24 A COUNCIL OF WAR AT FORT RICHMOND. 



observations, necessary for tlie movement of tlieir own troops, or to 

 discover what they ever expected — an attack. 



On the evening to which we have referred the shrill notes of a bugle 

 broke the deep silence, and hastily called to arms every man at the 

 post. The well-drilled troops stood in exact lines ; the infantry with 

 their polished pieces at "present," and the artillerymen with their 

 sabre-points near the ground, all glistening in the light of the flick- 

 ering camp-fire. The rumble of hoofs and the clinking of swords 

 and spurs were vividly heard along the narrow roadway leading from 

 the village to the fort. The sounds grew nearer to the hill-top, and 

 presently a group of mounted men could be discerned approaching. 

 Slightly in advance, sitting gracefully on a handsome white charger, 

 perfectly at ease, was an officer wearing the British uniform. His 

 breast was lavishly decorated with medals. As the rider drew the 

 reins gently the horse curved his neck and stopped. Two or three 

 companions rode up to the officer and halted. There was a brief 

 conference. 



"Who is he?" "What does all this mean'?" whispered the troops. 

 No one seemed to understand. Presently the commander of the 

 fort, in full dress, advanced and saluted the officer, who was still 

 sitting upon his horse, and invited the party to dismount and ac- 

 company him to headquarters (the stone house in the rear of the 

 fort, still standing). The officer of the guard and a detachment of 

 riflemen escorted the visitors to their destination, and there learned 

 who they were. The graceful rider of the white charger was Lord 

 Howe, while closest to him was the handsome Major Andre, at that 

 time acting as Adjutant-General of the British army. General Kuyp- 

 hausen, the Hessian commander, and an aide-de-camp dashed up the 

 hill and joined the party before reaching the old stone house. There 

 were also present Lord Cornwallis, General Kobertson, General 

 Skinner, Colonel Billopp, Lieutenant-Colonel Mockton, Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Simcoe, and a number of staff officers. 



It was a great event for Richmond Hill. The anxious, monoton- 

 ous life of the troops was suddenly changed, and their cheers echoed 

 through the woodlands and reverberated over the plains and mead- 

 ows stretching far away to the West. The whole world was looking 

 upon that group of distinguished men then gathered near the little 

 fort The fate of the struggling colonies depended perchance upon 



