Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-10


them. At that moment the fellows fired
and wounded an already wounded English
soldier, who was behind me; poor fellow,
| pitied him exceedingly, but at that mo-
ment had no power to relieve him."
On the house i'm which Madame Reide-
sci took shelter, the Americans kept up
smart cannonade, supposing the British
Generals we're 10 it; it contained, how
ever, none bot wounded and women.
I" We were at last obliged to resort to
the cellar for refuge, and in Que corner of
ibis ! remained the whole day, my children
sleeping on the earth With their heads ia
my lap; and 10 the same situation pass
ed sleepless night Eleven cannon balls
passed through the house, and We couid
distinctly hear them roll away. One
poor soldier who was lying on the table,
for the purpose of having his leg ampn-
tated. was struck by shot which carried
away his other; his comrades bad left him
in corner Of the room, into which he
had crept more dead than alive, scarcely
breathing"
The want Of water obliged her TO drink
wiue aud TO give it to her children. The
constant danger Of her husband kept her
10 state of wretchedness, of trembling
anxiety; he never entered his tenebp re-
pose, but lay whole nights by the watch
fire in the cold month Of October. The
want of water became more distressing
every day; soldiers wife was the only
person who would venture TO the river to
fetch any, as the Americans fired on eve-
ry male person who approached the river,
but FROM respect to her sex they never
molested her. Six days the Baroness re-
manned in this situation in cellar and in
the midst of misery; yet she had sufficient
fortitude to be of great service in attend
ing the wounded, and she freely impaired
to them such nourishment as she was able
TO offer. At one time she gave food pre-
pared for her own dinner t0 Canadian
officer, who had scarcely the power To-
hold himself up--worn out with fatigue
and hunger. She undertook the care Of
Major Bloomfield, awho had received a
musket ball through both cheeks. which
10 its course had knocked out several Of
his teeth, and cut his tongue, he could
hold nothing in his mouth and the matter
which ran from his wound almost choked
him;" under the care Of the Baroness and
| by the aid Of such restoraiiyes as she aa-
lpiied, he recovered TO be ever grateful TO
his kind friend. During these six days,
her husband, accompanied by Gen. Phi
lips, paid one visit TO the cellar, when the
latter said, / would not for 10000
guineas come again to this place, my heart
is almost broken"
A cessation now took place, and coa-
vention was agreed on. 1t was proposed
in council Of war, TO break this conven-
ton, but the majority were for adhering
Ito it. On the 18th Gen. Reidesel again
had 10 repair to his post, and his wife
once more to her gloomy subterranean
apartment. The subsequent transactions
are thus related by the Baroness.
On the 18th Oct. the convention was
completed. Geui Bnrgoyue and the other
Generals waited on the American General
Gates j the troops laid down their arms,
and gave themselves up prisoners of war
and now the good woman who bad sup
piled us with water at the hazard OF her
life, received the reward Of her services;
each of us threw handful of money into
her apron, and she got altogether about
twenty guineas. At such moment as
this, how susceptible is the heart of feel
ings of gratitude -
My husband sent message to me to
come over to him with my children. I
seated myself once more in my dear ca-
lash, and then rode through the American
camp. As passed on, / observed (and
this. was q great consolation TO mel that
no one eyed me with looks of resentment,
but that they all greeted us, aud even
showed compassion in their couDtenances
at the sight Of woman, with small chill
dren. was, / confess, afraid to go over
to the enemy, as it was quite new situa-
ton to me. When drew near the tents,
a handsome man approached and met me,
took my children from the calash, and
Rugged and kissed them, which affected
me almost to tears. " You tremble," said
he, addressing himself TO me, be not
afraid" aNo,' answered, "you seem
so kind aud tender to my children, it in-
spires me with courage" He now led me
to the tent of Gen. Gates. where found
Generals Burgoype and Philips, who were
on friendly footing with the former.
Burgoyne said TO me, "never mind, your
sorrows have now an end" | answered
him that should be reprehensible to have
any cares, as he had none; and | was
pleased to see him on such friendly foot
ing with Gen. Gates. All the generals
remained to dine with Gen. Gates"
/" The same gentleman who received
me so kindly, now came and said TO me,