Will-o'-the-Wisp

# Will-o'-the-Wisp: The California Trooper By Frederick H. Dewey

This military romance depicts irregular guerrilla warfare during the Mexican-American War in California. The protagonist, Roland Haywood ("Will-o'-the-Wisp"), commands a twelve-man band of armed troopers dressed in matching green uniforms. Mounted on a chestnut horse and armed with saber, revolvers, and carbines, Haywood leads his men to surprise the rival Mexican guerrilla band of Marcos Alvarez sheltering at the San Rafael rancho.

The narrative reveals Haywood's dual motivations: military honor and romantic jealousy. He loves Senorita Isabella, daughter of the neutral rancho proprietor Jose Diaz, but Alvarez is her preferred suitor. When dogs alert the house and Alvarez defiantly refuses surrender, Haywood faces a dilemma: storming the building risks Isabella's safety and affection, yet retreating would damage his reputation. He orders five men to assault the front door while others contain the house, abandoning stealth for direct assault.