I.—WASHINGTON IN DANGER.
The form of the Chieftain rose through the smoke and gloom of battle,
in all its magnificence of proportion, and majesty of bearing, as speeding
between two opposing fires—his proud glance surveying the battle-field—he
retraced his path of death, and rode toward the American army.
He was now in front of Chew's House, he was passing through the very
sweep of the fires, belching from every window; the bullets whistled
around him; on every hand was confusion, and darkness, made more
fearful by the glare of musquetry, and the lightning flash of cannon.
He is now in front of Chew's House! Another moment and the Man
of the Army may fall from his steed riddled by a thousand bullets, a single
moment and his corse may be added to the heaps of dead piled along the
lawn in all the ghastliness of death; another moment and the Continentals
may be without a leader, the British without their most determined foe.
His form is enrapt in mist, he is lost to sight, he again emerges into
light, he passes the house and sweeps away toward the Continental army.
He passes the house, and as he speeds onward toward the American
lines, a proud gleam lights up his eye, and a prouder smile wreaths his determined
lips. “The American army is yet safe, they are in the path to
victory—” he exclaims, as he rejoins the officers of his staff, within the
American lines—“Had I but intelligence of Armstrong in the West—of
Smallwood and Forman in the East, with one bold effort, we might carry
the field!”
But no intelligence of Smallwood or Forman came—Armstrong's movements
were all unknown—Stephens, who flanked the right wing of Greene,
was not heard from, nor could any one give information concerning his
position.
And as the battle draws to a crisis around Chew's house, as the British
and Americans are disputing the possession of the lawn now flooded with
blood, let me for a moment turn aside from the path of regular history, and
notice some of the legends of the battle field, brought down to our times by
the hoary survivors of the Revolution.
