From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 156<br />
"You shall have plenty of powder and ball," answered Rutledge, as he sent Moultrie back <strong>to</strong> his post.<br />
The guns of Fort Moultrie riddled <strong>the</strong> British ships, and covered <strong>the</strong>ir decks with <strong>the</strong> dead and dying. One<br />
hundred and seventy-five men were killed on board <strong>the</strong> fleet, and as many more wounded. The Americans lost<br />
but thirty-five, and held <strong>the</strong> fort. A braver garrison never met a foe. Sergeant Jaspar saw <strong>the</strong> flag shot away,<br />
and leaped down upon <strong>the</strong> beach, snatched it up, and returned it <strong>to</strong> its place, shouting:<br />
"Hurrah, boys! Liberty and America forever!" Governor Rutledge rewarded him with a sword.<br />
Sergeant McDonald was terribly shattered by a cannon-ball, and he called out with his dying breath, "I die,<br />
but don't let <strong>the</strong> cause of liberty die with me!"<br />
The enemy's fleet was driven off in a shattered condition. The commander was so deeply humiliated that even<br />
his black pilots insulted him. Weems says that he called <strong>to</strong> one of <strong>the</strong>m:<br />
"Cudjo, what water have you <strong>the</strong>re?"<br />
"What water, massa? what water? Why, salt water, sure sir! sea water always salt water, ain't he, massa?"<br />
"You black rascal, I knew it was salt water; I only wanted <strong>to</strong> know how much water you have <strong>the</strong>re?"<br />
"How much water here, massa? how much water here? God bless me, massa! Where I going get quart pot for<br />
measure him?"<br />
The commander, even in his chagrin and trouble, could not but laugh at Cudjo's idea of measuring <strong>the</strong> Atlantic<br />
ocean with a quart pot.<br />
This discomfited fleet returned <strong>to</strong> New York and joined <strong>the</strong> British army.<br />
When <strong>the</strong> news of <strong>the</strong> signal vic<strong>to</strong>ry of <strong>the</strong> patriots at Moultrie reached Washing<strong>to</strong>n, he announced it <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
army, and said:<br />
"With such a bright example before us of what can be done by brave men fighting in defence of <strong>the</strong>ir country,<br />
we shall be loaded with a double share of shame and infamy if we do not acquit ourselves with courage, and<br />
manifest a determined resolution <strong>to</strong> conquer or die."<br />
A detachment of <strong>the</strong> army was sent <strong>to</strong> construct works from Wallabout Bay <strong>to</strong> Red Hook. Washing<strong>to</strong>n rode<br />
out one day <strong>to</strong> inspect <strong>the</strong> defences, when he approached a subaltern officer who was directing his men <strong>to</strong><br />
raise a heavy timber <strong>to</strong> its place. Instead of lending a helping hand, <strong>the</strong> conceited fellow s<strong>to</strong>od, shouting:<br />
"Hurrah, boys, n-o-w, right up, h-e-a-v-e," etc.<br />
"Why do you not lend a helping hand?" said Washing<strong>to</strong>n, whom <strong>the</strong> officer did not know.<br />
"What, sir! I lend a helping hand?" exclaimed <strong>the</strong> official sprig. "Why, sir, I'll have you know that I am<br />
corporal!"<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n leaped from his saddle, laid hold of <strong>the</strong> timber with <strong>the</strong> men, and helped lift it <strong>to</strong> its place. Then<br />
turning <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> "corporal," he said sarcastically:<br />
"Mr. Corporal, my name's George Washing<strong>to</strong>n. I have come over from New York <strong>to</strong> inspect <strong>the</strong> works here;<br />
so soon as you have done this piece of work, you will meet me at your commander's, General Sullivan's