promise of a new life! We who loved the sunshine and the
balmy breezes, the great joy of living amid fragrant fields and
green-clad forests, we who hated the storms, the wind and cold of the
North,--ah, how the blood in our veins welcomed this soft caress of
the South! We threw off the terror of the winter, looked forward with
glee to the opening of the spring campaign, and counted in
anticipation the honours we were to win, the glory that would be ours.

New life sprang up all through the camp; the troops left the busy duty
of hugging the fires, the ranks filled up, and order and discipline
once more became the order of the day.

Rumours soon came creeping through the lines of a change in the
leadership of the enemy's forces, but as yet they lay quietly within
the city and showed not the teeth of offence. Thus we lay on the green
hillsides of Valley Forge, busily preparing for the struggle which was
certain to come, until far into the spring, without a sign of a
movement on the part of the enemy.

But with May came their new Commander-in-Chief, Sir Henry Clinton, and
the departure of Lord Howe, and we knew that the time had at last come
when some bold stroke would be played in the game of war.

The gaps in our ranks had been somewhat filled, and we were ready and
eager for active service as soon as the great General would give the
command.

At last came rumours of a retreat, that the English were preparing to
desert the city and march across the plains of Jersey to where New
York lay, sheltered by the waters of the sea and the rivers. We
marched toward the Delaware to be ready to strike them when they
moved.

So, one day, as I stood on the outpost, guarding the nearest road to
the city, I saw Jones approaching at full speed on an old horse, which
he had evidently borrowed. I was ready for his news.

"The British are crossing the Delaware; we will catch them in Jersey
now or never," he cried, and then he had dashed past on his way to
headquarters.

My little guard received the news with a yell, and we looked forward
eagerly for the order to join our regiment on the march.

It was not long in coming, and on that night, the 18th of June, we
crossed the Delaware, and started on the race across Jersey that was
to end at Monmouth.

CHAPTER XIX

THE SANDS OF MONMOUTH

For a week we hung on the flank of the enemy, waiting for an
opportunity to strike, as we saw the immense train form on the right
bank