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manned the breastworks and was overheard to address his visibly
trembling legs： 〃Shake； damn you； shake； and if ye knew where I
was leading you； you'd be ten times worse。〃
His mind was more valiant than his body； and his mind kept
control this is true courage。
No one had a better comprehension of all this than Macomb。 He
knew that all these men needed was a little training to make of
them the best soldiers on earth。 To supply that training he mixed
them with veterans； and arranged a series of unimportant
skirmishes as coolly and easily as though he were laying out a
programme for an evening's entertainment。
The first of these was at Culver's Hill。 Here a barricade was
thrown up along the highway； a gun was mounted； and several
hundred riflemen were posted under leaders skilled in the arts of
harrying a foe and giving him no chance to strike back。
Among the men appointed for the barricade's defence was Rolf and
near him Quonab。 The latter had been seasoned in the Revolution；
but it was the former's first experience at the battle front； and
he felt as most men do when the enemy in brave array comes
marching up。 As soon as they were within long range； his leader
gave the order 〃Fire！〃 The rifles rattled and the return fire
came at once。 Balls pattered on the barricade or whistled above。
The man next to him was struck and dropped with a groan； another
fell back dead。 The horror and roar were overmuch。 Rolf was
nervous enough when he entered the fight。 Now he was unstrung；
almost stunned； his hands and knees were shaking； he was nearly
panic…stricken and could not resist the temptation to duck； as
the balls hissed murder over his head。 He was blazing away；
without aiming； when an old soldier； noting his white face and
shaking form； laid a hand on his shoulder and； in kindly tones；
said： 〃Steady； boy； steady； yer losing yer head； see； this is
how；〃 and he calmly took aim； then； without firing； moved the gun
again and put a little stick to raise the muzzle and make a
better rest； then fired as though at target practice。 〃Now rest
for a minute。 Look at Quonab there； you can see he's been through
it before。 He is making a hit with every shot。〃
Rolf did as he was told； and in a few minutes his colour came
back； his hand was steady； and thenceforth he began to forget the
danger and thought only of doing his work。
When at length it was seen that the British were preparing to
charge； the Americans withdrew quickly and safely to Halsey's
Corner； where was another barricade and a fresh lot of recruits
awaiting to receive their baptism of fire。 And the scene was
repeated。 Little damage was done to the foe but enormous benefit
was gained by the Americans； because it took only one or two of
these skirmishes to turn a lot of shaky…kneed volunteers into a
band of steady soldiers for they had it all inside。 Thus their
powder terror died。
That night the British occupied the part of the town that was
north of the Saranac； and began a desultory bombardment of the
fortification opposite。 Not a very serious one； for they
considered they could take the town at any time； but preferred to
await the arrival of their fleet under Downie。
The fight for the northern half of the town was not serious；
merely part of Macomb's prearranged training course； but when the
Americans retired across the Saranac； the planks of the bridges
were torn up； loop…holed barricades were built along the southern
bank； and no effort spared to prepare for a desperate resistance。
Every man that could hold up a gun was posted on the lines of
Plattsburg。 The school…boys； even； to the number of five hundred
formed a brigade； and were assigned to places where their
squirrel…hunting experiences could be made of service to their
country。
Meanwhile the British had established a battery opposite Fort
Brown。 It was in a position to do some material and enormous
moral damage。 On the ninth it was nearly ready for bloody work；
and would probably begin next morning。 That night； however； an
extraordinary event took place； and showed how far from
terror…palsy were the motley troops in Plattsburg。 A sturdy
Vermonter； named Captain McGlassin； got permission of Ma。 comb to
attempt a very Spartan sortie。
He called for fifty volunteers to go on a most hazardous
enterprise。 He got one thousand at once。 Then he ordered all over
twenty…five and under eighteen to retire。 This reduced the number
to three hundred。 Then； all married men were retired； and thus
again they were halved。 Next he ordered away all who smoked
Ah； deep philosopher that he was！ and from the remnant he
selected his fifty。 Among them was Rolf。 Then he divulged his
plan。 It was nothing less than a dash on the new…made fort to
spike those awful guns fifty men to dash into a camp of
thirteen thousand。
Again he announced； 〃Any who wish to withdraw now may do so。〃 Not
a man stirred。
Twenty of those known to be expert with tools were provided with
hammers and spikes for the guns； and Rolf was proud to be one of
them。
In a night of storm and blackness they crossed the Saranac；
dividing in two bodies they crawled unseen； one on each side of
the battery。 Three hundred British soldiers were sleeping near；
only the sentries peered into the storm…sleet。
All was ready when McGlassin's tremendous voice was heard；
〃Charge front and rear！〃 Yelling； pounding； making all the noise
they could； the American boys rushed forth。 The British were
completely surprised； the sentries were struck down； and the rest
assured that Macomb's army was on them recoiled for a few
minutes。 The sharp click； click； click of the hammers was heard。
An iron spike was driven into every touch hole； the guns were
made harmless as logs and quickly wheeling； to avoid the return
attack； these bold Yankee boys leaped from the muzzled redoubt
and reached their own camp without losing one of their number。
Chapter 80。 The Bloody Saranac
Sir george Prevost had had no intention of taking Plattsburg；
till Plattsburg's navy was captured。 But the moral effect of
McGlassin's exploit must be offset at once。 He decided to carry
the city by storm a matter probably of three hours' work。
He apportioned a regiment to each bridge； another to each ford
near the town； another to cross the river at Pike's Cantonment；
and yet another to cross twenty miles above； where they were to
harry the fragments of the American as it fled。
That morning Plattsburg was wakened by a renewal of the
bombardment。 The heavy firing killed a few men knocked down a few
walls and chimneys； but did little damage to the earthworks。
It was surprising to all how soon the defenders lost their
gun…shyness。 The very school…boys and their sisters went calmly
about their business； with cannon and musket balls whistling
overhead； striking the walls and windows； or； on rare occasions；
dropping some rifleman