uting-parties, and confining the belt of desolation within narrow
lines.

At last came the 11th of September, the day when we met Lord Howe at
the Brandywine, and were sent reeling back in disorderly retreat, when
by a skilful march they outflanked our right wing and rolled it up.

And then disaster followed disaster. Paoli came, that grim and bloody
surprise at the dead of night. We had marched with Wayne and gained
the rear of the British column, and lay for the night in a dense wood,
waiting for the recruits under Smallwood, who was marching to join us,
before we began our attack on the British rear.

It was in the early hours of the morning, the blackest of the night,
the hour before the dawn, when there came sudden shots from our
pickets, and before we could spring to arms the Highland war-cry rang
through the forest and the Black Watch swept over us. The wild forms
of the Highlanders, the intense darkness, the surprise, the din and
noise of the strife as those who could grasp their muskets made a
desperate stand, struck terror through the camp, and ere the men could
rally we were swept into the woods beyond. It seemed to me, as I was
borne along in the press, I heard, high over the charging cry of the
Scots, the voice of the old Tory cheering his men on. Certain it is
that I saw him for a moment by the light of a camp-fire, sword in
hand, urging on his wild Scots, who seemed to grow wilder under his
leadership, as our line melted away before their advance.

Ah! but it was grim and terrible. Our men, overcome by the surprise
and the rout, carried terror into the camp of Smallwood's recruits,
which was near at hand, and they, too, gave way.

But the dawn came: with it we gathered our shattered forces together
and marched back to join Washington.

Philadelphia fell, but the tide soon turned; for at Germantown we once
more met them and avenged the surprise at Paoli.

But the thing that thrilled us through and through and set our banners
high was the courage of our brothers of the Line, who, thrown into
Fort Mifflin, held it in the teeth of the enemy's fire until every gun
was dismounted and the fort itself levelled to the earth, leaving
nothing to defend. It was a brave and gallant action, and we envied
them for their good fortune.

We had avenged Paoli at Germantown, yet this added another wreath to
our banner. It was a thing to stir the blood and to set the pulses
bounding to hear how those heroes fought un