omprise the brigades of Sterling, Mercer, and De Fermoy,
with Hand's riflemen and Hausegger's Germans and Forest's battery. I
shall accompany your column. General Sullivan will take the second
division, with Sargeant's and St. Clair's brigades, and Glover's
Marblehead men, and Stark's New Hampshire riflemen. The two columns
will divide at Birmingham. You will take the east, or inland road, and
Sullivan that by the river. Have you that order I spoke of for the
troops, Mr. Hamilton? If so, you will give a copy of it to General
Greene, who will publish it to the troops as soon as they arrive.
Captain Morris, I think you would better go also. You will muster your
troop; the men will have returned from carrying my orders to the
different brigades, and can be assembled once more. I desire you to
attend my person to-night as our only cavalry. Talbot, you would
better go with General Greene; you also, marquis, so that you can be
with your friend Captain Hamilton. The rest of us will follow you
shortly."

The officers designated bowed, and in a few moments were on the road.
The officers left at the headquarters were speedily busy with their
necessary duties, and Seymour and his two companions, one of whom, the
boatswain, was most unfamiliar with and uncomfortable upon a horse,
were able to get a couple of hours of needed rest before starting out
upon what they felt would be an arduous journey. About half after six
o'clock the signal to mount was given, and the whole party, led by the
general himself, and followed by the ragged guard, was soon upon the
road.

It was intensely cold, and the night bade fair to be the severest of
the winter. The sky was cloudless, however, and there was a bright
moon.

CHAPTER XXIII

_Lieutenant Martin's Lesson_

As they rode along slowly, the general explained his plans. General
Howe had pursued him relentlessly through the Jerseys, until he had
crossed into Pennsylvania, only escaping further pursuit and certain
defeat because he had had the forethought to seize every boat upon the
Delaware and its tributaries for miles in every direction, and bring
them with his army to the west bank of the river, so that Howe was
unable to cross. The English general had threatened, however, to wait
until the river was frozen and then cross on the ice, and after
brushing aside the miserable remains of Washington's army, march on to
Philadelphia and establish himself in the rebel capital