Whig Against Tory | Page 6

a few days, he resolved to join the army again. To this the surgeon remonstrated. It might be his death he said; but the valiant soldier could not be persuaded, and again appeared at camp.
"'What!' exclaimed Capt. Benedict, when he saw him, 'have you got back, Crosby? I never expected to see you again. You look too ill to be here. You would make a better scare-crow than soldier, I fancy, just now.'
"'Well, captain! said Crosby, 'if I'm a scare-crow, I can frighten the enemy, if I cannot fight them--so I shall be of some service.'"
John. "Well, father, did they hang up Crosby for a scare-crow?"
Henry. "Why, you simpleton, John, don't you know better?"
Gen. P. "Crosby was quite ill, but his resolution made him forget how feeble he was. He was a scare-crow to the enemy in a different way from that which Capt. Benedict meant. A battle soon came on, and before night Enoch Crosby was marching into the enemy's fort to the tune of Yankee Doodle, to assist in taking care of the prisoners."
John. "But, I thought he was too ill to fight."
Gen. P. "A soldier, at such a time, and such a soldier as Crosby, would be likely to forget his weakness. He went bravely through the day; and from that time rapidly regained his health.
"Success now followed the American troops, and in November, Montreal was taken.
"The time, for which Crosby had enlisted, had now expired, and he concluded to return home. Accordingly, he embarked with several others, in a small schooner, for Crown Point, twelve miles north of Ticonderoga. Thence they came by land to this latter place; from which they proceeded home ward for some distance by water, and then by land. Their rout lay through a wilderness. It was now winter, and the cold was intense. Provisions were scarce. Comfortable lodgings were not to be found. Their prospects were often gloomy, and their distress indescribable.
"At length, however, they reached their respective homes. After a short stay with his friends, Crosby once more returned to Danbury, and again betook himself to the peaceful occupation of shoemaking."
CHAPTER III.
GEN. P. TELLS HOW CROSBY AGAIN ENLISTED AS A SOLDIER, AND OF HIS SINGULAR ADVENTURES.
Gen. P. "Crosby was well contented, for a time, to pursue his occupation. He had seen hard service, in the northern campaign, and needed rest.
"During the following summer, however, his patriotic feelings began again to stir within him. The war was going on, with redoubled fury. The British had, in several instances, gained the advantage. The Americans needed more soldiers, and it was thought that unless the friends of liberty came forward--promptly came, the British arms might succeed.
"It was not in such a man as Enoch Crosby, to seek ease, or shun danger, in the hour of his country's trial. He saw others making sacrifices--women as well as men--youth as well age--and he scorned to have it said, that he could not make sacrifices, as well as others. His musket was therefore taken down; and fitting on his knapsack, he took up his march towards the head quarters of the American army on the Hudson.
"In a few days, he reached the neutral ground and"----
William. "Pray, father, may I interrupt you, to inquire what was meant by the 'neutral ground?"
Gen. P. "I will explain it to you. At this time (Sept. 1776,) the head quarters of the British army were in the city of New York. The American army lay up the Hudson, fifty or sixty miles, either at, or near, West Point.
"Between the two armies, therefore, was the county of West Chester, the centre of which being occupied by neither, was called the 'neutral ground.' But, in reality, it was far from being a neutral spot."
William. "Why not, father, if neither the British, nor the Americans, occupied it?"
Gen. P. "Because, my son, it was here that a great number of tories resided--the worst enemies which the Americans had to contend with."
Henry. "Worse than the British, father?"
Gen. P. "In several respects worse. The tories, in general, were quite as unfriendly to American liberty, as the British themselves. And, besides, living in the country, and being acquainted with it, they could do even more injury than strangers.
"Many of this description of persons lived on the 'neutral ground;' and, what was worse, they often pretended to be Whigs--and passed for such--but in secret, did all in their power to injure their country.
"Crosby, as I told you, had reached a part of this ground, on his way to the American camp. It was just at evening, that he fell in with a stranger, who appeared to be passing in the same direction with himself.
"'Good evening,' said the stranger--'which way are you travelling?-- below?'"
William. "Which way was that?"
Gen. P. "Towards New-York. The British were sometimes called the 'lower party'--the Americans