lf the experience," remarked a lank old rifleman, whose peculiar
gait had given him the name of "Lopin' Luther." Nevertheless, the
compliment greatly pleased the Rangers. It could not, however, remedy
the injustice done Morgan and his corps by Gates in not making
favourable mention of them because the "old wagoner" so sturdily
refused to participate in Gates' scheme to supplant Washington.

"Nawthin' ter do but keep at it; sun'll be shinin' bimeby," was the
terse comment of one of the Rangers, and his was the philosophy which
prevailed.

Rodney thought of the Indian saying: "My foot is on the path and the
word is onward," when, on the first of November, orders came to join
Washington's army.

"Now we'll be under a general as will play fair," was the way one
rifleman expressed the general sentiment, and they set out on their
journey, war-worn and ragged and weary with the arduous campaigning of
the previous months.

As they marched away, one of the number sang to improvised music those
stirring words written by the Reverend Timothy Dwight, one of the army
chaplains:

"Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise,
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies."

Sorry looking Rangers were they when they arrived at Washington's
headquarters; shoes worn out, clothes in tatters. There they found a
dwindling army. The battles of the Brandywine and Germantown had been
fought in their absence, and the British were in Philadelphia,
planning for a hilarious winter. What remained of the American army
must exist outside in the cold of a bitter winter and do what they
might to keep the enemy where it was and cut off its supplies whenever
possible. Those of the Rangers who had suitable clothing were
immediately assigned to duty. At Gloucester Point they bore themselves
so creditably that Lafayette said of them: "I never saw men so merry,
so spirited and so desirous to go on to the enemy...."

Later, at Chestnut Hill, their unerring rifles did such execution that
Howe's soldiers bore a sorry burden back to Philadelphia. There were
sad gaps, as well, in the ranks of the Rangers, and among those
fatally wounded was the gallant Morris who had charged the line at
Bemis Heights.

As usual, the Rangers were assigned to outpost duty and scouting.
Owing to need of secrecy, many a bitter winter night was passed by
Rangers in this work without a camp-fire. These were wretched weeks
for Rodney Allison; and there were m