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  CHAPTER VII.

  DUNWOODIE'S TRAP AND THE RECAPTURE OF CAPTAIN WHARTON.

  During this conversation, which was held at a small distance inadvance of the British column, and in full view of the Americans,Dunwoodie had been collecting his scattered troops, securing his fewprisoners, and retiring to the ground where he had been posted at thefirst appearance of his enemy.

  Captain Lawton suddenly exclaimed: "How's this! a blue coat amongthose scarlet gentry? As I hope to live to see old Virginia, it is mymasquerading friend of the 60th, the handsome Captain Wharton,escaping from two of my best men!"

  He had not done speaking when the survivor of these heroes joined histroop, bringing with him his own horse and those of the Cow-Boys; hereported the death of his comrade, and the escape of his prisoner.

  This intelligence made an entire change in the views of MajorDunwoodie. He saw at once that his own reputation was involved in theescape of the prisoner, and he now joined with Lawton, watching for anopening to assail his foe to advantage.

  "There," cried the delighted captain, as he pointed out the movementof Wellmere crossing the brook into the open plain; "there comes JohnBull into the mousetrap, and with his eyes wide open."

  "Surely," said Dunwoodie, eagerly, "he will not display his column onthat flat. Wharton must tell him of the ambush. But if he does----"

  "We will not leave him a dozen sound skins in his battalion,"interrupted the other, springing into his saddle.

  The truth was soon apparent; for the English column, after advancingfor a short distance on the level land, displayed with an accuracythat would have done them honor on a field-day in their own HydePark.[56]

  [Footnote 56: a noted park in London.]

  "Prepare to mount--mount!" cried Dunwoodie.

  As the British line advanced slowly and in exact order, the guidesopened a galling fire. It began to annoy that part of the royal troopswhich was nearest to them. Wellmere listened to the advice of theveteran who was next to him in rank, and ordered two companies todislodge the American foot from their hiding-place. The movementcreated a slight confusion, and Dunwoodie seized the opportunity tocharge. No ground could be more favorable for the manoeuvres[57] ofhorse, and the attack of the Virginian was irresistible. It was aimedchiefly at the bank opposite the wood, in order to clear the Americansfrom the fire of their friends who were concealed; and it wascompletely successful. Wellmere, who was on the left of the line, wasoverthrown by the impetuous[58] fury of his assailants. Dunwoodie wasin time to save him from the impending blow of one of his men, andraised him from the ground, had him placed on a horse, and deliveredto the custody of his orderly.

  [Footnote 57: changes in position.]

  [Footnote 58: violent; fierce.]

  The left of the British line was outflanked by the Americans, whodoubled in their rear, and thus made the rout in that quarter total.Henry Wharton, who had volunteered to assist in dispersing the guides,was struck on his bridle-arm by a ball, which compelled him to changehands. His charger became ungovernable, and his rider, being unablewith his wounded arm to manage the impatient animal, Henry Whartonfound himself, in less than a minute, unwillingly riding by the sideof Captain Lawton. The dragoon comprehended at a glance the ludicroussituation of his new comrade, but he had only time to cry aloud beforethey plunged into the English line:

  "The horse knows the righteous cause better than his rider. CaptainWharton, you are welcome to the ranks of freedom."

  No time was lost, however, by Lawton, after the charge was completed,in securing his prisoner again; and perceiving him to be hurt, hedirected him to be conveyed to the rear.

  Captain Lawton called to a youth, who commanded the other troop, andproposed charging the unbroken line of the British. The propositionwas as promptly accepted as it had been made, and the troops werearrayed for the purpose. The eagerness of their leader prevented thepreparations necessary to insure success, and the horse, receiving adestructive fire as they advanced, were thrown into additionalconfusion. Both Lawton and his more juvenile comrade fell at thisdischarge. Fortunately for the credit of the Virginians, MajorDunwoodie reentered the field at this critical instant. The eye of theyouthful warrior flashed fire. At his feet lay Captain Singleton andCaptain Lawton. Riding between his squadron and the enemy, in a voicethat reached the hearts of his dragoons, he recalled them to theirduty. His presence and words acted like magic. The line was formedpromptly and with exactitude; the charge sounded; and, led on by theircommander, the Virginians swept across the plain with an impetuositythat nothing could withstand, and the field was instantly cleared ofthe enemy; those who were not destroyed sought a shelter in the woods.Dunwoodie slowly withdrew from the fire of the English, who werecovered by the trees, and commenced the painful duty of collecting thedead and wounded.

  The guides took charge of Wharton, and, with a heavy heart, the youngman retraced his steps to his father's cottage.

  The English had lost in the several charges about one-third of theirfoot, but the remainder were rallied in the wood; and Dunwoodie,perceiving them to be too strongly posted to assail, had left a strongparty with Captain Lawton, with orders to watch their motions, and toseize every opportunity to harass them before they reembarked.

  Intelligence had reached the major of another party being out by wayof the Hudson, and his duty required that he should hold himself inreadiness to defeat the intentions of these also. Captain Lawtonreceived his orders with strong injunctions to make no assault on thefoe, unless a favorable chance should offer.

  The injury received by this officer was in the head, being stunned bya glancing bullet; and parting with a laughing declaration from themajor, that if he again forgot himself, they should all think him morematerially hurt, each took his own course.

  It became incumbent on Dunwoodie to arrange the disposal of hisprisoners. Sitgreaves he determined to leave in the cottage of Mr.Wharton, in attendance on Captain Singleton. Henry came to him with arequest that Colonel Wellmere might also be left behind, under hisparole. To this the major cheerfully assented.

  Captain Wharton voluntarily gave a pledge to his keepers not toattempt to escape, and then proceeded to execute those duties, onbehalf of his father, which were thought necessary in a host.

  His duty to the wounded performed, Dunwoodie proceeded to the fieldwhere his troops had halted. The remnant of the English were alreadyseen, over the tops of the trees, marching along the heights towardstheir boats, in compact order and with great watchfulness.

  The party under Lawton had watched the retiring foe to his boats withthe most unremitting vigilance, without finding any fit opening for acharge. The dragoons lingered on the shore till the last moment, andthen they reluctantly commenced their own retreat back to the mainbody of the corps, which had retired to a small hamlet a shortdistance above the Locusts, where several roads intersected eachother. This was a favorite halting place of the horse, and frequentlyheld by light parties of the American army, during their excursionsbelow.