and opened a brisk fire from the windows on his pursuers as they leaped forward out of the fog. For a moment the Americans hesitated. The gallant officer and his men were completely surrounded and could not possibly escape, so a young Virginian lieutenant was sent forward with a white flag to demand their immediate surrender. Doubtless they did not see his handkerchief, or bit of white rag, in the misty light, and before he came within hailing distance a musket in one of the upper windows flashed and the officer fell dead, clutching his flag of truce.

From that instant the fate of the whole enterprise was practically sealed, for Wayne's division, instead of leaving the building under a sufficient guard and pressing forward according to Washington's plan, determined to avenge what was regarded as the wanton murder of their comrade, and bringing up cannon they proceeded to batter the house to pieces. But the old dwelling was strongly constructed and the cannon balls made but little impression on its stone walls. Efforts were then made to set it on fire and carry it by assault, but Colonel Musgrave and his men, realizing the temper of their assailants and the strength of their own position, heroically determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and the Americans who stepped out of the fog bank and within range of their muskets courted death.

Solid shot crashed through the windows and tore the doors apart; plaster and bricks flew up in dust; chimneys toppled, and the barricades of furniture were blown to splinters, but though rush after rush was made to take advantage of these openings, only one man reached the windows alive. Indeed, no less than fifty-seven Americans fell under the deadly fire that spurted from every loophole in the improvised fortress, and every victim increased the assailants' rage. The roar of this mimic battle was, of course, heard by the other parts of the Continental army, and before long several battalions, a brigade, and a whole division

Engraved by G. Ulman from Original Drawing by C. Schuessele.

ATTACKING THE CHEW MANSION IN THE BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN

were hurriedly groping their way toward what they supposed to be the main field of action, each screened from the other by the fog.

Up to this moment success was far from impossible, for some of the divisions had already fallen upon the British and were driving them with considerable confusion back upon their supports. Indeed, a little pressure would have undoubtedly started the panic upon which Washington had counted, but the bombardment of the Chew Mansion delayed Wayne's troops, and before this could be corrected two of the brigades which were moving toward the sound of the cannonading got directly behind Wayne's division, and mistaking them for the enemy, fired point-blank into their ranks, and believing they were being attacked from the rear, Colonel Musgrave's besiegers began a retreat.

Meanwhile the other divisions, finding themselves without support, gave way before the re-enforcements which the British hurried from Philadelphia and something very like a panic struck the entire American force. For a time it seemed as though the day which had begun with such brilliant prospects would end in utter disaster, but Washington, ably seconded by Greene, soon got control of the fugitives, and when Howe started to pursue he found the Americans so skilfully posted that he retired, well satisfied with having saved his army.

Washington thereupon withdrew his troops in good order, having lost about a thousand men, of which four hundred were taken prisoners, but having inflicted such a blow on the enemy that all thought of rescuing Burgoyne was abandoned.

On the Trail of Washington, Frederick Trevor Hill, p. 163.

"You Will Fire upon Your Own People!"

Six companies of the fortieth regiment, under their lieutenant-colonel, being hard pressed by the advancing colunins of Americans, threw themselves into Chew's

house, a strongly constructed stone building, and barricading the lower windows, opened a destructive fire from the cellars and upper windows. The Americans, finding their musketry made no impression, were in the act of dragging up their cannon to batter the walls, when a ruse ' de guerre was attempted, which, however, failed of success. An officer galloped up from the house, and cried out, “What are you about; you will fire upon your own people.' The artillery opened, but, after fifteen or twenty rounds, the pieces were found to be of too small caliber to make a serious impression, and were withdrawn.

A most daring and chivalric attempt was now made to fire the building. Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens, aide-decamp to the commander-in-chief, with a few volunteers, rushed up to the house under cover of the smoke, and applied a burning brand to the principal door, at the same time engaging passes with his sword with the enemy on the inside. By almost a miracle, this gallant and accomplished officer escaped unharmed, although his clothes were repeatedly torn by the enemy's shot. Another and equally daring attempt was made by Major White, aide-de-camp to General Sullivan, but without as fortunate a result. The major, while in the act of firing one of the cellar windows, was mortally wounded, and died soon afterward.

Recollections of Washington, by His Adopted Son, George Washington Parke Custis, p. 198.

Holding up Their Empty Cartridge Boxes

At this period of the action the fog had become so dense that objects could scarcely be distinguished at a few yards' distance. The Americans had penetrated the enemy's camp even to their second line, which was drawn up to receive them about the centre of Germantown. The ammunition of the right wing, including the Maryland brigades, became exhausted, the soldiers holding up their empty cartridge boxes, when their officers called on them