From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 183
"Who are coming, my little man?" inquired General Knox.
"Why, our boys, your honor; our boys, and the British right after them," answered the fifer.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Washington, and put spurs to his horse.
Sure enough, he soon met General Lee's advance in full retreat.
"What is the meaning of all this, sir?" he called out to General Lee.
The latter was dumbfounded, and made no reply.
"I demand, sir, to know the reason of this retreat," shouted Washington in a tone of anger.
"By my own order," answered Lee, vexed by the commander's sharp address.
"Go to the rear, you cowardly poltroon!" shouted Washington, thoroughly aroused and indignant over the
conduct of the officer.
At that juncture, his favorite aid, Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, leaped from his horse and, drawing his sword,
addressed the general:
"We are betrayed! Your excellency and the army are betrayed! And the time has come when every true friend
of America and her cause must be ready to die in their defence!"
Under the magic influence of the commander-in-chief the retreat was speedily arrested, and one of the most
glorious victories of the Revolution achieved.
Washington was almost ubiquitous in his exertions, and his noble white charger galloped over the battlefield,
utterly regardless of danger, until the splendid beast sank under the excessive heat, and died. Immediately the
general mounted another war-horse of equal spirit, and, brandishing his sword high in the air, called to the
troops:
"Stand fast, my boys, and receive your enemy! The Southern troops are advancing to support you!"
On the evening before, the officers drew up a memorial to Washington, entreating him not to expose himself
in battle, as he did at Princeton, Trenton, and other places. Dr. Craik, who was present, remarked:
"It will not have the weight of a feather with him." Then referring to the Indian chief's prophecy on the banks
of the Ohio, "The Great Spirit protects him; he cannot be shot in battle," he added, "I believe it."
In the bloody contest of the next day, a round shot from the British artillery ploughed the ground directly in
front of the general, throwing up a cloud of dirt over his person.
"Dat wash very near!" exclaimed Baron Stuben. Dr. Craik and several of the officers who were together on
the previous evening were witnesses. Pleased by this remarkable confirmation of his faith in the Indian's
prophecy, Dr. Craik smiled and, without uttering a word, pointed his finger towards heaven, as much as to
say, "The Great Spirit protects him."
At the close of the day the battle-ground was in possession of the Americans. Washington's orders were to
attack the foe again as soon as they began to move in the morning. But in the morning no enemy could be
found; they had silently retreated during the night.