CHAPTER XV.
As they expected to make their stay upon the island but short, andwished to see every interesting spot, all were up and about early thenext morning.
Naturally the history of the State, and particularly of the islandupon which they were, was the principal topic of conversation at thebreakfast table. Walter began it.
"If my memory serves me right, it was somewhere about here that GeneralNathaniel Greene had his quarters in 1778."
"Yes," replied Captain Raymond, "on a farm owned by Colonel Richard K.Randolph."
"Why, I thought Greene's fighting was done in other parts of thecountry!" said Rosie.
"Most of it was," replied the captain, "but being a Rhode Island man hedesired to take a part in the attack on the British, who had possessionof Newport at that time. But I think you all know the story--thefailure of the French troops to take the part expected of them, and todo the damage to the British vessels coming in from New York which theyessayed to do; then the great storm which damaged the vessels, both ofthe French and English; and, soon after, the sailing of the French forBoston, leaving the Americans to meet the British alone.
"Then the battle was fought on Quaker Hill, after which, though notdefeated, the Americans, hearing of the approach of Howe with largereinforcements for the British, retreated from the island to themainland, in good order and without the loss of a man."
"Did the British go away too, papa?" asked Elsie.
"Not till the fall of the next year," he replied. "They had done a vastamount of mischief, and desolated the island; they had cut down thegroves of forest trees and many of the orchards, for fuel and militarypurposes; they had torn up the meadows, destroyed gardens and ruinedfarms. So hard had they made life upon the island that many, it is saidmore than half the people, had left the island; wharves were deserted,commerce was destroyed, and trade abandoned. In December of 1778, thelast winter that they were there, there was a fearful storm--a heavyfall of snow and cold so intense that many of the Hessians perished,frozen to death. Accounts say that more than fifty people, mostlysoldiers, lost their lives on that fearful night, and it was longknown as the Hessian storm. The poor fellows suffered very much thatwinter, for, after a little, rations were cut down to one-half ofbread, made of rice and oatmeal mixed, the other half of rice. Andfuel was so scarce that they must have suffered much from the cold; tosupply it old houses were destroyed, old wharves torn to pieces. Oldempty houses were used as barracks, and troops were quartered upon thepeople still living in others. The State-house was used as a hospitaland some of the churches were turned into riding-schools.
"General Prescott had his quarters in the Bannister House, and it issaid that his spacious sidewalk in front was made of stepstones takenfrom private houses, and the whole of the south flight of steps fromthose belonging to the State-house."
"I don't see in what respect he was any better than a thief and arobber!" cried Lucilla indignantly.
"No, nor do I," said her father; "but we must remember that some of theBritish officers were a very different kind of men and would not haveat all approved of his doings. Prescott, as we all know, was a greatcoward, and cowardice and cruelty are apt to go together."
"Our Washington was very, very brave and never at all cruel," remarkedlittle Elsie. "Papa, was he ever here?"
"He was in Newport more than once. His last visit was paid while hewas President of these United States in August, 1790. He was escortedto the Brenton House, the principal hotel of the place; a dinner wasgiven him in the representative chamber of the State-house, at whichthirteen regular toasts were drunk, Washington giving one--'The townof Newport.' He left before the rest of the company, and then JudgeMarchant gave the toast, 'The man we love.'"
"Oh, I like that!" said the little girl, her eyes sparkling. "I thinkeverybody must love Washington--everybody but the British."
"And even some of the British have admired him very much," said herfather, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"And given him high praise," added Walter. "I for one am proud of beinghis countryman."
All had now finished their breakfast, and leaving the table theyrepaired to the adjoining cottage, exchanged greetings with itsoccupants, then together they held their morning service, after whichthey arranged their plans for the day.
"As this is Saturday and I leave for Princeton on Tuesday next, I haveonly to-day and Monday for looking about and seeing places of interestin this neighborhood," remarked Walter.
"How and where do you want to go?" asked Mr. Embury.
"Down to the beaches, to all the places connected with the doings ofBishop Berkeley and the Revolution, all about Paradise Valley, and--tolook at Purgatory; but not to get into it," replied the lad, concludingwith a slight laugh.
"Do you want company or prefer to go alone?" was the next query, towhich Walter replied, "I can go alone, I suppose, but I should prefergood company if it is to be had."
"Would mine answer that description?"
"Yes, indeed, sir! but, I daresay, you have seen all the places alreadyand perhaps might be only bored by being asked to repeat your visit."
"Quite a mistake, my young friend; they are worth looking at time andagain."
"I should think so," remarked the captain. "Suppose we make up a partyof such of our members as would enjoy a pretty long stroll, go downthrough this valley to the beach yonder, visit Purgatory Rocks and asmany other of the places of interest as we may feel inclined to seeto-day and have time and strength to visit."
"I approve of your plan," said Molly. "I was thinking it wouldbe best to defer our intended visit to that dear old lady in theRevolutionary house till Monday, as Saturday is apt to be a busy onewith housekeepers."
"Yes," said Mrs. Dinsmore, "I think it will be quite enough to venturean intrusion upon her at the most convenient time for her that we canselect."
"A real favor for her to permit it at any time," added Grandma Elsie.
They were gathered on the porch. Captain Raymond now rose and lookingdown toward the water said, "Ah, yonder is the _Dolphin_; according tomy order of yesterday she has been brought here to afford a sail alongthe coast of the island to any who may desire it."
"Oh, how good and kind in you, captain!" exclaimed Mrs. Keith. "I forone should be delighted to go."
"All can sail who wish," said the captain. "The _Dolphin_ has dayaccommodations for even a larger company than this, and of course weshall return long before night."
As he concluded, he looked at Mrs. Dinsmore as if expecting her tospeak first, and as she was the eldest lady in the company she did so,saying: "I for one have been so long on the water that I feel a stronginclination to stroll down to the beach; though I have no doubt thatthe sail will be very enjoyable."
"How would it do to take the stroll to the nearest point to where theyacht is lying, and then continue your walk, or go aboard the vessel,as you feel inclined?" asked the captain.
"Oh, nicely! I think," she returned; "especially if some of the otherswould like to join me in so doing."
"I should," "And I," "And I," cried several voices, one of them beingGrandma Elsie's, and another Violet's; while at the same time nearlyevery one of the children was asking permission to go along.
"Yes, yes! let them all go," said the captain.
"A walk to the beach down yonder will not be too long for any one ofthem, I think, and when we get there each one of our party can decidewhether to continue the stroll or board the yacht."