For Love of Country: A Story of Land and Sea in the Days of the Revolution

  Produced by Al Haines

  For Love of Country

  _A Story of Land and Sea in the Days of the Revolution_

  BY

  CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY

  AUTHOR OF "THE GRIP OF HONOR," "FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA," ETC.

  NEW YORK

  CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

  1908

  Copyright, 1898,

  BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

  _All rights reserved._

  TO THE

  Society of the Sons of the Revolution,

  _And those kindred organizations whose chief function is to cultivate a spirit of patriotism and love of country in the present by recalling the struggles and sacrifices of the past._

  PREFACE

  Since the action of this story falls during the periods, and the bookdeals with personages and incidents, which are usually treated of inthe more serious pages of history, it is proper that some brief word ofexplanation should be written by which I might confirm some of theromantic happenings hereafter related, which to the casual reader mayappear to draw too heavily upon his credulity for acceptance.

  The action between the Randolph and the Yarmouth really happened, thesmaller ship did engage the greater for the indicated purpose, much asI have told it; and if I have ventured to substitute another name forthat of the gallant sailor and daring hero, Captain Nicholas Biddle,who commanded the little Randolph, and lost his life, on that occasion,I trust this paragraph may be considered as making ample amends. Theremarkable fight between those two ships is worthy of more extendednotice than has hitherto been given it, in any but the larger tones(and not even in some of those) of the time. As far as my informationpermits me to say, there never was a more heroic battle on the seas.

  Again, it is evident to students of history that the character ofWashington has not been properly understood hitherto, by the verypeople who revere his name, though the excellent books of Messrs. Ford,Wilson, Lodge, Fiske, and others are doing much to destroy the popularcanonization which made of the man a saint; in defence of mycharacterization of him I am able to say that the incidents andanecdotes and most of the conversations in which he appears areabsolutely historical.

  If I have dwelt too long and too circumstantially upon the Trenton andPrinceton campaigns for a book so light in character as is this one, itmay be set down to an ardent admiration for Washington as man andsoldier, and a design again to exhibit him as he was at one of the mostcritical and brilliant points of his career. Furthermore, I find thatthe school and other histories commonly accessible to ordinary peopleare not sufficiently awake to the importance and brilliancy of thecampaign, and I cherish the hope that this book may serve, in somemeasure, to establish its value.

  I have freely used all the histories and narratives to which I hadaccess, without hesitation; and if I have anticipated a distinguishedarrival, or hastened the departure of a ship, or altered the date of anaval battle, or changed its scene, I plead the example of thedistinguished masters of fiction, to warrant me.

  In closing I cannot refrain from thanking those who have so kindlyassisted me with advice and correction during the writing of this storyand the reading of the proof, especially the Rev. A. J. P. McClure.

  C. T. B.

  PHILADELPHIA, PENNA., _November_, 1897.

  Contents

  Book I

  THE EVENTS OF A NIGHT

  CHAPTER

  I KATHARINE YIELDS HER INDEPENDENCE II THE COUNTRY FIRST OF ALL III COLONEL WILTON IV LORD DUNMORE'S MEN PAY AN EVENING CALL V A TIMELY INTERFERENCE VI A FAITHFUL SUBJECT OF HIS MAJESTY VII THE LOYAL TALBOTS VIII AN UNTOLD STORY IX BENTLEY'S PRAYER X A SOLDIER'S EPITAPH

  Book II

  KNIGHTS ERRANT OF THE SEA

  XI CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES XII AN IMPORTANT COMMISSION XIII A CLEVER STRATAGEM XIV A SURPRISE FOR THE JUNO XV CHASED BY A FRIGATE XVI 'TWIXT LOVE AND DUTY XVII AN INCIDENTAL PASSAGE AT ARMS XVIII DUTY WINS THE GAME

  Book III

  THE LION AT BAY

  XIX THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA XX A WINTER CAMP XXI THE BOATSWAIN TELLS THE STORY XXII WASHINGTON--A MAN WITH HUMAN PASSIONS XXIII LIEUTENANT MARTIN'S LESSON XXIV CROSSING THE DELAWARE XXV TRENTON--THE LION STRIKES XXVI MY LORD CORNWALLIS XXVII THE LION TURNS FOX XXVIII THE BRITISH PLAY "TAPS" XXIX THE LAST OF THE TALBOTS

  Book IV

  A DEATH GRAPPLE ON THE DEEP

  XXX A SAILOR'S OPINION OF THE LAND XXXI SEYMOUR'S DESPERATE RESOLUTION XXXII THE PRISONERS ON THE YARMOUTH XXXIII TWO PROPOSALS XXXIV CAPTAIN VINCENT MYSTIFIED XXXV BENTLEY SAYS GOOD-BY XXXVI THE LAST OF THE RANDOLPH XXXVII FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY XXXVIII PHILIP DISOBEYS ORDERS XXXIX THREE PICTURES OF THE SEA.

  Book V

  THE DEAD ALIVE AGAIN

  XL A FINAL APPEAL XLI INTO THE HAVEN AT LAST