were found crouching close under the parapet, where
the balls would go over their heads. The poor
fellows could not fight without support, and feared to
run away. They were taken into the fort. Among
the party that came out to repair the abatis was
Captain du Plessis. To him the wounded Donop called
out: “Whoever you may be, take me from here.” Du
Plessis had the colonel carried into the fort. As he
was brought in, some of the American soldiers, “either
not knowing that his wound was mortal, or heated
with the battle, and still irritated by the threats made
to them a few hours before, could not help saying
aloud: ‘Well! is it settled that no quarter is to be
given?’ ‘I am in your hands,’ answered the colonel,
‘you can avenge yourselves?’ ” Du Plessis had no
difficulty in silencing the soldiers, and then gave all
his attention to the wounded man. “Sir,” said the
latter, “you appear to be a stranger; who are you?”
“A French officer,” answered du Plessis. “I am
content,” said Donop, in French, “I die in the arms
of honor.”
The Hessian colonel lived three days after the at- tack, and often conversed with du Plessis. He begged the latter to warn him when death should be near. Du Plessis complied with his request. “It is an early end to a fair career,” said Donop, “but I die the victim of my ambition and of the avarice of my sovereign.”[1]
The number of Hessians killed, wounded, and taken
- ↑ Chastellux, vol. i. p. 223: Eelking denies the authenticity of the last part of the dying words attributed to Donop, on the authority of his inner consciousness. They are taken from the narrative of Chastellux, who visited Redbank with du Plessis, three or four years after the attack.
