P109
A RARE ACT OF PUBLIC MUNIFICENCE
We give below an anecdote of Robert Morris, as related by Judge Peters, showing the style
in which this benevolent individual bestowed unbounded favors on our country, when, in the hour
of need, she was most in want of necessaries on which the fate of the contest would depend.
We give it in exactly his own language.
"In 1779, or 1780, two of the most distressful years of the war, General Washington wrote to me a most alarming account of the prostrate condition of the military stores, and enjoining my immediate exertions to supply deficiencies. There were no musket cartridges but those in the men's boxes, and they were wet; of course, if attacked, a retreat or a rout was inevitable. We (the board of war) had exhausted all the lead accessible to us, having caused even the spouts of houses to melted, and had offered, abortively, the equivalent in paper of two shillings specie for lead.
"I went, in the evening of the same day in which I received this letter, to a splendid entertainment given by Don Mirailles, the Spanish minister. My heart was sad, but I had the faculty of brightening my countenance even under gloomy disasters, yet it seems then not sufficiently adroitly. Mr. Morris. who was one of the guests, and knew me well, discovered some casual traits of depression. He accosted me in his usual blunt and disengaged manner -'I see some clouds passing across the sunny countenance you assume -what is the matter?' After some hesitation I showed him the general's letter, which I brought from the office with the intention of placing it at home in a private cabinet. He played with my anxiety, which he did not relieve for some time.
"At length, however, with great and sincere delight, he called me aside, and told me that the 'Holken' privateer had just arrived at his wharf, with ninety tons of lead, which she had brought as ballast. It had been landed at Martinique, and stone ballast had supplied its place, but this had been put on shore, and the lead again taken in. 'You shall have my half of this fortunate supply; there are the owners of the other half,' (indicating gentlemen in the apartments.) 'Yes, but I am already under heavy personal engagements, as guarantee for the department, to those and other gentlemen.'
"'Well,' rejoined Mr. Morris, 'they will take your assumption with my guarantee.' I instantly, on these terms, secured the lead, left the entertainment, sent for the proper officers, and set more than one hundred people at work during the night. Before morning a supply of cartridges was ready and sent off to the army."
P111
COURAGEOUS YOUNG WOMAN
At the attack on the Middle Fort, at Schoharie, by the British and Indians, on the 17th of October, 1780, an interesting young woman, perceiving, as she thought, symptoms of fear in a soldier, who had been ordered to a well, (without the works, and within range of the enemy's fire,) for water, snatched the bucket from his hands and ran for it herself. Without changing color, or giving the slightest evidence of fear, she drew, and brought pail after pail to the thirsty soldiers, and wonderful to relate, she escaped without receiving one single injury.
P112
GOVERNOR CLINTON
At the conclusion of the struggle for independence, virulence against the tories was the order of the day, and once a British officer was placed on a cart, in the city of New York, to be tarred and feathered. This was the signal for violence and assassination. Governor Clinton, at this moment rushed in with a drawn sword, and rescued the victim at the risk of his life.
P112
REMARKABLE INCIDENT
A very singular occurrence took place at the siege of Augusta. Two outlaws, distinguished by the enormity of their offences, were taken and condemned to die. Every soldier in the army shrunk from the office of hangman. It was at length determined that one deemed least guilty should be pardoned, provided he would act as executioner of the other. The terms were accepted, and the most atrocious culprit turned off. He who was pardoned had little time for triumph, for his part was just performed, before a four pound shot from the enemy's battery struck him on the breast, and laid him dead by the side of the man whom he had just hung.
P113
THE TABLES TURNED
In August, 1775, General Gage sent two armed schooners from Boston to Machias, with cash, to buy live-stock, and gave orders to take the stock by force, if the inhabitants would not sell it. They did refuse; --the crews of the schooners then attempted to take off the stock by force, upon which the inhabitants rose, made all the men prisoner, seized on the schooners and cash, and shared about 5 lbs. Sterling a man.
P113
GALLANTRY OF THE GLOUCESTER MILITIA
On the 9th of August, 1775, the British sloop of war Falcon, Captain Linzee, hove in sight off Gloucester, Massachusetts, in quest of two schooners from the West Indies, bound to Salem, one of which he soon brought to; the other taking advantage of a fair wind, put into Gloucester. Linzee having made a prize of the first, pursued the second into the harbor, bringing his prize along with him.
He anchored, and sent two barges with fifteen men in each, armed with muskets and swivels, and attended by a whale-boat, in which was a lieutenant and six privates, with orders to seize the other schooner and bring her under the Falcon's bow. The militia and other inhabitants, indignant at this daring attempt, prepared for a vigorous resistance: --The bargemen under the command of the lieutenant boarded the schooner at the cabin windows, which provoked a smart fire from the people on shore, by which three of the enemy were killed, and the lieutenant wounded in the thigh, who thereupon returned to the sloop of war.
Linzee then sent the other schooner and a cutter he had to attend him, well armed, with orders to fire on the "damn'd rebels" whenever they could see them, and then he would in the mean while cannonade the town; he immediately fired a broadside into the thickest settlements; and looking with diabolical pleasure to see what havoc his cannon might make =='Now,' said he, 'my boys we will aim at the damn'd Presbyterian Church. Well done, my brave fellows; one shot more and the house of God will fall before you.'
Not a ball struck or wounded a single individual, although they went through the houses in almost every direction filled with women and children. The small party on the water-side performed wonders, for they soon made themselves masters of both the schooners, the cutter, the two barges, the boat and every man in them. In the action, which lasted several hours, the Americans had but one killed, and two wounded; of the British, thirty-five were taken prisoners, and several wounded. The next day the Falcon warped off, with the loss of half of her crew, as well as the loss of her prize, tender, and boats.
P115
HICKORY CLUBS
Baron de Glauebeek having signalized himself in many engagements after the battle of Guilford, General Greene recommended him to the Governor of North Carolina, and advised him to put the cavalry of that state under his command. The governor took the general's advice, and accordingly placed the baron at the head of the cavalry; but to his great astonishment, not a man among them had a sword; however, in order to supply the deficiency, he ordered every man to supply himself with a substantial hickory club, one end of which he caused to be mounted with a heavy piece of iron; then, to show an example to his men, he threw aside his sword, armed himself with one of these bludgeons and mounted his horse.
After giving his men the necessary instructions in wielding their clubs, he marched wit his whole body, consisting of three hundred towards Cornwallis's army, in order to reconnoitre his lines, where he arrived the same day, about one o'clock. Cornwallis was then retreating towards Wilmington, and his men being fatigued, had halted to take some refreshment. The baron having seized this favorable opportunity, charged two Hessian piquets, when he made prisoners; and routed three British regiments, to whose heads he applied the clubs so effectualy, that a considerable number were killed on the spot; and finally he retreated with upwards of sixty prisoners.
P116
COL. STARK AND THE CLERICAL SOLDIER
Just before night Stark met Colonel Baum, at the head of his Hessian, tories and Indians, on the branch of the river Hoosick. Stark's numbers were but little more than half those of Baum, having lessened them considerably by sending one party for arms, another for beef cattle, etc. However, he made the best show he could with the few men he had, by spreading them out in a single file, and by displaying the greatest number in the most sightly situations.
They both halted and looked at each other till dark; when Stark fell back to his encampment left in the morning, but kept patrols going all night by which he found that Baum was throwing up a breast-work. In the morning, Stark made his disposition for attacking Baum in front and rear; by sending two flanking parties, one on the right and the other on the left, to meet in his rear and begin the attack, while he should show him Yankee's play in front. Not many minutes after the two parties had marched, it began to rain violently, and they came back to the main body, and all returned again to their encampment.
In the course of the following night they received some reinforcements. The most remarkable of these was a minister from Berkshire, who appeared the temporal as well as spiritual leader of his people. Although they had a military commander, the minister had to be their organ. He came to the commanding officer, and addressed him in the following strain: "We, the people of Berkshire, have been frequently called on to fight, but have not been permitted. We have now resolved, if you will not let us fight, never to turn out again." The general asked him if he wished to go at that time, when it was dark and rained. "No." "Then," continued Stark, "if the Lord should give us sunshine again, if I do not give you fighting enough, I will never ask you to come again."
P118
SAGACITY AND COURAGE OF COL. STARK
After the evacuation of Boston, Stark went to the northern posts with Gen. Gates; but did not go into Canada, for he had opposed the expedition of Montgomery with all his reasoning powers. Gen. Gates and Col. Stark had long been upon the intimate terms of brothers; they commonly addressed each other by their given names --they had both been taught the art of war in the same school, and their mode of warfare was the same. Neither had been accustomed to defeat. The study of those plain men was to vanquish their enemies. A fine cocked hat, or a pretty coat, the soldier' strut, or an eloquent horse, bore little weight on their minds.
Stark was not less in the council the field.
In the fall of 1776, a small party of the British came up the lake before Ticonderoga to take soundings of the depth of the water. From the prospect of attack, Gates summoned a council of war. There were no officers who had been in actual service except Gates and Stark. Gates took Stark aside, and the following dialogue ensued:
Gates. "What do you think of it, John?"
Stark. "I think if they come, we must fight them."
Gates. "Pshaw, John! Tell me what your opinion is seriously."
Stark. "My opinion is, that they will not fire a shot against this place this season; but whoever is here next, must look out."
They returned to the council, and Gates told what Stark had said --that there would not be a shot fired against them at that time. This being the first doubt suggested of an immediate attack, it produced much surprise --many offered to lay bets of it. Stark gave his reasons, that it was so near the time of year when the lake would be frozen, that their survey of the lake could only be in preparation for another season --for they would never make an attack upon Ticonderoga at a time when, if successful, they could not immediately pursue the advantages of their victory. This proved to be the case.
Soon after this, Washington ordered Stark to join him in Pennsylvania; and about the time of his arrival, the former began to contemplate his attack on Trenton. On the 24th of December, 1776, he called a council. Stark was not present at the first of the meeting; but when he arrived, Washington informed him of the business of the council, viz. to take into consideration the best mode to be pursued under existing circumstances, Stark said --"Your men have long been accustomed to place dependence upon spades, pick-axes, and hoes for safety; but if you ever mean to establish the independence of the United States, you must teach them to put confidence in their firearms."
Washington answered =="That is what we have agreed upon; we are to march tomorrow for the attack of Trenton; you are to take command of the right wing of the advanced guard, and Gen. Green the left." Stark observed, he could not have been better suited. Here it may be proper to notice an event not generally understood, the particulars of which were related at the funeral of the deceased general, by a companion in areas then present. It is well known that just previous to this important action, the American army was on the point of being broken up by suffering, desertions, and the expiration of the term of enlistment of a great portion of the troops.
A few days previous, the term of the New Hampshire troops expired. Stark was the first to propose a re-engagement of six weeks. He, for the moment, left his station as commander, and engaged as recruiting officer; and not a man failed to re-engage. He led the van of the attack --and the result corresponded with the hopes of the nation. Seven days after he was with Washington at Trenton, when Lord Cornwallis with 12,000 men nearly hemmed them in. by consummate address the impending fate of the Americans was avoided --Washington fell on the enemy's rear at Princeton, and so broke up the British plans, that the enfeebled American army was enabled to turn to hem up the British in the environs of New York.
P121
HOW TO CHEAT A HIGHWAY ROBBER
After the enemy evacuated Philadelphia, Congress adjourned to meet there again the first of July. The delegates dispersed from Yorktown at different times and in different companies, at their convenience. Col. Bartlett set off with his servant only with him, there being a wood of considerable space through which they were obliged to pass. This wood was infested with a band of robbers, supposed to be about twenty in number, who plundered all that travelled through it.
At such times of violence, people who had been driven from their homes and occupations by the movements of contending armies, resorted to like violence upon the weary traveller, to obtain subsistence; or perhaps some renegade tories, who were then called "cowboys," might compose this band. When they had arrived at the tavern near the wood, and stopped to refresh themselves and horses, they were informed that it was dangerous to pas alone; that the robbers were very active about that time, and related an anecdote of the paymaster of the army, who took a large quantity of paper money from Yorktown a few weeks before to the army under Gen. Washington.
That gentleman was an officer in the army; he was alone, and on approaching the wood he earned the active spirit and supposed number of the robbers. Finding it would not be safe for him to attempt to pass in his present character, he put off his military uniform and every appearance of rank; took an old shabby-looking horse, saddle, bridle, and farmer's saddle-bags, in which he stowed his money, and also a Quaker hat and dress without any side-arms and set off on a country Quaker's jog.
When he had arrived at a certain part of the forest he was met by two of the band, who accosted him with the salutation of "stop--deliver" He saw others around at a distance in the woods; his presence of mind and equanimity were equal to the task, and assuming the Quaker air and seriousness, he told them he had not much money; but that if they had a better right to it than himself and family, they might take it; he then spoke of religious and moral duties, at the same time taking from his pocket a few small silver and copper pieces which he offered to them.
They were so completely deceived by this maoeuvre that one observed to the other, he was a 'poor Quaker, not worth robbing.' And they let him pass on without touching his money. He saluted them with a "farewell," and went on in his old jog, passing through, and carried his money safely to the army.
P123
ANECOTES OF SERGEANT JASPER
At the commencement of the revolutionary war, Sergeant Jasper enlisted in the second South Carolina regiment of infantry, commanded by Colonel Moultrie. He distinguished himself in a particular manner, at the attack which was made upon Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island on the 25th of June, 1776.
In the warmest part of the contest the flagstaff was severed by a cannon ball, and the flag fell to the bottom of the ditch on the outside of the works: this accident was considered by the anxious inhabitants of Charleston, as putting an end to the contest by striking the American flag to the enemy.
At the moment that Jasper made the discovery that the flag had fallen, he jumped from one of the embrasures and mounted the colors which he tied to a sponge staff, on the parapet, where he supported them until another flag was procured. The subsequent activity and enterprise of this patriot induced Colonel Moultrie to give him a sort of a roving commission to go and come at pleasure; confident that he was always usefully employed.
He was privileged to select such men from the regiment as he should choose to accompany him in his enterprises. His parties consisted generally of five or six, and he often returned with prisoners before Moultrie was apprised of his absence. Jasper was distinguished for his humane treatment when an enemy fell into his power. His ambition appears to have been limited to the characteristics of bravery, humanity and usefulness to the cause in which he was engaged.
When it was in his power to kill but not to capture, it was his practice not to permit a single prisoner to escape. By his sagacity and enterprise, he often succeeded in the capture of those who were lying in ambush for him. In one of his excursions, an instance of bravery and humanity is recorded by the biographer of Gen. Marion, which would stagger credulity, if it were not well attested.
While he was examining the British camp at Ebenezer, all the sympathy of his breast was awakened by the distresses of Mrs. Jones, whose husband, an American by birth had taken the king's protection and had been confined in irons for deserting the royal cause, after he had taken the oath of allegiance. Her well founded belief was, that nothing short of the life of her husband would atone for the offence with which he was charged.
Anticipating the awful scene of a beloved husband expiring upon the gibbet, had excited the severest emotions of grief and distraction. Jasper secretly consulted with his companion, Sergeant Newton, whose feelings for the distressed female and child were equally excited with his own, upon the practicability of releasing Jones from his impending fate.
Though they were unable to suggest a plan of operation, they were determined to watch for the most favorable opportunity, and make the effort. The departure of Jones and several others (all in irons) to Savannah, for trial, under a guard consisting of a sergeant, corporal, and eight men, was ordered upon the succeeding morning.
Within two miles of Savannah, about thirty yards from the main road, is a spring of fine water, surrounded by a deep and thick underwood, where travellers often halt to refresh themselves with a cool draught from the pure fountain. Jasper and his companion considered this spot the most favorable for their enterprise. They accordingly passed the guard and concealed themselves near the spring.
When the enemy came up, the corporal, with his guard of four men, conducted the prisoners to the spring, while the sergeant with the other four, having grounded their arms near the road, brought up the rear. The prisoners, wearied with their long walk, were permitted to rest themselves on the earth. Two of the corporal's men were ordered to keep guard, and the other two to give the prisoners drink out of their canteens.
The two last approached the spring where our heroes lay concealed, and resting their muskets against the tree, dipped up water; and having drunk themselves, turned away, with replenished canteens to give the prisoners also. "Now, Newton, is our time!" said Jasper. Then bursting from their concealment, they snatched up the two muskets that were rested against the tree, and instantly shot down the two soldiers that kept guard.
By this time the sergeant and corporal, a couple of brave Englishmen, recovering from their panic, had sprung and seized up the two muskets which had fallen from the slain; but before they could use them, the Americans, with clubbed guns, levelled each at the head of his antagonist the final blow. Then, securing their weapons, they flew between the surviving enemy and their arms, grounded near the road, and compelled them to surrender.
The irons were taken off, and arms put in the hands of those who had been prisoners, and the whole party arrived at Parisburgh the next morning and joined the American camp. There are but few instances upon record where personal exertions, even for self-preservation from certain prospect of death, would have induced a resort to an act so desperate of execution; how much more laudable was this, where the spring to action was aroused by the lamentations of a female unknown to the adventurers!
After the gallant defence at Sullivan's Island, Colonel Poultry's regiment was presented with a stand of colors by Mrs. Elliot which she had richly embroidered with her own hands; and as a reward for Jasper's particular merit, Governor Rutledge presented him with a very handsome sword. During the assault against Savannah, two officers had been killed, and one wounded, endeavoring to plant these colors upon the enemy's parapet of the Spring hill redoubt.
Just before the retreat was ordered, Jasper endeavored to replace them upon the works, and while he was in the act, received a mortal wound and fell into the ditch. When a retreat was ordered, he recollected the honorable conditions upon which the donor presented the colors to his regiment, and among the best acts of his life, succeeded in bringing them off.
Major Horry called to see him, soon after the retreat, to whom it is said he made the following communication: "I have got my furlough. That sword was presented to me by Governor Rutledge, for my services in the defense of Fort Moultrie --give it to my father and tell him I have worn it in honor. If the old man should weep, tell him his son died in the hope of a better life.
"Tell Mrs. Elliot that I lost my life supporting the colors which she presented to our regiment. Should you ever see Jones, his wife and son, tell them that Jasper is gone, but that the remembrance of that battle, which he fought for them, brought a secret joy into his heart when it was about to stop its motion forever." He expired a few moments after closing this sentence.
P128
WASHINGTON'S RETALIATION
It is now settled as a fact beyond dispute, that General Gates was connected with General Lee in a wicked plan to supersede the illustrious Washington. The commander-in-chief was well aware of the means they used to deprive him of the affections of the army and the confidence of the people. How he sought revenge, is shown in the following anecdote:
"I found General Gates traversing the apartment under the influence of high excitement. His agitation was excessive --every feature of his countenance, every gesture betrayed it. He had been charged with unskillful management at the battle of Camden, and he had just received official dispatches, informing him that the command was transferred to General Greene. His countenance betrayed no resentment, however; it was sensibility alone that caused his emotion.
"He held an open letter in his hand, which he often raised to his lips, and kissed with devotion, while he repeatedly exclaimed --'Great man! Noble, generous procedure!'
"When the tumult of his mind had a little subsided, with strong expressions of feeling he said, 'I have this day received a communication from the commander-in-chief, which has conveyed more consolation to my bosom, more ineffable delight to my heart, than I believed it possible for it ever to have felt again. With affectionate tenderness, he sympathizes with me in my domestic misfortunes, and condoles with me on the loss I have sustained in the recent death of my only son; and then with peculiar delicacy, lamenting my misfortune in battle, assures me that his confidence in my zeal and capacity is so little impaired, that the command of the right wing of the army will be bestowed on me, as soon as I can make it convenient to join him.'"
P130
THE GUN THAT COULD FIRE ALL DAY
During the revolution, a rifleman by the name of Timothy Murphy possessed a double barreled gun. It was a mystery which the Indians could not clear away, that he could fire twice, without a second loading. They thought, as their bullets never chanced to hit him, that h e was attended by some invisible being, who warded off theirs, but sped his ball with unerring certainty to the mark. By some means they got acquainted with the secret, and took care never to expose themselves, till he had fired the second time.
One day, having separated from his party, he was pursued by a party of Indians, all of whom he outran, except one; when Murphy turning around fired upon the Indian and killed him. Wishing to strip the dead of his scalp, (a great honor with him,) and thinking that the rest had given up the race, he stopped. However, this last thought did not last long for he soon saw them. He snatched up the gun of his fallen foe, and with it killed one of his pursuers. The rest, now sure of their prey, gave a yell of joy, and rushed heedlessly on, expecting to quickly have him a prisoner. Being nearly exhausted and likely to be overtaken, he again turned round, and with the remaining charge of his rifle picked off another of his enemies. The others, greatly astonished at this wonderful feat of magic--as they thought it --fled, crying out "The gun can fire all day long without loading!"
P131
BARBARITY OF THE LOYALISTS
The following circumstance supports the opinion, that in most cases the tories were more barbarous than the savages. While a part of the enemy were prowling about Schoharie, the Indians killed and scalped a mother, with a large family of children. They had just completed the work of death, when some loyalists came up and discovered an infant breathing sweetly in its cradle. An Indian, well known for his inhumanity, approached the cradle with uplifted hatchet. The babe looked up in his face and smiled; when the feelings of nature triumphed over the ferocity of the savage; the tomahawk fell with his arm, and he was stooping down to take the child in his arms; but one of the tories, cursing him for his humanity, thrust it through with his bayonet, and thus transfixed, held it up while struggling in the agonies of death, as he exclaimed --"This, too, is a rebel."
P132
FEMALE PATRIOTISM
"A good lady --we knew her when she had grown old --in 1775, lived on the seaboard, about a day's march from Boston, where the British army then was. By some unaccountable accident, a rumor was spread in town and country, that the regulars were on a full march for that place, and would probably arrive in three hours.
"This was after the battle of Lexington and all, as might be supposed, was in sad confusion; some were boiling with rage, and full of fight; some, in fear and confusion, were hiding their treasure; and other flying for life. In this wild moment, when most people in some way or other, were frightened from their property, our heroine, who had two sons, one about nineteen years of age, the other about sixteen, was seen by our informant preparing to discharge them to their duty.
"The eldest she was able to equip in fine style; she took her husband's fowling-piece made for duck or plover, (the good man being absent on a coasting voyage to Virginia,) and with it the powder-horn and shot-bag. But the lad thinking the duck and goose shot not quite the size to kill regulars, his mother took a chisel, cut up her pewter spoons, hammered them into slugs, and put them into his bag, and he set off in great earnest, but thought he would call one moment and see the person, who said, "Well done, my brave boy! God preserve you! And on he went in the way of his duty.
"The youngest was importunate for his equipments, but his mother could find nothing to arm him with, but a rusty old sword. The boy seemed rather unwilling to risk himself with this alone, but lingered in the street in a state of hesitation, when his mother thus approached him: 'You John H*****, what will your father say, if he hears that a child of his is afraid to meet the British! --Go along: some coward will be running away, I dare say; then take his gun and march forward: and if I hear you have not behaved yourself a man, I shall carry the blush of shame on my face to the grave.'
"She then shut the door, wiped the tear from her eye, and waited the issue. The boy joined the march."
P133
THE HOME-MADE SOLDIER
The following is a bona fide fact, taken without emendation from the life of a mother in Israel. It will show that there was an anti-British spirit in the women as well as the men of '76. I hope all the girls in our country and especially in our large cities, will read it, though I am afraid some of them will need a dictionary to find out the meaning of the terms wheel and loom. The first is the name of an old-fashioned piano with one string, the other is a big house-organ with but few stops. But to the story.
Late in the afternoon of one of the last days in May, '76, when I was a few months short of 15 years old, notice came to Townsend, Massachusetts, where my father used to live, that fifteen soldiers were wanted.
The training band was instantly called out, and my brother that was the next older than I, was one that was selected. He did not return till late at night, when all were in bed. When I rose in the morning I found my mother in tears, who informed me that my brother John was to march next day after tomorrow morning at sunrise. My father was at Boston, in the Massachusetts assembly. Mother said that though John was supplied with summer clothes, he must be absent seven or eight months, and would suffer from want of winter garments. There were at this time no stores, and no articles to be had except such as each family could make itself. The sight of mother's tears always brought all the hidden strength of the body and mind to action. I immediately asked what garments were needful. She replied, "pantaloons."
"O, if that is all," said I, "we will spin and weave him a pair before he goes."
"Tut," said my mother, "the wool is on the sheep's back, and the sheep are in the pasture."
I immediately turned to a younger brother and bade him take a salt-dish and call them to the yard.
Mother replied, "Poor child, there are no sheep-shears within three miles and a half."
"I have some small shears at the loom," said I.
"But we can't spin and weave it in so short a time."
"I am certain we can, mother."
"How can we weave it? --there is a long web of linen in the loom."
"No matter, I can find an empty loom." By this time the sound of sheep made me quicken my steps towards the yard. I requested my sister to bring me the wheel and cards while I went for the wool. I went into the yard with my brother, and secured a white sheep, from which I sheared, with my loom shears, half enough for a web; we then let her go with the rest of her fleece. I sent the wool in by my sister. Luther ran for a black sheep, and held her while I cut off wool for my filling and half the warp, and then we allowed her to go with the remaining part of her fleece.
The good old lady further observed that the wool thus obtained was duly carded and spun, washed, sized, and dried; a loom was found a few doors off, the web got in, wove and prepared, cut and made two or three hours before the brother's departure --that is to say, in forty hours from the commencement, without help from any modern improvement.
The good old lady closed by saying, "I felt no weariness, I wept not, I was serving my country. I was relieving poor mother, I was preparing a garment for my darling brother.
"The garment being finished, I retired and wept till my overcharged and bursting heart was relieved."
This brother was, perhaps, one of General Stark's soldiers, and with such a spirit to cope with, need we wonder that Burgoyne did not execute his threat of marching through the heart of America.
P136
THE BRITISH OFFICER AND THE MILLER
The shrewdness and successful address of Captain Timothy Wheeler, on the occasion when the British detachment proceeded to Concord, deserves notice. He had the charge of a large quantity of provincial flour, which together with some casks of his own, were stored in his barn. A British officer demanding entrance, he readily took his key and gave him admission. The officer expressed his pleasure at the discovery: but Captain Wheeler, with much affected simplicity, said to him putting his hand on a barrel, "This is my flour. I am a miller, sir. Yonder stands my mill; I get my living by it. In the winter I grind a great deal of grain, and get it ready for market in the spring. This(pointing to one barrel) "is the flour of wheat; this" (pointing to another) "is the flour of corn; this is the flour of rye; this" (putting his hand on his own casks) "is my flour; this is my wheat; this is my rye; this is mine. "Well, said the officer, "we do not injure private property;" and withdrew, leaving this important depository untouched.
P137
A SON OF ERIN PREFERRING A RAZOR TO HIS OWN RATIONS
The anecdote which follows was presented to Garden, author of Anecdotes of the Revolution, by a gentleman intimately acquainted with Colonel Forrest, and, as related by him, gives a true picture of the times during the great struggle.
"At the period of the war, when our treasury was most exhausted, the men of my regiment became so refractory from the want of pay, that I was compelled to resort to every shift and stratagem to keep them in necessary subordination. Necessity at last obliged me to enter into a compromise with them.
"I pledged myself, that if they would only promise to conduct themselves with propriety, and preserve the discipline essential to the well-being of the army during my absence, I would personally apply to the treasury, forcibly represent their grievances, and exert every energy to obtain the justice they required. My proposal was acceded to, and I quitted the regiment. Having at the period many friends in the paymaster's department, my representations were attended to, and through their kind attention I obtained a month's pay, according to the tenor of my request.
"I ordered my regiment to be paraded, and candidly submitted to them the results of my negotiation. The entire corps expressed content and satisfaction, save only one individual, a son of Erin, who appeared to exhibit decided marks of extreme discontent. Dissatisfied with his conduct, and more highly irritated by his surly looks, I approached, and upbraiding him for his unreasonable behavior, asked his motive for showing such signs of discontent, while the rest of the regiment, his companions in arms, appeared cheerful and well pleased on the occasion.
"He sarcastically replied --'Upon my salvation, my colonel, and the honor of a true soldier, which I will be bound to say you have ever found me to be, I had not the least idea of being dissatisfied with your happy negotiation; God bless you, my jewel, for I am sure you have done as much for us and more than any other, besides yourself, could have done any how; but I believe I was only sorry a little when I looked so highly provoked, that your honor had not brought me an old razor instead of my months pay, that I might scrape my beard with just to appear a little decent on parade.'"
P139
LORD CORNWALLIS'S OPINION OF SUMTER
General Sumter became so guarded in his attention to the security of his camp, and so happy in the choice of his positions, that every attempt to injure him on the part of the enemy proved abortive, whilst the enterprises which he conducted were, for the most part, productive of the most brilliant success. His attacks were impetuous, and generally irresistible. No man was more indefatigable in his efforts to obtain victory: none more ready, by the generous exposure of his person, and the animating example of intrepidity, to deserve it.
He was the terror of all the British officers; and Lord Cornwallis, in a letter to Colonel Tarleton, says --"I shall be glad to hear that Sumter is in no condition to give us further trouble --he certainly has been our greatest plague in this country."
American Revolution
