WEN: 2260EE
Exhibitor Name: Jeshua Wickham
Division: Creative Writing--
Class: 04 Short Stories (
The red-coated ranks fell into line and the column marched on once more, leaving the dead to lie in the ditch beside the road. Back at the camp the Americans rejoiced at their success. They had captured some valuable supplies that would help sustain their camp in the swamp, and they had inflicted one more small blow to British pride and morale. Henry and Randall were now serving under General Nathaneal Greene, who was in charge of the troops in the southern colonies. It was the summer of 1781. Having undergone the training at Valley Forge under Baron Von Stuben, the army was now in much better condition. The boy’s regiment took part in the battle of Monmouth on June 28th, 1780, and they underwent another winter. Now, this summer they were transferred to General Nathanael Greene’s division of the army. Under Greene’s command they became skilled in the lore of swamp and forest fighting. The recent attack was one of many raids they had performed on the British that summer. The man in command of the attack called Henry to him. The lightest and fastest of the men, Henry was usually chosen to be the runner for the group. “Sanders, I want you to take a message to the General. Tell him the expedition was successful, give him a list of the supplies we obtained, and tell him we humbly await further orders.” “Yes sir,” “And Sanders,” “Sir?” “Be careful. Don’t run into the Redcoats.” Henry set off briskly through the forest towards the General’s camp, a few miles distant. Arriving safely, he reported to the General the details of the expedition. “What direction did you say they were heading, young man?” “Northwest, sir, along the Breton road.” “Hmmm, they are probably heading towards the town. There is another large body of troops there. Well, you may tell the lieutenant that I want him to bring his men to the meeting place by the ring of oaks, at five tomorrow morning. I am sending another body of men under Kennedy to meet him. Now, I want you to remember these orders carefully. I do not write them down for fear they could fall into the wrong hands.” After outlining the directions for the attack, he continued, “I myself will lead the rest of the men towards Breton and make a quick blow to the British there. Remember,
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