The Boy Spies of Philadelphia

by Joanna H. Mathews

  CHAPTER XX.

  THE VICTORS.

  Enoch obeyed General Lafayette's order at the best speed of his horse,and, arriving at that point where the commander-in-chief was directingthe movements of his men, the young aid, breathless and excited,repeated that which the marquis had said.

  The words were hardly spoken, and Washington had had no opportunityfor comment, when a horseman, riding hard, his steed covered with foam,spurred up to the group of officers, and saluting the commander, saidhurriedly:

  "I am sent by General Lee to say that all is well with the advancecorps; success is certain."

  Then, saluting, this second messenger rode away, leaving Washingtonand his staff gazing at each other in something very nearly approachingbewilderment.

  Either Lee or Lafayette was mistaken in his estimate of the conditionof affairs.

  The opinion of one of these gentlemen must be correct, and the fateof the battle depended upon the decision which the commander-in-chiefshould arrive at concerning the reliability of the two officers.

  It seemed to Enoch as if this second message deliberately gave himthe lie. He felt positive General Lafayette had only the good of theAmerican cause at heart, and because of that told him by Greene, inaddition to what he had heard Dr. Griffith say, he believed Lee simplyawaited an opportunity to show himself a traitor.

  Washington remained silent while one might have counted twenty, andthen turning to the aid nearest, said calmly:

  "Tell General Greene[H] to press forward to the church, and prevent theturning of that flank of the army."

  As the aid rode hurriedly away the commander directed that the leftwing of the army march toward Lee's rear, in order to support thelatter, and Enoch noted that as soon as the different divisionsreceived such instructions, the men, understanding quite as well astheir leaders what it meant, went forward in the best of spirits,regardless of the terrific heat which thus far had been nearly as fatalas the bullets.

  Before these last orders could be fully carried out, a horseman incivilian's dress was seen making his way among the troops from thedirection of the front, and did not slacken pace until he was within adozen yards of General Washington. Then he cried excitedly:

  "The advance corps is retreating in a most cowardly manner!"

  "What did you say, sir?" Washington demanded, spurring his horseforward.

  "I said, your excellency, that the advance corps of the army isretreating in most shameful disorder, and without cause. The formationis lost, and it is simply a rabble that is bearing down on the mainarmy, frightened almost beyond control by their own officers ratherthan because of any advantage gained by the enemy!"

  "Who are you, sir?"

  "Dr. Thomas Henderson, of this village."

  General Washington struck the spurs deep into his horse as he dashedforward, his staff following closely behind, and with them, as a matterof course, was Enoch.

  The boy, who had believed when he spoke with Lafayette that theContinentals were at least holding their own, was now plunged into thedeepest grief, for he fancied that the retreat once begun, meant defeatfor the entire army.

  The young aid was within a dozen yards of the commander-in-chief, when,on arriving at a point about halfway between the meeting-house and themorass, the head of the first retreating column was met.

  "Halt your men on that eminence!" General Washington cried to thecommanding officer, not slackening his pace. "Halt, I say, sir, and getthem into order!"

  Across the causeway to the rear of the flying column the commanderdashed, and there, at the head of the second division of retreatingforces, was seen General Lee.

  By this time Enoch was forty or fifty yards in the rear of the staff;but he heard Washington cry in a loud, angry voice to the man who wasresponsible for this disgraceful flight:

  "Sir, I desire to know what is the reason, and whence came thisdisorder and confusion?"

  Enoch could not distinguish General Lee's reply; he saw from theface of the man, and understood by his gestures, that he retortedharshly, and it was evident to the boy that the commander-in-chiefand the officer next him in rank indulged in angry words, after whichWashington wheeled his horse into the midst of the retreating troopsuntil he had rallied a portion of them.

  Enoch pressed forward as if aware of the fact that his services weresoon to be needed, and, observing him, Washington cried:

  "Ride with all speed to Colonel Oswald, and order him to plant hiscannon on the brow of that hill. Tell him to use his pieces with energyupon the enemy."

  In an incredibly short space of time the battery was pouring forth itsiron hail, and the pursuing foe was checked.

  An eye-witness of the battle writes regarding the incidents immediatelyfollowing the arrival of General Washington at the scene of thedisorder:

  "The presence of the commander-in-chief inspired the troops with suchconfidence and courage that within ten minutes after he appeared theretreat was suspended, and order brought out of confusion. Stewart andRamsey formed their regiments under cover of the wood, and with Oswald,kept the enemy at bay.

  "Washington rode fearlessly in the storm of missiles hurled by theBritish Grenadiers and artillerists; and when his army was arranged inbattle order before the foe, he rode back to Lee, and, pointing to therallied troops, said:

  "'Will you, sir, command in that place?'

  "'I will,' eagerly exclaimed Lee, for his treachery had utterly failed.

  "'Then,' said Washington, 'I expect you to check the enemy immediately.'

  "'Your command shall be obeyed,' said Lee, 'and I will not be the firstto leave the field.'

  "He fulfilled his promise.

  "With wondrous expedition Washington now put the confused ranks ofhis main army in battle order. Lord Stirling commanded the left wing,posted on an eminence on the western side of the morass, while GeneralGreene took an advantageous position on the left of Stirling. A warmcannonade had commenced between the American and British artillery onthe right of Stewart and Ramsey, while the Royal Light-horse chargedfuriously upon the right of Lee's division. The enemy pressed soclosely with an overwhelming force that the Americans were compelled togive way at that point. Then the British attacked Ramsey's regiment andVarnum's brigade, which lined the hedgerow over the morass, and therethe battle raged furiously for awhile, American cannon placed in therear of the fence doing great execution."

  Enoch sat on his horse directly behind General Washington as thefurious charge of the British cavalry and infantry was made, and whenthe Continental troops were forced to retreat across the morass, hebelieved once more that defeat was certain.

  His courage revived, however, as he saw the men forming in line later,and noted with satisfaction that Washington's face was calm and serenewhen General Lee rode up to him, saying in a respectful tone:

  "Sir, here are my troops. How is it your pleasure that I shall disposeof them?"

  "They have borne the brunt of battle and defeat all the morning, sir,and are now entitled to a rest. Form them in order directly in the rearof Englishtown, and there await further commands."

  It seemed to Enoch as if these instructions had but just been givenwhen the battle began to rage more furiously than ever, and now itappeared as if the troops in every direction were engaged.

  "The left wing of the American army was commanded by Lord Stirling, theright by General Greene, and the center by Washington. Wayne, with theadvance corps, took possession of the eminence in the orchard, a fewrods south of the parsonage. A park of artillery was placed in batteryon Comb's Hill, beyond the marsh on his right, and commanding theheight on which the British were stationed. Finding themselves opposedin front, the enemy attempted to turn the American left flank, but wererepulsed. They also moved toward the American right, where they wereenfiladed by a severe cannonade from the battery commanded by GeneralKnox and planted on high ground, where General Greene was posted. Thusassailed, the enemy fell back."

  During this time Enoch had been sent from one portion of
the field tothe other with orders, being constantly under a heavy fire, and was sodeeply occupied in finding this commander or that as not to thoroughlycomprehend what was going on around him.

  It was as if he rode over a vast tract of country, dotted here byredcoats, and there by patriots in buff and blue, or in homespungarments, each man seemingly bent only on loading and discharging hisweapon, and all the while acting in what, to a novice, was an aimlessmanner.

  During two hours he hardly remained idle five minutes at a time, andthe screaming of the leaden and iron missiles, which at the beginningof the engagement had sounded so ominously in his ears, was now almostunheeded.

  During the morning the one thought ever in his mind was the possibilityof treachery by General Lee; but now that officer was in the rear,having in a measure redeemed himself, Enoch felt confident, sounbounded was his belief in the commander-in-chief, that the time mustcome, and soon, when the tide of battle would turn in their favor.

  It was terrible in the extreme to ride amid the wounded men, whoimplored him to give them aid, when his duty demanded that he keep onregardless of their agony. It was as if he suffered from some horriblenightmare, when his horse leaped over dead bodies who lay with upturnedfaces and open eyes that stared at the pitiless sun which was sendingdown shafts of fire upon the combatants, the dying, and the dead.

  It was while the Royal Grenadiers were pressing General Wayne behindthe hedgerow most hotly that Enoch was sent to that officer to askif he needed assistance, and found him partially sheltered by a barnnear the parsonage, where he was urging his men, every one of whom hadproved himself a hero, to yet greater exertions.

  More than once had the Grenadiers crossed the hedgerow, hoping todislodge the force that was playing such havoc among their ranks, andthe general, watching closely the movements of the British, did not somuch as turn his head when Enoch made known his message.

  "Tell General Washington that I shall hold my position here. Unless hehas men who are not needed elsewhere, there is no necessity for him topay any attention to what is going on at this point. I fancy we're amatch for the Grenadiers!"

  The young aid was so hemmed in by officers and men that for somemoments he could not retrace his steps, and as if fascinated he watchedthat terrific struggle, which just at this time was more fierce thanever before.

  While he was gazing at the apparently resistless tide of red-coated menwho were pressing forward, he heard General Wayne say in a low, quicktone:

  "Reserve your fire, men, until you can pick out their officers! Makeevery bullet count!"

  These words caused Enoch to observe more particularly than he hadpreviously done the leaders of the brave force who were advancing inthe face of almost certain death, and to his surprise he recognizedthat officer who had subjected his comrades and himself to suchsearching inquiry when they were suspected of having aided Seth inescaping from prison.

  It was Colonel Monckton, and at the moment when Enoch understood thisfact the officer waved his sword above his head, shouting:

  "To the charge, my brave troops! To the charge!"

  On came the line of red.

  Nearer and nearer, and neither shout nor report of musket from theContinentals.

  It seemed to Enoch as if the enemy was hardly thirty yards away when heheard General Wayne cry sharply:

  "Aim well and fire, boys!"

  A deafening report followed this command, and as the smoke cleared awaythe Grenadiers could be seen falling back, almost entirely without anofficer.

  At that point nearest the American line the young aid saw, lying uponhis face, the body of Colonel Monckton motionless in death, and heardas if in a dream the command from some officer near him for the men torush forward and secure the corpse.

  As if the British soldiers also heard this order, they halted, turnedsuddenly, and came back with a rush, making no effort to preserve theirformation, but intent only on rescuing the body of their commander.

  Sick at heart, for this killing of a man with whom he had been insome measure connected, however disagreeably, seemed worse thanthe fall of a stranger, Enoch turned his horse to ride back to thecommander-in-chief; but before he was out of the press he heard loudcheers which told that the Americans had gained the ghastly prize, and,glancing over his shoulder, he saw the Grenadiers once more retreating.

  Twice during the half hour that followed did Enoch see Lord CosmoGordon acting his part most heroically, and each time did the boy putup a fervent prayer that the gallant Englishman might escape unharmed.

  Fiercely the contest continued to rage at the center of the Britishline, and at other points, until Wayne repulsed the Grenadiers. Thenthe entire line gave way, and fell back to the heights occupied byGeneral Lee in the morning. It was a strong position, flanked by thickwoods and morasses, with only a narrow way of approach in front.

  This portion of the battle was won; but the Continentals were unable topursue their advantage.

  Night had now come, and in the darkness it was well-nigh impossible theAmerican troops could continue the work so bravely pursued after thedisgraceful rout, for which they were not really responsible.

  The excessive heat of the day had wearied them equally with the fatigueof battle, and the commander-in-chief, to whose personal exertions thevictory was due, said to Enoch:

  "Ride to the right and give the word to all the commanders you find,that their troops may be allowed to sleep on their arms. It is the lastduty I shall charge you with this day, lad, and you are at liberty tofind repose wherever is most pleasing."

  The young aid set out, picking his way here and there among the deadand the dying, repeating the welcome command to the leaders of thedifferent divisions, and when he had reached that body of troopsfurthest to the right, he found himself among the gallant Jerseymen.

  "It is time that order came," General Dickinson said with an air ofrelief. "But, lad, if we had had one more hour of daylight, the enemywould have now been fleeing before us like a flock of frightenedsheep."

  "Is yours the last division on this side?"

  "It is."

  "I have permission to bivouac wherever I choose. May I remain with yourtroops, sir?"

  "There is no need to ask that, lad, and I understand why you wish todo so. Your friends, raw recruits though they are, have this day donemen's duty, and I congratulate you three Philadelphia boys upon yourinitiatory work as soldiers."

  It was not an easy task to find his friends upon that blood-stainedfield; but Enoch succeeded after half an hour's search, and wasreceived with shouts of joy by Jacob and Seth as he rode up.

  "I began to fear something had happened to you," the latter cried, asEnoch dismounted and clasped him by the hands. "The last either of ussaw of our friend, the aid, was when the Royal Grenadiers charged onGeneral Wayne's forces."

  "I was where I could see it all," Enoch replied, "and although we haveno reason to think of Colonel Monckton kindly, it made me sad to see sogallant an officer fall."

  "Did our men get possession of his body?" Jacob asked.

  "Yes, and carried it to the rear. Have either of you fellows beenwounded?"

  "We haven't received so much as a scratch," Seth replied promptly, "andthat seems strangest of all this day's work to me. When we were firstunder fire I expected each moment to be killed; but as the time wore onI actually forgot the danger. Say, Enoch, you must have had it hotterthan we did, if you kept with General Washington, and I saw you rideacross the field half a dozen times when it seemed as if the bulletswere flying around you as thickly as hail."

  "My experience was about the same as yours in that respect. The firsttime I was sent with a message I felt terribly frightened; but afterthat thought only of the chances for success or failure. Where'sGreene?"

  "Somewhere hereabouts. He got a bullet through the arm; but declaresthat the wound is not serious, and refuses to go under the surgeon'scare."

  "I suppose now you have had so much experience, you will continue to bean aid," Jacob said, and
there was no shade of envy in his tone thistime. He realized as never before that if any one really desires toserve his country it makes little difference what position he occupies.

  "Indeed I shan't," Enoch said emphatically. "When the time comes thatI can speak with General Washington, I shall ask permission to enlistin the same company with you, and have no doubt but that it will begranted. Now, boys, I have come to mess with you. The order I broughtGeneral Dickinson was that the troops were to sleep on their arms, andI suppose we are at liberty to remain anywhere within these lines."

  "There doesn't seem to be much choice. Suppose we stay where we are,"Seth suggested. "Greene left us here, and most likely will come back,when----"

  "He is back now, lad," a voice cried, and a moment later the spyappeared from out the darkness. "I have got rations such as are beingdealt out--Hello, here's our friend, the aid, and now he'll want grainfor his horse. I'll look for some."

  "Let me do that," Enoch cried as Greene, dropping on the ground thefood he was carrying, was on the point of turning away again. "I amtold that you are wounded, and you should have attention before playingwaiter for us three who are in good bodily condition."

  "The wound wasn't much more than a scratch, and the surgeon has alreadytied it up. You may look for provender for the horse if you have a mindto. The best place would be nearabout where General Dickinson is."

  Enoch's horse did not receive a particularly hearty meal on thisevening, owing to the lack of grain; but he was well groomed, and notuntil that work had been done to his own satisfaction did Enoch rejoinhis comrades.

  Then, lying at full length on the ground, they discussed the stirringevents of the day, and it was during this conversation that Greeneasked:

  "Did you see that Irish woman when her husband was killed duringthe artillery duel--at the time the Royal Light-horse charged sofuriously?"

  "I didn't know there was a woman on the field!" Enoch exclaimed.

  "There was, and her husband was one of our gunners. She assisted himduring the hot cannonade by bringing water from the spring near by, andwhen he was killed at his post, there being no one to take his place,the piece was ordered to be removed; but she insisted on working it,and twice within an hour I saw her using the rammer as energeticallyas any man among them. The soldiers were cheering for 'Mary'--that isher name, I suppose--and she deserves more than thanks for this day'swork."

  Then each in turn related some incident which he had seen orparticipated in, until, despite the groans of the wounded, who werebeing tended by the surgeons at a temporary hospital near by, the threePhiladelphia boys fell asleep, and when morning came were arousedby the tidings that Clinton had put his weary troops in motion atmidnight, and stolen away.

  The British soldiers whom General Lee declared the Americans could notstand against had been fairly beaten by men decidedly their inferiorsin discipline and soldierly training.

  * * * * *

  It was simply the purpose of this story to relate the adventures of thethree Philadelphia boys during the events which led up to the battle ofMonmouth, and with the triumphant ending of that engagement the purposeof this imperfectly told tale has been accomplished.

  Every reader knows that the Americans lost in this battle two hundredand twenty-eight; the British two hundred and fifty, sixty of thesehaving been stricken dead by the heat.

  It is believed that there were about fourteen thousand men in theAmerican forces, and not more than ten thousand under Clinton.

  The order which General Washington issued, congratulating his army uponthe victory they had won, is also well known; but because those in whomwe are particularly interested served in the New Jersey militia, thefollowing extract may well be repeated:

  "General Dickinson and the militia of his State are also thankedfor their noble spirit in opposing the enemy on the march fromPhiladelphia, and for the aid given by harassing and impeding theirmarch so as to allow the Continental troops to come up with them."

  On the following morning, after making of the widow Mary a sergeant inthe Continental army, Washington marched toward New Brunswick, thenceto the Hudson River, which he crossed at King's Ferry, and encamped atWhite Plains in Westchester County.

  It may, perhaps, not be necessary to add that some time after thebattle Lee wrote an insulting letter to General Washington, demandingan apology for words spoken on the field. He also demanded a court ofinquiry, and was gratified. Washington caused his arrest on chargesof disobedience, misbehavior, and disrespect. He was found guilty andsentenced to suspension of command for one year. He never resumed hisstation, and died October 22, 1782. "Had Lee been obedient and faithfulin the morning, the whole British army might have been prisoners of warbefore the close of that memorable Sabbath day in June."

  That Enoch succeeded in enlisting with his comrades is positive,for the names of the three boys are to be found on the muster rollsprepared in July, 1778, side by side, and that they afterward servedtheir country gallantly may some time be told in detail, for theiractive service was not ended with the battle of Monmouth.

  Footnote:

  [H] General Greene was commanding the right wing of the armyat the time.

  THE END.