Billy Green Saves the Day by Ben Guyatt Read Free Book Online Page A

could stop him.
    The tail end of the American column struggled to march in the sloppy muck. Soldiers fought to lift their legs with each step as the foot-deep mud sucked their boots off. Several men slipped and fell head first into the sludge, but nobody laughed as the searing sun drained everyone’s energy.
    At the rear soldiers tried to heave a string of artillery and wagons trapped in the mud. Another group strained to lug heavy tree trunks strewn across the path as Chandler and Winder watched atop their horses.
    â€œYou’re all unfit to wear the uniform of the United States Army!” Winder shouted.
    â€œThat will be enough!” Chandler snapped, wiping his sweaty face with a forearm.
    â€œIf our men can’t even remove the enemy’s barricades in retreat, how will they fight when we find them?”
    â€œI don’t think our soldiers’ abilities are in question, but perhaps yours are.” Chandler turned to a nearby brigade grappling with a huge tree trunk. “Good work, gentlemen!”
    One soldier laboured to pry a wagon wheel from the ooze, but suddenly noticed something far off. He squinted to see better and then a look of terror disfigured his face. Before he could say anything an arrow sliced through his chest, causing him to step back awkwardly and fall dead. The other troops immediately dropped what they were doing and scrambled to take up arms and fire blindly in all directions.
    At the top of a hill John Norton signalled his band of Indians to fire their muskets continuously while others launched arrows. Several American soldiers were instantly killed as the wounded shrieked in agony trying to remove lethal missiles from their limbs.
    Chandler’s and Winder’s horses bucked at the cacophony as both fought to maintain their mounts. “I suggest we send our sharpshooters!” Winder cried.
    â€œNo!” Chandler said. “We can’t spare anyone. Besides, the Indians are too experienced in guerrilla warfare.”
    â€œThey’ve harassed us ever since we left Fort George! Do something !”
    â€œI’m in command, Mr. Winder. We’re going to need all the manpower we can get to fight at Burlington Heights. Take the point.”
    Winder spat and rode off. “Incompetent idiot! He’s going to get us all killed!”
    At the base of the escarpment, hidden by the dense brush, Billy and Levi watched as the last of the American line marched off.
    â€œWe have to warn everybody,” Billy whispered.
    â€œLet’s have a little fun first,” Levi suggested, picking up a stick.
    â€œWhat?” Billy asked, but Levi was already gone. Billy focused on a lone infantryman sitting on a log. The soldier removed his boot and winced at the sight of an open blister on his foot. He wrapped the injury with a piece of cloth just as Levi stealthily came up behind him and whacked him across the backside. The soldier let out a loud yelp before falling face first into the mud as Levi vanished into the woodland.
    At the vanguard of the American forces the Indian assault was finished. Winder surveyed the dozens of casualties as the able-bodied began digging graves and provided medical aid. One frightened teenage soldier knelt beside a tree with his head in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably.
    Winder dismounted and dragged the youngster to his feet before slamming him against a tree. “Pull yourself together, man! The callow soldier wept even harder as Winder angrily drew his pistol. “Coward! Stop it!”
    The soldier slowly raised a trembling hand and pointed at a deceased infantryman, the body still standing, arrows pinning it to a wagon. The crying soldier sank into Winder’s arms. “He’s my brother.”
    Winder’s face softened as he held the boy tightly. “It’s okay, son. You’re going to fight and avenge your brother’s death.”
    â€œI ... I can’t ... go on, sir.”
    â€œGet on