At midnight a horseman was galloping up to Washington's headquarters, when the sentinel challenged him.
"Doctor Griffith, chaplain and surgeon in the Virginia line, on business highly important with the commander-in-chief."
"Officer of the guard!" cried the sentinel. That officer appeared. Doctor Griffith repeated his errand.
"Impossible; my orders are positive," replied the guard.
"But I must," persisted the doctor.
"You cannot," repeated the guard. "The commander-in-chief is intensely engaged."
"Present, sir, my humble duty to his excellency, and say that Dr. Griffith waits upon him with secret and important intelligence, and craves an audience of only five minutes duration."
He was soon ushered into Washington's presence.
"The nature of the communication I am about to make to your excellency must be my apology for disturbing you at this hour of the night," observed the doctor. "While I am not permitted to divulge the names of the authorities from which I have obtained my information, I can assure you they are of the very first order, whether in point of character or attachment to the cause of American independence. I have sought this interview to warn your excellency against the conduct of Major-General Lee in to-morrow's battle. My duty is fulfilled, and I go now to pray to the God of battles for success to our arms, and that He may always have your excellency in His holy keeping."
Doctor Griffith retired, and the battle of Monmouth was fought on the next day. Washington, with his aides, was approaching the scene of action, when he met a little fifer boy who archly observed: