The Dare Boys with General Greene

by Stephen Angus Douglas Cox

There was considerable noise and excitement at the fort. Lights showed in the upper room of the fort, and presently the gate opened and it was evident that some soldiers had come forth, with the intention of pursuing the fugitive.

“I guess we had better go in the direction of the patriot encampment, Tom,” decided Dick. “Those redcoats will be here in a few minutes, and it will be best for us to be somewhere else.”

They made their way through the forest, and told their stories as they went. By the time they had finished relating their remarkable experiences they were at the encampment, and Tom accompanied Dick to the headquarters tent, for he had a better knowledge regarding the interior of the fort than Dick. He had been in all the rooms when he was supposed to be a member of the British force, and the information he gave about the building was received with pleasure by General Greene.

Then, having given all the information in their possession, Dick and Tom, went to their quarters, where Tom was given a cordial greeting by his comrades.

Next morning General Greene called a council of war. When the officers were all in the tent, the general told them that he had made up his mind to begin the attack that morning, if the idea met with the approval of the officers.

There was not much discussion, for the members of the staff were all eager to advance on Fort Ninety-Six and attack the fort. As soon as it had been decided as to the details, the soldiers broke camp and advanced slowly, dragging the field-pieces with them.

When they reached the edge of the wood, they halted and planted the field-pieces for effective use and began firing on the fort.

The little six-pound balls did not make much impression on the heavy logs, however, and it seemed doubtful if they would damage the stockade-walls very much.

This firing was kept up pretty steadily, but did not have much effect, and it was decided to wait till nightfall, and try to set fire to the fort.

Slowly the hours rolled away, and when evening came, the soldiers began gathering dry wood, with the intention of carrying it and placing it against the wall, and then when it was set on fire, there would be a big blaze, by the light of which redcoats could be shot if they attempted to put out the fire.