"They are all coming this way, your honor."
"Who are coming, my little man?" inquired General Knox.
"Why, our boys, your honor; our boys, and the British right after them," answered the fifer.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Washington, and put spurs to his horse.
Sure enough, he soon met General Lee's advance in full retreat.
"What is the meaning of all this, sir?" he called out to General Lee.
The latter was dumbfounded, and made no reply.
"I demand, sir, to know the reason of this retreat," shouted Washington in a tone of anger.
"By my own order," answered Lee, vexed by the commander's sharp address.
"Go to the rear, you cowardly poltroon!" shouted Washington, thoroughly aroused and indignant over the conduct of the officer.