es; what is it?"
"Compliments of General Lee, sir, and you will retire your troops toward
the Freehold Meeting House, forming connection there with General Scott."
"Retreat! Good God, man! we haven't fired a shot."
"Those were the orders, sir. Is that Scott, over yonder?"
Maxwell nodded, too angered for words. Then, as the courier galloped
away, turned in his saddle.
"By Heaven! I suppose we must do it, Lawrence. But what folly! What
asininity! We've got the Red-coats hemmed in, and did you ever see a
better field? Pray God, I may hear Washington when he comes up. I'd
rather be dead then, than Charles Lee."
We gave the orders, and the men fell back sullenly, swearing fiercely as
they caught the rebellious spirit of their officers. Never have I
suffered more than from the heat that poured down on us from that blazing
sun; the gun barrels burned to the touch, and the tortures of thirst
became terrible. In places we sank ankle deep in the hot sand, and beyond
this came upon a broad morass almost impossible of passage. Men fell
exhausted, and were dragged out by their comrades. Scarcely able to
breathe in the hot, stagnant air, caked with foul mud to the waist, we
attained the higher ground, and dropped helpless. Even from here the
enemy were invisible, although we could see the smoke of their guns, and
hear distant crackle of musketry. I sat up, staring through the heat
waves toward the eminence on the left where Wayne's men remained, showing
dimly against the trees. A group of horsemen were riding down the slope,
heading toward our line. As they came into the sandy plain below, and
skirted the morass, I recognized Lee in advance, mounted on a black horse
flecked with foam. Twice he paused, gazing across the hills through
levelled field-glasses, and then rode up the steep ascent to our rear.
Maxwell met him not twenty feet from where I lay.
"What does this mean, sir?" Lee thundered hoarsely. "Why are your men
lying strewn about in this unsoldierly manner, General Maxwell? Are you
unaware, sir, that we are in the presence of the enemy?"
Maxwell's red face fairly blazed, as he straightened in the saddle, but
before his lips could form an answer, a sudden cheer burst out from the
crest of the hill, and I saw men leaping to their feet, and waving their
hats. The next instant across the summit came Washington, a dozen
officers clattering behind, his face stern-set and white, as he rode
straight toward Lee.
"W
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