“A feller with ornary jedgment mought reach that ar conclusion with half the experience,” remarked a lank old rifleman, whose peculiar gait had given him the name of “Lopin’ Luther.” Nevertheless, the compliment greatly pleased the Rangers. It could not, however, remedy the injustice done Morgan and his corps by Gates in not making favourable mention of them because the “old wagoner” so sturdily refused to participate in Gates’ scheme to supplant Washington.
“Nawthin’ ter do but keep at it; sun’ll be shinin’ bimeby,” was the terse comment of one of the Rangers, and his was the philosophy which prevailed.
Rodney thought of the Indian saying: “My foot is on the path and the word is onward,” when, on the first of November, orders came to join Washington’s army.
“Now we’ll be under a general as will play fair,” was the way one rifleman expressed the general sentiment, 240 and they set out on their journey, war-worn and ragged and weary with the arduous campaigning of the previous months.
As they marched away, one of the number sang to improvised music those stirring words written by the Reverend Timothy Dwight, one of the army chaplains:
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“Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise, The queen of the world, and the child of the skies.” |
Sorry looking Rangers were they when they arrived at Washington’s headquarters; shoes worn out, clothes in tatters. There they found a dwindling army. The battles of the Brandywine and Germantown had been fought in their absence, and the British were in Philadelphia, planning for a hilarious winter. What remained of the American army must exist outside in the cold of a bitter winter and do what they might to keep the enemy where it was and cut off its supplies whenever possible. Those of the Rangers who had suitable clothing were immediately assigned to duty. At Gloucester Point they bore themselves so creditably that Lafayette said of them: “I never saw men so merry, so spirited and so desirous to go on to the enemy....”
Later, at Chestnut Hill, their unerring rifles did such execution that Howe’s soldiers bore a sorry burden back to Philadelphia. There were sad gaps, as well, in the ranks of the Rangers, and among those fatally wounded was the gallant Morris who had charged the line at Bemis Heights.
As usual, the Rangers were assigned to outpost duty and scouting. Owing to need of secrecy, many a bitter winter night was passed by Rangers in this work without a camp-fire. These were wretched weeks for Rodney Allison; and there were moments when they seemed worse than the days of his captivity among the Indians. Then he would be reminded that Morgan’s men were noted as well for endurance and fortitude as for courage and skill. It should not be said that the son of David Allison flinched or shirked a duty!