WE WERE THERE WHEN WASHINGTON WON AT YORKTOWN

In the pattern of earlier books of this series, great events here depend on the wits of youthful heroes. Fifteen year old Jed Barnes lived near Williamsburg, Va. Cornwallis and his redcoats were in the area. Jed became a guide for the Pennsylvania patriots, then won attention from Mad Anthony Wayne for his part in capturing British pickets. Posted as spy in the pose of a dim-witted stable boy, Jed stumbles on important information and delivers his message to General Lafayette. Dispatched with a letter to Washington at Dobb's Ferry, Jed participates in the battle of Green Springs, then is intercepted by Redcoats. He is sheltered in a haystack by Nell Runyon and successfully completes his mission. When Washington sends a verbal message to Virginia Jed brings Nell, an orphan, back to live with his family and they witness the defeat of Cornwallis. This method of presentation of history is inevitably distorted, for the fate of history seems to rest on fictional characters. The level of narration is sometimes sluggish, sometimes confusing. The type is large and the illustrations by Herman B. Vestal are noteworthy. His draughtmanship and use of authentic detail in costumes and background add greatly to a rather weak text.