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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




opportunity£»¡¡the¡¡hunter¡¡has¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡over¡¡the¡¡farmer¡£¡¡He¡¡has

less¡¡self¡­consciousness£»¡¡more¡¡calm¡¡poise¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡troubled

about¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡more¡¡convinced

of¡¡his¡¡native¡¡dignity¡¡and¡¡claims¡¡to¡¡respect¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡drawin¡­room

Rolf¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hunter£º¡¡the¡¡leading¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡region¡¡around

received¡¡him¡¡gladly¡¡and¡¡honoured¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡guest¡¡at¡¡Judge

Hubbell's¡¡in¡¡Chazy£»¡¡in¡¡September¡¡of¡¡1814¡£¡¡Every¡¡day¡¡he¡¡scouted¡¡in

the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡and¡¡at¡¡night¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hospitable¡¡home¡¡of

the¡¡judge¡£



On¡¡the¡¡12th¡¡of¡¡September£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡tree¡¡on¡¡a

distant¡¡wooded¡¡hill£»¡¡he¡¡estimated¡¡the¡¡force¡¡at¡¡Champlain¡¡to¡¡be

10£»000¡¡to¡¡15£»000¡¡men¡£¡¡Already¡¡their¡¡bodyguard¡¡was¡¡advancing¡¡on

Chazy¡£



Judge¡¡Hubbell¡¡and¡¡anxious¡¡neighbours¡¡hastily¡¡assembled¡¡now£»

discussed¡¡with¡¡Rolf¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡and¡¡above¡¡all£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡shall¡¡we

do¡¡with¡¡our¡¡families£¿¡¨¡¡One¡¡man¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡a¡¡storm¡¡of¡¡hate¡¡and

vituperation¡¡against¡¡the¡¡British¡£¡¡¡¨Remember¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡of

Washington¡¡and¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they¡¡treated¡¡the¡¡women¡¡at¡¡Bladensburg¡£¡¨



¡¨All¡¡of¡¡which¡¡about¡¡the¡¡women¡¡was¡¡utterly¡¡disproved£»¡¡except¡¡in

one¡¡case£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡that¡¡the¡¡criminal¡¡was¡¡shot¡¡by¡¡order¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own

commander£»¡¨¡¡retorted¡¡Hubbell¡£



At¡¡Plattsburg¡¡others¡¡maintained¡¡that¡¡the¡¡British¡¡had¡¡harmed¡¡no

one¡£¡¡Colonel¡¡Murray¡¡had¡¡given¡¡strict¡¡orders¡¡that¡¡all¡¡private

property¡¡be¡¡absolutely¡¡respected¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡but¡¡government¡¡property

was¡¡destroyed¡¡and¡¡only¡¡that¡¡which¡¡could¡¡be¡¡construed¡¡into¡¡war

stores¡¡and¡¡buildings¡£¡¡What¡¡further¡¡damage¡¡was¡¡done¡¡was¡¡the¡¡result

of¡¡accident¡¡or¡¡error¡£¡¡Officers¡¡were¡¡indeed¡¡quartered¡¡on¡¡the

inhabitants£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡what¡¡they¡¡got£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡a¡¡carpet

destroyed¡¡by¡¡accident¡¡was¡¡replaced¡¡months¡¡afterward¡¡by¡¡a¡¡British

officer¡¡who¡¡had¡¡not¡¡the¡¡means¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡£



So¡¡it¡¡was¡¡agreed¡¡that¡¡Hubbell¡¡with¡¡Rolf¡¡and¡¡the¡¡village¡¡fathers

and¡¡brothers¡¡should¡¡join¡¡their¡¡country's¡¡army£»¡¡leaving¡¡wives¡¡and

children¡¡behind¡£



There¡¡were¡¡wet¡¡bearded¡¡cheeks¡¡among¡¡the¡¡strong£»¡¡rugged¡¡men¡¡as

they¡¡kissed¡¡their¡¡wives¡¡and¡¡little¡¡ones¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡then

stopped£»¡¡as¡¡horrible¡¡misgivings¡¡rose¡¡within¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡was¡¡war£»¡¡and

yet¡¡again£»¡¡'We¡¡have¡¡had¡¡proofs¡¡that¡¡the¡¡British¡¡harmed¡¡no¡¡woman

or¡¡child'¡£¡¨¡¡So¡¡they¡¡dashed¡¡away¡¡the¡¡tears£»¡¡suppressed¡¡the¡¡choking

in¡¡their¡¡throats£»¡¡shouldered¡¡their¡¡guns£»¡¡and¡¡marched¡¡away¡¡to¡¡the

front£»¡¡commending¡¡their¡¡dear¡¡ones¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡God¡¡and¡¡the

British¡¡invaders¡£



None¡¡had¡¡any¡¡cause¡¡to¡¡regret¡¡this¡¡trust¡£¡¡Under¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡death£»¡¡Sir

George¡¡Prevost¡¡enforced¡¡his¡¡order¡¡that¡¡the¡¡persons¡¡of¡¡women¡¡and

children¡¡and¡¡all¡¡private¡¡property¡¡be¡¡held¡¡inviolate¡£¡¡As¡¡on¡¡the

previous¡¡raid£»¡¡no¡¡damage¡¡was¡¡done¡¡to¡¡non¡­combatants£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only

hardships¡¡endured¡¡were¡¡by¡¡the¡¡few¡¡who£»¡¡knowing¡¡nothing£»¡¡feared

much£»¡¡and¡¡sought¡¡the¡¡precarious¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡life¡¡among¡¡the¡¡hills¡£



Sir¡¡George¡¡Prevost¡¡and¡¡his¡¡staff¡¡of¡¡ten¡¡officers¡¡were¡¡quartered

in¡¡Judge¡¡Hubbell's¡¡house¡£¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Hubbell¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡put¡¡to¡¡furnish

them¡¡with¡¡meals£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡treated¡¡her¡¡with¡¡perfect¡¡respect£»¡¡and

every¡¡night£»¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡how¡¡long¡¡they¡¡might¡¡stay£»¡¡they¡¡left¡¡on

the¡¡table¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of¡¡their¡¡board¡¡and¡¡lodging¡£



For¡¡three¡¡days¡¡they¡¡waited£»¡¡then¡¡all¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡the¡¡advance¡£



¡¨Now¡¡for¡¡Plattsburg¡¡this¡¡week¡¡and¡¡Albany¡¡next£»¡¡so¡¡good¡­bye£»

madam¡¨¡¡they¡¡said¡¡politely£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡away¡£¡¡a¡¡gay¡¡and

splendid¡¡group¡£



¡¨Good¡­bye£»¡¡sirs£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡very¡¡little¡¡while£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you'll¡¡soon

be¡¡back¡¡and¡¡hanging¡¡your¡¡heads¡¡as¡¡you¡¡come£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡the¡¡retort¡£



Sir¡¡George¡¡replied£º¡¡¡¨If¡¡a¡¡man¡¡had¡¡said¡¡that£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡call¡¡him

out£»¡¡but¡¡since¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡lady¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been¡¡our¡¡charming

hostess£»¡¡I¡¡reply¡¡that¡¡when¡¡your¡¡prophecy¡¡comes¡¡true£»¡¡every

officer¡¡here¡¡shall¡¡throw¡¡his¡¡purse¡¡on¡¡your¡¡door¡¡step¡¡as¡¡he

passes¡£¡¨



So¡¡they¡¡rode¡¡away£»¡¡13£»000¡¡trained¡¡men¡¡with¡¡nothing¡¡between¡¡them

and¡¡Albany¡¡but¡¡2000¡¡troops£»¡¡double¡¡as¡¡many¡¡raw¡¡militia£»¡¡and¡¡

MacDonough¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lake¡£



Ten¡¡times¡¡did¡¡Rolf¡¡cover¡¡that¡¡highway¡¡north¡¡of¡¡Plattsburg¡¡in¡¡the

week¡¡that¡¡followed£»¡¡and¡¡each¡¡day¡¡his¡¡tidings¡¡were¡¡the¡¡same¡¡¡¡the

British¡¡steadily¡¡advance¡£







Chapter¡¡79¡£¡¡McGlassin's¡¡Exploit



There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡wonderful¡¡spirit¡¡on¡¡everything¡¡in¡¡Plattsburg£»¡¡and¡¡the

earthly¡¡tabernacle¡¡in¡¡which¡¡it¡¡dwelt£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡tall£»¡¡grave¡¡young

man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡protested¡¡against¡¡Hampton's¡¡behaviour¡¡at¡¡Burlington

¡¡Captain£»¡¡now¡¡General¡¡Macomb¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡was¡¡neglected£»¡¡every

emergency¡¡was¡¡planned¡¡for£»¡¡every¡¡available¡¡man¡¡was¡¡under¡¡arms¡£

Personally¡¡tireless£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡alert¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡every

man¡¡in¡¡his¡¡command¡¡and¡¡every¡¡man¡¡of¡¡it¡¡had¡¡implicit¡¡confidence¡¡in

the¡¡leader¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡soldiers¡¡escaping¡¡from¡¡a¡¡besieged

fortress¡¡by¡¡night£»¡¡but¡¡such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡inspiring¡¡power¡¡of¡¡this

commander¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡steady¡¡leaking¡¡in¡¡of¡¡men¡¡from¡¡the

hills£»¡¡undrilled¡¡and¡¡raw£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡superb¡¡physique¡¡and¡¡dead¡¡shots

with¡¡the¡¡ride¡£



A¡¡typical¡¡case¡¡was¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sturdy¡¡old¡¡farmer¡¡who¡¡was¡¡marching

through¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡to¡¡take¡¡his¡¡place¡¡with¡¡those¡¡who

manned¡¡the¡¡breastworks¡¡and¡¡was¡¡overheard¡¡to¡¡address¡¡his¡¡visibly

trembling¡¡legs£º¡¡¡¨Shake£»¡¡damn¡¡you£»¡¡shake£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡ye¡¡knew¡¡where¡¡I

was¡¡leading¡¡you£»¡¡you'd¡¡be¡¡ten¡¡times¡¡worse¡£¡¨



His¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡more¡¡valiant¡¡than¡¡his¡¡body£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡kept

control¡¡¡¡this¡¡is¡¡true¡¡courage¡£



No¡¡one¡¡had¡¡a¡¡better¡¡comprehension¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡than¡¡Macomb¡£¡¡He

knew¡¡that¡¡all¡¡these¡¡men¡¡needed¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡training¡¡to¡¡make¡¡of

them¡¡the¡¡best¡¡soldiers¡¡on¡¡earth¡£¡¡To¡¡supply¡¡that¡¡training¡¡he¡¡mixed

them¡¡with¡¡veterans£»¡¡and¡¡arranged¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡unimportant

skirmishes¡¡as¡¡coolly¡¡and¡¡easily¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡were¡¡laying¡¡out¡¡a

programme¡¡for¡¡an¡¡evening's¡¡entertainment¡£



The¡¡first¡¡of¡¡these¡¡was¡¡at¡¡Culver's¡¡Hill¡£¡¡Here¡¡a¡¡barricade¡¡was

thrown¡¡up¡¡along¡¡the¡¡highway£»¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡was¡¡mounted£»¡¡and¡¡several

hundred¡¡riflemen¡¡were¡¡posted¡¡under¡¡leaders¡¡skilled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arts¡¡of

harrying¡¡a¡¡foe¡¡and¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡no¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡back¡£



Among¡¡the¡¡men¡¡appointed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡barricade's¡¡defence¡¡was¡¡Rolf¡¡and

near¡¡him¡¡Quonab¡£¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seasoned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Revolution£»

but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡former's¡¡first¡¡experience¡¡at¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡front£»¡¡and

he¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡most¡¡men¡¡do¡¡when¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡in¡¡brave¡¡array¡¡comes

marching¡¡up¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡within¡¡long¡¡range£»¡¡his¡¡leader

gave¡¡the¡¡order¡¡¡¨Fire£¡¡¨¡¡The¡¡rifles¡¡rattled¡¡and¡¡the¡¡return¡¡fire

came¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡Balls¡¡pattered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡barricade¡¡or¡¡whistled¡¡above¡£

The¡¡man¡¡next¡¡to¡¡him¡¡was¡¡struck¡¡and¡¡dropped¡¡with¡¡a¡¡groan£»¡¡another

fell¡¡back¡¡dead¡£¡¡The¡¡horror¡¡and¡¡roar¡¡were¡¡overmuch¡£¡¡Rolf¡¡was

nervous¡¡enough¡¡when¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡fight¡£¡¡Now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unstrung£»

almost¡¡stunned£»¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡knees¡¡were¡¡shaking£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡nearly

panic¡­stricken¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡resist¡¡the¡¡temptation¡¡to¡¡duck£»¡¡as

the¡¡balls¡¡hissed¡¡murder¡¡over¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡blazing¡¡away£»

without¡¡aiming£»¡¡when¡¡an¡¡old¡¡soldier£»¡¡noting¡¡his¡¡white¡¡face¡¡and

shaking¡¡form£»¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡and£»¡¡in¡¡kindly¡¡tones£»

said£º¡¡¡¨Steady£»¡¡boy£»¡¡steady£»¡¡yer¡¡losing¡¡yer¡¡head£»¡¡see£»¡¡this¡¡is

how£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡calmly¡¡took¡¡aim£»¡¡then£»¡¡without¡¡firing£»¡¡moved¡¡the¡¡gun

again¡¡and¡¡put¡¡a¡¡little¡¡stick¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡muzzle¡¡and¡¡make¡¡a

better¡¡rest£»¡¡then¡¡fired¡¡as¡¡though¡¡at¡¡target¡¡practice¡£¡¡¡¨Now¡¡rest

for¡¡a¡¡minute¡£¡¡Look¡¡at¡¡Quonab¡¡there£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡¡he's¡¡been¡¡through

it¡¡before¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡making¡¡a¡¡hit¡¡with¡¡every¡¡shot¡£¡¨



Rolf¡¡did¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡told£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡his¡¡colour¡¡came

back£»¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡steady£»¡¡and¡¡thenceforth¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡the

danger¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡only¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡his¡¡work¡£



When¡¡at¡¡length¡¡it¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡the¡¡British¡¡were¡¡preparing¡¡to

charge£»¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡withdrew¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡safely¡¡to¡¡Halsey's

Corner£»¡¡where¡¡was¡¡another¡¡barricade¡¡and¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡recruits

awaiting¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡their¡¡baptism¡¡of¡¡fire¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡was

repeated¡£¡¡Little¡¡damage¡¡was¡¡done¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foe¡¡but¡¡enormous¡¡benefit

was¡¡gained¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Americans£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡took¡¡only¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡of

these¡¡skirmishes¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡shaky¡­kneed¡¡volunteers¡¡into¡¡a

band¡¡of¡¡steady¡¡soldiers¡¡¡¡for¡¡they¡¡had¡¡it¡¡all¡¡inside¡£¡¡Thus¡¡their

powder¡¡terror¡¡died¡£



That¡¡night¡¡the¡¡British¡¡occupied¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡that¡¡was

north¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saranac£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡a¡¡desultory¡¡bombardment¡¡of¡¡the

fortific

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