STORIES OF THE REVOLUTION.
_XIV.--THE GASP?._
1. Just before the Revolution, the British ship-of-war Gasp? wassent to Narragansett Bay to see that the trade was all right there.Lieutenant Duddington was the commander, and he annoyed the traders asmuch as possible. He would order a vessel to stop, go on board of her,and, having seen that everything was right, would go off with wordsof insult instead of apology. The Governor of Rhode Island orderedDuddington to let the trading-vessels alone, but the pert littleofficer only laughed at him. Next the Governor appealed to AdmiralWatson, and received an insulting reply.
2. By this time the people were aroused. The petty little tyrant hadissued an order that all vessels sailing up the bay should lower theirflag by way of salute--an order very much like that of Gessler when herequired the people to bow to a hat set upon a post. On the 9th ofJune Captain Lindsay, coming up in his packet, refused to lower hisflag. The Gasp? gave chase, but Captain Lindsay dodged about among theshoals in such a way that the Gasp? got aground on the sand. Here shemust stick until high tide, about three o'clock the next morning.
3. The news soon reached Providence. Mr. John Brown, one of the leadingmerchants, saw that it was a good time to end the troubles. He fittedout eight of the largest boats he could get, and placed them under thecommand of Captain Whipple, one of his most trusted ship-masters. Theboats left Providence about ten o'clock in the evening, with sixty-fourmen, armed with paving-stones. As they approached the Gasp?, thesentinel hailed them, and Lieutenant Duddington fired a pistol at them.The reply was a single musket-shot, which brought the officer down,badly wounded. The ship's company were then ordered ashore, and theship set on fire. At dawn she blew up.
4. A large reward was offered by Admiral Watson for the discovery ofthe parties engaged in this affair. Although the boats were publiclyfitted out, and their departure was seen by hundreds of people, notone jot of information could he get. Commissioners sent over fromEngland met with no better success, and after a trial of six monthsthey gave it up as a bad job. A poem, written in regard to this affair,concludes with this verse:
5. "Now, for to find these people out, King George has offered very stout: One thousand pounds to find out one That wounded William Duddington; One thousand more he says he'll spare For those who say the sheriffs were; One thousand more there doth remain For to find out the leader's name; Likewise five hundred pounds per man For any one of all the clan. But let him try his utmost skill, I'm apt to think he never will Find out any of those hearts of gold Though he should offer fifty-fold."
_XV.--ETHAN ALLEN._
1. During the Revolution, the pride and the hero of the Green Mountainswas Ethan Allen, and probably there was no man living then that hadmore of the elements of the popular hero than he. He was tall, almosta giant in stature, and strong in proportion. He was easily excited toanger, and his rage was something terrific. In another place it is toldhow he surprised and captured the strong fortresses of Ticonderoga andCrown Point. Afterward he was captured and taken prisoner to England.The brutal British officer in command put him in irons, and one dayspat in his face. Allen, beside himself with rage at this insult,with his teeth wrenched off the head of the nail which fastened hishandcuffs, and attacked the officer, who was obliged to retreat to savehis life.
2. With all his rough ways and fits of anger Allen was a remarkablyhonest man. It is related of him that he owed a person in Boston sixtypounds, for which he gave his note. When due, it was sent to Vermontfor collection. Allen could not pay at the time, and he employed alawyer to postpone the payment until he could raise the money. Thelawyer arose in court and denied Allen's signature to the note, as thiswould oblige the other party to send to Boston for a witness, and giveAllen all the time he wanted.
3. When the lawyer made his plea, Allen, who happened to be in theback part of the court-room, strode forward, and in a voice of thunderaddressed the lawyer: "Mr. Jones, I did not hire you to come here tolie! This is a true note--I signed it--I'll swear to it--and I'll payit! I want no shuffling, I want time. What I employed you for was toget this matter put over to the next court, not to come here and lieand juggle about it." The lawyer shrank from his blazing eye, and thecase was put over as he wished.
_XVI.--JOSEPH REED._
1. A hero of another kind, and one we should never forget, is JosephReed, of New Jersey. He entered the patriot army, and proved a braveand efficient officer. In 1778 he entered Congress, and, while quiet,he became one of the most useful members. Soon after he enteredCongress, a British commission was sent out to see if the difficultiesbetween the two countries could not be adjusted and the war terminated.The terms they offered, however, did not include independence.Convinced that they could not accomplish their object directly, thecommissioners resorted to deceit and bribery, and they offered JosephReed ten thousand guineas if he would use his influence to helpalong their project. The noble patriot heard the offer with greatindignation, and replied, "I am not worth purchasing, but, such as Iam, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to buy me." The poetFreneau has recorded this incident in a poem from which the followingextract is made:
2. "No single art engaged his manly mind, In every scene his active genius shined; Nature in him, in honor to our age, At once composed the soldier and the sage.
3. "Firm in his purpose, vigilant and bold, Detesting traitors, and despising gold, He scorned all bribes from Britain's hostile throne, For all his country's wrongs were thrice his own."
_XVII.--GENERAL PRESCOTT._
1. In 1777 the British troops upon the Island of Rhode Island werecommanded by General Prescott. Of all the disreputable officers sentover by the British during the Revolution, he was the meanest andthe worst. He was cruel at heart, a petty tyrant, and a real coward.His government was so offensive to the people of Rhode Island, thatthey determined to put an end to it. The British army was stationedat Newport, and the British ships sailed up and down Narragansett Bayto protect the island from any attempted surprise on the part of theAmericans. Feeling perfectly secure under the protection of the fleet,General Prescott made his headquarters at the house of a Mr. Ovington,five miles out of Newport, and beyond the British military lines.
2. The residence of General Prescott became known to the patriotleaders at Providence, and they resolved to make an effort to capturehim. The enterprise was intrusted to Colonel William Barton, whoentered upon the service with zeal and discretion. On the night of July10, 1777, Barton, with a few chosen men, embarked in four whale-boats,and with muffled oars rowed across the bay to the island, passingdirectly through the fleet of ships and guard-boats. They came so nearthe ships that they could hear the sentinel's cry of "All is well!"After landing they made their way silently to the Ovington house, andcaptured the guard without creating an alarm.
3. Barton boldly entered the house, and found Mr. Ovington reading, therest of the family being in bed. He inquired for General Prescott'sroom, and was told it was directly overhead. Taking with him foursailors, and Sisson, a powerful negro, Barton ascended the stairs,and gently tried the door. It was locked; but there was no time tobe lost: the negro drew back a few paces, and, using his head for abattering-ram, burst open the door at the first effort. Prescott beggedtime to dress, but, as time was precious, he was hurried down to theshore without clothes, and placed in the boat, where he could dress atleisure. The boats then took their way back in perfect silence, andabout midnight landed upon the mainland in safety. "Sir, you have madea bold push to-night!" said Prescott, to his captor. "We have beenfortunate," replied Barton.
_XVIII.--PRESCOTT AND THE YANKEE BOY._
1. In the spring of 1778, Prescott was exchanged for General CharlesLee, and returned to Rhode Island. Soon afterward the British admiralinvited the general to dine with him and his officers on board hisship, then lying in front of Newport. Martial law yet prevailed on theisland, and men and boys were
frequently sent by the authorities onshore to be confined in the ship as a punishment for slight offenses.There were several on board at the time.
2. After dinner, the free use of wine made the company hilarious, andtoasts and songs were frequently called for. A lieutenant remarked tothe admiral, "There is a Yankee lad confined below who can shame any ofus in singing."
3. "Bring him up," said the admiral. "Yes, bring him up," saidPrescott. The boy was brought to the cabin. He was pale and slender,and about thirteen years of age. Abashed by the presence of greatofficers, with their glittering uniforms, he timidly approached, whenthe admiral, seeing his embarrassment, spoke kindly to him, and askedhim to sing a song.
4. "I can't sing any but Yankee songs," said the trembling boy. "Come,my little fellow, don't be afraid," said the admiral. "Sing one of yourYankee songs--any one you can recollect."
5. The boy still hesitated, when the brutal Prescott, who was astranger to the lad, roared out: "Sing us a song, or I will give you adozen with the cat!" But the admiral interfered and told him to sing,and he should be set at liberty the next morning. Thus encouraged, thelad sang the following ballad, composed by a sailor at Newport:
6. "'Twas on a dark and stormy night, The wind and waves did roar; Bold Barton then, with twenty men, Went down upon the shore.
7. "And in a whale-boat they set off, To Rhode Island fair, To catch, a red-coat general Who then resided there.
8. "Through British fleets and guard-boats strong They held their dangerous way, Till they arrived unto their port, And then did not delay.
9. "A tawny son of Afric's race Them through the ravine led, And entering then the Overton house, They found him in his bed.
10. "But to get in they had no means Except poor Cuffie's head, Who beat the door down, then rushed in. And seized him in his bed.
11. "'Stop! let me put my clothing on,' The general then did pray; 'Your clothing, massa, I will take, For dress we can not stay,'
12. "Then through rye-stubble him they led, With shoes and clothing none, And placed him in their boat quite snug, And from the shore were gone.
13. "Soon the alarm was sounded loud, 'The Yankees they have come, And stolen Prescott from his bed, And him have carried home!'
14. "The drums were beat, sky-rockets flew, The soldiers shouldered arms, And marched around the ground they knew, Filled with most dire alarms.
15. "But through the fleet with muffled oars They held their devious way, And landed him on 'Gansett shores, Where Britons held no sway.
16. "When unto land the captors came, When rescue there was none, 'A bold push this,' the general cried; 'Of prisoners I am one.'"
17. The boy was frequently interrupted by roars of laughter atPrescott's expense, which strengthened the child's nerves and voice;and when he had concluded his song, "I thought," wrote a gentleman whowas present, "the deck would go through with the stamping." GeneralPrescott joined heartily in the merriment produced by the song, and,thrusting his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a coin, and handed itto the boy, saying, "Here, you young dog, is a guinea for you!" The boywas set at liberty the next morning, and went ashore.
_XIX.--BATTLE OF THE KEGS._
1. In 1777, while the British occupied Philadelphia, Washington made aneffort to destroy their shipping. He caused torpedoes to be constructedin the form of strong kegs, and launched in the river, hoping thatthe tide would float them against the British ships, when they wouldexplode. But the British discovered them, and for a time were greatlyfrightened. Then they opened upon them a furious cannonade; and for thenext twenty-four hours they fired at everything that floated in thewater. Mr. Hopkinson, the author of "Hail, Columbia," has given thefollowing amusing account of this battle:
2. Gallants attend, and hear a friend Trill forth harmonious ditty; Strange things I'll tell, which late befell In Philadelphia city.
3. 'Twas early day, as poets say, Just when the sun was rising, A soldier stood on log of wood, And saw a sight surprising.
4. As in his maze, he stood to gaze, The truth can't be denied, sir, He spied a score of kegs or more Come driving down the tide, sir.
5. A sailor too, in jerkin blue, The strange appearance viewing, First rubbed his eyes in great surprise, Then said, "Some mischief's brewing."
6. The soldier flew, the sailor too, And, scared almost to death, sir Wore out their shoes to spread the news, And ran till out of breath, sir.
7. Now up and down, throughout the town, Most frantic scenes were acted; And some ran here, and others there, Like men almost distracted.
8. Some fire cried, which some denied, But said the earth had quaked; And girls and boys, with hideous noise, Ran through the streets half naked.
9. Now in a fright, Howe starts upright, Awaked by such a clatter; He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries, "For God's sake, what's the matter?"
10. At his bedside he then espied Sir Erskine at command, sir; Upon one foot he had one boot, And 'tother in his hand, sir.
11. "Arise! arise!" Sir Erskine cries, "The rebels--more's the pity-- Without a boat, are all afloat, And ranged before the city!
12. "The motley crew, on vessels new, With Satan for their guide, sir, Packed up in bags, or wooden kegs, Come driving down the tide, sir.
13. "Therefore prepare for bloody war! These kegs must all be routed; Or surely we despised shall be, And British valor doubted."
14. The royal band, now ready stand, All ranged in dread array, sir; With stomach stout, to see it out, And make a bloody day, sir.
15. The cannons roar from shore to shore, The small-arms loud did rattle; Since war began, I'm sure no man E'er saw so strange a battle.
16. The rebel dales, the rebel vales, With rebel trees surrounded, The distant woods, the hills and floods, With rebel echoes sounded.
17. The kegs, 'tis said, though strongly made Of rebel stones and hoops, sir, Could not oppose their powerful foes, The conquering British troops, sir.
18. From morn till night, these men of might Displayed amazing courage; And, when the sun was fairly down, Retired to sup their porridge.
19. Such feats did they perform that day, Against those wicked kegs, sir, That years to come, if they get home, They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.
_XX.--THE DARING OF PAUL JONES._
1. It was in the spring of 1778 that the name of John Paul Jones becameso terrible along the western coasts of Britain--his native coasts, asfamiliar to him as to a Solway fisherman.
2. And what a tough, valiant, intractable, audacious hero he was, withhis foppish ways and costume, his romantic, fantastic courtesy andenthusiasm! He had been a Nelson, if he had had Nelson's opportunities.He was a little man, too, like Nelson, though compactly built, and hisvoice was "soft and still, and small, and his eye had keenness andsoftness in it, and, full as he was of the spirit of mastery, he wasall gentleness, consideration, generosity, to men who obeyed him." Likeall the greatest fighters, he performed his immortal exploits while hewas young; he was but thirty-two when he did his greatest day's work.
3. On the southwestern coast of Scotland John Paul Jones was born.Nothing could keep him from the sea. At twelve he was apprenticed to amerchant in the American trade, in whose ships he served seven years,as cabin-boy, and sailor before the mast. At the age of twenty-fourwe find him settled in Tobago, engaged in commerce, and possessingconsiderable property. In 1774 he came to the colonies. The Revolutionbreaking out, he obtained a lieutenant's commi
ssion in the forming navyof the United States. He acquired sudden and very great distinction.In one short cruise he took sixteen prizes, of which he burned eightand sent in eight. He had some sharp actions with king's ships, andcaptured one, which had on board a company of British troops, and tenthousand suits of clothes--a most precious acquisition in 1776.
4. It was Paul Jones who first hoisted the Stars and Stripes. On thevery day, June 14, 1777, on which Congress resolved that "the flag ofthe thirteen United States be thirteen stars, white in a blue field,representing a new constellation," they also resolved that "CaptainPaul Jones be appointed to command the ship Ranger." As he had been thefirst to hoist the flag of the United States on a ship-of-war, so, onentering the harbor of Brest in February, 1778, seven days after thesigning of the treaty of alliance, he was the first naval officer whohad the pleasure of acknowledging a salute to that flag from a foreignpower.
5. Soon after, Captain Jones sailed in the Ranger for the Scottishcoast, on his first cruise in British waters. On the seventh day hewas between the Isle of Man and Whitehaven waters, which he knew asfamiliarly as New-Yorkers do the Narrows. Whitehaven was the town atwhich he had been apprenticed, and from which he had sailed for tenyears. It was a town of several thousand inhabitants, and its harborcontained three or four hundred vessels closely moored together. Joneshad formed the daring scheme of running in near the port, landing twoparties, burning all these ships, and retiring before an armed forcecould be raised to repel him.
6. At midnight, with two boats and thirty-one men, provided withcombustibles and dark-lanterns, he left his ship and made forWhitehaven pier. Day was dawning when he reached it, for the lightwind had made him hours too late in starting. He would not abandon theenterprise, however, unpromising as it seemed. Sending one boat to thenorth side of the harbor to fire the vessels collected there, he wenthimself to do the same office to the stranded fleet on the south side.
7. Familiar with every foot of the ground he had to traverse, he boldlylanded under the guns of the two forts that protected the harbor,and he himself climbed the wall of one of them, and spiked everygun, without giving alarm. All the sentinels, he found, had gone tothe guard-house, and there he secured and disarmed every one of themwithout giving or receiving a scratch. Then, accompanied by one man,he scaled the other fort and spiked its guns. Returning to the pier tobegin the conflagration, he found there the other boat, which had comeback for a light, the candles in the lanterns having burned out. Jonesnow discovered that all his own candles were consumed, and there wasnot in either boat a spark of fire, or the means of kindling one. Theday, too, had dawned, and every second was precious. Nevertheless, hesent one of his men to a house near by for a light, who soon returnedsuccessful, and the boats again separated for the work of destruction.
8. Ten minutes later a barrel of fat, ignited in the steerage of aship that lay surrounded by a hundred and fifty others, all left highand dry by the receded tide, shot a bolt of roaring flame through thehatchway. The people of the town, in hundreds, were soon running to thepier. Captain Jones stood by the side of the burning vessel, pistol inhand, and ordered the crowd to keep their distance, which they did.Not till the flames had caught the rigging and wreathed about themainmast, not till the sun was an hour high, not till the whole townwas rushing amazed to the scene, did Jones give the order to embark.
9. His men entered the boats without opposition, the captain releasing,at the last moment, all his prisoners but three, who were all he hadroom for. He stood on the pier till his men were seated in the boats,and for some little time after; then, stepping gracefully into hisplace, he gave the word, the oars splashed into the water, and theymoved toward the ship, while from every eminence in the vicinityhundreds and thousands of silent, astonished spectators gazed upon theunearthly scene.
10. "To the forts!" was the cry on shore, as soon as the spell of theenemy's presence was removed. "Their disappointment," says Jones, "mayeasily be imagined, when they found at least thirty heavy cannon, theinstruments of their vengeance, rendered useless! At length, however,they began to fire, having, as I apprehend, either brought downship-guns, or used one or two cannon which lay on the beach dismounted,and had not been spiked. They fired with no direction, and the shotfalling short of the boats, instead of doing us any damage, affordedsome diversion, which my people could not help showing, by dischargingtheir pistols in return for the salute." The people of the townsucceeded in confining the ravages of the fire to a few ships. Had itbeen possible, he remarks, to have landed a few hours sooner, he couldhave burned three hundred vessels.
_XXI-FORT MOULTRIE._
1. Early in 1776 Governor Rutledge, of South Carolina, built FortMoultrie, to protect Charleston from an attack by sea. The fort wasbuilt of palmetto-wood, which is soft, but very tough and springy.In the middle of the fort was a low place scooped out of the earth,designed to hold water. Before the fort was finished, the Britishadmiral, Sir Peter Parker, with two large ships-of-war, made hisappearance off the harbor. Colonel Moultrie commanded within the fort.His men were all militia, and had never been in battle before.
2. Sir Peter commenced a furious attack upon the fort from hisprincipal ships. But the balls entered the soft palmetto-wood and didno damage. Shells were thrown into the fort, struck in the interiorditch, which on the day of battle was filled with mud, instead ofwater, and the fuses were put out, or the shells burst and did no otherdamage than covering the men with a thick coat of mud. All day long theships kept up their terrible broadsides, and all day long did the bravemilitiamen in the fort return the fire slowly but with good aim. Itwould not do to waste fire, as powder was low; and several times duringthe battle the gunners were obliged to stop firing until a new supplyof powder came in from the city.
3. In the meantime, the people in the city were fearful and anxious;that small, half-finished fort was all that stood between them andcapture. They could hardly believe that Colonel Moultrie with his rawtroops could resist the attack of a formidable British fleet. All daylong they heard the boom of the cannon, and all day long the steeplesand roofs of houses were crowded with anxious spectators. With joy,they saw the ships crawl away toward night, fearfully cut up, whilethe fort continued its firing as the powder came slowly in. Then thebells rang, and a shout went up, that cheered the hearts of the bravegarrison at the fort. One of the ships got aground, and was set onfire and burned up. Only ten of the militia were killed, and twenty-twowounded, while the loss on the ships numbered hundreds.
4. One incident of this battle is worthy of note. During the action,the flag-staff was shot away, and the flag fell to the earth outsidethe fort. Sergeant William Jasper at once jumped over the parapet,picked up the flag, and, amid the storm of iron from the fleet, hefastened it to a staff and set it up once more, and then leaped unhurtinto the fort. The next morning Governor Rutledge publicly thankedJasper, and gave him a small sword that hung by his side. Three yearslater the gallant sergeant was killed in the attack upon Savannah.
_XXII.--COUNT PULASKI AND HIS BANNER_
1. Count Casimer Pulaski was a native of Poland. At an early age heentered the army, where he soon became a leader of a patriotic movementto rid Poland at once of an unpopular king and of Russian rule. Hislittle army was defeated, and in 1771 he entered the service of theTurks, then at war with Russia. In 1776 he went to Paris and had aninterview with Dr. Franklin, and resolved to enter the service of theUnited States. He sailed for America the next year, and was placed byWashington in command of cavalry. He proved a very valuable acquisitionto the American cause. His familiarity with military affairs enabledhim to bring his corps to a high degree of efficiency in regard todiscipline, and in battle he was a very thunderbolt. He was stationedalong the New Jersey coast, keeping watch of the British during thegreater part of 1778; and the next spring he was ordered south toassist General Lincoln and the Count d'Estaing in the reduction ofSavannah.
2. This enterprise, planned by Washington with every prospect ofsuccess, met with a series of
mishaps and disasters from the veryfirst. The troops were tardy in concentrating, enabling the Britishcommander to complete measures of defense which at first were veryimperfect. Then there was a want of co-operation between the Americanforces and their French allies. When everything was in readiness,Count d'Estaing granted the British commander twenty-four hours truce,which he employed to so good a purpose that the idea of an assault wasabandoned, and the operations were turned into a siege. For twelve daysthere was constant battle, ending in a general assault. No troops everfought better, but they were driven back from the strong fortificationsof the enemy with great loss. The golden moment was lost, and the greatsacrifice of life was in vain. Count Pulaski was in the van of thefight during all these anxious days, and was stricken down at the verylast moment, a hero dying for our freedom.
3. In 1777 Pulaski visited Lafayette while that officer was wounded,and under the care of the Moravian nuns, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.When it became known that the brave Pole was raising a company ofcavalry, the nuns prepared a banner of crimson silk, beautifullywrought with the needle by their own hands, and sent it to Pulaski withtheir blessing. This banner he received with grateful thanks, and tookit with him in every battle to the day of his death. The story of thisbanner is beautifully told by Longfellow:
4. "When the dying flame of day Through the chancel shot its ray, Far the gleaming tapers shed Faint light on the cowl?d head; And the censer burning swung, When before the altar hung That proud banner, which with prayer Had been consecrated there; And the nuns' sweet hymn was heard the while, Sung low in the dim, mysterious aisle.
5. "Take thy banner. May it wave Proudly o'er the good and brave, When the battle's distant wail Breaks the Sabbath of our vale; When the clarion's music thrills To the hearts of these lone hills; When the spear in conflict shakes, And the strong lance, shivering, breaks.
6. "Take thy banner; and, beneath The war-cloud's encircling wreath, Guard it--till our homes are free-- Guard it--God will prosper thee! In the dark and trying hour, In the breaking forth of power, In the rush of steeds and men, His right hand will shield thee then.
7. "Take thy banner. But when night Closes round the ghastly fight, If the vanquished warrior bow, Spare him--by our holy vow; By our prayers and many tears; By the mercy that endears-- Spare him--he our love hath shared; Spare him as thou wouldst be spared.
8. "Take thy banner, and, if e'er Thou shouldst press the soldier's bier. And the muffled drums should beat To the tread of mournful feet, Then this common flag shall be Martial cloak and shroud for thee. And the warrior took that banner proud. And it was his martial cloak and shroud."
_XXIII.--LYDIA DARRAH._
1. While the British were in Philadelphia, one of Howe's principalofficers made his quarters at the house of a Quaker named WilliamDarrah. His wife, Lydia, was a true patriot, but she said so little,and performed her household work so well, that she won the entireconfidence of her guest. One day he said to her, "I expect some friendsto call this evening, and they will stay late, so have your family outof the way early." This order aroused her curiosity, and, when herfamily were in bed, she took off her shoes and went into the passageand listened to what was going on. She heard one of the officers readan order of Sir William Howe for the troops to march out the next nightsilently, and surprise Washington in his quarters. She went back tobed, and, when it was time for her to get up and let out the visitors,she was apparently fast asleep. She formed her plans during the night,and, early in the morning, she awakened her husband and told him thatflour was wanted for family use, and that she must go to Frankford toget it.
2. It was a cold morning in December, and a deep snow covered theground. On foot, with a bag in her hand, she set out, calling at Howe'sheadquarters for a permit to leave the city. At an early hour shereached Frankford, and, leaving her bag at the mill, she went on untilshe reached the American outposts. Here she met Colonel Craig, who hadbeen sent out by Washington to get what news he could of the enemy.To him Mrs. Darrah told her story, and then went back to the mill,shouldered her flour, and hastened home.
3. From her window, the next night, in the cold starlight, she watchedthe British troops as they marched silently out of town, and a fewhours later she saw them on their way back from their "fool's errand."The officer came home and bade Lydia go to his room. With an air ofgreat secrecy he said, "Were any of your family up on the night when Ihad company in my room?" "No," she replied; "they all retired at eighto'clock." "It is very strange," said the officer. "You, I know, wasasleep, for I knocked on your door three times before you heard me.But, by some means, our plans became known, for, when we went out, wefound Washington ready to receive us, with his cannon mounted and histroops under arms, so we were compelled to march back like a parcel offools."
_XXIV.--THE LIBERTY-BELL._
1. The old State-House at Philadelphia still stands, and is preservedwith the greatest care. Thousands of people from all parts of theUnited States visit it every year, for here Congress met in 1776, andhere the Declaration of Independence was signed, July 4th. In theState-House is kept the old Liberty-Bell, which is thought almost assacred as the house itself.
2. This bell was bought in England, in 1752, for the State-House. Itwas then the largest bell in America. Upon the first trial-ringing itcracked, and it hung unused in the steeple for a year. It was thentaken down and recast, with these words in relief letters around itstop: "_Proclaim liberty throughout the land, unto all the inhabitantsthereof._" In the hall underneath this very bell, twelve years later,Congress did indeed proclaim liberty, and the joyful ringing ofthis bell first told the crowd of anxious people without that theDeclaration of Independence had been passed. For two hours the tonesof the bell floated down from above and mingled with the roll of drums,the booming of cannon, and shouts of the multitudes below.
3. After more than fifty years of service, the bell was cracked again,and rendered useless. It is now kept as a sacred relic of the past. Thefollowing is the last stanza of a poem upon the old bell by WilliamRoss Wallace:
4. "That old bell is still seen by the patriot's eye, And he blesses it ever, when journeying by; Long years have passed o'er it, and yet every soul Will thrill, in the night, to its wonderful roll; For it speaks to its belfry when kissed by the blast, Like a glory-breathed tone from the mystical past. Long years shall roll o'er it, and yet every chime Shall unceasingly tell of an era sublime; Oh, yes! if the flame on our altars should pale, Let its voice but be heard, and the freeman will start, To rekindle the fire, while he sees on the gale All the stars and the stripes of the flag of his heart."
_XXV.--THE TORY'S HORSE._
1. While Cornwallis was virtually master of the Carolinas, raids weremade in all directions to prevent the patriots from assembling, and tobreak up the bands of Sumter and Marion, which had proved to be veryannoying to the British commander. The most noted commander of theseraids was Colonel Tarleton, who displayed great activity in plunderingand burning the homes of the patriots. Some of the planters wereTories, and eagerly welcomed the British troops.
2. While Tarleton was out on one of his raids, Macdonald, a youngScotchman, one of Marion's men, played a curious trick on an oldTory, who lived in the neighborhood. As soon as he heard that ColonelTarleton had encamped, he dressed himself in the British uniform, andearly in the morning called upon the Tory, and said to him:
3. "Colonel Tarleton sends his compliments, and, knowing you to be agood friend of the king, begs you will send him one of your best horsesfor a charger, to help drive the rebels out of the country."
4. "Send him one of my finest horses!" cried the old Tory, his eyessparkling with joy. "Yes, Mr. Sergeant, that I will. A good friendof the king did he call me? Yes, God save his sacred majesty, a goodfriend I am, indeed,
and true! And faith I am glad, too, that thecolonel knows it. Here, Dick, run, jump, fly, you rascal, to thestable, and bring me out Selim. Young Selim! Do you hear?"
5. Then, turning to Macdonald, he went on: "Well, Mr. Sergeant, youhave made me confounded glad this morning, you may depend! And now,suppose you take a glass of peach--of good old peach, Mr. Sergeant?Do you think it would do you any harm?" "Why, they say it is good ona rainy morning, sir," replied Macdonald. "Oh, yes, famous of a rainymorning, Mr. Sergeant--a mighty _antifogmatic_. It prevents the ague,Mr. Sergeant, and clears the throat of the cob webs, sir."
6. "Your honor's health!" said Macdonald, as he turned off a bumper ofthe strong cordial. But scarcely had he smacked his lips, before Dickparaded Selim, a proud, full-blooded steed, that stepped as though hedisdained the earth he walked upon.
7. Here the old fellow broke out again: "There, Mr. Sergeant, thereis a horse for you! A charger fit for a king. Well, my compliments toColonel Tarleton. Tell him I have sent him my young Selim--my GrandTurk. Say to him that he is too noble for me, and that the only workfit for him is to drive the rebels out of the country." And, to sendSelim off in high style, he ordered Dick to bring down his new saddleand holsters, with his silver-mounted pistols. Then, giving Macdonald ahot breakfast, and lending him a great-coat, as it was raining, he lethim go.
8. The next morning he waited upon Colonel Tarleton, and told hisname, with the smiling countenance of one who expected to be eaten upwith fondness. But Tarleton treated him as an entire stranger. Afterrecovering a little, he bluntly asked Colonel Tarleton how he likedhis charger. "Charger, sir!" replied Tarleton. "Yes, sir, the eleganthorse I sent you yesterday by your sergeant." "An elegant horse by mysergeant? I really don't understand this!"
9. The looks and voice of Colonel Tarleton too sadly convinced theold traitor that he had been bit, and that young Selim was gone.To have been outwitted in this manner by a rebel--to have lost hispeach-brandy, his hot breakfast, his great-coat, his new saddle, hissilver-mounted pistols, and, worse than all, his darling horse, hisyoung, full-blooded, bounding Selim--the sense of all these lossescame crowding upon him so suddenly that the old sinner liked to havesuffocated on the spot. He grew black in the face, and as soon as hecould recover breath he broke out into a torrent of curses against therebels generally, and Macdonald in particular.
10. And Selim! a noble horse he was indeed! Full sixteen hands high,with the eye of a hawk, the spirit of a king-eagle, the chest of alion, swifter than a roebuck, and strong as a buffalo! Macdonald keptSelim up lustily to the top of his mettle. The horse soon learned hismaster's ways, and at the first glimpse of the red-coats he would pawand champ his bit with rage; and the moment he heard the word "Go!" offhe was among them like a thunderbolt.
_XXVI.--GENERAL SCHUYLER._
1. In the year 1781 the war was chiefly carried on in the South, butthe North was constantly troubled by parties of Tories and Indians, whowould swoop down on some small settlements, and make off with whateverthey could lay their hands on.
2. During this time General Schuyler was staying at his house, whichstood just outside the stockade or walls of Albany. The Britishcommander sent out a party of Tories and Indians to capture GeneralSchuyler.
3. When they reached the outskirts of the city, they learned froma Dutch laborer, whom they had taken, that the general's house wasguarded by six soldiers, three watching by night, and three by day.They then let the Dutchman go, after making him swear an oath ofsecrecy. This oath he did not keep very strictly, for, the minute theband was out of sight, he took to his short legs and warned the generalof their approach.
4. On one of those scorching August days, when you feel as if youhardly had energy enough to move, and when the very trees droop theirdusty leaves, too lazy to hold up their heads, Schuyler and his familywere sitting in the large hall, when a servant entered and told thegeneral that there was a strange man at the back door who wished to seehim.
5. Schuyler, understanding the trap, gathered his family in one of theupper rooms, and, giving orders that the doors and windows should bebarred, fired a pistol from one of the top-story windows to alarm theneighborhood. The guards, who had been lounging in the shade of a tree,started to their feet at the sound of the pistol; but, alas! too late,for they found themselves surrounded by a crowd of dusky figures, whobound them hand and foot, before they had time to resist.
6. In the room up-stairs was the sturdy general, standing resolutelyby the door, with his gun in hand, his black slaves gathered aroundhim, each with some weapon. At the other end of the room the women werehuddled together, some weeping, some praying. Suddenly, a crash isheard, which chills the very blood, and brings vividly to each one'smind the tales of Indian massacres so common at that day. The band hadbroken in at one of the windows.
7. At that moment, Mrs. Schuyler springing to her feet, rushed to thedoor; for she remembered that the baby, only a few months old, havingbeen forgotten in the hour of flight, was asleep in its cradle on thefirst floor. But the general, catching her in his arms, told her thather life was of more value than her child's, and that, if any one mustgo, he would. While, however, this generous struggle was going on, thethird daughter, gliding past them, was soon at the side of the cradle.All was as black as night in the hall, save for a small patch of lightjust at the foot of the stairs; this came from the dining-room, wherethe Indians could be seen pillaging the shelves, pulling down thechina, and quarreling with one another over their ill-gotten booty.
8. How to get past the spot was the question, but the girl did nothesitate. She reached the cradle unobserved, and was just dartingback with her precious burden, when, by ill-luck, one of the savageshappened to see her. Whiz! went his sharp tomahawk, within a few inchesof the baby's head, and, clearing the edge of the brave girl's dress,stuck deep in the stair-rail.
9. Just then one of the Tories, seeing her flit by, and supposingher to be a servant, called after her, "Wench, wench, where is yourmaster?" She, stopping a moment, called back, "Gone to alarm the town!"and, hurrying on, was soon again with her father up-stairs.
10. And now, nearly all the plunder having been secured, the bandwas about to proceed to the real object of the expedition, when thegeneral, raising one of the windows, called out in lusty tones, as ifcommanding a large body of men: "Come on, my brave fellows! Surroundthe house! Secure the villains who are plundering!" The cowards knewthat voice, and they each and every one of them took to the woods asfast as their legs would carry them, leaving the general in possessionof the field.
_XXVII.--ODE._
1. How sleep the brave who sink to rest, With all their country's wishes blest! When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mold, She then shall dress a sweeter sod Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
2. By fairy-hands their knell is rung; By forms unseen their dirge is sung; Then Honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay; And Freedom shall awhile repair. And dwell a weeping hermit there.
--_Collins_