The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-06-08
From the Bellows Fails lnteuigencer
AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLT
TI0E
RELATED BY AN OLD SOLDIER.

.Jonathan Riley, from Hartford,
Connecticut, was a sergeant In our re-
gimeut. He had served under Gen.
Amherst in the old French war, and
was with the ~provincials at the taking
of Havana. 1t was said that he was dis
sipated when young, and addicted to
many bad habits, but when knew him,
he was of a reading turn, very sedate
and religious. This man was often Sc.
lected for dangerous and trying situa-
tions, and his uniform courage and pre-
u of mind insured him success. ]
have said he was of q reading turn,-
every man in our regiment excepting
one could read and write, whichis moro
than can be said of any British regi-
ment. He was at length placed on a re-
cruiting station, and in q short period
enlisted a great number of young men.
Among his recruits was Frank Lilley,
a boytabout Is years of age, a weak and
puny lad who would not, perhaps, have
passed muster, were we not greatly IN
want Of men. The soldiers made this
boy the but of their ridicule, and many
d. sorry Joke was uttered at his expense.
They told him to swear his legs, in o.
eher words to get them insured. Yet
there was something about him inter-
estine. and at times he discovered q spi-
Tit beyond his years. To this boy for
some unknown cause, Riley became
greatly attached, and seemed to pity
him from the bottom of his heart. Of
ten on our long and fatiguing marches,
diving almost from want, harrassed In.
c~essantly by the enemy, has Riley car
ried the boys knapsack for miles, and
many a crust for the poor wretch was ga
we'd from his scanty allowance. But
Frank Lilly's resolution was, once, the
cause of saving a whole detachment.
The American army was encamped at
Eliz abethtown. The soldiers station.
ed about foar miles from the main body,
near the bay that separates the contl-
nent from Staten leland, forming an
advance picked guard, were chosen from
a southern regiment and were contln.
ually deserving. 1t was q post of some
danger, as the young ambitious British
officers, or experienced sergeants, often
headed parties that approached he
shore in silence during the night and at
tackled our outposts. Once they sue.
ceeded in surprising and capturing an
officer end twenty men, without the
loss of a m an on their part. Cen
Washington determined to relieve the
force near the bay, and our regiment
was the n from which the selection
was made. The arrangement OF our
guard. as near a. l can recollect was as
follows:-A body of two hundred and
fifty men were stationed a short distanc
inland. In advance of these were seve-
raj outposts, consisting of an officer and
thirty men each. The sentinels were SO
near as to meet In their rounds, and
were relieved every two hours. Itchan.
ced one dark and windy night. that Liz
ly and myself were sentinels on adJoin.
ing posts. All the sentinels were dlrec-
ted to fire on the least alarm. and re.
treat to the guard, where we were to
make the best defence we could, until
supported by the detachment in u
rear. In front of me was a strip of
woods, and the bay was SO that | could
hear the dashing of the waves. 1t was
near midnight and occasionally a star
to be seen through the flying clouds.
The hours passed heavily and chserless-
ly away. The wind at times reared
through the adjoining woods with as
tonishing violence. In a pause of the
storm, as the wind died suddenly away,
and was heard only moaning at q dis
tance-I was startled by an unusual