act did not bring the men back +to their guns. + +Brad-dock was on the field the whole day, and did his best to turn the +tide. But most of his head-men had been slain in his sight; five times +had he been forced to mount a fresh horse, as one by one was struck +down by the foe-man's shot, and still he kept his ground and tried to +check the flight of his men. + +At last a shot struck him in the right arm and went in-to his lungs. +He fell from his horse, and was borne from the field. The troops took +fright at once, and most of them fled. The yells of the red-men still +rang in their ears. + +"All is lost!" they cried. + +"Brad-dock is killed!" + +Wash-ing-ton had been sent to a camp 40 miles off, and was on his way +back when he heard the sad news. + +But Brad-dock did not die at once. He was brought back to camp, and +for two days lay in a calm state but full of pain. Now and then his +lips would move and he was heard to say, "Who would have thought it! +We shall know how to deal with them the next time!" + +He died at Fort Ne-ces-si-ty on the night of Ju-ly 13. Had he done as +Wash-ing-ton told him he might have saved his own life, and won the +day. But he was a proud man, and when he made up his mind to do a +thing he would do it at all risks. Through this fault he missed the +fame he hoped to win, lost his life, and found a grave in a strange +land. + +His loss was a great gain to Wash-ing-ton, for all felt that he, so +calm, so grave, so free from fear, was the right sort of man to lead +troops to war. Those who had seen him in the field thought that he +bore a charmed life, for though he stood where the shot fell thick and +fast he was not hurt, and showed no signs of fear. But Wash-ing-ton +was weak, and in need of rest, and as the death of Brad-dock left him +with no place in the force, he went back to Mount Ver-non where he +thought to spend the rest of his days. + +The fight which he took part in as aide-de-camp, and which had so sad +an end, goes by the name of _Brad-dock's de-feat_. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +COL-O-NEL OF VIR-GIN-I-A TROOPS. + + +The troops in Vir-gin-i-a were left with-out a head. There was no one +to lead them out to war, and if this fact came to the ears of the +French, they would be more bold. + +Wash-ing-ton's friends urged him to ask for the place. But this he +would not do. His brother wrote him thus: "Our hopes rest on you, dear +George. You are the man for the place: all are loud in your praise." + +But Wash-ing-ton was firm. He wrote back and told in plain words all +that he had borne, and how he had been served for the past two years. + +"I love my land," he said, "and shall be glad to serve it, but not on +the same terms that I have done so." + +His mo-ther begged him not to risk his life in these wars. He wrote +her that he should do all that he could to keep out of harm's way, but +if he should have a call to drive the foes from the land of his birth, +he would have to go! And this he was sure would give her much more +pride than if he were to stay at home. + +On the same day, Au-gust 13, that this note was sent, word came to +Wash-ing-ton that he had been made chief of all the troops in +Vir-gin-i-a, and the next month he went to Win-ches-ter to stay. + +Here he found much to do. There was need of more troops, and it was +hard work to get them. Forts had to be built, and he drew up a plan of +his own and set men to work it out, and went out from time to time to +see how they got on with it. He rode off thus at the risk of his life, +for red-men lay in wait for scalps, and were fierce to do deeds of +blood. + +The stir of war put new life in-to the veins of old Lord Fair-fax. He +got up a troop of horse, and put them through a drill on the lawn at +Green-way Court. He was fond of the chase, and knew how to run the sly +fox to the ground. The red-man was a sort of fox, and Fair-fax was +keen for the chase, and now and then would mount his steed and call on +George Wash-ing-ton, who was glad to have his kind friend so near. + +In a short time he had need of his aid, for word came from the fort at +Will's Creek that a band of red-men were on the war-path with +fire-brands, and knives, and were then on their way to Win-ches-ter. + +A man on a fleet horse was sent post-haste to Wash-ing-ton, who had +been called to Will-iams-burg, the chief town. + +In the mean-time Lord Fair-fax sent word to all the troops near his +home to arm and haste to the aid of Win-ches-ter. + +Those on farms flocked to the towns, where they thought they would be +safe; and the towns-folks fled to the west side of the Blue Ridge. In +the height of this stir Wash-ing-ton rode in-to town, and the sight of +him did much to quell their fears. + +He thought that there were but a few red-skins who had caused this +great scare, and it was his wish to take the field at once and go out +and put them to flight. But he could get but a few men to go with him. +The rest of the town troops would not stir. + +All the old fire-arms that were in the place were brought out, and +smiths set to work to scour off the rust and make them fit to use. + +Caps, such as are now used on guns, were not known in those days. +Flint stones took their place. One of these was put in the lock, so +that when it struck a piece of steel it would flash fire, and the +spark would set off the gun. These were called flint-lock guns. + +Such a thing as a match had not been thought of, and flint stones were +made use of to light all fires. + +Carts were sent off for balls, and flints, and for food with which to +feed all those who had flocked to Win-ches-ter. + +The tribes of red-men that had once served with Wash-ing-ton, were now +on good terms with the French. One of their chiefs, named Ja-cob, +laughed at forts that were built of wood, and made his boast that no +fort was safe from him if it would catch fire. + +The town where these red-men dwelt was two score miles from Fort +Du-quesne, and a band of brave white men, with John Arm-strong and +Hugh Mer-cer at their head, set out from Win-ches-ter to put them to +rout. + +At the end of a long march they came at night on the red-men's +strong-hold, and took them off their guard. The red-men, led by the +fierce chief Ja-cob, who chose to die ere he would yield, made a +strong fight, but in the end most of them were killed, their huts were +set on fire, and the brave strong-hold was a strong-hold no more. + +In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton had left Win-ches-ter and gone to Fort +Cum-ber-land, on Will's Creek. Here he kept his men at work on new +roads and old ones. Some were sent out as scouts. Brig-a-dier +Gen-er-al Forbes, who was in charge of the whole force, was on his way +from Phil-a-del-phi-a, but his march was a slow one as he was not in +good health. The plan was when he came to move on the French fort. The +work that was to have been done north of the fort, by Lord Lou-doun, +hung fire. It was felt that he was not the right man for the place, +and so his lord-ship was sent back to Eng-land. + +Ma-jor Gen-er-al Ab-er-crom-bie then took charge of the King's troops +at the north. These were to charge on Crown Point. Ma-jor Gen-er-al +Am-herst with a large force of men was with the fleet of Ad-mi-ral +Bos-caw-en, that set sail from Hal-i-fax the last of May. These were +to lay siege to Lou-is-berg and the isle of Cape Bre-ton, which is at +the mouth of the Gulf of St. Law-rence. Forbes was to move on Fort +Du-quesne, and was much too slow to suit Wash-ing-ton who was in haste +to start. His men had worn out their old clothes and were in great +need of new ones, which they could not get for some time. He liked the +dress the red-men wore. It was light and cool, and, what had to be +thought of most, it was cheap. Wash-ing-ton had some of his men put +on this dress, and it took well, and has since been worn by those who +roam the woods and plains of our great land. + +I will not tell you of all that took place near the great Lakes at +this time, as I wish to keep your mind on George Wash-ing-ton. + +The schemes laid out by Gen-er-al Forbes did not please Wash-ing-ton, +who urged a prompt march on the fort, while the roads were good. He +wrote to Ma-jor Hal-ket, who had been with Brad-dock, and was now on +Forbes' staff: "I find him fixed to lead you a new way to the O-hi-o, +through a road each inch of which must be cut when we have scarce time +left to tread the old track, which is known by all to be the best path +through the hills." He made it plain that if they went that new way +all would be lost, and they would be way-laid by the red-skins and +meet with all sorts of ills. + +But no heed was paid to his words, and the warm days came to an end. +Six weeks were spent in hard work on the new road with a gain of less +than three-score miles, when the whole force might have been in front +of the French fort had they marched by the old road as Wash-ing-ton +had urged. + +At a place known as Loy-al Han-nan, the troops were brought to a halt, +as Forbes thought this was a good place to build a fort. Some men in +charge of Ma-jor Grant went forth as scouts. At dusk they drew near a +fort, and set fire to a log house near its walls. This was a rash +thing to do, as it let the French know just where they were. + +But not a gun was fired from the fort. This the King's troops took for +a sign of fear, and were bold and proud, and quite sure that they +would win the day. So Brad-dock had thought, and we know his fate. + +At length--when Forbes and his men were off their guard--the French +made a dash from the fort, and poured their fire on the King's +troops. On their right and left flanks fell a storm of shot from the +red-skins who had hid back of trees, rocks, and shrubs. + +The King's troops were then brought up in line, and for a while stood +firm and fought for their lives. But they were no match for the +red-skins, whose fierce yells made the blood run chill. Ma-jor Lew-is +fought hand to hand with a "brave" whom he laid dead at his feet. +Red-skins came up at once to take the white-man's scalp, and there was +but one way in which he could save his life. This was to give him-self +up to the French, which both he and Ma-jor Grant were forced to do, as +their troops had been put to rout with great loss. + +Wash-ing-ton won much praise for the way in which the Vir-gin-i-a +troops had fought, and he was at once put in charge of a large force, +who were to lead the van, serve as scouts, and do their best to drive +back the red-skins--work that called for the best skill and nerve. + +It was late in the fall of the year when the King's troops all met at +Loy-al Han-nan, and so much had to be done to clear the roads, that +snow would be on the ground ere they could reach the fort. But from +those of the French that they had seized in the late fight, they found +out that there were but few troops in the fort, that food was scarce, +and the red-skins false to their trust. + +This lent hope to the King's troops, who made up their minds to push +on. They took up their march at once, with no tents or stores, and but +few large guns. + +Wash-ing-ton rode at the head. It was a sad march, for the ground was +strewn with the bones of those who had fought with Grant and with +Brad-dock, and been slain by the foe, or died of their wounds. + +At length the troops drew near the fort, and made their way up to it +with great care, for they thought the French would be in wait for +them, and that there would be a fierce fight. + +But the French had had such bad luck in Can-a-da, that they had lost +heart, and those in the fort were left to take care of them-selves. So +when the Eng-lish were one day's march from the fort, the French stole +out at night, got in-to boats, set the fort on fire, and went down the +O-hi-o by the light of the flames. + +So the fort which had been the cause of so much blood-shed, fell at +last with-out a blow, and on No-vem-ber 25, 1758, Wash-ing-ton, with +his van-guard, marched in and placed the Brit-ish flag on the wreck of +the once proud strong-hold, the name of which was changed to Fort +Pitt. + +The French gave up all claim to the O-hi-o from that time. The +red-skins were quick to make friends with those who held sway, and +there was peace with all the tribes twixt the O-hi-o and the Lakes. + +Wash-ing-ton had made up his mind to leave the field when this war +came to an end, and in De-cem-ber of the same year he bade his troops +good-bye. + +He had been with them for five years in a hard school, and the strain +on his mind had been so great that he lost his health, and felt that +he could war no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HOME OF WASH-ING-TON. + + +In the year 1758, while Wash-ing-ton was with his troops at +Win-ches-ter, he met and fell in love with Mrs. Mar-tha Cus-tis. Her +home was known as the White House, and here she dwelt in fine style, +for she had great wealth. She had a boy six years of age, and a girl +of four. + +Such were her charms that men of wealth and rank sought for her hand, +but Wash-ing-ton, so calm and grave, and with his way yet to make in +the world, won her heart, and they were to be wed at the close of the +war. + +She had heard of the brave deeds he had done, and was proud to be the +wife of such a man, so on Jan-u-a-ry 6, 1759, the two were made one. + +In the course of a few months Wash-ing-ton went to live at _Mount +Ver-non_, where he spent much of his time in the care of his own +lands, and those of his wife. + +He had a seat with those who made laws for the State, and no man was +thought more of than George Wash-ing-ton. + +Wash-ing-ton loved to be at _Mount Ver-non_, where he had spent a +great part of his boy-hood, with his bro-ther, Law-rence, of whom he +was so fond. The house stood on a knoll, and near it were wild woods +and deep dells, haunts of the fox and the deer, and bright streams +where fish could be found at all times. + +His chief sport was the chase, and, at the right time of the year, he +would go out two or three times a week, with dogs and horns and +trained steeds, in search of the sly fox who would lead him and his +friends a fine run. + +Some times he would go out with his gun and shoot wild-ducks, great +flocks of which might be found on the streams close at hand. Or he +would scour the woods for the game with which they were filled, and +which none but those who owned the place had a right to kill. + +A man who had a bad name and paid no heed to the laws that were made, +was wont to make his way to the grounds near Mount Ver-non and shoot +just what game he chose. More than once he had been told to leave and +not come back, but he paid no more heed than if he had been deaf, and +was sure to take his pick from the best kind of ducks. + +One day when Wash-ing-ton was out on horse-back he heard the sound of +a gun down near the edge of the stream. He put spurs to his horse, +dashed through bush and brake, and soon came up to the rogue who had +just time to jump in his boat and push from shore. Then the bad man +raised his gun, cocked it, and took aim at Wash-ing-ton, whom he would +no doubt have shot down in cold-blood. + +But Wash-ing-ton rode at once in-to the stream, and seized the prow of +the boat, and drew it to shore. Then he sprang from his horse, +wrenched the gun from the thief's hand, and laid on the lash in such a +way that the rogue took to his heels when let loose, and came no more +near Mount Ver-non. + +As I have told you, men of great wealth dwelt on the shores of the +Po-to-mac, and kept house in fine style. They had a large force of +slaves, and made great feasts for their friends. One of them used to +come out in a rich barge to meet Wash-ing-ton. This barge was rowed by +six black men in check shirts and black vel-vet caps. + +Wash-ing-ton had a coach and four, with black foot-men, for Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton to use when she drove out; but he chose to go on +horse-back. Some-times he and his wife went to An-na-po-lis, to a ball +or feast of some sort, where Wash-ing-ton took part in the dance, and +all the belles of the day were proud to dance with him, for he had a +grand style that made him seem like no one else in the room. + +When storms kept him in the house, he would read, or spend the time at +his desk with pen in hand. + +He was kind to his slaves, and took the best of care of them when they +were sick, but was quick to see that they did not shirk their work. He +knew, too, just the kind of work each one was fit for, and which he +could do the best. + +Four of his slaves set out to hew and shape a large log. Wash-ing-ton +kept his eye on them and thought they loafed too much. So he sat down, +took out his watch, and timed them: how long it took them to get their +cross-cut saw and the rest of their tools; how long to cut off the +limbs from the tree they had laid low; how long to hew and saw it; +what time they spent in talk; and how much work they did while he sat +there and took notes. In this way he found out just how much work four +men could do in the course of a day--and take their ease. + +Wash-ing-ton was quick to lend a hand in time of need, and once when +word was brought him that the dam had broke loose, and the mill would +soon be swept off, he ran at the head of all his slaves and work-men, +and toiled as hard as they in a fierce rain-storm, to check the force +of the flood. + +The cares of home and state made such calls on his time and thoughts, +that he could not be said to live quite at his ease, and he left his +mark--a high one--on all that he did. + +His crops were of the best, and he sought to cheat no one. The flour +he sold from year to year was put up with so much care, and was of +such a good kind and so true in weight that all that bore the brand of +_George Wash-ing-ton_, _Mount Ver-non_, was held at a high rate in the +West In-di-a ports. + +Quite a trade was kept up with Eu-rope, where all the goods had to be +bought that were used in the house or on the farm. + +Twice a year Wash-ing-ton sent on a long list of such things as he had +need of: ploughs, hoes, scythes, horse-goods, and clothes for all the +house-hold. For these last he had to give size and height, name, and +age, of those who were to wear them. + +In one of these lists Wash-ing-ton, who had need of a new suit of +clothes, said he was six feet in height, quite thin, and had long +limbs. He was then 31 years old. + +You will see by what I have told you just how Wash-ing-ton spent much +of his time for at least five years. They were five sweet years to +him; full of peace, and rest, and joy. He was fond of his home, and +felt as much pride in Nel-lie and John Parke Cus-tis as if they had +been his own boy and girl. Nel-lie was a frail child, and did not gain +in strength, though she had the best of care. Her death took place +June 19, 1773, when she was but 17 years of age. + +This was a sad blow to Wash-ing-ton, as well as to his wife, and then +all their hopes were placed on the son, who bade fair to be a fine +strong man. But he died in the year 1781, at the age of 28. + +While Wash-ing-ton dwelt in peace at Mount Ver-non, war was rife in +the land, but as he had with-drawn from those who bore arms he took +no part in it It was called Pon-ti-ac's war, as it was led by a chief +of that name, but the O-hi-o tribes were with him, and the plot was +deep laid. + +Large tracts of wood-land were laid waste; homes were burnt, and those +who dwelt in them robbed and slain; and so sly and shrewd were the +red-skins that it was some time ere the white men could put a stop to +their deeds of blood. + +It was in 1760 that King George the Third made up his mind to tax the +folks in A-mer-i-ca for all the goods they bought in Eng-land. The +trade was large, and in this way the king could add much to his +wealth. But the scheme did not work well. It was first tried in +Bos-ton, and set all the folks there by the ears. They claimed that +they had rights as well as the king. They had come to this land to be +free, and free they would be. They would do with-out tea and such +things, and dress as well as they could in clothes made out of +home-made goods. + +The king next said that goods bought from Eng-land must bear the +king's stamp, for which a sum was to be paid more than the cost of the +goods. This was known as the Stamp Act. The folks in A-mer-i-ca were +poor. They had not the means to pay this tax. The thought of it filled +them with rage; and for five years there was much talk of the wrong +the king had done to those who dwelt in A-mer-i-ca. + +On the first day of No-vem-ber, 1765, the Stamp Act was to go in-to +force, and all New Eng-land was in arms. At Bos-ton bells were tolled; +flags were hung at half-mast; shops were shut, and bon-fires built. + +In New York, the Act--in clear print--was borne through the streets on +a pole, on top of which was a death's head. + +A man named Col-den whose place it was to serve out the stamps had to +flee to the fort, round which was placed a strong guard from a +ship-of-war. The mob broke in-to his coach-house, drew out his coach, +put in it a form--stuffed and dressed to look some-what like +Col-den--and marched up to the Park where they hung it on a tree. + +At night they took the form down, put it in a coach, and bore it back +to Bow-ling Green, where the whole thing--coach and all--was burnt +right in range of the guns of the fort where the King's troops were. + +In March 1766, the king drew back the Stamp Act, which gave great joy +to those who had the good of A-mer-i-ca at heart, and to none more +than to George Wash-ing-ton. But he made it known that he felt it to +be his right as their king to tax them as he chose, and this hurt the +pride of those who wished to make their own laws, and be in bonds to +no one. + +Wash-ing-ton--as did most of those who had Eng-lish blood in their +veins--looked up-on that land as his home, and was loath to break the +chain that bound him to it. But he did not think well of the Stamp +Act, and saw what was sure to come to pass if the king pressed too +hard on the A-mer-i-cans. + +On Sep-tem-ber 5, 1774, a band of true men from all the States met for +the first time in Phil-a-del-phi-a, and Wash-ing-ton set out from +Mount Ver-non on horse-back to take his seat with them. With him were +Pat-rick Hen-ry and Ed-mund Pen-dle-ton; and as they rode side by side +they talked of the land they loved, and of the hopes they had that all +would be well. + +The band met with closed doors. Each man wore a grave face. Pat-rick +Hen-ry made a strong speech at the close of which he said, "All +A-mer-i-ca is thrown in-to one mass. Where are your land-marks? * * * +They are all thrown down." + +He said he did not call him-self by the name of the _State_ in which +he was born, but by the name of the _land_ which gave him birth--then +known as "the land of the free." + +Wash-ing-ton was not a man of words, but of deeds. But what he said +was of great weight as it came from a wise brain and a true heart. + +Pat-rick Hen-ry said there was no man in the whole band so great as +George Wash-ing-ton. The band broke up in No-vem-ber, and Wash-ing-ton +went back to Mount Ver-non. But not to the gay times and good cheer he +once had known. George Fair-fax--who had been his friend from +boy-hood--had gone to Eng-land to live, and Bel-voir took fire one +night and was burnt to the ground. + +The stir in Bos-ton, and in the West where the red-skins were on the +war-path, made the whole land ill at ease. Troops were kept on drill, +and the roll of the drum was heard in all the small towns. Men came to +talk with Wash-ing-ton and to find out what he thought was the best +thing to do, and the best way to drill or to arm troops. + +It was of no use to plead with the king. He had made up his mind and +would not yield an inch. A large force of the best men in Vir-gin-i-a +met at Rich-mond, March 20, 1775, and Wash-ing-ton was called on for +some plan as to what their course should be. + +He told them that he thought there was but one thing to do. Pat-rick +Hen-ry put it in-to words that rang through the land: "We must fight! +I repeat it, Sir, we must fight! An ap-peal to arms, and the God of +hosts, is all that is left us!" + +All hearts were full of zeal; and Wash-ing-ton wrote to his bro-ther, +Au-gus-tine, that if there was need of it he would lead troops to war, +and risk his life and all his wealth in the cause, which seemed to him +a most just one. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL. + + +In the year 1775 war was rife in New Eng-land. The King's laws were +felt to be more for slaves than for free-men, and all made up their +minds to throw off the yoke. They could not bear the sight of the +red-coats; and the King's troops were just as fierce in their hate of +our men. + +Ships-of-war brought a large force of troops to New Eng-land, led by +men of rank and fame. They filled the streets of Bos-ton, and it was +thought they might bring the A-mer-i-cans to terms, and not a drop of +blood be shed. But this was not to be. + +A large force of our men were in camp on the hills and fields near +Bos-ton, the sight of whom might well cause the well-clad Brit-ish to +smile. They had left their farms in great haste at the cry of "To +arms!" had seized their guns, and come in the home-spun clothes it +was their pride to wear. Those from Mas-sa-chu-setts were led by +Gen-er-al Ar-te-mas Ward; those from New Hamp-shire by Col-o-nel John +Stark; those from Rhode Isl-and by Gen-er-al Na-than-i-el Greene; and +those from Con-nect-i-cut by Gen-er-al Is-ra-el Put-nam; all brave and +true men, and full of fight. + +But the troops had need to be well armed; and all the guns and such +things as there was need of in war times were in Bos-ton, where the +red-coats were on guard. But though sharp eyes were on the watch, sly +deeds were done by those who knew the ways in and out of each +store-house. Carts went out of town heaped high with dirt in which +guns and balls were hid; and all sorts of tricks were used to get +such things past the red-coats. + +At length it came to the ears of Gen-er-al Gage, that some field guns +were at Sa-lem, and he sent troops there to seize them. But when they +reached Sa-lem they found no guns there. + +Then word came to Gen-er-al Gage that there was a large stock of arms +and war-stores at Con-cord, which was less than a score of miles from +Bos-ton. + +In the night of A-pril 18, the red-coats set out for Con-cord. +Gen-er-al Gage had said that no one but the troops should leave the +town, but the news was borne to Lex-ing-ton--a town on the road to +Con-cord--by those who were as swift as the hare, and as sly as the +fox. + +The folks there met in groups, with hearts on fire. Bells were rung +and guns were fired. Men who heard these sounds ran as fast as they +could to Lex-ing-ton, to hold the bridge, and keep back the foe. + +At five o'clock, on the morn of A-pril 19, the red-coats came in +sight, and at once three-score and ten men stood out on the green near +the wall to meet them. + +Ma-jor Pit-cairn who was at the head of the King's troops called out +to these brave men to lay down their arms and leave the place. But +they paid no heed to his words. Then he sprang from the ranks, shot +off a small gun, swung his sword in air, and told his men to fire. The +troops ran up, with loud cheers, and poured a storm of shot on our +men, some of whom were killed. Then they pushed on to Con-cord, and +did all the harm they could at that place: spiked guns, threw pounds +and pounds of shot down the wells, and spoiled a large lot of flour +and food that had been stored there for use in time of need. + +When the King's troops turned back to Lex-ing-ton, they were quite +worn out with what they had done, and would have been cut down by our +men if Gage had not sent a force to their aid. + +For the blue-coats had flown to arms, and poured in-to Lex-ing-ton by +all the roads that led led there-to. The red-coats might laugh at +their clothes, and the way in which they tried to keep step, but they +found out that they knew how to use guns, and that each man was a +dead-shot. + +The fresh troops Gage sent up from Bos-ton had to form a square, so +that the worn out men who had had a long march and hard work might +have a chance to rest. Then they all set out to march back to Bos-ton, +with two field guns in the rear to keep off the "flock of Yan-kees," +who dogged their steps, and kept up a fire in front and rear, and from +each stone-wall and hedge that lined the road. + +There was loss on both sides, but what hurt the King's troops the most +was to be put to flight by such a lot of scare crows, as they thought +our troops were. + +A close watch was kept on Bos-ton by our men, who were soon in such +force that it would not have been safe for the red-coats to try to +leave the town. The Kings troops did not like to be shut in, in this +way, and lost no chance to mock at and taunt those who kept them at +bay. + +On the north side of Bos-ton lay a long strip of land, from the +heights of which one could see the town and all the ships at or near +the wharves. Put-nam thought it would be a good plan to seize these +heights and place troops there; but Ward and War-ner thought it was +not safe to risk it. It might bring on a fierce fight and cause much +blood to be shed. + +Put-nam had no fear of his own men. He knew how brave they were, and +how well they could fight back of a screen. "They have no fear of +their heads," he said, "their chief thought is their legs. Shield +them, and they'll fight on till doom's-day." + +Two or three of those who had led troops in the French war, were of +the same mind as Put-nam, and their words had weight. The chief man +was Col-o-nel Pres-cott, who was just the style of man, in port and in +dress, that a lot of raw troops would look up to. He wore a fine hat, +a top-wig, and a blue coat faced and lapped up at the skirts. + +He it was whom Gen-er-al Ward chose to lead the troops which were to +seize the heights, build the earth-works there, and guard them from +the foe. There were 1200 in all, and they set out on the night of June +16, 1775. Not a light was shown. Not a sound was heard, but the +tramp--tramp--tramp of these men on their way to face death. + +A small neck of land joined Charles-town to the main-land, and as they +drew near this the troops hushed their steps, and moved with great +care. For on this the red-coats kept a close watch. Five of their +ships-of-war stood so that their guns would sweep this neck of land, +and earth-works were on Copp's Hill, which faced Charles-town. + +On the blue-coats went, past the guards, past the guns, past the Neck, +and up to the heights of Bunk-er's Hill. Here they were to make their +stand, but it was found that Breed's Hill, which was half a mile off, +was not quite so steep, and would give them more of a chance at the +red-coats, while Bunk-er's Hill would shield them in the rear. + +Put-nam thought Breed's Hill was the right place and was in haste for +the work to go on. There was no time to lose. So pick and spade were +brought out, and the earth dug out so as to serve as a wall to screen +them from the fire of the foe. + +The night was warm and still. Now and then Pres-cott would steal down +to the edge of the stream, to see and hear if the red-coats had made a +stir. There was not a sound save the cry of "All's well! All's well!" +from the watch-man on guard in the town, and on the ships-of-war. + +All night the work on the heights went on. At dawn of day the men +there were seen by the sea-men on the ships-of-war, and at once their +guns were brought up and turned on the hill. Their shot did not harm +the works, but one man who went out-side was killed, and this threw +the rest in-to a great fright. They were not used to scenes of war, +and the sight of a man shot down in their midst was more than their +nerves could stand. + +Some took to their heels at once, and did not come back, and had +Pres-cott not been a brave man him-self he could not have held his +troops as he did. He stood up on top of the earth-works in full view +of the red-coats, and talked with his men, and his words of cheer put +new strength in their hearts, so that they were in less dread of the +balls that whizzed near them. + +The noise of the guns roused the red-coats in Bos-ton, and Gen-er-al +Gage gazed at Breed's Hill like one in a dream. A fort full of men had +sprung up in the night! How had it been done? What kind of men were +these he had to meet? As he stood on Copp's Hill and looked through +his field glass, he spied the tall form of Pres-cott, in his blue +coat, on the wall of the fort. + +"Will he fight?" asked Gage, "Yes, _sir_," said one who stood near, +and who knew Pres-cott. "He will fight to the last drop of blood; but +I can't say as much for his men." + +"We must seize the works!" cried Gage, and at once called up his +chiefs for a talk, and to plan the best way to do this deed. + +The noise in the streets of Bos-ton, the roll of the drum, the sound +of the trump that calls to war, the sharp click of hoofs, and the deep +roll of wheels that bore the field guns, were heard on the heights, +and let the troops there know that war was at hand. + +The men were worn out with their hard task, and their loss of sleep. +They had not brought much food with them, and their thirst was great. +The heat made them feel weak and dull. There was need of more men, and +a lot of raw New Hamp-shire troops, led by Col-o-nel Stark came to +their aid. In the mean time those on the height had to bear the fire +of the guns from the ships and from Copp's Hill, which broke on them +at ten o'clock. + +At noon the blue-coats saw more than a score of boats full of troops +cross from Bos-ton in straight lines. The sun shone on their +red-coats, and flashed from the tips of the guns they bore, and from +the brass field guns that stood on the deck. It was a gay scene. They +made their way to a point north of Breed's Hill, where Gen-er-al Howe, +who led them, could see the full strength of the blue-coats. They had +more troops than he thought, and he caught sight of fresh ones on +their way to Breed's Hill. + +Howe at once sent to Gage for more troops, and more balls for the +field guns, and as it would take some time for them to be sent round, +the red-coats in the mean-time were served with food and drink. The +"grog" was passed round in pails, and the men sat round on the grass, +and ate and drank their fill, while the poor men on the heights looked +down and longed to share their feast. + +But while the red-coats took their ease, the blue-coats had a chance +to add to the strength of their fort, and to push out the breast-works +to a point known as the Slough. + +Near this was a pass where the foe might turn the left-flank of the +troops or seize Bunk-er's Hill. + +Put-nam chose one of his men, a Cap-tain Knowl-ton, to hold this pass +with his Con-nect-i-cut troops. He at once set to work to build a sort +of fort, back of which his men could fight with more ease than if they +stood out in the field. Not a long way off was a post-and-rail fence +set in a low foot-wall of stone, and this fence ran down to the +Mys-tic Riv-er. The posts and rails of a fence, near this, were torn +up in haste, and set a few feet at the rear of it, and the space +'twixt the two was filled with new-mown hay brought from the fields +near at hand. + +While Knowl-ton and his men were at work on this fence, Put-nam and +his troops threw up the work on Bunk-er's Hill. + +In the mean time Stark had set out from Med-ford on a six mile march. +He was a cool, calm man, and had been through the French war, of which +I have told you. He led his men at a slow pace, so that they would be +fresh and strong to take part in the fight. As they came up to the +Neck, which they had to cross, and which was lined with guns on both +sides, one of the aides urged him to let the men take a quick step. + +The old man shook his head, and said, "One fresh man in a fight is +worth ten tired ones," and kept on at the same pace; and did good +work that day back of the post-and-rail screen. + +War-ren, who had been made a Ma-jor Gen-er-al, came to serve in the +ranks. Put-nam said he might lead the troops at the fence. He said he +did not care to lead; he was there to fight. "Where will the fire be +the hot-test?" he asked. He was told that the fort on Breed's Hill was +the point the foe sought to gain. "If we can hold that," said Put-nam, +"the day is ours." + +War-ren at once made his way there, and the troops gave a round of +cheers when he stepped in-to the fort. Pres-cott, who was not so high +in rank, sought to have War-ren take charge of the troops. But he +would not. "I have come to serve in the ranks," he said, "and shall be +glad to learn from one so well-skilled as your-self." + +The red-coats thought to take the works with ease, and win the day. +Gen-er-al Pig-ot, with the left wing, was to mount the hill and seize +the earth-works, while Gen-er-al Howe came up with the right wing to +turn the left-flank of our men and stop all flight at the rear. + +Pig-ot and his men came up the height, and not a gun was fired by our +troops till the red-coats were in range. Then, as they were all good +marks-men each shot told, and some of the best men fell at the first +fire. The foe fell back in haste, but were brought up once more by +those who stood at their head with drawn swords. + +They were met by a fire more fierce than the first, and vexed by the +guns that bore on their flank from the band of men in Charles-town. So +much blood had been shed, and the men were in such a state of fright, +that Pig-ot was forced to give the word to fall back. + +We will now see what sort of luck Gen-er-al Howe had. He led his +troops up the bank of the stream, and thought to take the slight +breast-work with ease, and so get in the rear of the fort. But he did +not know the ground, and could not bring his large guns through the +swamp he met with. In the pause some of his men were hurt and some +killed by the guns that were set by the post-and-rail fence. + +Howe's men kept up a fire as they came on, but as they did not take +good aim the balls flew o'er the heads of our troops, who had been +told to hold their fire till the red-coats were quite near. + +Some few did not do as they were told, and Put-nam rode up and swore +he would cut down the next man that fired ere he had the word to do +so. When the red-coats were in the right range, such a storm of lead +poured on them from guns in the hands of men who did not miss a mark +that the place was like a field of blood. + +Such a host were slain that the red-coats lost heart, and fell back in +great haste. Some of them ran back as far as the boats, and got on +board of them that they might be safe from the fire of the marks-men. + +Once more the red-coats charged the fort, which it was their aim to +get in-to their own hands. In the mean time the shells from Copp's +Hill and the ships-of-war had set Charles-town on fire. The town was +built of wood, and was soon a mass of flames. The dense smoke put out +the light of the sun On all sides was heard the din of war. The big +guns kept up their great roar. Bomb-shells burst in the air. The sharp +hiss of the small balls, and the shouts and yells of the men made a +scene to strike the heart with awe. + +Our men stood firm, and with eyes fixed on the foe, who, as soon as +they were close at hand, were shot down by the guns whose aim was so +sure. + +The red-coats stood the first shock, and then kept on, but were met by +such a stream of fire that they were soon brought to a halt. In vain +did the men who led them urge them on with drawn swords. Whole ranks +were mowed down. Some of Gen-er-al Howe's staff were slain, and the +troops, wild with fear, broke ranks and fled down the hill. + +For a third time Gen-er-al Howe brought up his men, some of whom threw +off their knap-sacks and some their coats that they might not be +weighed down by them. + +The red-coats made a feint as if they would take the fort at the +fence, and did much harm there to our men. While some of his troops +were at work at that point, Howe brought the rest of his force to the +front and rear of the main fort, which was then stormed on three sides +at once. + +Pres-cott told some of his men to stand at the back part of the fort +and fire at the red-coats that showed them-selves on the wall. Soon +one leaped up and cried out "The day is ours!" and was shot down at +once, as were all those who had joined him. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON CHOSEN FOR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF--P. 62.] + +But our men had fired their last round, and there was nought for them +to do but to meet the foe in a hand-to-hand fight. With stones and the +butt-ends of their guns they sought to drive back the red-coats, but +the tide was too strong for them, and they had to give way. + +War-ren, who had done brave work that day, was the last to leave the +fort. He scarce had done so ere he was struck by a ball and fell dead +on the spot. + +As our troops fled by way of Bunk-er Hill, Put-nam ran to the rear and +cried, "Halt! make a stand here! We can check them yet! In God's name +form, and give them one shot more!" + +But the troops could not be brought to a stand, and the red-coats won +the day, but with the loss of more than half of their men. And it hurt +their pride to think that it had cost them so dear to take these +earth-works that had been thrown up in one night by a mere hand-ful of +raw troops. + +Their loss was 1,054. + +Our loss was 450. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. + + +The deeds done ere this by the King's troops had made a great stir +through-out the land. The chief men of each State met in +Phil-a-del-phi-a, and sought out ways and means to help those who were +in arms, as foes of King George, and a large force of men, from +Ma-ry-land, Penn-syl-va-ni-a, and Vir-gin-i-a, were soon on hand to +march and join the troops near Bos-ton. + +But who was to lead them? The choice at once fell on George +Wash-ing-ton, but he held back. He thought that Mas-sa-chu-setts' +troops might not care to be led by a man from the south; and, too, +Gen-er-al Ward, who was then at their head had the first right, for +Wash-ing-ton's rank was not so high as his. + +There was much talk on this score, and in the midst of it a +Mas-sa-chu-setts man, John Ad-ams, rose and said that the man he +thought fit to lead our troops was in that room, and he came from +Vir-gin-i-a. + +All knew whom he meant, and as Wash-ing-ton heard his own name he rose +from his seat and left the room. + +Then votes were cast, and all were for Wash-ing-ton, and he felt that +he could not say No to such a call. He spoke his thanks in a few +words, and said that he would do the best that he could, and serve +with-out pay. He set out from Phil-a-del-phi-a June 21, 1775. With him +were Gen-er-al Lee and Gen-er-al Schuy-ler, and a troop of +light-horse, which went all the way to New York. + +As soon as it was known that Wash-ing-ton was on the road, crowds ran +out to meet him, and to show their pride in him. + +When he reached New York he heard of the fight at Bunk-er Hill, and +made haste to join the troops in their camp at Cam-bridge. He reached +there Ju-ly 2. The next day all the troops were drawn out in line, and +Wash-ing-ton rode out at the head of his staff till he came to a large +elm tree. Here he wheeled his horse, and drew his sword and took +charge of all our troops as their Com-mand-er-in-chief. + +He found much to do, and much to bear from his own men as well as from +the red-coats. It came to his ears that our men who fell in-to the +hands of the red-coats at Bunk-er's Hill, were not well used, and he +wrote at once to Gage and asked him to be less harsh. Gage, who had +fought by his side in 1753, when both were young men, wrote back that +he thought he should have praise and not blame, since he had saved the +lives of those who were doomed to be hung. + +Wash-ing-ton at first thought he would do as he was done by, but his +heart failed him, and those of the red-coats that were in the hands +of our troops were set free, if they gave their word they would not +fight for King George. + +By such acts Wash-ing-ton sought to show that "A-mer-i-cans are as +mer-ci-ful as they are brave." + +The camps in which Wash-ing-ton found his troops were as odd as the +men them-selves. Some of the tents were made of boards, some of +sail-cloth, or bits of both, while here and there were those made of +stone and turf, brick and brush-wood. Some were thrown up in haste and +bore no marks of care, while a few were wrought with wreaths and +twigs, and spoke well for the taste of those who made them. + +The best camp of all was that of the Rhode Is-land men in charge of +Gen-er-al Na-than-i-el Greene. Here were found as good tents as the +red-coats had, and the men were well-drilled and well-dressed. Greene +was brought up on a farm. His fa-ther was a black-smith, and at times +his son worked with the plough, or took his place at the forge. + +At the first note of war, Greene left the farm and in the month of +May, 1775, was in charge of all the troops of his own small state. He +went to Bos-ton, and took notes while there of all that the red-coats +did, and in this way learned much that he could put to good use. His +troops had fought at Bunk-er Hill, and there were none in the whole +force that bore them-selves so well, or made so fine a show. + +Greene was six feet tall, and not quite two score years of age. He was +strong and well built, and his frank way won the heart of +Wash-ing-ton, and the two were warm friends from that time. + +Wash-ing-ton now set to work to add strength to the weak parts of his +line, and to throw up fresh works round the main forts. All the live +stock had to be kept off the coast so that they would not fall in-to +the hands of the foe. + +He sought to draw the red-coats out of Bos-ton, but they would not +stir. When Wash-ing-ton took charge of the troops, he thought that he +could go back to his home when the cold days came on, and spend some +time there with his wife. + +But there was no chance for him to leave, so he wrote to Mrs. +Wash-ing-ton to join him in the camp. She came and staid with him till +the next spring; and this was her course all through the war. + +She came in her own coach and four, with her son and his wife. The +black foot-men were drest in red and white, and the whole turn-out was +in the style in use in Vir-gin-i-a at that day. + +Wash-ing-ton had his rooms in the Crai-gie House, in Cam-bridge, and +here Mrs. Wash-ing-ton took charge and gave the place more of a +home-like air. + +At that time the camp of Cam-bridge was filled with all sorts of +troops. Some had spent the most of their lives in boats, some were +brought up on farms, some came from the woods, and each group wore the +dress that pleased them best, and laughed at those who were not drest +the same. + +This made sport for some time and jokes flew thick and fast. + +One day some men came in-to camp drest in an odd garb, such as was +worn to hunt in. The suit was made of deer-skin, and the long shirt +had a deep fringe all round. This dress was the cause of much mirth to +men who came from the sea-shore, and were used to short coats, and +rough plain clothes. + +There was snow on the ground, and when the jokes gave out, snow-balls +took their place, for a war of words is quite sure to end in blows. +Men came up to the aid of both sides. Fists were used, and all took +part in the hand-to-hand fight, and there was a great stir in the +camp. + +While the fight was at its height Wash-ing-ton rode up. None of his +aides were with him. He threw the reins of his own horse in-to the +hands of the black-man who rode near, sprang from his seat, and rushed +in-to the thick of the fray. Then he seized two of the tall stout +hunts-men by the throat, and talked to them and shook them while he +held them at arm's length. + +This put an end to the brawl at once, and the rest of the crowd slunk +off in haste, and left but three men on the ground: Wash-ing-ton, and +the two he held in his grasp. + +As the cold days and nights came on the men grew home-sick, and longed +to be by their own fire-sides. It was right that some of them should +go, for they had served out their time, and this made the rest +lone-some and sad. Songs would not cheer them, and they paid no heed +to the words of those who sought to rouse them from these depths of +woe. + +Wash-ing-ton was full of fears, which were shared by all those who +were near him in rank, yet he did not lose hope. Gen-er-al Greene +wrote, "They seem to be so sick of this way of life, and so home-sick, +that I fear a large part of our best troops will soon go home." Still +his heart did not lose hope. All would come right in time; and his +words of cheer were a great help to Wash-ing-ton at this time. + +The year 1775 had been a dark one for our land, and there was no ray +of hope to light the dawn of 1776. There were but 10,000 troops to +take the field. There was a lack of arms, a lack of clothes, and a +lack of food, and these things made camp-life hard to bear, and were a +great grief to the heart of the chief. He could not sleep. Had the foe +known of their plight, they would have borne down on them and swept +them out of sight. But God took care of them. + +In the first month of the year there was a stir on the Bos-ton +wharves. A large fleet of boats lay in the stream, on board of which +the red-coats swarmed, and there were two sloops-of-war filled with +guns and war-like stores. + +All were in charge of Gen-er-al Howe, and Wash-ing-ton guessed what +his plans were! and felt that the time had come for him to strive to +wrest Bos-ton from the King's troops. + +The out-look was bright. More troops had come to his aid, and he made +up his mind to place part of his force on Dor-ches-ter Heights, and, +if he could, draw out the foe to fight at that place. At a sign, the +troops on the Heights and at Nook's Hill were to fire at the same +time, and rake the town with balls and bomb-shells. At the same time +boats full of troops were to start from the mouth of Charles Riv-er, +and act in the rear of the red-coats. It was thought that these moves +on the part of our troops would bring on such a fight as they had had +on Breed's Hill. + +On the night of March 4, our men made their way to the Heights, and +at dawn of the next day strong forts loomed up, and seemed as if they +must have been brought there at the touch of a wand. + +Howe gazed on them and said, "The reb-els have done more work in one +night than my whole ar-my would have done in a month." + +He must drive them from the Heights, or leave Bos-ton. While pride +urged him on, fear held him back, for he knew that his loss would be +great. But he must make a move of some sort, so he made up his mind to +send boats out that night with a force of troops in charge of Lord +Per-cy. But a storm came up from the east; the surf beat high on the +shore where the boats would have to land; and the scheme was put off +till the next day. But it stormed just as hard the next day; the rain +came down in sheets; and the boats staid where they were. + +In the mean time our men kept at work on the hills on the north side +and south side, and when the storm ceased Gen-er-al Howe saw that the +forts were now so strong there would be no chance to take them. + +Nor was it safe for him to stay in Bos-ton. Yet the Ad-mi-ral said +that if Howe's troops did not seize the Heights, the ships-of-war +should not stay near Bos-ton; so his lord-ship would have to leave +with what grace he could, much as it might wound his pride. + +When the word went forth that the troops were to leave, strange sights +were seen in Bos-ton town and bay. For some days the red-coats went +this way and that in great haste. More than three-score-and-ten boats +were cast loose for sea, with at least 12,000 men on board of them. +While this stir took place not a shot was sent from the Heights, and +it was well that this was so, as the red-coats had laid plans to set +the town in a blaze if our troops fired one gun. + +The red-coats left Bos-ton March 17, and our troops, in charge of "Old +Put"--as the brave Put-nam was called--marched in-to town in fine +style. + +For some days the fleet lay off the coast of Rhode Isl-and, and it was +feared for a-while that they meant to strike a blow and win back what +they had lost. But no such thing took place, and ere long the fleet +sailed out of sight. + +"Where they are bound," wrote Wash-ing-ton, "and where they next will +pitch their tents, I know not." + +He thought they were on their way to New York, but such was not the +case. They had steered for Hal-i-fax, to wait there for more troops, +and for the large fleet that was to come from Eng-land. + +A vote of thanks and a large gold coin with his face on one side of +it, were sent to Wash-ing-ton by the chief men of the land, as part of +his due for what he had so far done to save A-mer-i-ca from King +George's rule. + +Wash-ing-ton, who thought the next move of the red-coats would be on +New York, set out for that place, and reached there A-pril 13. He went +to work at once to build forts, and to send out troops, and to make +the place as strong as it ought to be. He did not know the plans of +the foe, nor from what point they would hurl the bolts of war. + +All was guess-work, but still in the midst of doubt it would not do to +be slack. + +The town was put in charge of the troops, and the rules were quite +strict. Those who went in or out had to give the pass-word. "We all +live here, shut up like nuns," wrote one who was fond of a gay life, +"There's no one in town that we can go to see, and none to come and +see us." + +Good times in New York were at an end. Our troops had been forced to +leave Can-a-da, and it was known that the red-coats would push their +way to New York. Forts were built on high banks up the Hud-son, and +on the isles at its mouth, and all done that could be done to check +them in their march. + +In the mean time it had been thought a good plan to set a day in which +it might be shown through-out the land that A-mer-i-ca was, and, of a +right, ought to be, a free land. So in Ju-ly an Act was drawn up and +signed by the wise men who met in Phil-a-del-phi-a to frame the laws +for the new States, and there was great joy, for it was a great day. + +Bells were rung. Shouts and cheers rent the air. Fires blazed, and +hearts burned, and men knelt to pray, and give thanks to God. + +John Ad-ams said the Fourth of Ju-ly ought to be kept up with great +pomp through-out A-mer-i-ca,--"with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, +and bon-fires"--till the end of time. + +The news did not reach New York till Ju-ly 9, and at six o'clock that +night Wash-ing-ton read the Act to his troops. + +New York was wild with joy, and felt that more must be done than just +to ring bells and light fires. + +In Bow-ling Green, in front of the fort, there stood a cast of George +Third, made of lead. This a mob of men pulled down and broke up, that +the lead might be run in-to small shot and be used in the cause for +which they fought. + +This did not please Wash-ing-ton, and he told his troops that they +must not take part in such deeds. + +The joy did not last long, for on Ju-ly 12, the ships-of-war in the +bay sent out a broad-side, and it was thought they would at once fire +the town. Crowds were on the streets. The troops flocked to their +posts. Fear was in each heart, and New York was in a great stir. But +two ships--the _Phoe-nix_ and the _Rose_--left the fleet and shaped +their course up the Hud-son. + +Then the guns were still, and fear died out for a-while. That night +there was a fresh scare. Guns boomed and clouds of smoke were seen +near the ships-of-war down the bay. + +Men on the look-out told that a ship-of-the-line had come in from sea, +and each man-of-war gave her a round of guns as she passed by. At her +fore-top mast-head she bore the flag of St. George. No need to tell +more. "Lord Howe is come! Lord Howe is come!" was the cry that went +from mouth to mouth, and the word soon flew through the town, and all +felt that the hour of doom was close at hand. + +Lord Howe sought peace, and not blood-shed, and hoped, by the terms he +would make, to bring not a few hearts back to their King. But he came +too late. + +The Kings troops did not think much of the rank that was borne by our +men, who, they felt, had no right to put on the airs they did, and +call them-selves grand names. + +In a few days Lord Howe sent one of his men on shore with a flag of +truce, to seek speech with Wash-ing-ton. The man's name was Brown. His +boat was met half-way by a barge which had on board one of our troops, +named Reed, to whom Brown said he had a note for _Mis-ter_ +Wash-ing-ton. + +Reed said that he knew no man of that name. + +Brown held out to him the note he had in his hand, which bore on its +face: _George Wash-ing-ton, Esq._ + +Reed said that he could not take the note. He knew what was due to his +chief. So there was naught for Brown to do but to take to his oars. He +had not gone far when he came back to ask "What style should be used +to please Gen--(here he caught him-self and said) _Mis-ter_ +Wash-ing-ton." Reed told him that Wash-ing-ton's rank was well known, +and Lord Howe could be at no loss as to the right style. + +In a day or two an aide-de-camp came with a flag from Lord Howe, and +asked if Col-o-nel Pat-ter-son might have speech with _Gen-er-al_ +Wash-ing-ton. Reed, who met the aide was prompt to grant this and +pledged him-self that no harm should come to him who came in the +King's name. + +So the next day Pat-ter-son came, and when he stood face to face with +Wash-ing-ton, bowed and said "_Your Ex-cel-len-cy_." Wash-ing-ton met +him with much form and state. He was not a vain man, but was proud of +the rank he held, and thought that no man--were he a king--had a right +to look down on A-mer-i-ca, or show the least slight to her +Com-mand-er-in-chief. + +When he came to hear the terms on which Lord Howe sought to make +peace, he found they were not such as he could take, so the war went +on. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +IN AND NEAR NEW YORK. + + +The red-coats had a camp on Stat-en Isl-and, and for the next month or +so ships-of-war came that far up the bay, and brought with them a +large force of troops. North-east of them was the long stretch of land +known as Long Isl-and, where they could land their troops with ease, +and make their way to New York. + +Wash-ing-ton knew that he could not keep them back, but he meant to +vex them all he could. Gen-er-al Greene was placed with a large force +on Brook-lyn Heights, to guard the shore, and troops were sent a mile +back to throw up earth-works to check the march of the foe if they +should try to come up on the land side. + +At mid-night of Au-gust 21, a spy brought word that the King's troops +were on the move, and would soon show their strength, and "put all to +the sword." + +The next day the sound of great guns was heard, and a cloud of smoke +was seen to rise from the groves on the south side of Long Isl-and. +Word soon came to New York that the King's troops were at Graves-end, +and that our troops had fled and set fire to the stacks of wheat to +keep them out of the hands of the foe. + +Wash-ing-ton at once sent off a large force to check the foe at +Brook-lyn, and to lend aid to those in the fort on the Heights. He +told them to be cool, but firm; not to fire when the foe were a long +way off, but to wait till they were so near that each shot would tell. +And if one of them should skulk, or lie down, or leave his place in +the ranks, he was to be shot down at once. + +Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton led the King's troops, and Lord Corn-wal-lis had +charge of the field-guns. Corn-wal-lis made haste to seize a pass that +ran through the hills, but found Col-o-nel Hand there with a fine lot +of marks-men, and so made a halt at Flat-bush. + +This was so near New York that great fright spread through the town. +Those who had the means left the place. There was good cause for fear, +as it had been told that if our troops had to leave New York it would +at once be set on fire. This was false, but they did not know it. +Their hearts were full of dread. + +Gen-er-al Put-nam was sent to take the place of Gen-er-al Greene who +was sick in bed. The brave man was glad when he had leave to go, for +he did not want to be kept in New York when there was a chance to +fight for the land he loved. + +It was nine o'clock on the night of Oc-to-ber 26, that Sir Hen-ry +Clin-ton set out with his van-guard, on his march from Flat-bush. +Lord Corn-wal-lis brought up the rear-guard with all the large guns, +and the large force of troops led by Gen-er-al Howe. + +Not a drum was heard, nor the sound of a trump as they took their +course through by-roads and on cause-ways till they came near the pass +through the Bed-ford Hills where they made a halt. + +No guard had been put on the road or the pass by Gen-er-al Greene, who +must have thought it too far out of the way to need such care. + +Clin-ton was quick to see this, and at the first break of day his +troops were on the Heights, and with-in three miles of Bed-ford. + +In the mean-time scouts had brought word to our lines that the foe +were in force on the right, and Put-nam at once sent out troops to +hold them in check. + +At day-light small fights took place here and there. A brisk fire was +kept up at Flat-bush. Now was heard the big boom of a large +field-piece. Then a ship-of-war would send forth a broad-side on the +fort at Red Hook. Wash-ing-ton was still in doubt if this was part of +the main fight in which New York was to share. Five ships of the line +tried to beat up the bay, but were kept back by a strong head wind. As +the day wore on, and there were no signs that the red-coats meant to +strike New York, Wash-ing-ton went to Brook-lyn in his barge, and rode +with all speed to the Heights. He was just in time to see the fight in +the woods, which he could do naught to stay. + +He stood on a hill, and through his large spy-glass had a view of the +whole field. He saw his men cut their way through a host of foes. He +saw them caught in traps, and hemmed in so that they were 'twixt two +fires. + +The whole pass was a scene of blood, and through it rang the clash of +arms, the tramp of steeds, the storm of shot, and the cries of men +who fought for their lives. On this side and that, our troops were +swept down or put to rout by a force they had not strength to meet. +Wash-ing-ton wrung his hands at the sight. "Good God!" he cried, "what +brave men I must this day lose!" + +The red-coats went in-to camp that night in front of our lines, but +out of reach of the guns of the fort. + +Our loss was 3,000. + +Theirs less than 400. + +The next day New York Bay and the small isles were wrapped in a dense +fog, from which New York was quite free. Here was a chance for the +troops to leave the works on the Heights, and make their way to New +York. + +Fresh troops were sent down from Fort Wash-ing-ton and King's Bridge, +and Wash-ing-ton felt that no time should be lost. His fear was that +the King's ships would come up the bay at the turn of the tide, sail +up the East Riv-er and catch in a trap all our troops that were on +Long Isl-and. + +It was late at night when the troops stole out from the breast works. +In the dead of night a big gun went off with a great roar, that gave a +shock to the nerves of those who were in dread that the least sound +might warn the foe of their flight to the New York side. + +But no harm came of it, the fog shut out the view, and by day-break +our troops had all left the fort and were safe on the New York side. +Wash-ing-ton, who had not slept for two days and nights, and had spent +the most of the time on horse-back, would not step in-to the boat till +he saw that all his troops were on board. + +The fog rose as the rear boats were in mid-stream, and when the +red-coats climbed the crest of the earth-works they found not a sign +of life there, and not a thing they could use. Our men had made a +clean sweep, and were proud of the way in which they stole a march on +the red-coats. + +Still, New York was not safe; and Wash-ing-ton sought in all ways to +find out the plans of the foe. Ships-of-war went up the Sound, and up +the Hud-son, and guns were fired on the forts that lay on each side of +the town. But he knew that if the red-coats took New York they would +soon be made to give it up, and so he made up his mind that his best +course was to with-draw his troops, to Har-lem Heights. This was done, +with the loss of a few men who had a fight with some red-coats on the +way, and there he staid a few days, and spent much time on horse-back. + +He took note of the land, and chose sites for forts, and breast works, +and on Oc-to-ber 23, took his stand at White Plains, where a strong +fort was built. + +Soon the din of war was heard. The guns from Fort Wash-ing-ton and +Fort Lee poured their fire on the men-of-war, but could not keep them +back, and the red-coats still gave chase to our troops. Fort +Wash-ing-ton fell in-to the hands of the foe in spite of a strong +fight made to hold it. + +One day Wash-ing-ton went out with some of his staff to look at a +height at the north where it was thought he might make a stand, and +leave the camp where he then was. + +One of them said, "There is the ground where we ought to be." + +"Let us go then and view it," said Wash-ing-ton. + +They were on their way to the place, when a horse-man rode up in haste +and cried out, "The red-coats are in camp, Sir!" + +"Then," said Wash-ing-ton, "we have some-thing else to do than this," +and at once put spurs to his horse and set off for the camp at full +speed. + +When he reached there he found all his troops drawn up to meet the foe +that was close at hand. In his calm way he turned to those who had +been out with him on the hills, and said "Go back to your posts, and +do the best you can." + +A short, sharp fight took place, in which our troops made a brave +stand, but the red-coats were too strong for them, and drove them back +to the camp, and seized the hill on which they had stood. + +That night the troops of Wash-ing-ton and Howe lay not far a-part. +Wash-ing-ton kept his men at work, and forts were built, and +earth-works thrown up. These works were made of the stalks of corn, or +maize, which the men took from a field near at hand. The roots of the +stalks, with the earth on them, were placed on the face of the works, +in the same way that sods of grass, and logs of wood were used. The +tops were turned in, and loose earth thrown on them so that they were +held in place, and made a good shield from the fire of small-arms. + +The next day, when Howe saw how much had been done by our troops to +add to their strength, he made a change in his plans. His own men +were in a sad plight, and not fit to cope with the well-fed troops +that kept them at bay. The nights were cold, the Fall rains set in, +and not a few of the red-coats were ill. Their chiefs knew how to +fight in straight lines, but were not so shrewd and so quick to make +use of what lay at hand as our chiefs were. So he broke up his camp, +and in a few days the whole force of red-coats fell back from White +Plains. + +But the strife was kept up at the North, and the foes were at work on +sea and on land from New York to Al-ba-ny. Our troops met with +ill-luck, and Wash-ing-ton was filled with grief. + +Fort Wash-ing-ton was in the hands of the foe; Fort Lee was of no use; +and the next move of the red-coats was to cross the Hud-son, north of +Fort Lee, and make their way through New Jer-sey. By that means they +could shut in all our troops 'twixt the Hud-son and the Hack-en-sack. + +Wash-ing-ton at once sent off his men to save the bridge at +Hack-en-sack. No time was to be lost. They left the camp with all +haste, but ere they could reach the Hack-en-sack the van-guard of the +foe was close at their heels. It was thought that a fight would take +place, but Corn-wal-lis turned back and some of his troops slept that +night in the tents that our men had left. + +These were dark days. Wash-ing-ton led his troops through New Jer-sey, +hard pressed by Corn-wal-lis, whose van-guard came in-to New-ark just +as Wash-ing-ton's rear-guard had left it. His whole camp were in +flight. He staid a few days at New Bruns-wick, in hopes that fresh +troops would be sent to his aid, but none came, though his needs were +so great. The men who, as he thought, would seize their guns and join +his ranks, fled from their homes and sought a safe place as soon as +they heard that the red-coats were near. + +[Illustration: CROSSING THE DELAWARE.--P. 78.] + +On De-cem-ber 2, Wash-ing-ton was at Tren-ton, where he made but a +brief halt. Then he crossed the Del-a-ware, and left New Jer-sey in +the hands of the foe. If he and his men once got to Phil-a-del-phi-a, +they would find troops there with whose aid they might hope to turn +back the red-coats so close on their track. + +Gen-er-al Lee, who was at the heels of the foe, was at Mor-ris-town, +De-cem-ber 11, where his troops had been forced to halt for two days +for want of shoes. He was a man who loved his ease, and to lie late in +bed. + +One day as he sat at a desk with pen in hand, one of his aides named +Wil-kin-son, who was with him, looked down the lane that led from the +house to the main road and saw a band of red-coats on horse-back. + +He cried out to Lee "Here are the red-coats!" + +"Where?" said Lee. + +"Round the house!" + +"Where is the guard?" said Lee with an oath. "Where is the guard? Why +don't they fire?" + +The guards had not thought it worth while to keep watch, when their +chief was so much at his ease, so they had stacked their arms and sat +down on the south side of a house to sun them-selves. As the horse-men +came up they gave chase to the guards who fled for their lives, and +left Lee and his aide to do the best that they could. + +The red-coats drew near the house where Lee was, and swore that they +would set fire to it if the Gen-er-al showed fight. So he was forced +to yield, and was brought out in great haste--for they wished to make +sure of their prize--and placed on Wil-kin-son's horse which stood at +the door. He was but half-drest, had no hat on his head, and wore low +shoes, and a loose rough coat. In this style he had to ride to New +Bruns-wick, where the King's troops at sight of him set off their big +guns, for their joy was great. + +The loss of Lee was thought at the time to be a great blow to our +cause, as it was hoped that he would do much to bring the war to an +end, and to lead the troops out of their sore straits. + +In the mean-time Wash-ing-ton was on his way to cross the Del-a-ware. +There was snow on the ground, and the march of the troops could be +traced by the blood-spots from the feet of those whose shoes were worn +out. + +The red-coats were in force at Tren-ton, in charge of a man, named +Rahl, who had done brave work for King George at White Plains and +Fort Wash-ing-ton. + +Wash-ing-ton's plan was to add to his force, and, as soon as he could, +cross the Del-a-ware and strive to wrest Tren-ton from the hands of +the foe. He and his force were to cross the stream nine miles north of +the town; Gen-er-al Ew-ing was to cross with his troops a mile south +of the town; and Gen-er-al Put-nam to leave at a point south of +Bur-ling-ton. + +It was a bold scheme, full of risk to all who took part in it, yet +there was naught to be done but to push on, and hope for the best. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SAD YEAR. + + +Christ-mas night was the time set to cross the Del-a-ware, and at +sun-set the troops were on the move. It was a dark, cold night. The +wind was high, the tide strong, and the stream full of cakes of ice +which drove the boats out of their course. It seemed at times as if +the boats would be crushed to bits, Men who were used to boats, and +had been brought up on the sea, and had fought with fierce storms and +wild gales, found it hard work, with all their skill, to make their +way from shore to shore. + +Wash-ing-ton, who crossed with the troops, stood on the east bank till +all the field-guns were brought to land, and it was four o'clock ere +the men took up their line of march. Tren-ton was nine miles off, and +they could not reach there till day-light, too late to take the King's +troops off their guard. + +Most of the troops at Tren-ton were Hes-sians, from Hesse, a small +Ger-man state whose prince had lent his troops to King George for +hire. As I have told you they were in charge of Rahl. Rahl thought +more of his brass band than he did of his men, was full of good cheer +and liked to have a good time. He would sit up till a late hour in the +night, and then lie in bed till nine o'clock the next day. + +The one who leads troops to war should be like a watch-dog, quick to +see and to hear all that goes on, and to be on guard at all times. + +Each day he had the guns drawn out and dragged through the town, just +to make a stir and have the band out. But when the Ma-jor told him +that he should have earth-works thrown up on which to place the guns +he said, "Pooh! pooh! Let the foe come on! We'll charge on them with +the bay-o-net!" + +"But Herr Col-o-nel," said the old Ma-jor, "it costs not much, and if +it does not help it will not harm." + +But Rahl laughed as if he thought it a good joke, turned on his heel +and went off, and the works were not thrown up. + +On this night, too, there was a great stir in the camp at Tren-ton, +for the men did their best to keep Christ-mas, and their thoughts were +of home and the dear ones there. They made what cheer they could, and +did not dream that the foe was so near. + +A storm of hail and snow set in as soon as our troops took up their +march. They could scarce see their way through the sleet they had to +face. The night was so cold that two of the men froze to death. At +dawn of day some of the men came to a halt at a cross-road, where they +did their best to dry their guns. But some were past use, and word was +sent to Wash-ing-ton of the state of their arms. They were in doubt +what to do. + +Wash-ing-ton in a burst of rage bade the man go back to his chief at +once, and tell him to push on and charge if he could not fire. + +At eight o'clock Wash-ing-ton drew near the town at the head of his +troops. He went up to a man who had come out to chop wood by the +road-side and asked him where the guard was who stood at the out-post +of Rahl's camp. + +The man said in a harsh voice, "I don't know." + +"You may tell him," said one of our men who stood near, "for that is +Gen-er-al Wash-ing-ton." + +At once a great change came o'er the man to whom Wash-ing-ton spoke. +He raised his hands, and cried, "God bless you! God bless you!" and +then showed where the guards could be found. + +Soon was heard the cry from Rahl's men, "The foe! the foe! turn out! +turn out!" Drums beat to arms. The whole place was in a stir. +Wash-ing-ton came in on the north, Sul-li-van on the west, and Stark +at the south end of the town. + +Rahl scarce knew how to act. He rode to the front of his troops and +got them out of the town. Then he seemed to feel that it was a shame +to fly in that way, for he was a brave man, so he led his men back in +a wild dash out of the woods and in-to the town to meet the foe. + +In the midst of the fight, a shot struck him and he fell from his +horse. The troops would heed no voice but that of their chief, and +fled up the banks of a creek on the way to Prince-ton. + +Wash-ing-ton saw the stir and thought they had wheeled to form a new +line. He was told that they had laid down their arms, and his joy was +great. The day was ours! + +But for the wild flight of Rahl's men, it would have gone hard with +our troops. Wash-ing-ton did not know it at the time, but he found out +that Ew-ing and Put-nam had tried to cross the stream but were kept +back by the ice, and he with his raw troops would, he was sure, have +been put to rout had Rahl and his men been on their guard. + +The poor Ma-jor, who had in vain urged Rahl to throw up breast-works, +had a bad wound of which he died in Tren-ton; and Rahl him-self, to +whom the red-coats owed their ill-luck, was laid to rest in a +grave-yard in that town. + +And where was Gen-er-al Howe all this time? In New York, where he +thought to take his ease till the Del-a-ware froze so that his troops +could cross. He was much shocked at the news that the Hes-sians who +had been brought up to war should have laid down their arms for a +troop of raw men in rags. He sent Lord Corn-wal-lis back to take +Jer-sey, and, as he said, "to bag the fox." + +By the third of Jan-u-a-ry red-coats, with Corn-wal-lis at their head, +were near at hand. Wash-ing-ton was in a tight place, with a small +creek 'twixt his few raw troops and the large force of the foe. Back +of him lay the Del-a-ware which it was now not safe to cross. + +In this dark hour a gleam of hope came to his mind. He saw a way out +of the trap, and that was by a quick night-march to get at the rear of +the King's troops, dash on the camp at Prince-ton, seize the stores +that were left there, and push on to New Bruns-wick. + +A thaw had set in which made the roads deep with mire, but in the +course of the night the wind veered to the north, and in two hours +the roads were once more hard and frost-bound. + +That the foe might not guess his plan, Wash-ing-ton bade some of his +men keep at work with their spades on the pits near the bridge, go the +rounds, change guards at each bridge and ford, and keep up the +camp-fires till day-break, when they were to join those on the way to +Prince-ton. + +In the dead of the night Wash-ing-ton drew his troops out of camp and +the march took place. The road which they had to take was cut through +woods, and the stumps of the trees made the march a slow one, so that +it was near sun-rise when Wash-ing-ton came to the bridge at the brook +three miles from Prince-ton. + +As our troops left the woods they came face to face with a force of +red-coats, and a sharp fight took place, which did not last long. + +Wash-ing-ton was in the midst of it. In the heat of the fight, his +aide-de-camp lost sight of him in the dusk and smoke. The young man +dropped the reins on the neck of his horse, drew down his cap to hide +the tears in his eyes, and gave him up for lost. When he saw +Wash-ing-ton come out from the cloud with his hat raised and the foe +in flight, he spurred up to his side. + +"Thank God you are safe!" cried he. + +"A-way, and bring up the troops," said Wash-ing-ton, "the day is our +own!" + +At day-break, when Gen-er-al Howe thought to bag his fox, he found the +prize had slipped from his grasp, and soon learned that the King's +troops had lost their hold on New Jer-sey. + +The fame of Wash-ing-ton, and of the brave deeds of those who fought +to be free, went a-cross the sea, and made friends for him and the +cause. Not a few came to their aid. One of these brave souls was a +Pole, whose name was Kos-ci-us-ko. + +The com-mand-er-in-chief said to him "What do you seek here?" + +"To fight for the cause you have at heart." + +"What can you do?" + +"Try me." + +This style of speech, and the air of the man, pleased Wash-ing-ton so +well that he at once made him an aide-de-camp. This was in 1777. He +served the cause well, and went back to his own land in 1786 with the +rank of Brig-a-dier Gen-er-al. + +In 1777 La-fay-ette came from France to join the troops led by +Wash-ing-ton. He had wealth and high rank in his own land, and had +lived but a score of years. He left his young wife, and the gay court +of France, and made his way to A-mer-i-ca to do what he could to aid +the foes of King George. + +He came, he said, to learn and not to teach, and would serve with-out +pay, and as one who came of his own free-will. + +He soon won his way to the heart of Wash-ing-ton, and a strong bond of +love grew up 'twixt the two which naught but death could break. + +In the mean-time the whole of our land south of the Great Lakes was a +scene of strife and blood-shed, and it was hard work for our troops to +keep the red-skins and red-coats at bay. + +I have not space to tell you of all the fights that took place, nor +the ways in which Wash-ing-ton sought to vex the King's troops. + +On the third of Oc-to-ber of this year--1777--we find him at +Ger-man-town, where the main force of the red-coats were in camp. His +plan was to drive them out, but though his troops fought with much +skill and in the midst of a dense fog, they were forced back, and the +day was lost. + +The ships-of-war in the Del-a-ware led Wash-ing-ton to think that Lord +Howe meant to turn his guns on Phil-a-del-phi-a, and his mind was +filled with doubts and fears. + +In the same month word came to him that Bur-goyne--who was at the +head of the King's troops in the north--had been forced to yield to +Gen-er-al Gates at Fish-kill. This was such a blow to the King's +cause that the troops at West Point and else where on the Hud-son, +who were to have gone to the aid of Bur-goyne, left the forts and made +their way to New York. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +FOES IN THE CAMP. + + +It is much worse to have one foe in the camp than to have a host of +foes out-side, for who can tell what harm he may do who comes in the +guise of a friend? + +In the year 1774 a young man, named John An-dre, came with the King's +troops, and fought in their ranks at St. John's and Crown Point. + +He had a brave heart, and a fine mind, and did much to keep up the +hearts of the men when in the camp. He was fond of the fair sex and +had praised in rhyme the charms of a Miss Ship-pen who wed Ben-e-dict +Ar-nold in the year 1780. + +Ar-nold had fought well on our side at the north, and won much +praise. He had been a sea-man in his youth, and was both strong and +brave. But he grew proud and vain, and sought to rank as high as the +Com-mand-er-in-chief, with whom he found much fault. + +Wash-ing-ton had great faith in him, and did not dream he was false at +heart. + +For some ill-deeds while at Phil-a-del-phi-a Ar-nold had been brought +to court and tried and his guilt proved, and this had made him wroth +with Wash-ing-ton, and the cause he had sworn to aid. + +He sought for a way to pay back the slight and raise him-self to +fame. With this end in view he wrote to Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton--but did +not use his own name--that he would like to join the cause of King +George on the terms that he set forth. He was in need of funds for he +was deep in debt, but Clin-ton did not see fit to make use of him. + +Two or three more of his schemes failed, and at last he asked that he +might have charge of the post at West Point. This Wash-ing-ton gave +him, and in Au-gust Ar-nold fixed him-self in a fine house that stood +on the east side of the stream, half a mile or so south of West Point. + +From this place he sent notes to An-dre, the aide-de-camp of Clin-ton, +who wrote back and signed his name _John An-der-son_. + +Ar-nold's plan was to throw West Point and the High-lands in-to the +hands of Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton at the time that Wash-ing-ton was at +King's Bridge, and the Eng-lish troops in New York. + +A fleet, with a large land force on board, was to come up to the +High-lands, and Ar-nold would at once yield up the post in-to their +hands. This act he thought would bring the war to an end, with the +flag of King George at high mast, and then great would be the name and +fame of Ben-e-dict Ar-nold. + +That the scheme might not fail, Ar-nold wrote to An-dre to meet him at +Dobb's Fer-ry, Sep-tem-ber 11, at noon. + +But Ar-nold had spent the night of the 10th at Hav-er-straw, on the +west shore, and on his way back in his barge, as he had no flag, he +was fired on by the guard boats of the King's troops. So he had to put +off his plans for a day or two. + +In the mean-time the sloop-of-war _Vul-ture_--a good name for such a +bird of prey--was brought up the Hud-son so as to be near at hand to +aid in the vile scheme. + +On Sep-tem-ber 18, Wash-ing-ton with his suite crossed the Hud-son at +Ver-planck's Point, in Ar-nold's barge, on his way to Hart-ford. +Ar-nold went with him as far as Peeks-kill, and talked with him in a +frank way, and as if he were most true to the cause. + +An-dre went up the Hud-son on the 20th and went on board the Vul-ture +where he thought to meet Ar-nold. But Ar-nold knew it would not be +safe for him to be there; so he kept in the back-ground. + +The next night a boat crept up to the side of the _Vul-ture_ in which +were two men. Their oars scarce made a sound. + +An-dre, who wore a blue great coat, went on board this boat and was +rowed to the west side of the stream. Six miles south of Sto-ny Point +they came to shore at the foot of a high mount known as the Long +Clove. It was mid-night. Dark was the hour, and dark the place, and +dark the deed. + +Ar-nold was there hid in the shade of the woods. A man was near who +came to wait on him and take care of his horse. He and An-dre had a +long talk. One, two, three hours passed, and still there was more to +say. One of the men who had brought An-dre, and whose name was Smith, +warned them that it was near day-break, and the boat would be seen by +our guards if they did not go back soon. + +Ar-nold feared that the sight of a boat on its way to the _Vul-ture_ +might bring harm to him and his scheme, so he urged An-dre to stay on +shore till the next night. The boat was sent to a creek up the +Hud-son, and An-dre on the horse that Ar-nold's man had rode, set off +with Ar-nold for Smith's house. + +The road took them through the small town of Hav-er-straw. As they +rode on in the dark the voice of one of the guards at an out-post made +An-dre start, for he knew he must be with-in our lines. But it was too +late to turn back, and at day-break they reached Smith's house. + +Scarce was the door closed on them when the boom of great guns was +heard from down the stream. An-dre felt ill at ease, and had good +cause for fear. + +The fact was that as soon as Liv-ing-ston, who had charge of our +troops at Ver-planck's Point, heard that the _Vul-ture_ was with-in +shot of Tel-ler's Point, which juts out 'twixt Hav-er-straw Bay and +Tap-pan Sea, he sent some men and some big guns to that point in the +night to fire on the sloop-of-war. + +An-dre kept a close watch on the scene from a top room in Smith's +house. At one time he thought the _Vul-ture_ was on fire; but his +heart gave a throb of joy when he saw the sloop-of-war drop down the +stream out of reach of gun shot. + +Ar-nold gave An-dre the plans of the works at West Point, and told him +what and how he was to do. As the _Vul-ture_ had changed her place, he +told An-dre it would be far more safe for him to go back to New York +by land. And he would reach there in less time. + +But An-dre said that he must be put on board the sloop-of-war the next +night; and in case he should change his mind Ar-nold gave him a pass +that he might go by sea or by land. At ten o'clock that morn Ar-nold +left him to his fate. + +Time moved at a slow pace with poor An-dre. Once on board the +_Vul-ture_ he would be safe; his task would be done, and West Point +would soon be in the hands of the red-coats. As night set in he grew +still more ill at ease, and asked Smith how he had planned to get him +on board the _Vul-ture_. + +It gave him a shock to learn that Smith had not done the least thing. +The boat-men had gone home, and he would not take him on board the +_Vul-ture_. But he said he would cross the Hud-son with him and start +him on the road to New York by land, and go some of the way with him +on horse-back. + +They set off at sun-set, and went for eight miles on the road to White +Plains when they were brought to a halt by a band of our troops who +were out as watch-men. + +An-dre showed his pass signed with Ar-nold's name, and so they took +him for a friend and not a foe. He wore a coat of Smith's that made +him look like a plain man. + +The two were warned that it was not safe for them to be on the road at +night, as they might meet the Cow-Boys from the King's troops, who but +a short time since had swept through that part of the land. + +Smith was full of fears, and An-dre had to yield to his wish to take a +bed in a farm-house near at hand. This they did, but An-dre could not +sleep. He knew that he was not safe. At day-break he woke Smith, and +made him haste to leave the place. + +Two and a half miles from Pine's Bridge, on the Cro-ton Riv-er, An-dre +and Smith took a scant meal at a farm-house which had been stripped by +the Cow-Boys. + +Here Smith took leave of An-dre, who was to go the rest of the way to +New York a-lone. He felt no fear now, as he had passed our lines, and +was clear of those who kept watch on the out-posts. + +Six miles from Pine's Bridge he came to a fork in the road. The left +branch led to White Plains. The right branch led to the Hud-son. He +had thought at first that he would take the left hand road, as the +right one was said to be filled with Cow-Boys. But he had naught to +fear from them, as he was on their side; and as it was a more straight +road to New York, he turned down it and took his course on the banks +of the Hud-son. + +He had not gone far when he came to a place where a small stream +crossed the road and ran down a dell that was thick with trees. A man +stepped out with a gun and brought An-dre to a stand. Two more armed +men came up to aid the first one, whose name was Paul-ding. +Paul-ding's coat was in rags, and was of the kind that was worn by the +King's troops. When An-dre caught sight of it his heart leapt for joy, +for he was sure he was safe. So sure that he did not guard his tongue. +He asked the men if they were on his side, and they said they were. He +then told who he was, and that he had been sent to a post up the +Hud-son and was in haste to get back. As he spoke he drew out a gold +watch, such as few owned in those days, and none but men of wealth. + +Think what a shock it must have been to An-dre when Paul-ding said +they were not his friends but his foes, and he was in their hands. + +Then An-dre tried to make out that what he first told was a lie, but +that he would now tell the truth; and he drew forth his pass to prove +that he was all right. Had he done this in the first place he might +have gone on his way. "A still tongue shows a wise head." + +The men seized his horse by the rein and told An-dre to get off. He +warned them that he had been sent out by Gen-er-al Ar-nold and that +they would be ill dealt with if they held him back. + +"We care not for that," they said, as they led him through the shrubs +on the edge of the brook. They then went to work to search him, and +took note of the way in which he was drest. They were poor men, and +had not had a chance to see such fine clothes. + +An-dre wore a round hat, a blue great-coat, 'neath which was a red +coat decked off with gold-lace, a nan-keen vest, small-clothes and +boots. + +They made him take off his coat and vest, and found naught to prove +that he had sought to harm their cause, and they had a mind to let him +go. + +Paul-ding, who had been twice in the hands of the red-coats and +ill-used by them, was still not quite free from doubt. A thought came +to his mind. + +"Boys," said he, "his boots must come off." + +At this An-dre's face flushed, and he said that his boots were hard to +get off, and he begged that he might not lose time in this way. + +But the men were firm. They made him sit down, his boots were drawn +off, and the plans that Ar-nold gave him were brought to light. + +Paul-ding looked at them and cried out, + +"He is a spy!" + +He then asked An-dre where he had got these plans. "From a man at Pine +Bridge" he said; "a man whom I did not know." + +As he put on his clothes An-dre begged the men to let him go. He would +pay them a large sum, and stay with two of the men while one went to +New York to get it. + +Here Paul-ding broke in, "Keep your gold! We want none of it. Were it +ten times as much, you should not stir one step!" + +An-dre had to yield to his fate, and was led by the men to our post +which was ten or twelve miles off. An-dre rode on horse-back with one +man in front, and one at each side. + +At noon they came to a farm-house, and those who dwelt there sat at +the mid-day meal. The house-wife, whose heart was touched by a sight +of An-dre's youth and look of grief, asked him to draw near and take +some of the food. Then as she caught sight of his gold-laced coat, the +good dame said that she knew it was poor fare for such as he, but it +was the best she had. + +Poor An-dre shook his head, and said, "Oh, it is all good, but in-deed +I can-not eat!" + +When the four reached the out-post and Jame-son, who was in charge, +saw the plans that had been found on An-dre, he at once saw that they +had been drawn up by the hand of Ben-e-dict Ar-nold. + +He at once did the thing he ought not to have done, which was to write +to Ar-nold, and tell him that a man who said his name was _John +An-derson_ had been caught, and held, though he bore a pass signed by +him. The plans found on him had been sent to the Com-mand-er-in-chief, +and An-dre, with a strong guard was sent with the note to Ar-nold. + +In a short time, Ma-jor Tall-madge, who was next in rank to Jame-son, +came back from a trip to White Plains. He had a clear head, and as +soon as he heard the case he at once urged Jame-son to send a man in +haste to bring An-dre back. This was done, but Jame-son had not +thought to have the note to Ar-nold brought back, so it sped on to let +the knave know that his plot had failed. + +As soon as Ar-nold read the note he sprang on the horse of the man who +brought it, and rode with all speed to the dock where his six-oared +barge lay moored. He threw him-self in-to it and bade his men pull out +in mid-stream and row as fast as they could to Tel-ler's Point, as he +must be back in time to meet Wash-ing-ton, who was then on his way to +West Point. + +The guards knew his barge, so they did not fire on it, and a bit of +white cloth waved in the air served as a flag of truce. He soon was on +board the _Vul-ture_, where he gave him-self up, and the cox-swain and +six barge-men with him. This was a mean act, and showed just what kind +of a man Ar-nold was, but as soon as the men made it known that they +had been led to think that all was right, and that a flag of truce +gave them a safe pass, they were at once set free. + +Ar-nold gave the red-coats much aid, and they were glad to make use of +him. But they did not care to make friends with so base a man. At the +close of the war, he went to Eng-land, and made his home there. He was +shunned by all, and died in the year 1801, at the age of three-score. + +As Wash-ing-ton drew near the fort at West Point, he thought it +strange that no guns were fired. "Is not Gen-er-al Ar-nold here?" he +asked of the man who came down to the shore to meet him. + +"No, sir. He has not been here for two days past; nor have I heard +from him in that time." + +This was strange; but soon the note from Jame-son was placed in his +hands, and when he had read of the deep-laid scheme, he said with a +deep sigh, "Whom can we trust now?" + +Word was at once sent out to the guards to check Ar-nold's flight, but +it was too late. He had slipped from their grasp. + +Let us now see how An-dre bore his hard fate. He had the best of care, +and made hosts of friends, who grieved that one so young, so +well-bred, and of such high rank, should have done a crime for which +he must be hung. + +It was a great grief to Wash-ing-ton, who would have felt no pang had +Ar-nold been in An-dre's place. But death to the spy! was one of the +rules of war, and Oc-to-ber 2 was the day set for An-dre to be hung. +He had asked that since it was his lot to die he might choose the mode +of death; and begged that he might be shot. This Wash-ing-ton could +not grant, though in his heart he longed to do so; but thought it best +that An-dre should not know. + +On the morn of the 2d, An-dre drest him-self with great care, in the +full suit worn by those who bore his rank in the King's troops. He was +calm, while all those near him were in tears. + +He walked with a firm step to the place where he was to end his life, +arm in arm with two of our troops. When he caught sight of the rope he +gave a start, and asked if he was not to be shot. When told that no +change could be made, he said "How hard is my fate!--But it will be +but a brief pang!" + +[Illustration: WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE--P. 94.] + +Then he stepped in-to the cart, took off his hat and stock, loosed his +shirt at the throat, put the noose round his neck and bound his own +eyes. + +When told that there was a chance for him to speak if he chose, he +said "I pray you to note that I meet my fate like a brave man." + +Then the cart was moved off and he was left in mid-air, and death took +place in a short time. An-dre was laid in a grave near the place where +he was hung, but in 1821 was borne to the land of his birth, and +placed near the tombs of Kings and Queens. + +He that breaks laws must pay the price. If you want to make friends, +and to have them love and trust you--_be true_. Let no one coax you to +sin. The eye of God is on you, and he sees all your deeds. You may +hide your crime for a while, but you may "be sure your sin will find +you out." Be not an Ar-nold nor an An-dre. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE HARDSHIPS OF WAR. + + +We will now go back to the place we left, and see where Wash-ing-ton +was at the close of the year 1777. He had been forced to leave New +Jer-sey in the hands of the King's troops. His own troops were worn +down by long and hard toil, and had need of rest. They were in want of +clothes too, and could not keep warm in the tents, so he sought out a +place where they could build huts and screen them-selves from the cold +winds and storms. + +He chose Val-ley Forge, which was on the west bank of the Schuyl +(_school_)-kill Riv-er, and a score of miles from Phil-a-del-phi-a. +Sad was the march of the troops to Val-ley Forge. Food was scant, +their clothes were worn out, and a track of blood marked the way they +trod. They had fought hard, but not to win, and this made their hearts +low. + +On De-cem-ber 17, they reached Val-ley Forge, and had to freeze in +their tents till they could cut down the trees and build the huts they +were to live in. + +The walls were six feet and a half high, and were made of logs filled +in with clay. The roofs were made of logs split in half. + +No pen can paint the hard lot of those poor men shut in at Val-ley +Forge. For some days they had no meat. For three days they had no +bread. Some of the men had to sit up all night by the fires, as there +were no clothes for their beds, and they could not sleep for the cold. +Some of the men were so scant of clothes that they could not leave +their huts. + +Wash-ing-ton was kept short of funds and of troops, though he plead +hard for both, and was sore pressed on all sides. He scarce knew what +to do. There was but one thing he could do, and that was to wait. + +While his troops were in this sad plight--some of them sick un-to +death--the red-coats, who held Phil-a-del-phi-a in siege, led a gay +sort of life, and were much at their ease. + +Near the first of March a Ger-man came to Wash-ing-ton's camp to lend +him his aid. + +His name was Bar-on Steu-ben. He had fought for long years in the wars +that had been waged in Eu-rope, had been aide-de-camp to Fred-er-ick +the Great, and had won much fame by his brave deeds. The French, who +were friends to our cause, knew that we had need of such a man as +Bar-on Steu-ben, and urged him to come to A-mer-i-ca, and he was at +once sent to join the troops at Val-ley Forge. + +Our troops had had no chance to drill, there was no one to teach them, +and they had fought with a rush and a dash, and in a pell-mell sort of +way. Steu-ben went to work to drill these men, the best of whom had +much to learn, and he found it a hard task at first as he could not +speak our tongue. At last a man was found who spoke French, and him +Steu-ben made his aide-de-camp and kept him close at hand. + +The men were slow to learn, for the drills were new to them, and +Steu-ben would get wroth with them and call them "block-heads," and +all sorts of hard names. But though he had a sharp tongue, and was +quick to get in a rage, he had a kind, true heart, and soon won the +love of the men. + +For eight months the red-coats had held Phil-a-del-phi-a. In the +spring Gen-er-al Howe went home, and left his troops in charge of Sir +Hen-ry Clin-ton, who made up his mind to lead the troops back to New +York. But he did not wish his plans to be known. + +In the mean-time, Wash-ing-ton knew that a scheme of some sort was on +foot--so he sent troops out to check the King's troops should they +move by land. The red-coats left Phil-a-del-phi-a on June 18, and as +there was but one road for them to take, their train stretched out for +twelve miles. They made a halt at Al-len-town, and Clin-ton had not +quite made up his mind which way to go from that place. He at first +thought he would go as far as the Rar-i-tan Riv-er, and then ship his +troops to New York; but when he found that our troops were not far +off, he turned to the right and took the road to Mon-mouth. + +His march was a slow one; the heat was great; the rains made the roads +bad, and they had to stop to bridge the streams, and to build +cause-ways so that they could cross the swamps. + +Wash-ing-ton in the mean-time had gone on to Kings-ton; but as soon as +he learned Clin-ton's course, he moved his troops so as to get in the +rear of the red-coats. + +On the night of June 27, the foe went in camp on the high ground near +Mon-mouth Court House. The van-guard of our troops was five miles off, +and in charge of Gen-er-al Lee. + +At day-break the van-guard of the red-coats set forth down the hill, +while Clin-ton with his choice troops staid in camp on the heights of +Free-hold, to give the long train of carts and pack mules a chance to +get well on the way. At eight o'clock all were in line of march to +Mid-dle-town. + +As soon as Lee heard that the foe were on the move, he set out to meet +them, and was joined by the troops in charge of La-fay-ette. As Lee +stood on one of the hills he caught sight of a band of red-coats hid +some-what by the woods, which he thought was a part of the main force. +So he sent some of his troops to draw their fire and check them in the +rear, while he with the rest of his force would take a short cut, +through the woods, get in front of the corps, and cut it off from the +main force. + +Wash-ing-ton was on his way with his main force, when the boom of big +guns rang out on the air. The sound caused him to change his pace to a +quick step, and when he drew near Free-hold church, where the road +forked, he sent Greene with part of his force to the right, while he +with the rest of the troops took the left hand road. + +Wash-ing-ton stood on the ground with his arm thrown up on the neck of +his horse, when a man rode up and said the blue-coats were in flight. +Wash-ing-ton was vexed, for he was quite sure it was not true. Then up +came one with fife in hand, quite out of breath, and in great fright. +He was seized at once so that he would not scare the troops then on +their way, and told that he would be flogged if he dared to spread the +tale he had brought. + +Wash-ing-ton sprang on his horse, and sent men out to learn the +truth, while he spurred past the Free-hold church. The news seemed too +strange to be true. He had heard but a few guns, and did not think +there had been much of a fight. Was Lee to blame for this wrong move? +He feared so. As he reached the high ground he saw Lee and his men in +full flight, and by this time he was in a fine rage. + +"What do you mean by this?" he asked in a fierce stern tone as Lee +rode up to him. + +At sight of Wash-ing-ton's face Lee was struck dumb for a-while, but +when he could speak he tried to tell why he had thought it best to +fall back. There was not much time for a talk, as the foe were not far +off. The sight of their Com-mand-er-in-chief put a stop to the flight, +and plans were at once made to turn the luck. The place where they +were was good for a stand, as it was on high ground which the foe +could not reach but by a cause-way. + +Lee knew that Wash-ing-ton had lost faith in him, so he held back, +and would give no aid to his chief. Wash-ing-ton rode back to Lee in a +calm mood, and said to him; "Will you keep the com-mand on this +height, or not? If you will, I will go back to the main force and have +it formed on the next height." + +Lee said it was all the same to him where he was placed, that he would +do just as Wash-ing-ton said, and "not be the first to leave the +ground." + +Soon guns were heard on both sides. Lee and his men, who were in the +fore-ground made a brave stand, but were at length forced to fall +back. Lee brought off his troops in good style by the cause-way that +crossed the swamps, in front of our troops in charge of Lord +Stir-ling, and was the last to leave the ground. When he had formed +his men in line back of the swamp, he rode up to Wash-ing-ton, and +said, "Here, sir, are my troops, what do you wish me to do with them?" + +Wash-ing-ton saw that the men were worn out with long tramps, hard +fights, and the great heat, so he told Lee to take them to the rear, +and call in all those he might meet with who had fled from his ranks. + +The foe sought to turn both our flanks, but were checked by a sharp +fire, and at length they gave way and fell back to the ground where +Lee had been that morn. Here the woods and swamps were on their +flanks, and their front could not be reached but by the cause-way. +Great as was the risk, Wash-ing-ton made up his mind to charge on the +foe, and this was his plan: Gen-er-al Poor was to move round on their +right, Gen-er-al Wood-ford on the left, while the big field guns +should gall them in front. But night set in ere they could act on this +plan. Some of the troops had sunk on the ground, and all were in need +of rest. Wash-ing-ton told them to lie on their arms just where they +chanced to be when it grew dark, as he meant to go on with the fight +at dawn of the next day. He lay on his cloak at the foot of a tree, +and La-fay-ette lay near him. + +At day-break the beat of drums roused them from their sleep, but the +foe had fled, and had been so long on the way that Wash-ing-ton could +not hope to check them. + +Our loss in the fight at Mon-mouth was 69, while 250 of the King's +troops were left dead on the field. Some of the troops on both sides +had died in the swamp, and some were found on the edge of a stream +that ran through it, where, worn out with their toils, and weak from +heat and thirst they had crawled to drink and die. + +Lee's pride had been so hurt that he wrote to Wash-ing-ton in a way +that he should not have done to his Com-mand-er-in-chief, and he was +brought to court by the Board of War and tried for his wrong deeds. +His guilt was proved, and he was told that he could not serve for the +next twelve months. He went to his home in Vir-gin-i-a where he led a +queer kind of a life. His house was a mere shell, and had but one +room, but lines were chalked on the floor and each space was used as +if it was a room by it-self. Here was his bed, there were his books; +in this space he kept all his horse gear, and in that one he cooked +and ate his meals. + +With pen and with tongue he strove to harm Wash-ing-ton, whom his +shafts failed to hurt, and who spoke not an ill word of Lee. He liked +him as a friend but did not think he was fit to lead troops to war. +Lee died in the course of four years, and on his death-bed he thought +he was on the field of war, and his last words were a call to his men +to stand by him. + +For a year or two more the strife was kept up on the coast from Maine +to Flor-i-da, and both red-coats and red-skins took part in scenes +that chill the blood to read of. Houses were burnt and land laid +waste, forts were stormed and seized from our troops whose force was +too small to hold them. Now and then there was a gain for our side, +but in spite of his ill luck Wash-ing-ton held on with a brave heart, +and would die at his post but would not yield. + +In the first part of the year 1780 we find Wash-ing-ton in camp at +Mor-ris-town, with a lot of half-fed and half-clad troops. + +No such cold had been known in this zone. The Bay of New York froze so +hard that the ships-of-war that lay in it were ice-bound. Food was +scant, and there was a lack of fire-wood. + +Wash-ing-ton saw what a chance there was for a bold stroke, but he had +no funds with which to fit out his troops, or to move them to the +coast. The cost of war was great, and gold was scarce. He could not +strike a big blow for New York to wrest it from the hands of the foe, +as he might have done at this time had his troops been well-fed and +well-clad but he would do what he could in a small way. + +A bridge of ice had formed 'twixt New Jer-sey and Stat-en Isl-and, so +Wash-ing-ton sent Lord Stir-ling with 2,500 men to start up and seize +a force of 1,200 red-coats. His lord-ship crossed in the night, but +was seen and had to fall back to E-liz-a-beth-town. Some of his men +fell in-to the hands of the King's troops, and some in-to the hands of +Jack Frost. + +This raid gave a start to the foe and they set out to tease and vex +our out-posts, which they thought could be done at small risk, as +there was snow on the ground, and the troops could be borne on +sleighs. + +Not far from White Plains--and a score of miles from the out-posts of +the red-coats--300 of our men had a post in a stone house known as +Young's house, as that was the name of the man who owned it. It faced +a road which ran north and south down through a rich plain, and so on +to New York. Our men kept a close watch on this road, to stop the +red-coats who might seek to pass with food or live-stock. The +red-coats made up their mind to break up this nest of blue-birds, and +the night of Feb-ru-a-ry 2, was set for the task. + +The King's troops set out from King's Bridge, some in sleighs and some +on horse-back. The snow was deep, and it was hard for the sleighs to +break their way through. The troops at length left them, and marched +on foot. They could not bring their field guns with them. Now and then +they would come to a place where the snow was more than two feet deep, +and they had to take by-ways and cross roads so as not to get near our +out-guards. + +The sun rose while they were yet six miles or more from Young's house. +This spoiled their plan, but still they kept on. Ere they could reach +the house, the news flew like wild-fire that the red-coats were near, +and men left their farms and homes to aid those in Young's house. But +though they fought well, they had not strength to hold the fort. Not a +few were killed. The house was sacked and set on fire, and the +red-coats made haste to get back to their lines with those of our men +whom they had seized, and who were sent to New York and put in the +vile jails there. + +In the year 1780, France sent ships-of-war and troops to aid our +cause, and to drive the red-coats from New York. The French troops +were in charge of Count de Ro-cham-beau, who was told to do just as +Wash-ing-ton said; for he was Com-mand-er-in-chief. + +Wash-ing-ton's heart gave a throb of joy at this proof of good-will, +and his grief was that he had not more troops of his own to join with +these that he might push for New York at once. He must wait till the +rest of the French troops, then on their way, came to port. + +In the mean-time his thoughts were turned to the South, where the +red-coats, led by Corn-wal-lis, waged a fierce war. Our troops there +were in charge of Gen-er-al Greene, who was full of cheer, and did his +best to keep the foe at bay, but with poor luck as his force was +small. + +But Wash-ing-ton had faith in him; yet such a large force of the +King's troops had been sent by sea to aid Corn-wal-lis that +Wash-ing-ton feared that Greene would not be safe. So he wrote to +La-fay-ette, who was on his way to meet the French fleet that had been +sent to Ches-a-peake Bay, to push on and join the troops at the South. + +At this time Wash-ing-ton was at a place near West Point, and his +whole force on the Hud-son, in May 1781, was not more than 7,000; half +of whom were not fit to take the field. + +Here word came to him of feuds at the North, and that the foe were in +force on the north side of Cro-ton Riv-er. + +Col-o-nel De-lan-cey, who led this raid, held the place that An-dre +had filled, and bore the same rank, and De-lan-cey's horse-men were +the dread of all those who dwelt in that part of the land. Our troops +had an out-post not far from Pine's Bridge, in charge of Col-o-nel +Greene of Rhode Isl-and, who had served all through the war. + +De-lan-cey set out at night at the head of 100 men on horse-back and +200 on foot. They crossed the Cro-ton at day-break, just as the +night-guard had been called off, and bore down on the out-post. + +They first went to the farm-house where Col-o-nel Greene and Ma-jor +Flagg slept, and put a strong guard round it. Ma-jor Flagg sprang from +his bed, threw up the sash, and fired at the foe, but was shot through +the head and then hacked with sword cuts and thrusts. + +They then burst through the door of Greene's room. He was a man of +great strength, and for some time kept the foes at bay with his sword, +but at last he fell, for what could one man do in such a fight? + +By the time the troops sent out by Wash-ing-ton reached the post, +De-lan-cey's men had flown. They tried to take Greene with them, but +he died on the way, and they left him at the edge of the woods. + +Wash-ing-ton felt sad at heart when he heard of the death of his brave +and true friend, Col-o-nel Greene, and the next day he had his corpse +brought to the west bank of the Hud-son. Guns were fired to tell that +one who had fought well had gone to his rest, and strong men shed +tears as he was laid in his grave, for his loss was a source of great +grief to all. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CLOSE OF THE WAR. + + +In the month of May, Corn-wal-lis had planned to bring his troops to +Pe-ters-burg and strike a blow at La-fay-ette, who was near Rich-mond. +La-fay-ette fled as soon as he heard that Corn-wal-lis had crossed the +James Riv-er, for he had but few troops and did not care to bring on a +big fight till the men came up who were then on the way to aid him. + +Corn-wal-lis thought he could soon catch "the boy"--as he called +him--but his youth made him spry, and the red-coats did not get up to +him. + +On June 10, Gen-er-al Wayne came up with 900 men, to add to +La-fay-ette's strength, and this made him change his whole plan. With +4,000 men and Ba-ron Steu-ben he might hope to win in a fight with the +red-coats, and he turned his face to the foe. Corn-wal-lis was at +that time 'twixt La-fay-ette and Al-be-marle Court House, where +stores were kept. The Mar-quis, by a night march through a road that +had long been out of use, got in front of the King's troops, and held +them in check. + +Corn-wal-lis turned back, and marched first to Rich-mond, and then to +Will-iams-burg, while La-fay-ette kept close in his rear. Here they +had a fierce fight, in which the loss was great on both sides, and the +gain but small. + +At this time word came to Corn-wal-lis that Wash-ing-ton had borne +down on New York and that he must send some of his troops to that +town. This would leave him too weak to stay where he was, so on Ju-ly +4 he set out for Ports-mouth. + +La-fay-ette gave chase the next day and took post nine miles from his +camp. His plan was to fall on the rear-guard, when the main force +should have crossed the ford at James-town. But Corn-wal-lis guessed +what he meant to do and laid a trap for him. A sharp fight took place, +in-to which Wayne threw him-self like a mad-man, but the foe were as +ten to one and our troops were forced back to Green Springs. + +In Ju-ly La-fay-ette wrote to Wash-ing-ton that Corn-wal-lis had left +Ports-mouth by sea, and he thought he was on his way to New York. It +was true the troops had gone on board the boats, but though wind and +tide were fair they did not sail. + +With the French fleet to help him, Wash-ing-ton saw a chance to fight +the foe by land and sea, so he turned from New York and marched to +Vir-gin-i-a to aid La-fay-ette, who longed to have his chief at the +head of his troops but did not know he was so near. + +As our war-worn troops went through Phil-a-del-phi-a they were hailed +with shouts and cheers from the throngs that filled the streets. They +kept step to the sound of the drum and fife, and raised a great cloud +of dust, for there had been quite a drought. + +The French troops passed through the next day, but not in the same +style. They made a halt a mile from the town, where they brushed off +the dust from their guns, and their gay white and green clothes, and +then marched with a light step to the sound of a fine band. Crowds +were on the streets, and bright smiles and loud shouts met these who +had come from France to lay down their lives if need be for the cause +we had at heart. + +When Wash-ing-ton turned his back on New York, Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton +sent word to Corn-wal-lis that he would not need the troops he had +asked for; so Corn-wal-lis went from Ports-mouth to York-town, where +he took his stand. + +York-town was a small place on the south side of York Riv-er. The +stream at this point was not more than a mile wide, but it was so deep +that ships of large size and weight could go through. Here he threw up +works on both sides of the stream, which gave him a fine strong-hold, +as the banks were high and set out from the main-land. He thought +there was no foe near but La-fay-ette, and he had no great fear of one +so young. + +He felt so safe that he wrote to Clin-ton that he could let him have a +large force of men to add strength to New York, where it was thought +our troops would strike the next blow. + +In the mean-time La-fay-ette threw out troops to the rear, to work +with the French fleets that would soon be in Ches-a-peake Bay, and so +a net was drawn round Corn-wal-lis at a time when he thought he was +most safe. + +Wash-ing-ton was at Phil-a-del-phi-a on Sep-tem-ber 5, and at +Bal-ti-more three days from that time. He left Bal-ti-more on the +ninth, at day-break, with but one of his suite, as he was in haste to +reach Mount Ver-non. The rest of his suite rode at their ease, and +joined him the next day at noon. It was six years since Wash-ing-ton +had seen his old home, and how full of toil and care those years had +been! In three days he had to leave the dear old place, and with his +guests push on to join La-fay-ette, who was at Will-iams-burg. By +Sep-tem-ber 25, the French and our troops were in camp near that town, +and at once set to work to get things in train for the next fight. + +Corn-wal-lis had built forts on the north and south banks of the +stream, and had done all he could to add strength to York-town. +Ships-of-war were in front, and boats had been sunk at the mouth of +the stream. Field-works were at the rear with big guns on top, and +there were long rows of trees that had been cut down and left so that +their limbs stuck out and made a fence it would not be safe to climb. +At the right and left of York-town were deep dells and creeks, and it +was not strange that Corn-wal-lis felt that he was in a sure +strong-hold. + +Our troops were twelve miles off when they took up their march on +Sep-tem-ber 28, and that night they went in camp two miles from +York-town. Wash-ing-ton and his staff slept on the ground, his head on +the root of a tree. The next morn our troops drew out on each side of +Bea-ver Dam Creek, the A-mer-i-cans on the east side and the French on +the west. The Count de Grasse, with the main fleet, staid in Lynn +Haven Bay so as to keep off the ships that might come from sea to aid +the red-coats. + +On the night of the first of Oc-to-ber our troops threw up two +earth-works, on which the red-coats turned their guns at day-light and +killed three of the men. While Wash-ing-ton stood near the works a +shot struck the ground close by him and threw up a great cloud of +dust. One of his staff who stood near was in a great fright, but +Wash-ing-ton was calm and showed no signs of fear. + +On Oc-to-ber 6, our troops set out to dig the trench that the first +line would use in the siege of York-town. So dark was the night, and +so still were the men, that the foe did not know of it till day-light. +Then they fired on them from the forts, but the men were screened and +kept at their work. By the ninth the trench was dug and the guns fixed +to fire at the town. + +Wash-ing-ton put the match to the first gun, and a storm of balls and +bomb-shells dared Corn-wal-lis to come out and fight. For three or +four days the fire was kept up on both sides, and bomb-shells crossed +in mid-air, and at night flashed forth like great stars with tails a +blaze of light. Our shells did much harm in the town, and to the +earth-works of the foe. + +The red-hot shot from the French forts north-west of the town reached +the King's ships-of-war. The Char-on a 44 gun ship, and three large +boats for troops, were set on fire by them. The flames ran up to the +tops of the masts, and as the night was dark the scene was a grand one +to the eye, but a sad one to the heart. + +On the night of the 11th, a new ditch was dug by the troops led by +Bar-on Steu-ben, and for two or three days the foe kept up a fire on +the men at work. + +At eight o'clock on the night of Oc-to-ber 14, they set out to storm +both York-town and the Point on the north bank at the same time. + +The van-guard of our troops was led by Al-ex-an-der Ham-il-ton. When +at school he wrote to one of his boy friends, "I wish there was a +war;" and in 1776 when he was but 19 years of age, he was placed at +the head of the men who fired the guns and bomb-shells. The next year +he was aide-de-camp to Wash-ing-ton, in whom he found a true and wise +friend. With great joy and pride Ham-il-ton led the van in a head-long +dash past the trees, which they pushed or pulled down with their own +hands, where they could not climb them, and was the first to mount the +wall. One of his men knelt so that Ham-il-ton could use him for steps, +and the rest of the men got up the best way they could. Not a gun was +fired, and the fort fell in-to the hands of our troops with a small +loss on both sides. + +The French stormed the fort at the Point in as brave a way, but with +less speed, and lost more men. + +Wash-ing-ton stood on the ground in the grand fort where he could see +all that took place. An aide-de-camp near him spoke up and said that +he ran a great risk from a chance shot through one of the port-holes. +"If you think so," said Wash-ing-ton, "you can step back." + +Soon a ball struck the gun in the port-hole, rolled on, and fell at +his feet. Gen-er-al Knox seized him by the arm. "My dear Gen-er-al," +said he, "we can't spare you yet." + +"It is a spent ball," said Wash-ing-ton in a calm voice; "no harm is +done." + +When each charge was made and both forts were in our hands, he drew a +long breath, turned to Knox and said, "The work is done _and well +done_!" Then he said to his black man, "Bring me my horse," and rode +off to see where next his lines should move, and how the trap could be +closed on Corn-wal-lis. + +Corn-wal-lis found that he could not hold his forts; no troops had +come to his aid, and he would soon have to yield to the foe. + +This was too much for his pride, so he made up his mind to leave those +who were sick or had wounds, and fly from York-town. His scheme was to +cross the stream at night, fall on the French camp ere day-break, push +on with all speed, and force his way to the north and join Sir Hen-ry +Clin-ton in New York. + +A large part of his troops had crossed the stream on the night of +Oc-to-ber 16, and the rest were on their way when a fierce storm of +wind and rain drove the boats down the stream. They could not be +brought back till day-light and it was then too late for them to move +on or to turn back. + +The hopes of Lord Corn-wal-lis were at an end, and on the 17th he sent +a flag of truce and a note to Wash-ing-ton and asked that his guns +might cease their fire for one day so that terms of peace could be +drawn up. + +Wash-ing-ton feared that in the mean-time troops from New York would +reach Corn-wal-lis, so he sent word back that his guns should cease +their fire for but two hours. Wash-ing-ton did not like the terms +drawn up by Corn-wal-lis, so he made a rough draft of such terms as he +would grant. These were sent to Corn-wal-lis on the 19th, and he was +forced to sign them, and in two hours his troops were to march out of +the forts. + +[Illustration: THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN.--P. 109.] + +At noon our troops were drawn up in two lines more than a mile in +length; the A-mer-i-cans on the right side of the road, the French on +the left. At two o'clock the red-coats passed out with slow steps, and +were led to a field where they were to ground their arms. Some of +them, in their rage, threw down their guns with such force as to well +nigh break them. + +On the day that Corn-wal-lis had been forced to lay down his arms at +York-town, the large force that was to aid him set sail from New York. +They did not reach Ches-a-peake Bay till Oc-to-ber 29, and when they +found they were too late they turned their prows and went back to New +York. + +The down-fall of Corn-wal-lis was felt to be a death-blow to the war, +and great joy was felt through-out the land. Votes of thanks were sent +to Wash-ing-ton, to De Ro-cham-beau and De Grasse, and Wash-ing-ton +gave high praise to all the troops for the way in which they had +fought at the siege of York-town. + +From that time the red-coats lost heart, and on No-vem-ber 25, 1783, +they marched out of New York, and Wash-ing-ton marched in at the head +of his brave men, who had fought and bled and borne all the ills that +flesh could bear that the land they loved might be free. + +In a few days Wash-ing-ton was called to An-na-po-lis to meet with +those who made the laws, and his chief men who had been with him +through all the sad scenes of the war, came to bid him good-bye. + +With a heart full of love he said to them, "I can-not come to each of +you to take my leave, but shall be glad if each of you will come and +take me by the hand." This they did. No one spoke a word. Tears were +in all their eyes. + +Wash-ing-ton left the room, and went on foot to the boat which lay at +the end of what was then and is now White-hall Street. His friends +kept close in the rear. When Wash-ing-ton was in his barge he turned, +took off his hat, and waved good-bye, and those on shore did the same, +and watched the barge till it passed out of their sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +FIRST IN PEACE. + + +At the close of the war, and of the year 1783, Wash-ing-ton went back +to Mount Ver-non. He reached his home to his great joy on the eve of +Christ-mas day, and he was in a good state of mind to keep the feast. + +"The scene is at last closed," he wrote, "and I am eased of a load of +care. I hope to spend the rest of my days in peace." + +Mount Ver-non was locked in ice and snow for some time. Wash-ing-ton +wrote that he was so used to camp life that he could not help feel +when he woke each day that he must hear the drums beat, and must go +out to plan or to lead his troops. He was now at his ease, and longed +for the spring so that his friends could come to him. "My way of life +is plain," he said; "I do not mean to be put out of it. But a glass of +wine and a bit of meat can be had at all times." + +He would not give notes of his life to those who wished to write it up +at this time lest it should look vain. "I will leave it to those who +are to come to think and say what they please of me," he wrote. "I +will not by an act of mine seem to boast of what I have done." + +As spring came on, friends flocked to Mount Ver-non, and Wash-ing-ton +met them in a frank way. His wife, too, was full of good sense and +good cheer. She loved to knit, and had been used all through the war +to knit socks for the poor men who were in the ranks. + +But as Wash-ing-ton took his rides through his place, he felt the +changes there since he had left. Old friends were gone, and the scenes +of his youth were no more. La-fay-ette spent a few days with him, and +the love he felt for the brave young man was as strong as at first. + +He wrote a sad note to him when he was gone which showed what a warm +place the young French-man had in his heart. He said, "As you left me, +I asked if this were the last sight I should have of you. And though I +wished to say 'No,' my fears said 'Yes.' I called to mind the days of +my youth and found they had long since fled to come back no more. I +must now go down the hill I have climbed all these years. I am blessed +with strength, but I some of a short-lived race, and may soon go to +the tomb. All these thoughts gave a gloom to the hour in which I +parted with you." + +Wash-ing-ton made a trip through some of the states of the West, and +saw there was a chance for great trade there, and he wrote much of +what he had seen. But his chief joy was in his home and land, where he +planted trees and loved to watch them grow. He writes down each month +of what he sets out; now it is a choice slip of grape vine from +France; or it may be a tree that stays green all the year round. Some +of the bushes he set out still stand strong in their growth on the +place. + +He notes the trees best for shade and which will not hurt the grass. +He writes of rides to the Mill Swamp in quest of young elms, ash +trees, and white thorn, and of the walks he lays out and the trees and +shrubs he plants by them. + +A plan of the way in which he laid out his grounds is still kept at +Mount Ver-non, and the pla-ces are marked on it for the trees and +shrubs. He owned five farms, and he kept maps of each. He read much of +soils, the way to raise good crops, and the best style of ploughs and +farm tools to use. He rode the first half of the day to see that all +went well. When he had dined, he would write till dark if he had no +guests. If friends came he did all he could to make them feel at ease +and at home. He was kind, and loved by all. He would not talk much of +the war nor of what he had done in it. He took great care not to talk +of his own acts, so that if there had been a guest who did not know +the facts, he would not have found out by a word from Wash-ing-ton +that he was one who had won a great name in the eyes of the world. + +Though grave in his looks and ways, he loved to see youth glad and +gay. He was fond of the dance, and it was long the boast of more than +one fair dame that she had danced with the chief. There had been +balls in camp in the dark days of the war. + +Wash-ing-ton, as we have seen, had been fond of the hunt in his youth, +and La-fay-ette sent him some hounds from France, so he took up his +old sport. But the French hounds did not do well, and he found they +could not be trusted. + +Ere the war had been long past, it was found that there was need of +new laws by which the States should be ruled. The chief men of the +land were called to Phil-a-del-phi-a to form them, and Wash-ing-ton +went from Mount Ver-non to take part in the work. It was then that the +code of laws was drawn up which bears the name of "Con-sti-tu-tion of +the U-ni-ted States." + +These laws said that the States should be ruled by a Pres-i-dent. The +choice for this post fell on Wash-ing-ton, and in the spring of 1788 +he bade good-bye to Mount Ver-non and made his way to New York, where +he was to take the oath that he would serve the land and be true to +her in peace and in war. + +As he passed through the towns, crowds came out to cheer him, flags +were raised, guns roared, and at night there was a great show of +fire-works. + +When he came to Tren-ton, the place where in the past he had crossed +the stream in the storm, through clouds of snow and drifts of ice, he +found a scene of peace and love. Crowds were on the bank, the stream +gleamed in the sun, the sky was blue, and all hailed him with joy. + +On the bridge that crossed the Del-a-ware an arch was raised and +twined with wreaths of green and gay blooms. As Wash-ing-ton passed +'neath it a band of young girls, drest in white and with wreaths on +their heads, threw bright blooms at his feet, and sang an ode that +spoke the love and praise that were in all hearts. + +At E-liz-a-beth-town Point he was met by men who had been sent from +New York, and led to a barge which had been made for his use. It was +filled with sea-men of high rank, who made a fine show in their white +suits. + +Boats of all sorts, gay with flags, and some with bands on board, fell +in the wake of Wash-ing-ton's barge, and as they swept up the bay of +New York the sight was a grand one. The ships at the wharves or in +mid-stream, dipped their flags, and fired their guns, bells were rung, +and on all the piers were great crowds that made the air ring with +their shouts. + +On the last day of A-pril, 1789, Wash-ing-ton took the oath in front +of the hall where the wise men of the land had been wont to meet in +New York. He stood in full view of a great crowd to whom this was a +new and strange sight. The States were to be as one, and this man, +whose name and fame were dear to them, was to pledge him-self to keep +them so. + +On a ledge that bulged out from the main part of the house, was a +stand spread with a rich red cloth on which lay the Word of God, the +Book of Books. Wash-ing-ton was clad in a full suit of dark-brown +home-made cloth, white silk hose, and dress sword with steel hilt, and +his hair was drest in the style of the day. + +As he came in sight he was hailed with the shouts of the crowds in the +streets and on the roofs. He came to the front of the ledge close to +the rail, so that he could be seen by all, laid his hand on his heart, +bowed three or four times, and then went back and took his seat in an +arm-chair near the stand. + +In a short time he rose and went once more to the front with John +Ad-ams, who was to be next him in rank, and the friends who were to +stand by him in this new field. While the oath was read Wash-ing-ton +stood with his hand on the Word of God, and at the close he said, "I +swear--so help me God!" One of the men would have raised the book to +Wash-ing-ton's lips, but he bent his head and kissed it. + +Then there was a cry of "Long live George Wash-ing-ton!" and all the +bells in the town rang out a peal of joy, and the crowd rent the air +with their shouts and cheers. + +Wash-ing-ton bowed and made a speech that was full of good sense. Then +all went on foot to St. Paul's Church to pray that God would bless the +land. + +Wash-ing-ton felt most of all as he wrote to his friends, a fear lest +he should come short of what the land hoped to find in him. The eyes +of the world were on him. He had won fame in the field, but how would +he rule the State? There was still much to be done. Great Brit-ain +held some of the posts at the West, on the plea that debts due to some +of her men had not been paid; the red-men were still a source of fear +to the homes in the Wild West; and there was no hard cash with which +the States could pay their debts. + +He found that his time was no more his own. From dawn till dark men +came to him, and he saw that he must be saved from this or he could do +no work. Mrs. Wash-ing-ton joined him and soon days were fixed for the +calls of friends. The house was kept well, but there was no waste. One +who dined there wrote that there was no show. The Pres-i-dent said a +short grace as he sat down. One glass of wine was passed to each, and +no toasts were drank. He was kind to his guests and strove to put them +at their ease. He was strict in the way he kept the Lord's day. He +went to church and would have no calls on that day. + +As to Mrs. Wash-ing-ton, those who knew her at the time speak of her +as free from all art. She met her guests in a well-bred way as one who +had ruled in a great house. She, too, was more fond of their home at +Mount Ver-non than of the new rank and place. To stay at home was the +first and most dear wish of her heart. + +Wash-ing-ton was touched to the quick when he heard that I some one +had said that there was more pomp at his house than at St. James, +where King George held his court, and that his bows were much too +stiff and cold. + +Wash-ing-ton wrote, "I grieve that my bows were not to his taste, for +they were the best I can make. I can say with truth that I feel no +pride of place, and would be more glad to be at Mount Ver-non with a +few friends at my side, than here with men from all the courts of the +world." He then goes on to tell how they treat their guests. "At two +or three o'clock each Tues-day they come and go. They go in and out of +the rooms and chat as they please. When they first come in they speak +to me, and I talk with all I can. What pomp there is in all this I do +not see!" + +The red-men, who could not be kept in peace, roused the land once more +to arms. Wash-ing-ton did not wish for war, but he had to call out +troops. They went forth and laid waste In-di-an towns. Wash-ing-ton +thought it would be a good plan to meet the In-di-an chiefs and talk +with them. Three chiefs came to him, and said they would go to the +rest and try to make peace. Wash-ing-ton made a set speech and told +them it would be a good work to do, or else those tribes, "if they +thieved and killed as they had done, would be swept from the face of +the earth." + +He had thought much of the state of the red-men in the land. He had +but small faith in schools for the youth, save as far as to teach them +to read and write. The true means to do them good, he thought, was to +teach them to till the ground and raise crops in the same way as the +white folks, and he said if the tribes were pleased to learn such +arts, he would find a way to have them taught. + +In the end, Gen-er-al St. Clair had to be sent out with troops to put +the red-men down. Wash-ing-ton's last words to him were to be on the +watch, for the red-skins were sly and would wait for a chance to find +him off his guard. + +But St. Clair did not pay heed to these wise words, and the red-skins +got in-to his camp, some of his best men were slain, and the whole +force was put to rout. + +When the news was brought to Wash-ing-ton he said in a quick way, "I +knew it would be so! Here on this spot I took leave of him and told +him to be on his guard! I said to him 'you know how the red-skins +fight us!' I warned him--and yet he could let them steal in-to his +camp and hack and slay that ar-my!" He threw up his hands, and his +frame shook, as he cried out "O what a crime! what a crime!" + +Then he grew calm, and said that St. Clair should have a chance to +speak, and he would be just to him. St. Clair was tried, and was found +free from guilt. + +Wash-ing-ton's mo-ther died at Fred-er-icks-burg, Vir-gin-i-a, Au-gust +25, 1789, aged 82. When her son first went to war, she would shake her +head and say, "Ah, George should stay at home and take care of his +farm." As he rose step by step, and the news of his fame was brought +to her, she would say "George was a good boy," and she had no fear but +that he would be a good man, and do what was right. + +In the year 1789, a great war broke out in France, in which Lou-is XVI +lost his crown and his head, and deeds were done that you could scarce +read of with-out tears. Men seemed like fiends in their mad rage, and +like wild beasts in their thirst for blood. + +In 1793 France made war on Eng-land; and in 1797 sought to break up +the peace of the U-ni-ted States, but of this I will tell you by and +by. + +In the mean-time the four years--which was the full term Wash-ing-ton +was to rule--came to an end. He had no wish to serve for two terms, +but the choice fell on him, and he once more took the oath, on March +4, 1792. In 1796, as France was still at war, it was thought best that +Wash-ing-ton should hold his place for a third term. + +But this he would not do. He had made up his mind to leave these +scenes and to give up that sort of life, and those who plead with him +could not move him. He took leave of his friends in a way that moved +them to tears; and his fare-well speech, though in plain style, +touched all hearts and made them feel what a loss it was to part with +so great and good a man. + +On March 4, 1797, John Ad-ams took the oath, and bound him-self to +serve as Pres-i-dent for a term of four years. Wash-ing-ton was +there, and as he rose to leave the house there was a great rush to the +door, as all wished to catch the last look of one who had had for so +long a time the first place in their hearts. So great was the crush +that it was feared there would be loss of limbs if not of life. + +As Wash-ing-ton stood in the street he waved his hat as cheer on cheer +rose from the crowd, and his gray hairs streamed forth in the wind. +When he came to his own door he turned to the throng with a grave face +and tried to say a word or two. But tears rose to his eyes, his heart +was full, and he could not speak but by signs. + +He soon set off for Mount Ver-non, the dear home of his heart. He had +been there but a few months when the French, by their acts, seemed to +want to bring on a war with the U-ni-ted States. They took our ships +at sea, and there was no way left but to stand up for our rights. + +Pres-i-dent Ad-ams wrote to Wash-ing-ton, "We must have your name, if +you will let us have it. There will be more in it than in a host of +men! If the French come here we shall have to march with a quick +step." + +Wash-ing-ton wrote to Pres-i-dent Ad-ams, "I had no thought that in so +short a time I should be called from the shade of Mount Ver-non. But +if a foe should come in our land, I would not plead my age or wish to +stay at home." + +He saw the dark clouds that showed a storm, and he feared his days of +peace would be few. It was with a sad heart that he felt his rest was +at an end, but he had so strong a sense of what was right that he did +not hold back. He said he would do all he could for the troops, but he +would not take the field till the foe was at hand. + +For months Wash-ing-ton led a life full of hard work. He had much to +do for the troops, and at the same time work at home. He would write +for hours, and took long rides each day. To his great joy, there was, +in the end, no war with France. + +He seemed in first-rate health up to De-cem-ber 12, 1799. On that day +a storm set in, first of snow, then of hail, and then of rain, and +Wash-ing-ton was out in it for at least two hours. When he reached the +house his clerk, Mr. Lear, saw that the snow hung from his hair, and +asked him if he was not wet through. "No," said Wash-ing-ton, "my +great coat kept me dry." But the next day his throat was sore and he +was quite hoarse; and though much worse at night he made light of it +and thought it would soon pass off. + +When he went to bed Mr. Lear asked him if he did not think it best to +take some-thing. "Oh, no," said Wash-ing-ton. "Let it go as it came." +But he grew worse in the night, and it was hard for him to breathe, +and though his wife wished to call up one of the maids he would not +let her rise lest she should take cold. + +At day-break, when the maid came in to light the fire, she was sent to +call Mr. Lear. All was done that could be done to ease him of his +pain, but he felt him-self that he had but a short time to live. Mr. +Lear was like a son to him, and was with him night and day. + +When Mr. Lear would try to raise and turn him so that he could breathe +with more ease, Wash-ing-ton would say, "I fear I tire you too much." +When Lear told him that he did not, he said, "Well, it is a debt we +must all pay, and when you want aid of this kind I hope you'll find +it." + +His black man had been in the room the whole day and most of the time +on his feet, and when Wash-ing-ton took note of it he told him in a +kind voice to sit down. + +I tell you these things that you may see what a kind heart he had, and +how at his last hour he thought not of him-self. + +His old friend, Dr. Craik, who stood by his side when he first went +forth to war, in the year 1754, was with him in these last hours, when +Death was the foe that Wash-ing-ton had to meet. He said to Dr. Craik, +"I die hard, but I am not a-fraid to go, my breath can-not last long." +He felt his own pulse, and breathed his last on the night of +De-cem-ber 14, 1799. + +His wife, who sat at the foot of the bed, asked with a firm voice, "Is +he gone?" Lear, who could not speak, made a sign that he was no more. +"'Tis well," said she in the same voice. "All is now at an end, and I +shall soon join him." + +Thus lived and died this great and good man, "first in war, first in +peace, and first in the hearts of" those who love "the land of the +free." + +Praise did not spoil him or make him vain; but from first to last he +was the same wise, calm, true friend, full of love to God and of +good-will to man. + +Great and good men have been born in-to the world, but none whose name +and fame rank as high as that of GEORGE WASH-ING-TON. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of George Washington, by Josephine Pollard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON *** + +***** This file should be named 36183.txt or 36183.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/8/36183/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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