hero tales from american history-第9章
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a tough； shaggy horse。 They were a wild and fierce people； accustomed to the chase and to warfare with the Indians。 Their hunting…shirts of buckskin or homespun were girded in by bead…worked belts； and the trappings of their horses were stained red and yellow。 At the gathering there was a black…frocked Presbyterian preacher； and before they started he addressed the tall riflemen in words of burning zeal； urging them to stand stoutly in the battle； and to smite with the sword of the Lord and of Gideon。 Then the army started； the backwoods colonels riding in front。 Two or three days later； word was brought to Ferguson that the Back…water men had come over the mountains； that the Indian…fighters of the frontier； leaving unguarded their homes on the Western Waters； had crossed by wooded and precipitous defiles to the help of the beaten men of the plains。 Ferguson at once fell back； sending out messengers for help。 When he came to King's Mountain； a wooded； hog…back hill on the border line between North and South Carolina； he camped on its top； deeming that there he was safe； for he supposed that before the backwoodsmen could come near enough to attack him help would reach him。 But the backwoods leaders felt as keenly as he the need of haste； and choosing out nine hundred picked men； the best warriors of their force； and the best mounted and armed； they made a long forced march to assail Ferguson before help could come to him。 All night long they rode the dim forest trails and splashed across the fords of the rushing rivers。 All the next day； October 16； they rode； until in mid…afternoon； just as a heavy shower cleared away； they came in sight of King's Mountain。 The little armies were about equal in numbers。 Ferguson's regulars were armed with the bayonet； and so were some of his Tory militia； whereas the Americans had not a bayonet among them； but they were picked men； confident in their skill as riflemen； and they were so sure of victory that their aim was not only to defeat the British but to capture their whole force。 The backwoods colonels； counseling together as they rode at the head of the column； decided to surround the mountain and assail it on all sides。 Accordingly the bands of frontiersmen split one from the other； and soon circled the craggy hill where Ferguson's forces were encamped。 They left their horses in the rear and immediately began the battle； swarming forward on foot； their commanders leading the attack。
The march had been so quick and the attack so sudden that Ferguson had barely time to marshal his men before the assault was made。 Most of his militia he scattered around the top of the hill to fire down at the Americans as they came up； while with his regulars and with a few picked militia he charged with the bayonet in person； first down one side of the mountain and then down the other。 Sevier； Shelby； Campbell； and the other colonels of the frontiersmen； led each his force of riflemen straight toward the summit。 Each body in turn when charged by the regulars was forced to give way； for there were no bayonets wherewith to meet the foe； but the backwoodsmen retreated only so long as the charge lasted； and the minute that it stopped they stopped too； and came back ever closer to the ridge and ever with a deadlier fire。 Ferguson； blowing a silver whistle as a signal to his men； led these charges； sword in hand； on horseback。 At last； just as he was once again rallying his men； the riflemen of Sevier and Shelby crowned the top of the ridge。 The gallant British commander became a fair target for the backwoodsmen； and as for the last time he led his men against them； seven bullets entered his body and he fell dead。 With his fall resistance ceased。 The regulars and Tories huddled together in a confused mass； while the exultant Americans rushed forward。 A flag of truce was hoisted； and all the British who were not dead surrendered。
The victory was complete； and the backwoodsmen at once started to return to their log hamlets and rough； lonely farms。 They could not stay； for they dared not leave their homes at the mercy of the Indians。 They had rendered a great service； for Cornwallis； when he heard of the disaster to his trusted lieutenant； abandoned his march northward； and retired to South Carolina。 When he again resumed the offensive； he found his path barred by stubborn General Greene and his troops of the Continental line。
THE STORMING OF STONY POINT
In their ragged regimentals Stood the old Continentals； Yielding not； When the grenadiers were lunging； And like hail fell the plunging Cannon…shot； When the files Of the isles From the smoky night encampment bore the banner of the rampant Unicorn； And grummer； grummer； grummer； rolled the roll of the drummer； Through the morn！
Then with eyes to the front all； And with guns horizontal； Stood our sires； And the balls whistled deadly； And in streams flashing redly Blazed the fires； As the roar On the shore Swept the strong battle…breakers o'er the green…sodded acres Of the plain； And louder； louder； louder cracked the black gunpowder； Cracked amain！ Guy Humphrey McMaster。
THE STORMING OF STONY POINT
One of the heroic figures of the Revolution was Anthony Wayne； Major…General of the Continental line。 With the exception of Washington； and perhaps Greene； he was the bestgeneral the Americans developed in the contest； and without exception he showed himself to be the hardest fighter produced on either side。 He belongs； as regards this latter characteristic； with the men like Winfield Scott； Phil Kearney； Hancock； and Forrest； who reveled in the danger and the actual shock of arms。 Indeed； his eager loveof battle； and splendid disregard of peril； have made many writers forget his really great qualities as a general。 Soldiers are always prompt to recognize the prime virtue of physical courage； and Wayne's followers christened their daring commander 〃Mad Anthony；〃 in loving allusion to his reckless bravery。 It is perfectly true that Wayne had this courage； and that he was a born fighter； otherwise； he never would have been a great commander。 A man who lacks the fondness for fighting； the eager desire to punish his adversary； and the willingness to suffer punishment in return； may be a great organizer； like McClellan； but can never become a great general or win great victories。 There are； however； plenty of men who； though they possess these fine manly traits； yet lack the head to command an army； but Wayne had not only the heart and the hand but the head likewise。 No man could dare as greatly as he did without incurring the risk of an occasional check； but he was an able and bold tactician； a vigilant and cautious leader； well fitted to bear the terrible burden of responsibility which rests upon a commander…in…chief。
Of course； at times he had some rather severe lessons。 Quite early in his career； just after the battle of the Brandywine； when he was set to watch the enemy； he was surprised at night by the British general Grey； a redoubtable fighter； who attacked him with the bayonet； killed a number of his men； and forced him to fall back some distance from the field of action。 This mortifying experience had no effect whatever on Wayne's courage or self…reliance； but it did give him a valuable lesson in caution。 He showed what he had learned by the skill with which； many years later； he conducted the famous campaign in which he overthrew the Northwestern Indians at the Fight of the Fallen Timbers。
Wayne's favorite weapon was the bayonet； and； like Scott he taught his troops； until they were able in the shock of hand…to…hand conflict to overthrow the renowned British infantry； who have always justly prided themselves on their prowess with cold steel。 At the battle of Germantown it was Wayne's troops who； falling on with the bayonet； drove the Hessians and the British light infantry； and only retreated under orders when the attack had failed elsewhere。 At Monmouth it was Wayne and his Continentals who first checked the British advance by repulsing the bayonet charge of the guards and grenadiers。
Washington； a true leader of men； was prompt to recognize in W
