Children Stories - Washington And The Cowards

An officer of rank in the service of the late King of Prussia, having lost an amiable wife whom he tenderly loved, became quite inconsolable. Deeply wounded with his affliction, his mind was so absorbed in melancholy, that the transient pl... Read more of The Prussian Dominoor Fatal Effects Of Jealousy at Scary Stories.ca

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Washington And The Cowards

from Good Stories For Great Holidays - LABOR DAY

BY WASHINGTON IRVING (ADAPTED)

During the evacuation of New York by Washington, two divisions of the
enemy, encamped on Long Island, one British under Sir Henry Clinton, the
other Hessian under Colonel Donop, emerged in boats from the deep wooded
recesses of Newtown Inlet, and under cover of the fire from the ships
began to land at two points between Turtle and Kip's Bays.

The breastworks were manned by patriot militia who had recently served
in Brooklyn. Disheartened by their late defeat, they fled at the first
advance of the enemy. Two brigades of Putnam's Connecticut troops,
which had been sent that morning to support them, caught the panic, and,
regardless of the commands and entreaties of their officers, joined in
the general scamper.

At this moment Washington, who had mounted his horse at the first sound
of the cannonade, came galloping to the scene of confusion. Riding in
among the fugitives he endeavored to rally and restore them to order.
All in vain. At the first appearance of sixty or seventy redcoats, they
broke again without firing a shot, and fled in headlong terror.

Losing all self-command at the sight of such dastardly conduct,
Washington dashed his hat upon the ground in a transport of rage.

"Are these the men," exclaimed he, "with whom I am to defend America!"

In a paroxysm of passion and despair he snapped his pistols at some of
them, threatened others with his sword, and was so heedless of his own
danger that he might have fallen into the hands of the enemy, who were
not eighty yards distant, had not an aide-de-camp seized the bridle of
his horse, and absolutely hurried him away.

It was one of the rare moments of his life when the vehement element of
his nature was stirred up from its deep recesses. He soon recovered his
self-possession, and took measures against the general peril.

Next: The Smithy
Previous: The Capture Of Fort Ticonderoga

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