ijpjatj»|ttTttegBiiBiM|siy^^^^^^ POPM m 0 DICKSON & I EVERYCtllLD'S SERIES | Class _ilj<^ Book ^.UJ ^"^ <^_ CopjTightN" COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. EVEBYCHILD'S SERIES Pioneers and Patriots in Early American History EVERTCHILD'S SERIES Each Cloth Illustrated 16mo 40 cents GREAT OPERA STORIES. For Intermediate Grades. By MiLLicENT S. Bender. HISTORICAL PLAYS FOR CHILDREN. For Intermediate Grades. By Grace E. Bird, Department of English. State Normal School, Plymouth, N. H., and Maude Starling, Supervisor of Training, State Normal School, Plymouth, N. H, BOY AND GIRL HEROES. For Intermediate Grades. By Florence V. Farmer, Vice-Principal Ridge Street School, Newark, N. J., author of "The Plan Book," "Myths of Many Lands," etc. NATURE STORIES. For Primary Grades. By Mary Gardner, of the Duluth, Minn., Public Schools. IN THOSE DAYS. For Intermediate Grades. By Ella B. Hallock, author of "Some Living Things," "First Lessons in Physiology," "Studies in Browning," etc. FAIRY BOOK, A. For Primary Grades. By Kate Forrest Oswell, author of "American School Readers," " Old Time Tales," and other books. OLD TIME TALES. For Primary Grades. By Kate Forrest Oswell. STORIES GRANDMOTHER TOLD. For Primary Grades. By Kate Forrest Oswell. STORIES OF THE SPANISH MAIN. For Intermediate and Grammar Grades. Adapted from " Buccaneers and Pirates For Primary Grades. By Frank R. Stockton. of Our Coast." NONSENSE DIALOGUES. By Mrs. E. E. K. Warner WHEN WE WERE WEE. For Primary and Intermediate Grades. By Martha Young, author of "Plantation Songs," "Plantation Bird Legends," " Somebody's Little Girl," and other books. WHEN GREAT FOLKS WERE LITTLE FOLKS. By Dorothy Donnell Calhoun. ^'"' ^«^^'^^^''^^^ G^^des. HOW MAN CONQUERED NATURE. By Minnie Reynolds. '^^'' Mermediate and Grammar Grades. STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE. For Intermediate Grades. By Mary Gooch Anderson. INDIAN LEGENDS. For Interr/tediate Grades. By Margaret Bemister, author of " Thirty Indian Legends." CAMP AND TRAIL IN EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY. For Intermediate Grades. By Marguerite, Stockman Dickson, author of " American History for Grammar Grades." PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. For Intermediate Grades. By Marguerite Stockman Dickson, author of "American History for Grammar Grades." THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 64-66 Fifth Avenue, New York Chicago Boston San Francisco Atlanta Dallas EVEBTCHILD'S SERIES Pioneers and Patriots in Early American History By Marguerite Stockman Dickson Author of ** American History for Grammar Schools ' ' Illustrated by John A. Huybers The Macmillan Company 1915 All rights reserved Copyright, 191 5, By the MACMILLAN COMPANY. Set up and electrotyped. Published February, 1915. / o.i/^o Nottaootr IPreaa J. S. Gushing Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. FEB 25 1915 A YOUNG DESCENDANT OF THE OLD-TIME PATRIOTS EDWARD DICKSON WASS PREFACE The stories in this book are all concerned with the great fight which our forefathers made for independence in the Revolutionary War. They are told with no desire to em- phasize the glories of war, nor to encourage any tendency toward militarism ; but rather to arouse an interest in our early history, in which war unfortunately had a part. As in the companion book, " Camp and Trail in Early American History," choice has been made of what are considered by the author to be type stories, which shall contrib- ute toward the broad view of the time which we desire children to have before beginning the formal study of history. These stories bring out the character of the men who fought for freedom, and some of the condi- tions under which their fight was waged. No viii PREFACE attempt has been made to weave the stories Into a history of the period. Indeed, the principal characters to be later met In formal study hover only In the background here. It is the spirit of the time which the book aims to present. Like Its companion volume, the book may serve two purposes, — to precede or to sup- plement the textbook In history. Charlotte, North Carolina, January, 1915. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE A Hero Spy i Liberty or Loyalty ? . . . . .18 In the Valley of the Mohawk . . -35 Mad Anthony at Stony Point ... 50 The "Swamp Fox" of the Carolinas . . 64 Homes Beyond the Mountain Wall . . 79 Friends from Across the Sea ... 99 Israel Israel's Experience with the Tories 119 Another of Marion's Men . . . '. 130 A Hero of the Sea 140 IX PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS A HERO SPY Some day you will learn in your histories how it came about that the English settlements in America grew stronger than their French neighbors on the north or the Spaniards at the south. You will read about the struggle between French and English for the Ohio Valley ; and how New France was lost to the mother country, and was divided between England and Spain. Thus it happened that England's posses- sions in the New World spread from the far north to Spanish territory in Florida. And every year the various colonies grew stronger. To tell you how these English colonists quarrelled with the government of the mother country would be a long story. Some day 2 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS you will learn that too in your histories. It is enough for us now to know that the quarrel arose, and that it led to war. No doubt you have already heard of the American Revolu- tion, and the independence the colonists won by force of arms. The story I am now to tell you is the story of a hero of that war. In a quiet room of a fine old mansion in the city of New York sat the commander- in-chief of the American army — the Con- tinental army, as it was known. Before him stood a young officer, respectfully awaiting the final orders of his chief. For an hour General Washington explained the important mission to be undertaken. We do not know what their last words were, as the general rose and took the young man by the hand ; but the moment must have been a solemn one for both. Both knew the dan- gers to be encountered; both knew the fate awaiting a captured spy ; both knew the scorn of the world for the spy's work ; and yet that work must be done. A HERO SPY 3 This important moment in the life of Captain Nathan Hale came when he was barely twenty-one years old. A fine young fellow he was, tall and well built, with hand- some features and the glow of perfect health. He had graduated from Yale College only two years before, and had been a favorite with teachers, students, and the townspeople of New Haven. All expected for him a brilliant future, both because of his scholarship and his fine character. *'No young man of his years put forth a fairer promise of future usefulness and celeb- rity," says one who knew him in his college days. The war called him from the schoolroom in which he was already making a success as teacher. When the news of the first fighting came, Nathan Hale cried, ''Let us march immediately, and never lay down our arms until we have obtained our independence." With the first company organized in the town he set forth. 4 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS That had been more than a year ago. He had already risen to the rank of captain, and was loved by his men as well as his superiors. The army was attempting the impossible task of holding New York against double its own force of British soldiers and a British fleet. There had been a battle on Long Island which left the British in possession, and now Washington was waiting anxiously to dis- cover the next move of the British commander, General Howe. Would he make an attack on the city itself ? Or would he shut the Ameri- cans in by seizing some position north of them ? Would he attack from the East River or the Hudson ^ A constant lookout was kept from heights above the city with powerful iield-glasses. But nothing was discovered. Washington called his officers to a council of war. There seemed only one thing to do. Some one must go into the British camp and find out the facts it was necessary to know. Scarcely any harder task could have been A HERO SPY 5 proposed. It required military knowledge ; bravery ; coolness ; caution ; daring ; judg- ment ; faithfulness, — in fact, it seemed as though no worthy quality of head or heart was not required. Who would undertake so delicate and dangerous a mission ? Who would brave the scorn of the world, and perhaps suffer death and disgrace, to be a spy ^ It was decided that a meeting of officers should be called, and the matter laid before them. The great need must be explained. Perhaps some one would volunteer to make the attempt. The meeting took place. Colonel Knowl- ton, who commanded the "Connecticut Ran- gers," asked for a volunteer to serve the com- mander-in-chief. He explained the nature of the service. He reminded the officers that it was a case of desperate need. He appealed to their spirit of adventure, their ambition, their love of country. He paused and looked expectantly about the room. 6 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS A sudden silence had fallen. There was a look of astonishment on every face, — on some a look of indignation. Colonel Knowl- ton was asking for a spy ! It would be impossible to describe the feel- ings aroused by Colonel Knowlton's words. Many, probably most, of the officers before him were young men. They had their dreams of the great things they were to do. Who among them wished the story of his life ended with ''hanged as a spy" 1 For a moment the silence continued. Then came a murmur of protest. And in spite of all that Colonel Knowlton could say, no one would consent to undertake the un- welcome task. Just as the meeting was breaking up, a young captain in Colonel Knowlton's own regiment entered the room. A group of his friends immediately surrounded him, go- ing over once more the question which had so agitated the meeting. The young captain asked few questions. He waited for no de- A HERO SPY 7 tails. But, hearing merely that a volunteer was wanted for secret service for the chief, he turned calmly to Colonel Knowlton, say- ing, '^I will undertake it." A perfect storm of remonstrance met him on every side. Surely he did not understand ! It was a spy's work the chief wanted ! Suppose he should be caught ! Had he forgotten the fate of captured spies ? But no amount of protest changed the calm decision. ''I will undertake it," he had said; and now, "I am fully sensible of the consequences of discovery and capture in such a situation." "I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good becomes honorable by being necessary." So he an- swered those who talked of dishonor or dis- grace. There is something fine about the un- hesitating way in which Nathan Hale made this decision. His country needed a certain service, and against his country's need nothing must count. So, resolutely and with his PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS lfli'^1|!|f''|l|Pl1l"f|;.i,,| *' Both knew the dangers to be encountered." whole heart, he went the way leading to danger and death. Almost immediately the young man went to General Washington for orders. Within A HERO SPY a few hours he had taken leave of his fellow- officers, and set out on his perilous mission. The first step of his journey was taken that night. With two companions he trav- elled along the shore of Long Island Sound, looking for a safe place to cross. This was not easy to find, since the whole western end of Long Island was in the hands of the Brit- ish, and their boats were guarding the Sound. They had reached Norwalk, fifty miles from New York, before they dared make the attempt. Here Hale laid aside his uniform, clothing himself once more in the plain garments of the schoolmaster. Then, bidding his companions await his return, he went on board the sloop which was to take him to the Long Island shore. Nathan Hale's camp basket, powder and diary, lO PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS Once landed, he bade his boatmen return for him on a certain day. Then he assumed the character of a schoolmaster who was disgusted with the ''rebellious Americans," and was himself a loyal supporter of King George. He was in search of employment as teacher. In this capacity he found little difficulty in making friends with loyalists and in gaining entrance to British camps. It is said he visited all the camps on Long Island, crossed to New York, which the British had now taken, and, returning to Long Island, made his way back to the place where his boatmen were to meet him. So far his work had been done skilfully; in his shoes, beneath loose inner soles, were drawings of British fortifications and in- formation written in Latin on the thinnest of paper. It was night, and before sunrise he would be on his way back across the Sound, to safety. Once on the safe side of the Sound, he might resume his uniform, and be himself once more, — Captain Nathan A HERO SPY II Hale, — on the way to rejoin his regiment, north of the city. Only one night ! but until he should be safe on board the sloop, he must still be the loyalist schoolmaster, with ear and eye quick to see danger, and with nerve strong and alert to meet it. So it happened that a loyalist schoolmaster entered a tavern near the Long Island shore, to pass the night. The tavern was a favorite meeting place for loyalists, and they were out in full force when the schoolmaster stepped in. Among them a red coat or two marked British sol- diers. All were merry, and they called the schoolmaster to join them. He scarcely dared refuse. But it was the last night! To- morrow, at dawn, he would find his friends awaiting him on the shore. Until then he must play his part. It is said that a loyalist in the party looked keenly at the stranger, —looked and looked again; then silently, still looking, passed out into the night and was seen no more. 12 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS We wonder at the nerve and coolness of this boy of twenty-one, seated among his bitter foes, and obHged to take his part in the gay and careless chatter of the hour. We wonder if he noticed the overcareful stare of the man who left his companions early, and if one thrill of fear disturbed his even heart-beat. At last he was freed from the idle chatter. The house was quiet, and morning was not far off. He watched the slow change of the sky from black to gray. Masses of shadow showed at length as hills and trees. Faint streaks of light appeared in the eastern sky. A rosy flush told of coming day. Silently the loyalist schoolmaster made his way from the tavern to the shore. His friends must be near. In a few minutes more, this strain would be over. Surely they would not fail him. Xo ! he could see in the half light of the early morning, a boat cautiously approaching the shore. Running swiftly down, he threw up his A HERO SPY 13 hand in signal, and in a moment was at the water's edge. The rest of the story is almost too sad and awful to tell. But we must hear it to value Nathan Hale at his true worth. Never was more courageous boy than he ! Never was man with greater bravery than this man of twenty-one ! You will have guessed that the boat was manned by British soldiers. You will guess their errand on this lonely shore. Whether the watchful loyalist of the night before knew Hale and sent a message to the British we cannot tell. We know only that the brave boy stood on the shore with six British mus- kets levelled at his head. "Surrender or die !" was the curt order. A moment later the boat moved off, bearing among the red- coated soldiers a suspected spy. Carried to a near-by British guard ship, Hale was searched, and the papers found in his shoes. Nothing more was needed to prove him the spy they had believed him to be. Taken now to the headquarters of Gen- 14 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS eral Howe, the British commander-in-chief, Hale made no effort to conceal his name and rank, or the work he had been doing, and why. We are told that General Howe was moved to pity by the fine, frank manner of the young officer, but he had no power to change the fate reserved for spies. He or- dered Hale to be hanged before sunrise next morning. Hale was led away. The last night of Nathan Hale's life was spent alone, under strong guard. Who can guess the thoughts that filled those wakeful hours ^ There is nothing to cause the belief that for a moment he felt regret for what he had done. He had been close to success — and life. An unhappy chance had sharply turned his steps toward failure — and death. He must face death as he had faced the task now to be forever unfinished — with calm decision and with a love of country so great as to blot out all else. Long before morning light, the prisoner was sent under guard to be delivered into the hands of the executioner. A HERO SPY 15 The last test of the patriot spy was at hand. A brutal man was the provost marshal into whose hands Hale fell. No last insult was too great for him to offer. Denied a minister, denied a Bible, denied even per- mission to write a farewell word to his mother, the hero Hale sat silent in a tent while the final preparations were being made. A pitying officer brought a Bible and paper for letters. The boy wrote to his mother, his sisters, his sweetheart. But even that small comfort was of brief duration. The provost marshal read the letters and tore them to fragments before his victim's eyes. He said he had no idea of letting the rebels know they had a man who could die with such firmness. Let us draw a veil over the rest of the sad story, lifting it only for a moment to catch the last words of Nathan Hale. In the last moment of Hale's life, the provost marshal tauntingly demanded a "confession." i6 PIONEERS -\XD PATRIOTS Hale seemed not to hear him. With his fine head still lifted fearlessly, he looked out and through and beyond any taunts of men. And then he spoke, — to himself, or perhaps to .4^^^-^ 1 '■ x: ^.^ The Xathax Hale homestead. the world, — to you. to me. These were his words : 'T onlv reeret that I have but one life to give lor my count r}' A HERO SPY 17 And then he died ; and by his death glori- fied the name of spy. For he loved his country, and he ser\ed her with his life, choosing not the shining road to fame and glory, but the darker one to lonely and em- bittered death. And the light of his de- votion lights that path forever. LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? We must not make the mistake of suppos- ing that every American in Revolutionary days fought for independence, or, if not fighting, gave what help he could in other ways. There were many people of America who looked upon the war as a "most wicked rebellion against his Gracious Majesty, King George." They could not understand how their neighbors and friends could take part in such wicked business. Most of them at the beginning of the struggle had no doubt that England would make short work of sub- duing the rebellious colonists, and they looked forward to long lives as subjects of the king. Naturally enough, many of these "loyal- ists," as they were called from their loyalty to the English government, wanted to help the English soldiers to put an end to the war, i8 LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 19 and so they joined the British airmy. There were whole regiments fighting for England which were made up of American loyalists. Others had no heart to fight against their neighbors and one-time friends. Some of these left their homes, going to Halifax or to England. Some tried to live quietly at home. Some gave secret aid to the king's soldiers, and, if they were found out, received rough treatment. Some received rough treatment anyway, simply because they were loyalists, or Tories, as the other party called them. The name Tory in itself meant nothing bad or disgraceful. Whig and Tory were the names of English political parties, as Republican and Democrat are in our own country to-day. Of course there were Whigs and Tories in the English colonies too. The Whigs in both the colonies and the mother country took the part of the resisting Ameri- cans, and the Tories believed the English government was right. So when an American called another American a Tory, he meant 20 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS merely a man loyal to the English government. Of course as war went on the feeling between Whigs and Tories grew bitter, and the very word Tory came to imply scorn. All sorts of cruel deeds were done as the war spirit grew. Quiet and harmless Tories were tormented because they could not be- lieve as their neighbors did. Others were imprisoned or driven away from their homes. Tories, on the other hand, did their share of tormenting. They spied upon their Whig neighbors, and many a patriot soldier at home for a glimpse of wife and children was cap- tured by bands of Tories or by British soldiers warned by Tory spies. Perhaps the most hated of all were those w^ho would take neither side, or who changed sides during the war. Nobody trusted them, — nobody dared trust them. It would per- haps be too much to expect that every man should be true to his best self at such a time. There were selfish men, who would be sure to follow the stronger side for their own ad- LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 21 vantage. There were the timid ones, who dared not choose the weak side even though they believed it right. And there were others that seemed to change with every wind that blew. When a British army encamped near them, they were all for ^'England and the Crown." When a turn of battle brought an American army, they were just as devoted to the cause of liberty and independence. Thus they hoped to make sure of their own safety. Michael Doherty, of Delaware, was an unfortunate example of this changeable nature. He was a sergeant in the Continental army, but was taken prisoner by the British. While in prison he was approached by a British officer who offered him his freedom if he would take the king's side. Michael, won by what he calls the officer's *' perpetual blarney" and "the king's money" slipped into his hand, became a duly enlisted soldier in the British regiment which had captured him. Alas, for Michael ! His regiment was or- 22 PIOXEERS AND PATRIOTS ^ y^^<>^ X v- ^<^s»* ;^ i Michael was again a valiant British soldier, axd, when the BATTLE WAS OVER, AGALX A PRISONER TO HIS FRIE>-I>S, THE EXEMT. LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 23 dered to garrison Stony Point, and there ''Mad Anthony's" men gave him an ugly wound and took him prisoner again. No doubt he had time to think over the matter seriously while his wound was healing; at any rate he changed his sympathies and was forgiven and received back with kindness by his comrades in his old Delaware regiment. But at the battle of Camden in South Caro- lina the British won the day, and poor Michael soon found himself marched to the coast and shut up on a British prison ship. By that time changing sides had probably become a habit, so we are not surprised to hear that, in the battle at the Cowpens, Michael was again a valiant British soldier, and, when the battle was over, again a prisoner to his friends, the enemy. What became of him after that I cannot say, but he lived to tell the tale, which he concluded with these words : "I feel some qualms at the thought of battle since, take whatever side I will, I am always sure to find it the wrong one." 24 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS I must tell you the story of Doctor Byles and his two daughters, of Boston. For more than forty years the learned doctor was pas- tor of a church in his native town, but when trouble came between the colonies and the English government, his people were not sat- isfied with the good doctor's stand. He was careful not to say a word about politics or the questions that everybody else was talking excitedly about. Other preachers wrote sermons about ''the duty of the col- onies to the king," or "the wrongs of the American colonies," but never a word from Doctor Byles. At last some one asked him why he expressed no opinion. His reply was : "In the first place, I don't understand politics ; in the second place, you all do, every man and mother's son of you ; in the third place, you have politics all the week, pray let one day in seven be devoted to re- ligion." This, however, did not satisfy his Whig congregation. The people believed he was LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 25 a Tory at heart. And so he was, but of the sort that was disposed to keep out of the quarrel and allow those who felt more strongly than he to settle it. It was not long before his Tory sympathies cost him his church ; but he lived on in his old house in Boston. His daughters were far more interested than he. They wel- comed to their father's house the British of- ficers then stationed in Boston ; they watched anxiously for news of British victories ; they prayed for the success of England and the welfare of the British king. The old doctor was closely watched, you may be sure, and, at one time during the war, he was tried and sentenced to be shut up in his own house under guard. It might have been worse, of course, and the old man, al- ways cheerful, made the best of it, although the daughters more than offset his mildness by their indignant exclamations. One day it happened that the doctor was alone in the house, before which the sentinel 26 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS marched back and forth on his usual guard duty. It also happened that the doctor found himself much in need of a servant or a messenger boy to do an errand for him. Unfortunately he could not go himself, and there was no one else. Quite an- noying, surely ! Suddenly, with a twinkle in his shrewd old eyes, the doctor threw open the front door and hailed the guard. Now, I haven't a doubt that the militiaman pacing up and down before the doctor's door was very tired of his task. And I should be very little surprised to know that it seemed to him rather a foolish precaution to guard this white-haired old man who had done noth- ing worse than to wish success to England in the war. Even so, he stood in open-mouthed astonishment when the doctor coolly proposed LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 27 Ltr r o^rr^r ^-rk: «--"---" '^U ON. 1 LL DO SENTRY DUTY." 28 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS that he — the guard — go on an errand for his prisoner ! "But, sir," he stammered, "who — who — who would stand guard over you, sir ?" "I am quite capable of shouldering a mus- ket myself," replied the old doctor. "Go on. I'll do sentry duty." The strangest part of the story is that the sentinel agreed, leaving the prisoner to march gravely back and forth for an hour or more, till his return. Once the doctor and his daughters were ordered to be sent to England, but the sen- tence was not carried out. Instead they remained in their old home, while the war went on and finally ended in the independence of the American colonies. The hopes and prayers of the doctor's daughters had gained them nothing. Still, however, they were loyal to King George. The father died, but the daughters lived in Boston for fifty years after the war, unchang- ing loyalists to the days of their death. The people around them might yield to the rulers LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 29 of ^'the states." They were as they had always been, subjects of the king. Their old-fashioned house was kept as in their father's day. Their treasures were ^'from England" and as old or older than them- selves. They talked of the old days when they were taken to walk on the Common by General Howe and Lord Percy of the King's Army, and of the band which played beneath their windows by the order of these officers. As death approached, they found great com- fort in the knowledge that "not a creature in the states will be any better for what we shall leave behind us." To them the war was always "a rebellion," and they never forgot nor forgave the deeds of their "misguided countrymen." We can- not help feeling sorry for the poor old ladies, although we rejoice in America's freedom and in the deeds of our patriot forefathers, which won it. There is a story of another old minister in Massachusetts, which shows him, like 30 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS his fellow-Tory, Doctor Byles, a gentle and peace-loving man. For many years before the Revolution he had been wont to pray as other ministers did for "'our excellent King George"; and one Sunday after the war began, he, in an absent-minded way, offered the sam.e prayer. He had scarcely spoken the words **King George," however, when he realized what he had said and that his people would surely object: so he immedi- ately went on, **0 Lord, I mean George Washington." There were not many Tories as harmless to the patriot cause as Doctor Byles, nor many who could have been trusted to stand guard over themselves. On ever}- hand we hear of Tor}- deeds. In the Mohawk \'alley, in Xew York State, the}- gathered together bands of Indians and, with their aid, carried on the most cruel and a\\-ful warfare. There were raids and massacres, murder and scalp- ing, — warfare not onl}- against men, but aeainst women and children. LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 31 Everywhere through the middle colonies and the south there were more Tories than in New England ; and the patriots of these sections had to fight not only British soldiers, but neighborhood Tories. Stories are still told In Pennsylvania of the five Doane brothers, who left their home, and carried on their warfare from the woods. They were the terror of the neighborhood, spying, rob- bing, dashing out from their hiding places, and doing all manner of harm to the patriot cause. Scarcely a town, north or south, but has its stories of Tory misdeeds. There Is a story of a southern patriot, whose plantation was left for months at a time in charge of his faithful slaves, while the master fought for liberty. One night the master suddenly appeared, and the slaves were rejoiced to see him, although they feared for his safety, for there were many Tories in the neighborhood. After a long talk about plantation matters, the weary soldier sought his bed, and was soon 32 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS sleeping soundly. The slaves kept watch, lest he should be surprised and captured. Suddenly in the dark hours of the night, the slaves came running to rouse their master. ''The Tories are coming, massa. They are coming, sure," they cried, even shaking the sleeping man to rouse him to his danger. He had scarcely wakened when he knew the slaves were right. Voices and hoof beats told the story. There was little time in which to flee. Reassuring the frightened negroes, the sol- dier ran down the stairs, and, still in his night-clothes, hastily concealed himself in a thickly growing shrub close to the house. There was no time to seek a more distant refuge. Scarcely had the crackling of twigs and the rustling of leaves ceased before the Tory band was upon him. He hardly dared breathe. In a moment the leader of the company was roughly demanding that the slaves lead him to their master. They protested loudly LIBERTY OR LOYALTY? 33 that they did not know where he was. And indeed they did not. They knew only that he was hidden somewhere. The voices grew louder and angrier. The slaves grew more and more frightened, but they were loyal in spite of fright. The Tories threatened them with whipping and with torture, but were at last convinced that they really did not know. Close beside the hiding place of the soldier, the Tories gathered, and soon decided that they would burn the house. ^'He's probably in it somewhere, so we'll get him dead if not alive," said one. In a short time there was smoke and the crackling of flames. The fire burned rapidly, and the man in the bushes began to suffer from the heat. He had torn his scanty garments in getting to his hiding place, and now the heat was blistering his back and arms. It seemed as though he must cry out. But crying out meant- capture and perhaps death. He bit his lips, and endured the torment. At last the Tories, seeing that the house 34 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS was doomed, turned about, and, with a last threat flung toward the weeping negroes clustered at a little distance, rode off. Then the master crept forth, scratched and bleeding, scorched and blistered. But he lived to fight again for liberty. One of the saddest things about the war for independence was the turning against each other of one-time friends and neighbors. But in most cases, people favored the side which they thought right, and we must allow to each the liberty of his own belief. Whigs and Tories called each other hard names ; and when the Whigs were victorious and won independence, they treated the defeated Tories harshly. It is only in these later years that we can see that, if they were honest, they could only defend the right as they saw it. IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK In Revolutionary days, most of the colony of New York was still unsettled forest, peopled only by traders and trappers and by the Indians of the Six Nations. The settlements of the colony were almost entirely in the valleys of the Hudson and the Mohawk. These two beautiful streams had long been the highways for traffic between the towns and the wilderness to the north and west. The people of the Mohawk Valley lived comfortably on their fertile farm lands. Many were descended from the Dutch ; many more, from German settlers of the century before ; some, from Scotch Highlanders ; and a few were '* Yankees" from the New England settlements. In the valley was the great estate of Sir William Johnson, now descended to his son. Sir John. Both father and son 35 36 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS Now THE Indian lad, raised to the leadership of his tribe, WAS a firm friend to Sir William's son." IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 37 had wonderful control over their Indian neighbors, among whom they had long lived almost as rulers. The chief of the Mohawks had as a boy been a great favorite with Sir William, who had sent him to school and treated him like a son. Now the Indian lad, raised to the leadership of his tribe, was a firm friend to Sir William's son, and both were firm friends to the cause of the English king. Indeed nowhere in the colonies were more devoted loyalists than here in the Mohawk Valley. Sir John gathered the Tories of the neigh- borhood into a famous regiment known as the "Royal Greens," and the Mohawk chief, who is best known by his English name, Joseph Brant, brought great war parties of Mohawks to lend their aid. On a sultry summer morning in August, 1777, Colonel Peter Gansevoort with seven hundred and fifty men was holding Fort Stan- wix in the Mohawk Valley against a besieg- ing force of British soldiers. The Americans 38 PIONEERS AXD PATRIOTS \^-ithin the fort were waiting for some relief party to drive the British away, since the garrison was hardly strong enough to do it ^^"ithout aid. Before the Fort were gathered about seven- teen hundred men fighting under the British fiag. Of these less than half were British sol- diers. The "regulars," commanded by Col- onel St. Leger, had come down through Lake Ontario from Canada, landing at Oswego. There they had been joined by Johnson's Royal Greens and another Ton* regiment — valley men who were thus setting out to fight their own neighbors and former friends — and also by a band of Indians — Mohawks and other Iroquois. Together, regulars, Tories, and Indians had followed the streams and lakes from Oswego to the head waters oi the Mohawk, and were now to capture the fort and sweep down through the valley, killing and destroy- ing as they went. Within the fort. Gansevoort waited relief. IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 39 Without, the British commander awaited the time when hunger should drive the men within to surrender. Far back in the forest another band was waiting too. Here were eight hundred militiamen of the valley, gathered by General Nicholas Herkimer as soon as he heard of St. Leger's approach, and now marching to the relief of the fort. It was well known that the Tories were strong in the valley, and the British commanders made the mistake of thinking that there were few there who were not Tories. We shall see how they came to change their minds. Herkimer was a stout old German, a vet- eran of the French wars, and the men he com- manded were the farmers from the country- side, who had left their hayfields not only to show their devotion to the patriot cause, but to protect their homes and families against the dreaded Tories and the still more dreaded Indian warriors. The hot August morning found the militia 40 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS stirring early in their camp at Oriskany, eight miles from Fort Stanwix. Men as well as officers knew that Herkimer was awaiting a signal from the fort. When they had halted here the night before, Herkimer had sent three messengers ahead to approach Fort Stanwix from the rear by w^hat the British considered an impassable swamp. The messengers wxre to tell of the approach of friends, and to ask Colonel Gansevoort to attack the British from the front at the same time the militia attacked from the rear. And so Herkimer waited in the w^oods at Oriskany for the three guns that should tell him his messengers had reached the fort and that Gansevoort was beginning the attack. It was expected that the messengers would reach the fort by dawn. Now all ears were strained to catch the boom of the fort guns. The hot sun and the hard, rough ground caused early waking, and the camp was soon lively with movement and conversation. The men clustered in groups for breakfast. IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 41 after which, preparations for the march were made. Soon all was in readiness — blankets rolled and strapped, haversacks packed, mus- kets inspected, the supply wagon loaded, and the horses attached. All the while men and officers listened for the signal guns. The sun climbed higher. It was eight o'clock. Still there was no signal. The men were growing uneasy now. Some began to question whether the guns could be heard so far away. Others clamored to go on, whether the guns should sound or not. A few hinted darkly that Nicholas Herkimer had a brother in Johnson's Tory regiment, and perhaps Nicholas too — and though they went no further, all who heard could guess their meaning. It mattered little that many an- other man in camp had relatives in the Tory regiments. Everybody knew how the valley was torn by these family divisions. Stout- hearted old Nicholas, however, was as true a patriot as could be found in all the colony, and most of them knew it. Still the men 42 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS grumbled and questioned, and the sun climbed higher still. The officers were gathering about the commander, who waited, uneasy too. Then the officers, impatient to move, urged Herki- mer to go on without the guns. He stead- fastly refused. There were many reasons why it would not do, he said, as he calmly smoked his pipe and waited. The only hope of victory lay in attacking the British from both sides at once. The officers were growing angry, as they tried one argument after another without changing Herkimer's mind at all. Their voices grew louder and their sense of the respect due their commander grew less. The men clustered about, calling, "Lead us on ! Give us the word, Nicholas !" All order seemed gone. The old general stood, it seemed, alone, against the whole eight hun- dred, who had lost their senses in the excite- ment and disappointment of delay. At last the officers openly accused the old IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 43 general of being a Tory — or a coward — and taunted him until even his calm courage could bear no more. He jumped to his feet, waving his sword, and, crying, "If you will have it," shouted the order to march. The militia moved forward, with the grim old general at their head. It was now nine o'clock, and the heat was intense. Leaden thunder clouds showed their tips in the sky, and the men were glad when the brazen sun was covered. The way led through deep woods, with bad roads and frequent bridges of logs across swampy hollows. When at one of the worst of these, a deep ravine with steep wooded sides, all were intent upon getting across safely, a wild war whoop and sudden stinging rifle shots told that the enemy was lying in wait. In a moment all was confusion. The hidden savages swarmed upon the men huddled to- gether on the bridge at the bottom of the hollow, while from the top of the further hill charged the hated Tories of the " Royal Greens. " 44 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS ^1##&-^ In a moment all was confusion IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 45 The surprise was complete, but old Nicholas Herkimer never flinched from the fight. In the midst of the wild clamor his commands rang out. The men were ordered to shelter behind trees or fallen logs. The pitiless hail of bullets continued, but Herkimer's men were doing their share now. The toma- hawks still swung high, but sometimes before they fell their savage owners dropped be- neath the crashing blow of a clubbed musket in a sturdy farmer's hands. Tory and pa- triot clinched and fell, rolling, stabbing, dying in each other's grasp. Old neighbors, one- time friends, fought fiercely, with hate in the hearts once filled with friendly thoughts. There seemed no end to the swarming savages or to the stinging fire from the smoke- covered hillside. All the while the steel- gray thunder clouds had been growing blacker, until there was almost the darkness of night in the ravine. The fight went on, swiftly, fiercely, with sickening sights and sounds. 46 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS A ball killed General Herkimer's horse and shattered the brave old man's leg. He coolly ordered his saddle placed at the foot of a tree on the hillside, and when the wound was bound up, he drew his pipe and smoked thoughtfully, as his keen eyes watched the awful fight. It was like the battles of olden times, in which each man fought a single enemy to the death and then turned swiftly to a new encounter. The little valley was strewn with the dead, and it seemed as though the battle would go on until none was left alive. Suddenly the storm, long gathering, broke with crash and glare, with wild roar of wind and downpouring torrents of water. Great trees bent and rocked. The thunder shook the earth; and the bright unearthly light flashing from the clouds showed all the horrors of the battle ground. Sounds of firing ceased and the little hollow in the woods sank to silence, save for the battle in the sky. Then, suddenly, the storm was over, and through the dripping, leafy IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 47 cover came long quivering rays of sunlight. At this moment, while the din of battle was hushed, came a sound from the westward, — a dull boom ! — boom ! — boom ! It was the signal gun, and it rang through the death- strewn forest with heavy, mournful sound. Then came the crackling noise of muskets from the same direction, telling that the at- tack from the fort had begun. In the valley the patriots fought with redoubled strength, and soon they saw the enemy give way before them. Then they were left in the blood-stained valley, alone, too weak to follow as the broken remnant of Tory and Indian band made its way back to camp. Sadly the patriots placed their wounded on litters of green boughs and turned back toward Oriskany. They could do no more. The garrison within the fort must fight alone. Within the fort that morning distant sounds of battle had been heard, but no one could explain their meaning, until, late in the 48 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS forenoon, Herkimer's three messengers ap- peared, mud stained and weary, from the swamp. Gansevoort hastened to make the attack, hoping to draw back the attention of the British toward the fort. Colonel Willett made a brilliant dash upon Johnson's Tory camp, drove the Tories across the river, and held the camp while twenty-one wagon loads of food, blankets, clothes, tools, and ammuni- tion were carried to the fort. Returning to the fort. Colonel Willett hoisted there five British banners he had cap- tured in the enemy's camp, and over them he raised, for the first time anywhere, the new flag of the United States of America, It was only a few weeks since Congress had adopted the ''Stars and Stripes" for a na- tional flag, and this first banner to be flung to the breeze was a decidedly home-made affair, cut from a white shirt, an old blue jacket and some strips of red cloth from a petticoat contributed by a soldier's wife. But it was ''the Stars and Stripes," and it IN THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK 49 waved triumphantly above the British stand- ards over the fort. Herkimer's gallant attempt to relieve the fort must not be considered a failure, although his men suffered such awful loss, and finally had to turn back home. St. Leger still remained encamped before the fort, it is true, but his men too had suffered in the forest battle, and after it many of the In- dians had quietly stolen away. When rumors of a strong force of Americans marching up through the valley were heard, Tories and Canadians and even British regulars fled also and left the valley fort in peace. And so, although brave old General Her- kimer gave his life in the terrible fight at Oriskany, he did not give it in vain. And the people of the valley still speak his name with love and reverence. MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT Perhaps no story of the Revolution has been told oftener or with greater enjoyment than the account of the attack on Stony Point by General Anthony Wayne. " Mad Anthony," they called him, from the fierceness and fury of his charge ; and "Mad Anthony," we call him still, although we know he was not only a valiant fighter, not only a dashing soldier, but a careful general, upon whom Washington was wont to rely. so "Mad Anthony." but an able leader "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 51 If ever a man was born to be a soldier, Anthony Wayne was destined to that career. We smile as we read almost the only word we have about his youth ; for it is full of "soldiering." It seems young Anthony had not been doing well at school, and his teacher, who was also his uncle, wrote about him to his father : "What he may be best qualified for, I know not ; but one thing I am certain of, that he will never make a scholar. He may make a soldier ; he has already distracted the minds of two-thirds of the boys under my direction by rehearsals of battles, sieges, etc. They exhibit more the appearance of Indians and harlequins than of students ; this one, decorated with a cap of many colors ; and others, habited in coats as variegated as Joseph's of old; some, laid up with broken heads, and others, with black eyes. During noon, in place of the usual games and amuse- ments, he has the boys employed in throwing up redoubts, skirmishing, etc. I must be 52 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS candid with you, brother Isaac ; unless An- thony pays more attention to his books, I shall be under the painful necessity of dis- missing him from the school." We are glad to know that Anthony reformed his ways, that he gave up his "military re- hearsals, mud forts, and sham battles," and astonished his uncle by becoming a good deal of a " scholar " after all. The beginning of the Revolution found Anthony Wayne a promising young surveyor of thirty. But he was more than ready to give up surveying in order to fight for his country; and as in his school days, he was able to inspire others with his own enthusiasm. He rose rapidly in the Continental army, and by the summer of 1779, when our story begins, was one of the most popular officers in the army, and one of Washington's trusted generals. Although you have not yet studied the history of the Revolution, you can easily see what an advantage it would have been "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 53 to the British to gain control of the Hudson River. By holding this, they might ''cut the colonies in two." Before 1779 they had made two attempts to seize the Hudson but had not succeeded. They had gained pos- session of New York City, but the Americans held the ground above. West Point was the stronghold of the Americans on the Hudson, and its natural position had been made stronger by fortifica- tions. The British could scarcely hope to take it. They had, however, seized Stony Point, fourteen miles below West Point, and were making that strong with fortifications and earthworks. They also held Verplanck's Point, across the river. Between these two points ran King's Ferry, and the loss of that means of travel and con- veyance disturbed the Americans. Stony Point was a natural fortress, extend- ing as it did nearly half a mile into the river, and so surrounded by water on two sides. The land side was cut off by marshes, which 54 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS at high water were completely covered. Strongly fortified, It seemed as though no attempt to take It could succeed. Washington, however, determined to make the attempt. There were reasons why the capture of Stony Point would mean far more than just regaining the use of the ferry. Therefore Washington laid careful plans and made preparations for an attack. Every detail of the plan was worked out by Washington, In the utmost secrecy. The task was to be given to the Light Infantry, recently made up of picked men from the various regiments under Washington's im- mediate command. They wxre the very flower of the army, the finest of the troops from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Con- necticut, and Massachusetts. Their officers included a young Dane; a gallant French- man ; Major Thomas Posy, of Virginia ; Col- onel Richard Butler, of Pennsylvania ; Major Jack Steward, of Maryland, whose bearing was that of a fashionable young dandy, but "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 55 whose daring and courage were the wonder of those who knew him ; Colonel Meigs and Lieutenant Colonel Sherman, of Connecticut ; William Hull, of Massachusetts ; Major Hardy Murfree of North Carolina. Every officer had been selected by Washington him- self, and for their leader had been chosen General Anthony Wayne. The only possible hope of taking Stony Point lay in keeping the British from getting the slightest notion that any plan was on foot. "Knowledge of your intention ten minutes previously obtained blasts all your hopes," Washington wrote to Wayne, who with two of his four regiments was in readi- ness about five miles below West Point. The other two regiments were ordered to report to Wayne on July 14th. The date fixed for the attack was midnight of th^ iSth, but not a man in the force and only \ very few of the officers knew there was to be ahy attack at all. \ During the forenoon of the iSth the en- 56 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS tire command, about thirteen hundred and fifty men, was drawn up in battle array for "general inspection" by the commander. Men must be "fresh shaved and well pow- dered, fully equipped and rationed," were General Wayne's orders. By noon the review was over, and the men expected to be ordered back to their quarters. To their surprise, however, they were given marching orders, and were soon in motion along the road leading to the south. All the afternoon they tramped southward, and by eight o'clock came to a halt thirteen miles from their camp, and only a mile and a half back from Stony Point. How much the men suspected in regard to their destination is not known, but they must have guessed that some undertaking of importance was planned. Orders on the march had been that not a man was to leave the ranks for a moment for any purpose whatever except at a general halt, and even then no man must get out of sight of an officer. If any man should guess "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 57 what was going on, he must have no chance to spread his guesswork where it might do harm. More than that, officers had been sent with small companies by another and nearer road "to take and keep" all the men living in the neighborhood, lest they should run to the British camp with news. Not a person was allowed to reach the camp. Even two poor widows who were on the way to sell chickens and greens to the soldiers were stopped. And all this went on so quietly that no breath of gossip reached the fort on Stony Point. By nightfall American sentries had formed a silent line around the foot of the great hill. All was ready. The secret had been kept. Wayne had only to wait. The plan divided the forces into three parts. One of these divisions, containing only two companies, was to march along the ferry road toward the fort. This division was "to amuse the British," as Wayne ex- pressed it, while the other two did the work. The two remaining divisions were to ap- 58 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS proach the hill through the marsh, one on the north and the other on the south side. These were, if possible, to rush silently into the fort while the British were being " amused " by the small company in front. Every detail was arranged, and late in the evening the men were called to attention and the "order of battle" was read. There was excitement enough when they knew what was before them. But even excitement must make no noise. Every man was given a strip of white paper to fasten to his hat, that he might be recognized as an American by his companions in the fight. The orders were that no man was to load his gun. The at- tack was to be a bayonet charge. Only the small division in front was to fire. Any sol- dier who should fire his musket without orders or should retreat one foot was to be killed instantly by the nearest officer. A watchword was given. The moment a soldier got within the fort, he must shout and keep on shouting, "The fort's our own." "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 59 It was hoped that both columns would reach the fort at the same time. Prizes of money were oifered to the men who should first enter the fort. It was within half an hour of midnight when the march began, and promptly at twelve the silent columns had reached the marsh. The men found the water deeper than they had expected ; but they marched steadily on, sometimes waist deep, across the two hundred yards of black and slippery marsh. Still they were silent, but before they were across, they were fired upon by the enemy's pickets and heard shouts of "To arms ! to arms !" from within the fort. Straight on the two columns went, climbing the rough sides of the frowning hill, hewing with axes to make opening, meeting the fire of musket and cannon, but firing never a shot in return. Some fell, others were wounded, but struggled on. Wayne was with the southern column, but neither men nor offi- cers needed Mad Anthony's urging that night. 6o PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS 'They were all mad with excitement and enthusiasm. "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 6 1 They were all mad with excitement and en- thusiasm and went scrambling up through the darkness like cats. A bullet wound in the head stopped Wayne himself for a moment, but it proved to be only a flesh wound and he pressed on. There were other narrow escapes, — bullet holes in hats, boots, and coats ; bent swords ; and scarred guns. Nobody paid much attention to anything short of a wound which brought him to the ground. Within the fort, men had sprung to their stations at the first alarm and were valiantly defending the hill. The wisdom of the American plan was soon shown. All the noise was in front, where Major Murfree's two companies were making great show. W^hile the British rushed to the outer line of their defences to meet them, a silent column of Americans went rushing into the fort from either side, meeting defence at the bayonet's point, and madly shouting, ''The fort's our own ! The fort's our own !" 62 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS So indeed it was. The British were sur- rounded and could only surrender. Few men were killed on either side. More than five hundred prisoners were taken, and valuable cannon and supplies secured. Only one man escaped, by swimming nearly a mile to a British man-of-war in the river. Stony Point was taken. General Wayne reported to Washington : ** Stony Point, i6th July, 1779. " 2 o'clock A.M. " Dear Gen'l : " The fort and garrison, with Col. Johnson, are ours. Our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free. " Yours most sincerely, ''Ant'y Wayne." The whole country went wild over the achievement of Wayne and his gallant Light Infantry. An amusing order issued by Wayne shows us how prominent a place they oc- cupied in public attention. "MAD ANTHONY" AT STONY POINT 63 "As the eyes of the citizens and country," he wrote, ''will be more full upon the American Light Infantry than any other part of the army, the General can't doubt but that every officer without distinction will exert himself and require his men immediately to furbish up their arms and clothing in the best and neatest manner possible." And he gave his Stony Point prize money to buy needles and thread for the men to use in "mending themselves up." It is a question in my mind whether the Light Infantry proved as ex- pert in mending rents as in storming forts. I can better imagine them handling bayonets than needles. But they were brave fellows, these picked men of Mad Anthony's, and no doubt they conquered, even against such fearful odds, emerging brushed and mended, "fresh shaven and well powdered," for the admiration of the public which came forth at their approach to see the heroes of Stony Point. THE "SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS In the later years of the Revolution, almost all the fighting was in the south. After failing twice to "cut the colonies in two" at the Hudson, British soldiers were sent to the southern colonies. They felt sure that many loyalists would fight with them ; and they hoped to win back the south with the Tory aid. There were many loyalists in the southern colonies, it is true. But there were also many patriots. Well did they defend their homes, and well did they fight for independence and liberty. Among them all, none deserves greater fame than Francis Marion, the "swamp fox." Perhaps I cannot better show you how he came by this name than to lead you to one 64 "SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS 65 of his favorite camping grounds. But first I must teil you that Marion's men were not finely drilled ''regulars," with gay uniforms and shining swords, who fought great battles amid the booming of cannon and the roll of fife and drum. They were rather men who had gathered to fight against the bands of Tories who were spreading destruction through the south. They were men who put themselves under Francis Marion's leadership because they believed he could lead them to success. They came and went, now fighting, now returning to their homes to care for their wives and children, and then returning to fight again. They wore no uniform and were often scantily clothed. Their swords, if they had any, were either taken from some British prisoner or more often were old saws, heated and ham- mered into weapons. They were nearly al- ways short of ammunition ; indeed it often happened that not more than half the men went into a fight; the rest stood back and 66 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS waited for the fall of some fighter — either friend or foe — in order to secure arms or ammunition. The band sometimes numbered not more than twenty men, sometimes seventy or perhaps one hundred and fifty. The number was always changing. Whether with few men or many, Marion accomplished his purpose, which was to worry the enemy whenever and wherever he could. Cornwallis, the British commander, found Marion a frequent annoyance. ''I would give a good deal to have him taken," he said, and again, "Colonel Marion had so wrought upon the minds of the people that there was scarcely an inhabitant between the Santee and Pedee that was not in arms against us. Some parties had even crossed the Santee and carried terror to the gates of Charleston itself." Marion in his camp at Snow's Island pre- sents us a picture very much like Robin Hood in his retreat in Sherwood Forest. In the midst of forest-grown swamp lands where "SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS 67 two rivers joined, the camp was difficult to reach and easy to guard and, best of all, near to the places where the enemy could be found. The island itself was fairly high and dry, covered with forests and thickets of cane. Here Marion encamped when not in motion. He destroyed all bridges in the neighborhood and seized all boats. He closed the ordinary paths into the swamp with heaps of brush and hewn timber. Thus he rested secure in his island fortress. Here were stored such arms and ammuni- tion as the band had ; here were held their prisoners ; and here their wounded rested and recovered their strength for another day of fighting. Sometimes these invalids cleared and cultivated a small spot where they planted corn ; sometimes they shot small game in the woods around them ; and here they wel- comed back their loved commander and his fighting men. Night after night when the band was here 68 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS in camp, small parties went out in all direc- tions, for the enemy was near at hand and there was always work to be done. If the enemy was too numerous and the fight went against the band, the men would scatter into the forest and find their way back one by one through the pathless swamp to the camp. Every man was an expert horseman, and they trained the horses to swim the streams and to pick their way through drowned lands and swampy thickets. Marion himself rode a fine horse which he had taken from a cap- tured Tory captain. The horse became al- most as famous as the man. He took to the water as though it were his native element, and the other horses of the brigade learned to follow his fearless lead as their riders had learned to follow his master. A story often told gives us a picture of Marion in the Snow's Island camp. A Brit- ish officer was sent to arrange with Marion for an exchange of prisoners. He was met miles from the camp by a small party of '* SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS 69 Marlon's men. They blindfolded him and led him by roundabout paths through swamp and forest. When his eyes were uncovered, the young man stood before Marion, in the midst of Marion's band. A natural opening in the forest was sur- rounded by lofty trees, hung with streaming moss. Here under a lofty pine were men asleep, resting perhaps after a night raid. There were others, mounting in readiness for some new venture. Rifles leaned against trees. Horses, ready saddled, grazed near by. The British ofHcer was much impressed by the scene and by Marion himself. Marion, always courteous, invited the young man to dinner. Imagine the British officer's aston- ishment to find the meal consisting of only roasted sweet potatoes, served on pieces of bark. The officer's curiosity was sufficient to lead him to say, ''But, surely, general, this cannot be your ordinary fare." JO PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS "Indeed, sir, it is," replied Marion, "and we are fortunate on this occasion, entertain- ing company, to have more than our usual allowance." We have no continuous story of the deeds of Marion's men ; on the contrary, the many stories of their doings are of incidents here and there. On one occasion Captain Gavin Witherspoon was sent out with four men on scout duty. Hard pressed by a band of Tories, the five took refuge in the nearest swamp. For a while they lay quiet, but at length young Gavin stole back in the direc- tion of the Tory band from whom they had escaped. He had not gone far before he heard voices. Peering cautiously through the trees, he saw seven men gathered about a camp-fire, watching, no doubt, for the return of the men they had chased. The captain looked long enough to discover that the Tories had stacked their guns against an uprooted pine tree some little distance from their resting place. Then, creeping *' SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS 71 back to his companions, he proposed that they attempt a capture. The others objected, but the captain had no mind to lose so good an opportunity. He went back alone and watched the Tory camp. At last every man was quiet. They must be asleep. So with Indian-like caution he crept up to the guns and silently carried them off. It required several journeys to dispose of them all safely. Then he returned and, with levelled rifle, called upon the Tories to surrender. Stumbling to their feet, half asleep, the Tories were powerless without their guns. The young captain had seven prisoners when his men finally came up. This was just the sort of work In which Marlon's men delighted. It was only a few days after this capture of Witherspoon's that Marion himself, with all the force he could muster, made a night attack on a large body of Tories. The only approach to the Tory camp was by way of a plank bridge ; and the 72 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS So WITH INDIAN-LIKE CAUTION HE CREPT UP TO THE GUNS AND SILENTLY CARRIED THEM OFF. "SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS 73 noise of the horses' feet on the bridge was closely followed by an alarm gun in the camp. Marion won in the fight that followed, but with more loss than he usually suffered. After this, the cautious leader carefully avoided bridges, or if he must cross them, he had the blankets of his men spread on the planks to deaden the sound of the horses' tread. Another midnight raid was made upon a party of .Tories who were bringing out from Charleston supplies for newly gathered Tory bands. The scout had brought in word of the muskets with bayonets, ammunition, swords and pistols, saddles and bridles to be had, if the Tories could be surprised. Marion with his men approached the camp. There was no guard. Some slept, others made merry with wine and cards. Suddenly Marion's men were in their midst. There was no resistance. The supplies were cap- tured with many prisoners. There was with Marion a soldier who had 74 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS won fame early in the war. This was Ser- geant Jasper, who with Marion himself had taken part in the defence of a fort in Charles- ton harbor against nine ships of war. During a fierce battle the American flag had been shot away from its staff, and had fallen out- side the fort. Jasper's name will always be remembered for his bravery in springing over the rampart to the beach, rescuing the flag, and restoring it to its place, — all in direct range of the British guns. Later the same Sergeant Jasper made him- self of great use as a scout. He had a natural talent for disguise, which gave him ready access to British camps. Twice at least he visited a brother who was a Tory and a ser- geant in a British regiment. During the second of these visits, a small party of Ameri- can prisoners was brought in, on the way under guard to Savannah. Jasper resolved to rescue these prisoners, and with one com- panion placed himself in ambush near a spring where he believed the party would "SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS 75 halt. Although there were ten guards, the rescue was accomplished. Jasper did not live to see the end of the war and freedom, but died in battle, bravely de- fending the colors for which he had so often fought. His name lives, however, and will live, for his brave deeds. The story of one of the successes connected with Marion's name tells us also of a patriotic South Carolina woman, Mrs. Motte. She was a wealthy widow and had just moved into a fine new mansion house on a hill which over- looked all the country round. Scarcely had she finished moving her household goods from the old house to the new one, when the Brit- ish decided that the new house would make a fine fort and sent soldiers to seize it. Mrs. Motte had to return to the farm-house, and the mansion became Fort Motte. A deep trench was dug around it, with a wall at its inner edge. The place was held by a gar- rison of one hundred and fifty men. This fort Marion besieged, with the help 76 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS of Continental soldiers under Lee. But the garrison within refused to surrender, knowing that a British force was on the way to aid them. If the fort was to be taken by the Americans, it must be taken quickly, before this force arrived. There seemed no way but to set on fire the mansion house, which oc- cupied almost every foot of space inside the wall. Mrs. Motte had been very kind to the American officers, and they dreaded to tell her that they must burn her house. They little knew how ready they would find her to help the patriotic cause. She even found for them a bow and arrows, brought long ago from India, and bade them shoot fire with these upon the mansion's roof. For this the noon hour was chosen, when the hot rays of the sun had dried and heated the roof. The bow was put into the hands of one of Marion's men ; balls of blazing fire were fastened to the arrows ; and, one by one, three of these were lodged upon the roof. "SWAMP FOX" OF THE CAROLINAS ^J The garrison within, seeing their danger, sent men to the roof to put out the fire, but Marion's one cannon was turned against them, and the garrison could only surrender. In the last year of the war, the southern armies were commanded by Nathanael Greene, a fine soldier, second probably only to Wash- ington himself in the whole American force. Marion ably assisted Greene, and helped to clear the way for the final victory. It is not in the line of regular battle that we remember Marion best. It is not with the roll of fife and drum we think of him. Instead we picture him finding his way along lonely roads by the light of the midnight moon. We see him on his faithful steed, swimming the river or wading the ford. We think of him dashing down without warning on some Tory band. With his bravery, we remember his fine courtesy and the mercy he ever showed to prisoner or fallen foe. No deeds of cruelty stain his story. His men loved him and served to show their love. He 78 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS loved his country as they too loved her. Together they fought for her and freedom. So lived and served Francis Marion, ''the swamp fox of the Carolinas." The "swamp fox HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL The English settlers, as you already know, made their homes along the Atlantic coast. By the time of the Revolution, these settle- ments extended in a long line from Maine to Georgia. Many of the colonies had been granted land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. How far it was from one ocean to the other nobody had much idea. These grants of land, therefore, meant very little, since English settlers clung to the eastern slope of the continent. There were several reasons for this. The Mississippi Valley, you will remember, was explored by the French, and they claimed it for their king. They made few settlements, but their hunters and trappers roamed about in the forests, and jealously guarded their 79 8o PIONEERS AXD PATRIOTS rights there. The French rule, however, was a short one; and the English were left in possession of the country as far west as the great river. Even now the settlers were held back. The British government forbade their settling in the ''Indian country" beyond the mountains, lest home-making there should destroy the forests and kill off the game. But the greatest reason of all was the mountains themselves. None but the hardiest of the hunters dared to go far into their dark forests ; and so the mountains stood for years like a great wall. The ''backwoods people," as they were called, of the Pennsylvania, Mrginia, and North Carolina colonies, pushed farther and farther toward the mountains. They made little "clearings" in the forest, built their rough cabins, and brought up their children to fight the wilderness and the Indians. The backwoodsman planted corn and vegetables, and, if he was not too poor, kept a cow or two, hogs, and perhaps sheep. HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 8 1 He hunted in the forest, bringing home venison and bear meat to be dried for winter use. He shot wild turkeys, pigeons, and squirrels. He learned to creep noiselessly upon the game and to imitate the calls of beast and bird. He hunted sometimes for months at a time, sleeping in the forest and living without any food but meat. Then he went home, laden with meat and skins. The dress of the backwoodsman was not unlike that of the Indians. He wore leggings and hunting-shirt of fringed buckskin, moc- casins and coonskin cap. The hunting-shirt reached nearly to his knees, and a broad belt served to draw it in about the waist and to hold tomahawk and scalping knife. His rifle was a clumsy affair, long and heavy. The backwoodsman, however, rarely missed his aim. The log cabin to which the hunter returned was sometimes a single room, sometimes It contained living room and bedroom, with a loft above, reached by a ladder. There were 82 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS a rough table, three-legged stools, and a bed covered with bearskins and deerhides. Wooden pegs were driven into the sides of the house, to hang clothing upon, but the wardrobes of these backwoods people were too scanty to require many pegs. The people of these scattered backwoods clearings learned to depend upon their own work for food and clothing ; but they also learned to help each other. When a cabin was to be built, the neighbors gathered to lift the heavy logs to their places ; when the harvest season came, they gathered to help shuck the corn. There were housewarmings and quiltings. These were all regarded as merrymakings, and the guests rode up from all the country round. The work, whether husking or house-raising, was done with much rough fun and frolic. Then there were tables laden with bear meat, venison, vegetables, wild fruits, and, as an especial luxury, apple- pie. There were also rum and whiskey, and hard drinking. Sometimes there were fights HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 83 among the men. The victor would be immensely proud of himself, jumping on a stump, where he crowed lustily and flapped his arms, like a quarrelsome rooster. Usually the gayety was concluded by a dance for the Daniel Boone's cabin. young people, after which the guests mounted their horses and galloped off home. The pleasures of these hardy people were rough, as their toil was. They themselves were honest and hardworking and brave. No other kind of people could have lived in such 84 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS surroundings. We must not forget the con- stant danger from the Indians, who never lost a chance to injure the whites who were stealing their hunt- ing-grounds. In such a back- woods home as these I have de- scribed was born Daniel Boone, one of the famous hunt- ers and frontiers- men of the early days. His earliest home was in Penn- sylvania, but while he was still a boy, his people moved, as the backwoods folk so often did, to what they thought was a better place for a home. This was in North Carolina. Here Boone grew up, married, built his log cabin. HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 8$ and began life for himself. Hunting, in which all backwoodsmen were expert, was to Boone the only occupation which seemed worth while. He went farther and farther into the mountains. There is an old beech tree still standing in eastern Tennessee which bears these words cut deeply into its bark : "D. Boon cilled a bar on this tree year 1760." It was not long before he left his home on a ''long hunt," in which he hoped to reach the ''country of Kentucky," of which he had heard. With four companions he pressed forward through the thick forests. The beautiful summer was just beginning when they reached the place of which they were in search. No longer were there woods on every hand. Running streams and rolling prairies were seen as well as forest; and the hunters had never found game in such abun- dance as they saw it here. There were salt springs which the hunters called "licks," because the wild beasts came 86 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS to them and licked the earth to get salt. To these licks came huge herds of buffalo, elk, and deer. There were also bears, wolves, and panthers. For six months Boone and his companions hunted and gathered great quan- tities of skins as well as the meat for their daily food. No Indian tribes lived here. It was a sort of "no man's land," in which all hunted and which each de- sired to keep as his own hunting- ground. The white hunters soon came to know that they would find no friendly Indians — for every Indian was an enemy to any hunter outside his own tribe. As winter approached, Boone and one companion were captured, but managed to escape. When they returned to their camp they found that their companions had gone ; it was not long, however, before Boone's brother joined him, and later other hunters came. HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 87 Sometimes Boone was alone for months at a time ; but he was happy without com- panions, hunting and exploring the country. He always had to be on the watch for Indians, and many nights he lay hidden in the thickets, not daring to build a fire lest the Indians should follow the smoke. Two years Boone spent in this fashion before he returned to his North Carolina home. As the hunters in the Kentucky country grew more numerous, there was constant war between red men and white. Each hunted the other in much the same way in which both hunted the forest animals. Many a hunter was killed because he followed sounds which seemed to him the call of bird or beast. There is a story of one old hunter who listened in the dusk of evening to the hooting of the owls in the forest. At first the calls seemed natural enough, but soon he doubted them, especially because they seemed to come from the ground instead of the trees. He crept nearer, watching not for owls, but 88 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS Indians. An old stump showing dimly in the shadows between two forked tree trunks, fixed his attention. Was it a stump, or a crouching man ^ He aimed, and fired. The "stump" toppled and fell, — a dead Indian. Indeed the wilderness was full of dangers, from beasts as well as men. The ground around some of the licks was so trodden that the paths of the beasts were like the beaten roads of a city. When a great herd of buffalo started on a mad rush over prairie or through the forest, a man had little chance unless he could get out of the way. Once two hunters were thus caught in a "stampede.'' One scrambled up into a mulberr)' bush, where he hung, "like a coon,'' his companion says, and the other could onK' leap behind a tree trunk, where he stood while the herd rushed by, with their horns scraping on either side. It was a narrow escape for both men. A village of Kentucky to-day bears a constant reminder of the buffalo in its name, — "Stamping Ground." HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 89 In 1773 Daniel Boone sold his North Carolina home, and set out with his family to make a new home in the Kentucky wilder- ness. Five other families and forty men accompanied them. In the mountains the party was attacked by Indians, six men were killed and the cattle scattered. For a time the journey to the west was given up. But in 1775 Boone with thirty men set out to clear a path across the mountains to the Kentucky River, and not far behind came a party of settlers. The path Boone cleared was long known as the Wilderness Road, and many thousands of people travelled over it to new western homes. Reaching a spot suitable for a settlement, Boone's party began the building of a fort. The place chosen was an open plain near the Kentucky River and a lick. The fort was an oblong enclosure, with a stout two-storied blockhouse at each corner and a high stockade or fence of heavy timbers. The cabins were built with the back wall forming part of the 90 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS stockade. In time of danger the cattle were driven into the open space inside the fort, and the gates were closed and barred. Each settler had land outside the fort, which he cleared and planted, and upon which he lived, when he dared do so. This settle- ment of Boone's was called Boonesborough. Other forts were built, and other settlements begun in Kentucky at about this time. Even before homes were made in Kentucky, the first settlements had been made in Tennessee. They were made by the same sort of backwoodsmen, who lived beyond the mountains the same sort of lives their fathers had lived before them in the foothills of the Alleghanies. The great leaders of the Tennessee settlements were James Robertson and John Sevier. North of the Ohio River lay what the French had long called the Illinois country. There were a few scattered French trading-posts and settlements among the Indians of this section. The largest of these were Vincennes HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 91 on the Wabash River, and Kaskaskia and Cahokia on the Mississippi. When the French lost their territory to the English, some of the French settlers at these places crossed the Mississippi and made new homes. But most of them remained, living quiet, peaceful lives on their little farms. The English government paid little attention to these Frenchmen and the Indians among whom they dwelt, until the Revolution. Then British soldiers were sent to them, and to the Indians, to gain their help against the Americans. It was easy for these British soldiers to win the friendship of the Indians. The red man hated the white settler and the white hunter. The white soldier promised him that settlers and hunters should not steal his hunting-grounds. The white soldier bought his furs, paying in the sort of goods the Indian most of all desired. The white soldier brought plenty of ''fire-water" for his red brother. The red men were glad to fight for the white soldier's king. 92 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS General Hamilton, who commanded the British soldiers in these northwestern posts, sent out many Indian war parties to lay waste the young settlements in Kentucky and Tennessee. Massacres and scalpings were reported on every hand. The *'hair buyer" General Hamilton was scornfully called, because he offered to pay the Indians for American scalps — from the heads not only of men, but of women and children. - How were the struggling settlements to protect themselves ^ How could the older colonies, fighting the great fight for inde- pendence, spare men to protect them ? It was hard to say. Among the backwoodsmen of Kentucky was a young man who had left his home in Virginia for the frontier settlements. Except Daniel Boone, probably no man in Kentucky was better known or more trusted than George Rogers Clark. The Kentucky settlements were on ground claimed by Virginia, so it was decided by HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 93 the Kentuckians to send men to ask the Vir- ginian governor to help them in their struggle against the Indians. Clark was one of the two Kentuckians sent on this errand. They asked that the riflemen of Kentucky be given a part in the war, and that five hundred pounds of gunpowder be sent them to fight with. The governor started to refuse the powder, but Clark broke in, saying, "A country not worth defending is not worth claiming." The governor, who had no desire to see Kentucky lost to Virginia, changed his mind. The following year (1777) saw more Indian war parties than ever. It seemed as though the struggling western settlements would be entirely wiped out. Clark burned to punish the red murderers and the British soldiers who were urging them to their cruel deeds. He sent scouts to learn how strong the British were in the Illinois country, and, on their return, he went again to the Virginian governor. 94 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS After a long talk with the governor, Clark turned westward once more. He had been made a colonel of Virginian militia, and was given power to raise seven companies of fifty men each in the settlements west of the mountains. He carried instructions to use these soldiers for the protection of Kentucky ; and carefully hidden in a safe inner pocket he had also secret orders to enter the Illinois country and attack Kaskaskia. It would be a long story to tell you how Clark gathered men and supplies, how he embarked in flatboats at the head waters of the Ohio River, how he drifted down beyond the Kentucky, and finally landed, one hundred and thirty miles from Kaskaskia, marching across the country in order to sur- prise the town. In the fort at Kaskaskia, the ofiicers were giving a dance to the young people of the town. The hall was lighted by flaring torches ; the music of the violins sounded merrily; the floor was thronged with gay young dancers. HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 95 An Indian — there were always friendly Indians about — lay upon the floor by the door, watching the dance. Suddenly a wild war-whoop sounded through the room. The friendly Indian had jumped to his feet, shouting defiance to a man in the doorway. It was Colonel Clark, standing quietly with folded arms. Now if there was one thing ^ of which these French villagers stood in fear, it was an American backwoods- man ; and terror took deep hold of the dancers. Clark bade them go on with their dancing, if they chose. ''But, remember," he added, ''it is under the flag of Virginia you dance, not that of Great Britain." Meanwhile Clark's men had overrun the fort and had seized the commandant. Mes- sengers hurried through the town, ordering every one to remain within his house, unless he would be shot. In the morning, the peaple were forced to give up their arms. They were overcome with terror. The fame of the "Long Knives," as the Indians called the 96 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS backwoodsmen, had gone before them. All expected death or slavery. A group of the leading men came to Clark to beg for mercy. When Clark assured them that he meant them no harm, their terror was suddenly turned to joy, and all the village was ready to promise friendship to the new American nation. The priest was surprised when Colonel Clark freely granted him permission to open his church as usual. "An American com- mander has nothing to do with any church save to defend it from insult," said Colonel Clark. The only person who does not seem to have entered into the general rejoicing was the commandant of the fort. His reply to Colonel Clark's invitation to dinner shows that he must have been very much out of temper indeed. Clark promptly sent him a prisoner to Virginia. No one else received anything but kindness from Clark. The capture of Kaskaskia is only the begin- HOMES BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN WALL 97 ning of the story. Cahokia, farther up the river, was easily won to friendship, and also VIncennes, but the struggle came when Gen- eral Hamilton, ''the hair buyer," appeared to punish the bold Americans. At VIncennes a single American officer and one soldier occupied the fort. General Hamilton demanded Its surrender, never dreaming that there were but two men inside. The officer with lighted torch In hand stood beside the cannon he had wheeled Into the open gateway. General Hamilton imagined scores of "Long Knives" out of sight behind him ; and when the American officer agreed to surrender the fort, British soldiers and painted Indians drew up In long lines to let the Americans pass out with "the honors of war" which the American officer had demanded. Then the two solemnly marched forth. Clark, however, had no Idea of giving up VIncennes to Hamilton. Although it was winter, he at once marched to take it back. The journey was a hard one, through mud and 98 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS over ice, flooded meadows and prairie land. The men suffered from lack of food as well as from cold. But they went on bravely, sur- prised the town, and defeated the British. The value of what Clark had done was seen when the war for independence was ended. The northwest — between the Ohio and the Great Lakes — was won for freedom and the new nation, by his bravery. Clark was a typical backwoodsman. What we owe to these men we must never forget. With axe and rifle they made their way into untried wildernesses. They made homes and boldly defended them. They brought to the Ameri- can nation the great wealth of the "old northwest." FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA In my childhood my daily walk to school led me to the neighborhood of a group of streets whose names by their very unfamiliar sound were easily fixed in my attention : "Lafayette, Kosciusko, De Kalb, Pulaski." Sometimes I wondered at their strange foreign sound and wondered too why streets in an American city should receive such names. It was, therefore, a pleasure to discover that Pulaski, De Kalb, Kosciusko, and Lafayette were Revolutionary heroes, and that their strange foreign-sounding names told stories of the homes beyond the sea from which they came to fight for American liberty. Thus my wonder was satisfied, but my interest iremained. When war broke out between the English government and the English colonies in America, many European officers came to 99 lOO PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS take a part in the fighting. Some came be- cause they wished to win military glory ; some, because at that time the armies of Europe were lying idle and their officers longed for battle somew^here ; and some, because they wished to help America and see her win. Of the many, the four I have mentioned, and one more. Baron Steuben, are best known and most gratefully remem- bered. Of the five, the name of Lafayette stands first. Although only a boy of nineteen when he first heard of the rebellion of England's colonies, he was already a soldier and an officer. Be- longing to one of the most distinguished families of the French nobility and pos- LaFAYETTE, the " FRENCH BOY." ( FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA loi sessed of a large fortune, the young man seemed to have a brilliant career before him. He was already married, and his home life was extremely happy. Yet he left home and position to help the struggling Ameri- cans. More than that, he came to America against the wishes of the king. Indeed the king forbade his coming, lest the anger of England should be aroused against France. But neither the command of the king nor the entreaties of his relatives could move the young man's determination. He seems to have had an inborn love for liberty; the story of America's fight for freedom roused in him a desire which he could not conquer. It was no easy matter for the young noble- man to escape the watchful eyes of the king's officers. Indeed he had some exciting adven- tures before he was able to get away. He had bought a vessel for the voyage, and at last, with eleven other officers who wished to join the Americans, he set sail from a Spanish port in 1777. I02 PIONKERS AND PATRIOTS Landing near Charleston, in South Carolina, the officers hurried to Philadelphia to offer their services to Congress. Lafayette was made a major-general and at once joined Washington's army. Washington was kind to the young foreigner from the first, and soon there sprang up between them a strong and steadfast friendship, which nothing changed nor lessened as years passed by. In his first battle Lafayette was slightly wounded ; and he wrote to his wife describing Washington's care and affectionate interest. " When he sent his best surgeon to me," he wrote, "he told him to take charge of me as if I were his son, because he loved me with the same affection." As winter approached, Washington led his army into winter quarters at Valley Forge. Lafayette was now in command of a division of this army. He describes the condition of the men in another letter: ''The unfortunate soldiers were in want of every- thing; they had not coats, hats, shirts, nor \ FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 103 shoes. . . . The army frequently remained whole days without provisions." In another letter he spoke of his division as ''almost in a state of nakedness ; but I am promised cloth," he continued, ''of which I shall make clothes." He went on to say he was also promised more men, "of which I must make soldiers, this being unfortunately a more difficult task." Lafayette seems to have been modestly conscious of his lack of age and experience. He says, "I read, I study, I examine, I listen, I reflect; I will not talk much, for fear of saying foolish things ; I will still less risk acting much, for fear of doing foolish things — but when some plans occur to me which I believe may become useful when properly rectified, I hasten to impart them to a great judge, who is good enough to say he is pleased with them." A story is told of Lafayette at this time which shows that he w^as quite able to make plans which were useful, in spite of his youth. I04 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS Valley Forge was only about twenty miles from Philadelphia, and while the American soldiers had been suffering in one place, the British had passed a comfortable, indeed a gay winter in the other. It was nearly sum- mer again when Washington sent Lafayette with two thousand men to march toward Philadelphia. He was to cross the Schuylkill River and take up a position where he could keep watch of the movements of the British. Accordingly he took possession of Barren Hill, about halfway between Philadelphia and Valley Forge. British scouts, discovering him there, has- tened to the city with the news. General Howe, the British commander, was a guest that evening at a fine military ball. He was pleased to hear of the approach of the young French general. He was sure he could cap- ture him and his men. So sure was he that he went about inviting the fair Tory ladies at the ball to a banquet the next evening at his house, ''to meet the Marquis de FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 105 Lafayette." Already he thought of the mar- quis as his prisoner. Next morning the British force selected to make the capture marched off gayly toward Barren Hill. It was all so easy. One divi- sion should hold the ford, to prevent the retreat of the ''French boy" across the river. One division should march around the hill, and one should remain on the nearer side. Then the two should march up, and between them at the top would be Lafayette and his two thousand men. American scouts brought word to Lafayette that the British were coming. Though this was not pleasant news, the young general had no idea of being captured. Fortunately he knew another ford, but the time in which to reach it was short. Indeed the red coats were in sight. Boldly Lafayette advanced toward them with a few of his men, while all the rest were hurried toward the ford. The British ad- vanced toward Lafayette's bold front. Sud- io6 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS denly the American columns were drawn back and vanished over the hill. The two British divisions pushed faster up the opposite sides of the hill. They reached the top. They met. But no "French boy" was between them. And at the banquet that night the Tory ladies did not meet the Mar- quis de Lafayette. Later in the year, when the British had gone back to New York and Washington's army stood guard over them from New Jersey to West Point on the Hudson, Lafayette went home to France. The French govern- ment had already agreed to help the struggling American nation, and Lafayette found the French people friendly to everything American. They were very proud of the young mar- quis, upon whom honors were showered by the king, the queen, and all the court. As for Lafayette himself, he could talk of nothing but America and the Americans. He told of the suffering of the army and of the brave FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 107 endurance of the men. He told about the lack of money to carry on the war, and the lack of clothing and supplies. • He told the fine ladies and gentlemen of the court that the cost of a single royal ball in the king's palace would buy clothes and comforts for the whole American army. He told them about Washington, the great general, his friend. He asked the king to send land sol- diers to America in addition to the French warships which were already in American waters. Happy indeed was Lafayette when he received instructions from the king to return to America. He was to proceed immediately to join General Washington, and ''to com- municate to him the secret that the king, willing to give the United States a new proof of his affection and of his interest in their security, is resolved to send to their aid, at the opening of spring, six vessels of the line and six thousand regular troops of infantry." Returning at once to America, Lafayette lo8 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS remained until the fighting was over. His part in the later years of the war you will find in your histories. His first longing to fight for liberty remained as long as there was fighting to do. He proved himself a gallant soldier, an able general, and a true friend. Lafayette's fame in his own country now knew no bounds ; and he left behind in America the truest of gratitude and admira- tion. His friendship with Washington suf- fered no change from separation. Frequent letters passed between them. Washington returned to his farm at Mount Vernon, and from there went at his country's call to the Presidential chair. Lafayette busied himself on his estates with plans for future useful- ness, from which he was called by revolution in his own land. Although he was rich and a noble by birth, he joined the poor and down- trodden in France who fought for liberty. Some day you will read the story of the French Revolution and of the part Lafayette had in it. He had seen freedom won by the FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 109 Americans ; and he knew how much worse was the condition of the common people in his own country. He upheld their fight for liberty, but the Revolution in France became a wild and awful time. The most dreadful deeds were done in the name of liberty. At first Lafayette was a leader, but the time came when the people threw aside all obedi- ence to law and order and Lafayette could no longer fight with them. Then they turned upon him, and his life was in danger. He fled, but was captured, and lay in an Austrian prison for five weary years. Re- leased at last, he returned to France, where after many years he saw at least the begin- ning of real freedom for the people. He lived a long and useful life, during which he never forgot his early battles in America nor his friendship for the American people. Forty years after the independence of America had been won, Lafayette returned to visit the scenes of his youthful glory. President Monroe had invited him to be the nation's guest. no PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS From the moment he landed in New York he was surrounded by welcoming crowds who lost no chance to show their love and honor for the nation's friend. Cannon boomed, and thousands cheered the fine old man wherever he appeared. As he went from city to city, everywhere the people made a holiday in which to greet him. Washington had long been dead, and his friend could only weep beside his tomb. Few indeed of the Revolutionary heroes were left, but these came to take Lafayette's hand, or he went to them. The country had changed in forty years, and Lafayette went from state to state to see the new cities, the fine farms, and the comfortable homes. He was in America through the excitement of a presidential election, and he spent the last days of his visit in the White House in Wash- ington as the guest of the new President. For more than a year he had been in the United States, and had received every honor the American people could devise. FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA in Lafayette has been called ''a man of two worlds," and surely it is true that both the old world and the new are better for his love of liberty. His name stands high on the roll of freedom's soldiers. No other friend from Europe won quite the place in American hearts that Lafayette did. Perhaps it was partly his youth and position — what he gave up — that first at- tracted attention to the man. Others fought bravely too. Pulaski and Kosciusko were soldiers from Poland, who had fought for the freedom of their own land and had seen it crushed by strong and cruel conquerors. They came to America, seeking for freedom here since it was lost at home. Both were brave officers. Pulaski fell in battle, a true soldier of liberty to the last. Kosciusko lived, and after the war returned to Poland, where, like Lafayette, he became a leader of his people. But his efforts to free Poland were in vain. He was captured and imprisoned in Russia. When the Russian Czar gave him 112 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS his freedom, after two years In prison, the Czar handed Kosciusko a sword. But Kos- ciusko refused It, saying, *'I need no sword. I have no longer any country to defend." These three — Lafayette, Pulaski, and Kos- ciusko — were all young men. De Kalb and Steuben were older. Indeed, De Kalb was a soldier before any of the younger group was born. Although a German, he had been In the service of France for many years, and had once been sent to the English colonies In America on business for the French king. He was one of the eleven officers who came to America with Lafayette, and he, like Pulaski, gave his life for the country he had come to help. Of all the five, Steuben alone remained in America after the war, making It his home. He had come from Prussia, where his young manhood had been spent In the army of Frederick the Great, the Prussian king. Steu- ben had proved himself an excellent ofiicer and had been honored by a high place on the FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 113 king's own staff. Frederick was a great soldier and possessed an army that was probably better drilled than any other in Europe. To have held high place under him was evidence of Steuben's ability. He offered his services to the American Congress in the winter of 1777 and was sent at once to join Washington's army at Valley Forge. Here he found a difficult task await- ing him. Washington was anxious to make use of Steuben's knowledge in instructing the soldiers, many of whom knew very little about military drill. Steuben was, there- fore, made inspector general of the army. This office gave him the care of arms and equipment as well as instruction of the men. He was well fitted for the task, discouraging as it was. Men were without clothes, with- out shoes, without arms. Many were sick, and all were discouraged. Steuben began work at once, with what men he could muster. From the first he kept careful account of all supplies and insisted 114 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS The drill began in earnest. that the men should keep their arms In perfect condition. They had been accustomed to FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 115 no such care before. This alone made a great difference in the efficiency of the army. When spring came, newly enlisted soldiers joined the army, and some supplies were received. The drill began in earnest. Every day, unless the weather was bad, the old general rose at three o'clock in the morning, and at sunrise might be found on horseback, galloping to' the parade ground. First of all came inspection of the men and their arms. This was no rapid riding in front of the line, but a careful examination of every man. Then came the drill. At first Steuben could not make the men understand the movements he desired, or the orders he gave, since he could speak very little English. A young officer who could speak French as well as English came to his assistance, and things went better. "If I had seen an angel from heaven," said the old Baron, in telling the story, "I should not have been more rejoiced." Many stories are told of the Baron's hot Il6 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS temper and also of his kind heart. Some- times the awkwardness of the men would move him to the most violent of language, until he had exhausted all the exclamations he could think of in German, French, and English. Then he would call upon his aids to help him think of more names to call them. His bursts of temper, however, had little eifect on the affection the men came to feel for him. Always kind to those in dis- tress and generous to all, he made friends everywhere. The young officers who were his aids loved him and continued to devote themselves to him after the war was over, indeed as long as he lived. Many stories are told of his hospitable habits. He made a point of inviting to his table not only the higher officers in camp, but those of lesser rank. "Poor fellows," he would say, ''they have field officers' stomachs, without their pay or rations." When the French soldiers had come to the aid of the Americans and were encamped FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA 117 near them, the Baron was disturbed because none of the American officers except Wash- ington could afford to entertain them. "We are constantly feasted by the French, without their receiving any invitation in return except from headquarters. I can stand it no longer. I shall give one grand dinner to our allies, should I eat my soup with a wooden spoon forever after." To do it, he sold part of his camp furniture. It was not long before the effects of Steu- ben's drill began to show upon the men. All through the long spring months he went on with his work. He taught officers as well as men. As a result of his training, the army that came out from Valley Forge bore little resemblance to the one which had gone in in the dark days of winter. When the war was over, Steuben made his home in western New York on land the state had given him. Here he built a log house, and lived surrounded by his books, and often visited by his faithful young friends Ii8 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS of the war time. After some years Congress voted to give him a pension of twenty-five hundred dollars a year. A few years later he died and was buried by his own wish in the forest near his last home. The work he did was of great benefit to the cause for which Americans fought. The gal- lant old general, with his kind heart and his desire to make those around him happy is surely a pleasant figure to find a place in our book of heroes. May we cherish his memory with that of Lafayette, — both true friends of America and of liberty. ISRAEL ISRAEL'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE TORIES In the early twilight of a winter afternoon in 1777, a young man walked rapidly along the road from Wilmington to Philadelphia. He was closely wrapped in a large cloak, inside which he carried various bundles and packages, including a small bag of money. He was clearly anxious to reach his journey's end, yet as he approached the ferry, he lin- gered along the road until darkness fell and the lights of the city began to appear in the distance. Then under the friendly cover of the darkness, he walked boldly toward the British sentinel who guarded the ferry en- trance. Philadelphia was at this time in the hands of the British General Howe, and his soldiers were quartered in the city. The Tories of Philadelphia were joyful indeed because of 119 I20 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS the presence of the British, but Whigs un- fortunate enough to remain suffered incon- venience and sometimes real hardship. Among the Whig families thus suffering were the mother and sisters of the young man at the ferry ; and his present journey was to carry them relief. Hailed by the British sentinel with the customary question, *'Who goes there .^" the young man promptly answered, ''A friend," and when further questioned, gave quite as promptly the British countersign for the night. ''Pass, friend !" said the sentinel. The young man hurried on, glad to escape his searching eyes. This man, Israel Israel, was the elder of two sons of a widowed mother. When. war broke out, both of the brothers desired to fight for liberty, but the aged mother, two sisters and Israel's young wife seemed to need the protection and support of one of the young men, and it was decided that one EXPERIENCE WITH THE TORIES 121 must remain at home. It was hard to choose between them. It was finally settled that they should draw lots, and this ended in the lot's falling upon Joseph, the younger brother, who therefore went to fight. Israel continued to live upon his little farm in Wilmington, making frequent visits to the old mother and sisters in Philadelphia. Since the British had seized the city, only ''king's men," or loyalists, were permitted to pass in and out. Israel heard strange stories of the rough treatment Whigs within the city were receiving, and he grew daily more fearful. He tried to devise some way to get inside the British lines. At length help came from an unexpected source. A Tory neighbor, knowing of Israel's longing to learn how his mother was faring, obtained for him the British countersign; and thankfully accepting his neighbor's kind- ness, Israel had passed the sentinel, as we have seen, and was soon walking rapidly in the direction of his mother's house. 122 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS Once within, the young man was relieved to find his mother and sisters well, though sorely in need of the supplies he had brought. Soldiers were quartered in the house, they told him, and the timid women were very weary of their rough, noisy ways. Then cautiously they led Israel to an inner room, where he was surprised to find a soldier in Continental uniform. ''Why, 'tis Joe," he cried, and the brothers clasped hands joyfully. ''How did you get here, man?" asked Israel. "Did some Tory friend help you as mine helped me .^" '"Tis too long a tale to tell," answered Joseph. '"Tis enough that I am here. Indeed I must soon be gone. I must be far from the city before light." It was fully eleven o'clock when the happily united family sat down to supper, still talking busily of their experiences in these trying times. Suddenly the tramp of horses in the street without was followed by loud knock- ing at the door. In a moment Joseph had EXPERIENCE WITH THE TORIES 123 left his untasted supper, for to be caught here in Continental uniform meant imprisonment and perhaps worse. The rest rushed after him up the stairs, helped him out of the telltale uniform, and saw him safely out of sight on the roof before they descended to open to the pounding, shouting soldiers below. It was Israel himself who unbarred the door. Upon him the soldiers rushed, shouting, ''Now we have him, the rebel rascal !" "Who calls me a rebel ?" calmly asked the young man, shaking off the rough hand of the Hessian sergeant who commanded the group. "Your own slave admits it," answered the sergeant, pointing to an old negro who stood with hanging head in the doorway. The master fixed his keen eye upon the trembling slave, as he said carelessly, "There's a mistake here, gentlemen. It's my brother, Joe, you're looking for, no doubt. He fights in the rebel army. But he isn't here." And 124 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS as he spoke, Israel could only hope his words were true, and that Joe was indeed some dis- tance away by this time. ''Stay," he added, as if a new thought had just come to him, ''I believe an old uni- form of Joe's has been left in the house. I'll get it, and you may see for yourselves whether I'm its rebel owner." So, still calmly, he went upstairs, and returned with the garments so lately thrown aside by the escaping soldier. Now it chanced that Joe was a small man, while Israel was tall and broad, quite a giant in fact. Even the soldiers could only laugh when Israel strug- gled, but all in vain, to get into the uniform. The sergeant made all due apologies, and dismissing his men, proposed that, since supper was on the table, he stay and share It. Little as the family desired his presence, they dared not object, and they made a place for the self-invited guest. When the officer had taken his departure, Israel bade his mother and sisters good-by, EXPERIENCE WITH THE TORIES 125 Even the soldiers could only laugh when Israel struggled, but all in vain, to get into the uniform. and set out upon his homeward journey. Passing the sentinel safely, he tramped the thirty miles between the ferry and his home, 126 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS arriving weary, but relieved that his dangerous errand was safely accomplished. At home, however, he met fresh difficulties. The friendly Tory who had given him the countersign proved far from friendly at heart, for he had betrayed the secret of the journey to the British, and now Israel found himself arrested and accused of entering the British lines as a spy. Together with his wife's brother, the young man was carried off to a British warship in the Delaware, to be tried for his life. While it was not true that he was a spy, his activity in the patriot cause could not be denied, and his Tory neighbors were more than ready to testify against him. The Roebuck, on which the prisoners were confined, lay not far from the town, directly opposite, it happened, to Israel's little farm. As he lay on the deck, on the coil of rope which was his only bed, he could see the. lights in his windows, telling of the lonely young wife within the house^, trembling for his safety. EXPERIENCE WITH THE TORIES 127 Only nineteen years old, she was now left quite unprotected. In the morning, Israel saw his cattle driven out upon the meadow by the riverside and knew the brave wife was caring as she could for the home in his absence. His enemies were on hand early with their tales of his evil deeds. He had been a rebel from the first, they said. He had given no provisions for the use of his Majesty's soldiers and fleet. Indeed he had been heard to say he would sooner drive his cattle as a present to General Washington than to sell them for a cartload of British gold. "Indeed," said the commander of the Roebuck. "And where are these precious cattle.?" "There, on the meadow, sir, in plain sight," responded the Tory informers. Then the commander sternly ordered men ashore to drive the cattle down to the river, where they should be slaughtered before their rebel owner's eyes. 128 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS The young wife, having risen at dawn, was watching eagerly from an upper window of the farm-house for some sign of her husband's fate. She saw the soldiers rowed ashore from the ship, saw them land and march toward the meadow. Guessing their errand, she ran down with a sudden determination to resist. No one was in sight to help her but the small boy who had driven the cows to the pasture, and he was only eight years old. Calling him to follow, she started for the pasture, and, pulling down the bars, ran to drive the cattle out. With the small boy who helped valiantly, she soon started the herd in the right direction. The soldiers were coming nearer now and were shouting angrily that they would fire, — and fire they did. By this time Mrs. Israel was thoroughly aroused, and she only called back, "Fire away ! " while she ran hither and thither with the boy, guiding the frightened cattle. With the balls falling around them, the EXPERIENCE WITH THE TORIES 129 young woman and the little boy braved death In defence of those rebel cattle. ''This way, Joe ! Head them this way ! Don't let a single one escape." With the last one through the bars, Mrs. Israel caught up the little boy, stumbling in his terror, and fastened the cattle securely in the barnyard. The soldiers, perhaps a little ashamed of making war upon a woman and a child, turned back to the ship. On the deck of the Roebuck officers and prisoners had watched the scene, and the prisoners at least must have gloried in the courage shown by the young wife. The trial went on, but strange to say, the officers for some reason changed their harsh attitude toward the prisoners and sent them home free men. They even rebuked the Tories who had accused a man bound on a peaceful errand of duty to his old mother. Israel went home in honor on a splendid barge, with presents for his brave wife from the officers of the Roebuck^ British man-of- war. ANOTHER OF MARION'S MEN "Dorcas! Dorcas!" called a faint voice below the window of Mrs. Dorcas Richard- son's bedroom. ''Open the door for me, Dorcas !" Mrs. Richardson started up from her bed, listening intently. ''Perhaps I only dreamed it," she said to herself, "but indeed I thought I heard Dick's voice." And as she heard the call a second time, she hastily put on wrapper and slippers and hurried to the great front door. Pushing aside the heavy bolts, she swung the door open. Her husband. Captain Rich- ard Richardson, stepped inside. For a mo- ment the wife scarcely recognized the gaunt, travel-stained soldier, and her joy at his coming was mingled with sadness as she saw how he was wasted by disease. 130 ANOTHER OF MARION'S MEN 131 Her husband, Captain Richardson, stepped inside. 132 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS "What is it, Dick?" she asked anxiously. ''What makes you look so?" in the same breath with "How did you get here ?" and "Will they follow you and capture you again ?" "Not so fast with your questions, Dorcas," answered the captain, as the good wife made him comfortable in his own favorite easy chair. "Yes, I've been sick. It was small- pox, and I scarce wonder that you didn't know me. It's left its ugly mark. But perhaps 'twas a blessing after all, since with- out it, I'd have been taken a dozen times between the coast and the Santee. But when British or Tory approached," he added with a grim chuckle, "I had only to walk feebly and thrust my pock-marked face for- ward to set them all running for fear of their lives." Dorcas was swiftly setting food before the hungry man, while question and answer flew fast between them. "I scarce dared approach the house for fear ANOTHER OF MARION'S MEN 133 'twas in the hands of the enemy," said the captain. "'Twould have been hard lines indeed to escape from one British prison only to be marched off to another. Have they not troubled you at all .^" ''Indeed they have done us no harm, Dick, but weVe seen them often enough. Yester- day Tarleton himself rode all about the house and gardens, and I expect nothing less than to see his troops quartered all over the planta- tion. If they should find you here — " ''But they won't, Dorcas, because I don't intend to be here. Before daylight I must be on my way to the swamp." "The swamp.?" Oh, you mean until — " "Until they get tired of looking for me and so give me a chance to slip away to Marion." The night was a busy one for Dorcas. She gathered together blankets and other simple comforts, as well as food, to be carried to the swamp. As the first dawn showed in the east, she roused a faithful old slave and directed him to bring the captain's favorite \ 134 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS riding horse from the stable and to drive out certain of the cows. When all was ready, she roused her weary husband, and the little procession, led by the captain and the old slave, set out toward the swamp, leaving Dorcas standing at the back of the house, anxiously gazing after them. She had little time for reflection, however, as, at an early hour, the sound of approach- ing horsemen indicated that there were sol- diers in the neighborhood. Trembling lest it should be a search party looking for her husband, she answered the resounding knock upon the great front door. The soldiers standing without, however, had nothing to say about the captain. Their errand was to inform her that her house and stables were needed as quarters for a portion of Tarleton's cavalry ; and before noon the place was swarming with redcoats. The days that followed were hard ones for the patriotic woman. She was allowed only one room in the house for herself and ANOTHER OF MARION'S MEN 135 her children, and of all the plentiful provisions which were really hers only the scantiest were given her. Once every day or night the faithful slave made a secret journey to the swamp, carrying the food his mistress had saved from this scanty store. Captain Richardson was encamped on a small knoll deep in the swamp. He called it ''John's Island," perhaps in memory of the island of that name on the coast, from which he had recently escaped. His horse was stabled in a disused corncrib, and the cattle pastured near. Not far away another knoll rose from the wet swamp lands, on which were other patriots hiding from their enemies and watch- ing their chance to join Marion or Sumter. Captain Richardson spent much of his time in drilling these men, and would have been happy enough in his forest camp, but for the thought of his wife and children, deprived of their home comforts by the enemy. One day the slave was heard approaching for his daily visit, and the captain was some- 136 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS what alarmed to hear him talking to some one as he drew near the camp. A moment of listening changed his fear to joy; for the old slave was saying, ''Be ca'ful, dar, Mistis. Step on dis log. Lemme help de baby." As the captain ran forward, he saw Dorcas and his little daughter coming to meet him. Husband and wife spent a happy hour together, while the little girl ran about play- ing among the trees. "The}^ have news of your escape, Dick," said Dorcas, sadly. "They have begun to question me. And they have posted notice of a reward for any one who will capture you." ''Have no fear for me, Dorcas," answered her husband. "They'll never find me here. I am far more disturbed over your danger than mine. Will you promise that you will let me know if you need a defender ?" The wife promised, although she felt sure the danger would be very great which would cause her to summon her husband to fall into British hands. ANOTHER OF MARION'S MEN 137 It was only a few days after this visit to the swamp that a British officer caught up the little daughter In his arms as she ran at play outside the house. "Tell me, little one," he asked, ''When did you see your father last?" ''Just the other day," the child answered promptly, as she smoothed the scarlet cloth of his coat and patted the epaulets on his shoulders. "Where did you see him ?" asked the officer. "Was he here?" "No," she answered, "I saw him on John's Island. He hasn't any pretty coat like yours." The mother, who heard this questioning, was pale with fear as she heard the secret betrayed ; but the officer knew of no John's Island except the British prison Island from which Captain Richardson had escaped. So he set the child down, saying, "That was long ago, little one. I guess you have forgotten." Once Captain Richardson ventured from the swamp to the house, when the soldiers 138 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS were all away ; but scarcely had he begun to enjoy his visit when a patrolling party of the British came galloping up, and only instant flight could save him. While he hurried out the back door, Dorcas stood in the doorway at the front, delaying the en- trance of the soldiers by her questions, asked so coolly as to arouse no suspicion of the patriot flying for his life. Soon after this, the captain found oppor- tunity to leave his hiding place with the other patriots who had shared his retreat. They were successful in reaching Marion's camp, and remained with Marion until the war was over. Twice at least after this Captain Richard- son found himself in danger when visiting his family. One night, after Tarleton's removal from the Richardson plantation, the captain rode up on the horse which had shared his hiding place in the swamp. *^Corncrib and I are glad to be at home again," laughed the captain as he dismounted at the door. ANOTHER OF MARION'S MEN 139 "Corncrib?" asked his wife. "Who is Corncrib ?" "This is Corncrib," returned the captain, patting the faithful horse. "He has a new name since he lived in the old corncrib on — " But the sentence was not finished, nor the visit made, since at that very minute a group of Tories was seen riding up the road. There seemed no escape, but the captain flung him- self into the saddle, and as his only hope, dashed furiously forward, into the very midst of the Tories ; and took them so by surprise that he galloped safely through, untouched by ball or sword thrust. Stories like these, of the bravery and en- durance of patriot men and women, quite unknown to fame, may be multiplied from every section of the country while the war went on. Some of these stories have been long forgotten, others are treasured by the descendants of the heroes and will be told and retold as each succeeding generation comes to listen. A HERO OF THE SEA For weeks Commodore Paul Jones, of the American Continental Navy, had been cruis- ing about the coast of England In his ship, the Bonhomme Richard. He had captured many merchant vessels and had the whole coast in terror. Yet he was not satisfied ; 140 A HERO OF THE SEA 141 for he had met no British man-of-war, and to meet one was his heart's desire. Especially had he hoped to come upon the Baltic fleet, bringing naval stores from north- ern Europe to England and guarded by some ship of war. In one more week his cruise must come to an end, and he must return to France to report to the American Commis- sioners there what he considered his failure. It was about noon of September 23, 1779. The Richard lay ten or twelve miles off Flam- boro' Head, on the east coast of England. Near her were the other ships of the fleet, — the Alliance, the Pallas, and the little Ven- geance. All were waiting and watching for the appearance of the Baltic fleet. Then suddenly, as they waited, the lookout on the Richard reported a sail appearing around the headland, and then another and another, until it was clear that the Baltic fleet was in sight, — forty richly laden ships, guarded by a frigate and a sloop of war, mak- ing sail for the shelter of Scarborough harbor 142 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS and the protection of Scarborough Castle guns. Here was the chance for which Paul Jones had longed. He saw at once that the larger of the two war ships was a stronger vessel than the Richard^ with heavier guns. But when you have come to know Paul Jones better, you will know that the strength of his enemy would never keep him out of battle. Signalling to the Alliance and the Pallas to follow, he turned at once to get between the frigate and the shore. The Pallas, at his order, followed the sloop, but the Alliance simply ran away. You must remember that these war-ships of Revolutionary times were not the swift- sailing battleships and ''dreadnaughts" of the present day. Their hulls were of wood, their sailing power was the wind, and their movements were often slow and clumsy. Hours passed before the Richard drew near the British frigate. The Richard was an old ship, and a slow one — indeed she had not A HERO OF THE SEA 143 been intended for a war-ship at all, but for the East Indian trade. She had been bought by the French government, repaired and fitted with cannon, and lent to the American navy. Her guns were all old, and many of them had been condemned by the French dockyard from which they came. At the time they were the best to be had, so Commo- dore Jones had taken them and set out to do the best he could. Some commanders might have feared with such a ship to attack the fine new frigate Serapis of the British navy. The only fear shown by Paul Jones was lest she should get away. Slowly the miles between the Richard and the Serapis grew less. Through the long afternoon preparations for battle were made, and the decks were "cleared for action." As the sun went down the crews had their supper, and then on either ship came the grim roll of the drums, ''beating to quarters." The long twilight had begun. The moon, at its full that night, shed a golden radiance 144 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS over the gently swelling sea. The wind was light, and the ships seemed scarcely more than to drift toward each other. The Serapis lay with broadside toward the Richard, great guns thrust forward from the port-holes, and every opening in her white hull gleaming with light. On board, captain and crew were watching the oncoming ship, high of stern, black, and unfamiliar enough to set all guessing at her nationality and pur- pose. Captain Pearson, of the Serapis, stood, night-glass in hand, watching every move- ment of the stranger. Once he said, "It is probably Paul Jones. If so, there is work ahead." The ships drew nearer. The magazines were opened ; the gunners ready to hand out powder charges to the boys who carried them to the guns. The gun crews were in their places, with shot ready and slow matches lighted. Cutlasses and pistols were given out. Pumps were made ready, and hose laid out in case of fire. Carpenters stood with A HERO OF THE SEA I4S shot plugs ready to stop up holes. Great hooks were swung from chains, in readiness The Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis. for lashing the ships together if they should touch. Away from the guns, on quarter deck 146 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS and forecastle, were placed ranks of marines, with muskets ready, while the rigging was filled with others, similarly armed, and with buckets of hand-grenades within reach. Below the main deck, in the gun room, were more guns with their crews, and below again, was the ^'cockpit," where the surgeons laid out the rude instruments and appliances with which to do their saving work. On either ship were about three hundred men, quietly waiting, each in his appointed place, to begin the awful work of destruction and death. On the Richard, Paul Jones stood, silent, on the deck, watching the closing in of the ships. He had been from station to station, seeing that all was in order, with a word of encouragement here and there, and a giving of his own calm courage to the men. Now, again, he stood alone, and silent. What his thoughts were we cannot guess. Perhaps he thought tenderly of his old mother in Scotland or fiercely of the cowardly captain A HERO OF THE SEA 147 of the Alliance, who had sailed away. What- ever his thoughts, he stood, small in stature but commanding in presence, with his fine eyes confident and serene. Some one has said of Paul Jones, "He was born a captain." The ships drew nearer yet, with now no sound on either but the soft lapping of the water against the sides, the creak of a rope, or the gentle sigh of the wind in the swelling sails. Then, suddenly, a man leaped upon the rail of the Serapis, and from his hollowed hands came the echoing call, "What ship is that.?" There was no answer. The Richard was swinging about now, with her broadside to- ward the foe. Again the same words rang over the moonlit water. "What ship is that.?" Then sharp and clear, "Answer at once, or I fire." Then there was answer, — the thunder of the cannon, fired from the blazing portholes of the black stranger's side. 148 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS The last entry In the log of the Serapis reads: ^'Sea smooth, moon full, sky clear, time 7: 15 P.M. We hail second time, enemy answers with broadside." In an instant the Serapis made reply with the roar of her great guns, and the still beauty of the night was at an end. The battle was on ! For nearly an hour the two ships furiously poured broadsides into each other as they sailed slowly along side by side. In this sort of fight the Serapis could easily do the greater damage, as her guns were heavier and in better condition. Indeed, at almost the first fire two of the Richard^s heavy guns had exploded, killing men in the gun crews and finally causing the abandonment of all the guns on that deck. One by one the RicharcTs guns were silenced by the firing from the Serapis, and, more than that, the heavy cannon-balls were tearing great holes in the RicharcTs side. Water began to enter the holes, and fire blazed in many places where A HERO OF THE SEA 149 burning splinters had struck. Dead and dying men were everywhere. The ships were drawing nearer as they sailed along, and the Commodore watched intently for a chance to grapple with the enemy at close quarters. At last they touched, and, in an instant, the grappling hooks of the Richard were thrown into the rigging of the Serapis. But the strain upon the ropes was too great, and as they broke, the two ships dropped apart again. It seemed as though the end of the battle was at hand. Yet no man on the Richard thought of giving up. ''He is hammering us all to pieces," said the Commodore to his first officer. ''We must close with him; we must get hold of him." Indeed, this was the only hope. Steadily the commander worked the ship to reach this position. By this time only three of the cannon on the Richard could be used, and the broadsides of the Serapis continued as furiously as ever. The whole side of the Richard below the deck I50 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS was broken in, and fires raged in a dozen directions. Just then the Alliance appeared. For a moment Jones thought her captain had re- turned to his duty. To the utter amaze- ment of the whole crew, however, the broad- sides of the Alliance were aimed full at the Richard; here was a new enemy, it s-eemed. But after a few shots, the Alliance sailed off again and left the Commodore to give un- divided attention to the work in hand. A change of wind was helping a little now, and slowly the Richard came close and swung around the bow of the Serapis. Now, if ever, the chance would come. The Richard grazed along the side of the white ship, only a few hours since so spotless, now smoke-stained, splintered, and bloody. An an- chor on the Serapis caught in the rigging of the Richard. Men dashed forward, and it is said that the Commodore himself threw a rope around the anchor and lashed it fast. A HERO OF THE SEA 151 Now the whole character of the battle changed. The great guns of the Serapis could do little but shoot straight through the gun deck of the Richard, already abandoned. It was now a hand-to-hand fight, in which cannon had but little part. A gunner on the Richard came rushing to the deck from below, shouting that the ship was sinking, and calling, "Quarter! Quar- ter!" Although Jones quickly silenced him, the cry had been heard on the English ship. From the smoke clouds surrounding the two vessels came the voice of the English captain, "Have you struck your colors, Sir ?" "No!" came the response in the mag- nificent voice of Paul Jones. "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight." It was true. On a sinking ship, with cannon broken and useless, Paul Jones was going to fight, — and fight until the waves swallowed the ship on which he stood ; he could not be conquered, alive. The confusion on the Richard grew with 152 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS each moment. The muskets of the marines on the upper decks now began their deadly work, sweeping the exposed places on the Serapis, Eleven men were shot, one after another, at the wheel, and man after man who ran forward to cut loose the anchor which held the ships together. Again, it was the Commodore himself who commanded the marines and cheered them by his own magnifi- cent courage. "I could distinctly hear, amid the crashing of the musketry," wrote one young officer of the Richard in describing the battle, "the great voice of the Commodore, cheering the French marines in their own tongue, . . . ex- horting them to take good aim, pointing out objects for their fire, and frequently giving them direct example by taking their loaded muskets from their hands into his, and firing himself. In fact, toward the very last, he had about him a group of half a dozen marines who did nothing but load their firelocks and hand them to the Commodore, who fired them A HERO OF THE SEA 153 from his own shoulder, standing on the quar- ter deck rail. . . ." Meanwhile, believing the Richard to be sinking, an officer in charge of more than two hundred English prisoners in the hold had let them loose, and a new danger had to be met. It was met, at once, before more than fifty had reached the deck. The rest were held back by men with cutlasses, and the fifty driven to man the pumps which alone kept the ship afloat. Now, again, the Alliance appeared, with her murderous fire for her sister ship. A perfect hail of shot rained from her guns, as she slowly passed and sailed away again into the night. But the Richard fought on. By this time the upper decks of the Serapis had been cleared. No man dared show his head upon them. The captain stood on the quarter deck alone. Both ships were on fire ; the Richard, in many places. The great guns of the Serapis continued their work. Now a new attack was made from the Richard, 154 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS From the yard-arm a cool young midshipman threw down hand-grenades upon the open hatch leading to the enemy's lower deck. The third attempt sent one down the hatchway, where, falling in the midst of a pile of car- tridges, it produced a terrific explosion, kill- ing and wounding many men. At last the English sailors faltered and, though only for a moment, that moment was enough. A boarding party leaped from the Richard to the deck of the Serapis, Every man of the party is said to have been but lately from an English prison, and as they went over the side, their leader shouted fiercely, "Remem- ber Portsea jail !" With the Americans now swarming on his deck, the English captain sadly seized the ensign halyards and struck the flag himself. For a moment the battle raged on. In the smoke and confusion the surrender was not seen. But word was soon passed to the fighters of both ships, and the fighting ceased. The captain and the first officer of the Sera- A HERO OF THE SEA 155 pis were led on board the Richard, where they gave up their swords. The ropes which bound the ships together were cut, and the ships gently drifted apart. It was now nearly midnight. The full moon sailed above In a cloudless sky. The last echoes of the firing had died away, and again the still beauty of the night was un- broken by the horrid sounds of war. On the ships the awful consequences of war were on every hand. Dead and wounded lay together In horrible confusion. Fire had still to be fought, and the Richard was slowly but surely sinking. Strange indeed, to think that the broken, battered ship was the con- queror, — sinking there beside the conquered, which remained afloat. It was Paul Jones who had conquered, — '*the man behind the men behind the guns." The Pallas, too, had found victory In the fight, returning now with her prize, the Countess of Scarborough. As soon as it was found that the Richard could not be saved, 156 PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS the sad work of moving the wounded was begun. These were put on board the Serapis. The prisoners were divided among all the ships. Finally, the Richard^s crew, with the hastily gathered ship's papers, left the sink- ing ship. By hard work at the pumps she had been kept afloat until the morning of the 25th. Now she was left to find her last resting-place where she had won her victory. Let us finish the story in Jones's own words : "No one was now left aboard the Richard but our dead. To them I gave the good old ship for their coffin, and in her they found a sublime sepulchre. She rolled heavily in the long swell, her gun-deck awash to the port- sills, settled slowly by the head, and sank peacefully in about forty fathoms. ''The ensign-gaff, shot away in the action, had been fished and put in place soon after firing ceased, and our torn and tattered flag was left flying when we abandoned her. As she plunged down by the head at the last, her A HERO OF THE SEA 157 taffrall momentarily rose in the air ; so the very last vestige mortal eyes ever saw of the Bonhomme Richard was the defiant waving of her unconquered and unstricken flag as she went down." LIBRARY OF CONGRESS