In Blue and White; The Adventures and Misadventures of Humphrey Vandyne, Trooper in Washington's Life-Guard (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1899 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. How Humphrey Served His Apprenticeship. Developments came speedily. Almost on the heels of the appeal to the army to "Conquer or Die," came swift news from Philadelphia, that the Congress, assembled in that city, had answered the coming of the British fleet in equally bold and manly fashion. On the ninth of July, 1776, Washington issued another order to his army, which, so he declared to Congress, met with most hearty assent. The order ran: "The Honorable Continental Congress, impelled by the dictates of duty, policy, and necessity, having been pleased to dissolve the Connection which subsisted between this Country and Great Britain, and to declare the United Colonies of America free and independent States; it is ordered, that the several brigades be drawn up this evening on their respective Parades at six o'clock, when the declaration of Congress, showing the grounds and reasons of their Measure, is to be read with an audible voice." Humphrey was enthusiastic. The Life-Guard in its neatest uniform of blue and white, with its white silk flag, emblazoned with the goddess of liberty, the shield, and the eagle, and with its streaming motto " Conquer or Die," was drawn up near to the general-in-chief. The "audible voice" read the Declaration that has now become immortal; and Humphrey thrilled through and through, as the closing words awoke a responsive echo in his enthusiastic young soul--" and to these we pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." How sad, he thought, that good soldiers and bright men, like Thomas Hickey, should have sullied their honor, wrecked their fortunes, and flung away their lives in a mad attempt against the man who alone could lead the new nation to victory. Again he swore to be true to his trust; and his eye w...