. . AND BUSIED HERSELF WASHING, MENDING, AND COOKING FOR THE SOLDIERS, IN WHICH SHE WAS ASSISTED BY THE OTHER FEMALES. –PENSION APPLICATION OF SARAH OSBORN, WHO WORKED FOR HER HUSBAND’S UNIT, THE THIRD NEW YORK REGIMENT, AT YORKTOWN GENERAL WASHINGTON OPENED THE TRENCH. That is to say, he sank the first pickaxe into the ground. Normally, such a thing would have been done with banners waving and drums beating, but that would have drawn unwanted lobsterback attention. Thus, the general sank his pickaxe into the ground, bowed to a gentle applause, and stepped out of the way so the men could proceed with their task. We could not see this work, of course. We stayed at the company campfire to keep it blazing high. The lads would need something hot to drink and would want to warm themselves when their night’s work was done. Besides, it rained hard enough that we couldn’t have seen the digging if we’d stood ten paces away. The captain’s tent was close to the fire, but we would have broken ten kinds of rules had we stayed dry and warm in there.
