In buff and blue; being certain portions from the diary of Richard Hilton, gentleman, of Haslet's regiment of Delaware foot, in our ever glorious war of independence

by George Brydges Rodney

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. 1897 ...miles, and were slowly walking our horses up a steep rise to breathe them, when I suddenly drew up, motioning to Tom to do likewise. "What's the matter?" he asked. But the rapid beat of,horse-hoofs to my left answered his question. At the top of the rise, some two hundred yards away, the road forked, and we galloped forward to pass this point and find out what was afoot. Reaching the crest of the hill, I turned in my saddle and looked up the other road. Barely four hundred yards away was a rider on a great bay horse, and behind him came a group of some eight or ten riders in ill-assorted uniforms, whom we knew at once to be what we called " Skinners," miserable hangers-on of both armies, ready to kill and plunder any helpless straggler from either. Presently the man saw us, and was evidently at a loss. A glance at his pursuers removed his doubts,--I afterward found out it was our uniforms that reassured him,--and he came on toward us, lifting his horse at every stride. "ye 'll have to stand by the poor devil, Dick," said Forsythe, grimly. I nodded, and loosened my sword in the sheath, looking to my pistol holsters. Forsythe looked round. "Look," said he, "there's the very place for a stand;" and he pointed to the bottom of the hill, past which ran a very deep but narrow stream, its steep banks covered with a tangle of blackberry-bushes, a narrow plank bridge being the only means of crossing. So motioning the man forward, we galloped to the bottom of the hill, crossed the bridge, and turned our horses loose, merely throwing the reins over their heads. The stranger had kept his lead, and a moment later thundered across the bridge and dismounted, all panting and exhausted. I sprang to the middle of the bridge, ...

42 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2015