The Dare Boys in VirginiaCox, Stephen Angus Douglas
History
The Dare Boys in Virginia
Cox, Stephen Angus Douglas
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
Each force kept close watch on the other, and attempts were made to
surprise each other and thus gain a victory, but in the three or four
engagements that took place within the next few days neither side scored
a victory, and the losses of men, killed and wounded, was about the
same.
“We will get the better of Arnold yet, however,” said Colonel Morris,
determinedly, in council with his officers. “We will keep close watch on
them, and presently we will get a chance to strike them a blow.”
He kept Dick Dare pretty busy reconnoitering and spying on the British,
and Tom and Ben assisted Dick quite a good deal in this work. Herbert
Miller, too, was of considerable use, the four doing a lot of good work
in the spying and reconnoitering line.
One evening, when Dick and Tom were watching the British encampment,
they saw that the redcoats were breaking camp. They supposed that the
British were going to advance against the patriot force again and make
another attack, but waited to make sure of this, before carrying the
news to Colonel Morris; but when the British were ready to march, they
set out toward the east, instead of toward the patriot encampment, which
lay to the northward.
“They are leaving this part of the country!” exclaimed Tom, excitedly.
“They have gotten enough of fighting our force, and are marching away.”
“I guess you are right, Tom,” said Dick. “Well, you hasten to Colonel
Morris with the information. I will follow the British and keep them
under observation.”
“All right, Dick.” Then Tom hastened away, and Dick set out on the trail
of the British. The redcoats marched perhaps ten or twelve miles, and
then went into camp, and Dick, feeling sure that they would remain there
till morning, made his way back till he met the patriot force advancing.
Colonel Morris was delighted when he learned that the British had
stopped and gone into camp, and he decided to go forward and make an
attack, taking the British by surprise, if possible.
Dick guided the patriot force, and a couple of hours later they were
close to the encampment.
The patriots advanced slowly and cautiously, now, and succeeded in
getting almost up to the sentinel line before they were discovered. Then
at a command from Colonel Morris, they charged upon the British forces.
As they did so, they opened fire from their muskets, and then were at
close enough quarters to use their bayonets. There was a hot fight for a
little while, and then the redcoats broke and fled in confusion, as the
patriots fired a couple of pistol-volleys after the fleeing enemy.
This was a decided victory for the patriots, for they had killed a score
at least of the British, had wounded thirty or forty, and had lost only
six, killed, and had ten wounded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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