American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-07-09


1t was near midnight and occasionally star 20 be
seen through the flying clouds The hours passed
heavily and cheeressly away. The wind at times
roared through the adjoining woods with astonish.
ing violence. In pause of the storm. as the wind
died suddenly away, and was heard only moaning at
a distance II W as startled by an unusual noise in
the woods before me. Again listened attentive
" and imagined that heard the heavy tread Of
body OF men, and the rafting of cartridge boxes.
AS met Lilly informed him of my SUSPICION
All had been quiet in the rounds but he would keep
lgoodwatch, and fire on the least alarm We sepa-
rated and had marched but a few rods, when
heard the following conversation STAND The
answer was fIom speaker rapidly approaching,
and III low constrained voce.-Stand Yourself and
you shall not be injured. If you fire you are dead
man III you remain where you are you shall not
|be harmed Ifyou mnye will run you through.
Scarcely had he spoken, when | saw the flash
and heard the report of I.illys gun. saw black
mass rapidly advancing, at which fired, and with
laIl the sentinels rereated to the guard consisting
OF thirty men, commanded by an ensign. An old
loarn had served them tor guard house, and they
6arey had time to turn out, and parade in the road
las the British were getting over fence within
six rods of U.S. to the number of eighty as was sup
posed We fired upon them and reiterated in good
order towards the detachment in the rear The
Ienemy disappointed of their expected prey pushed
their turn compelled TO retreat, and we follow
ed them at their heels to the boats.
we found, the next morning, that poor Frank
Lilly after dscharging his musket, was followed so
close by The enemy that he unable to get over
a fence, and he was run through with bayonet.--
1t was apparent however that there had been yio-
lent struggle But in front of his post there was a
british non commissioned officer one of the best
formed men ever saw, shot directly through the
III a HIoF
tore up by his hands, and he had literally bitten the
dust. We discovered long traces of blood but new
er knew the extent of the enemy's loss. Poor Ri
icy TOOK Llllys death so much TO heart that he
er afterwards was the man he previously bad been.
| tie became Indifferent and neglected his duty
| There was something remarkable 10 the manner Of
ms death. He was tried for his life and sentenced
70 be shot, During the trial, and subsequently, he
discovered an indifference truly astonishing On
the day OF his execution, the fatal cap was drawn O.
yer his eyes, and he was caused to kneel in front Of
the whole army. Twelve men were detached for
the purpose OF executing him, but as pardon had
been granted unknown to Riley, in consequence Of
MS age and services, they had no cartridges The
word ready was given, and the cooking Of the guns
could be distinctly heard AT the word fire Riley
eil dead upon his face, when not a gun had been
discharged.
1t was said that Frank Lilly was the fruit Of one
u AhSy oiu ioFc atIarS Win beautiful and un-
fortunate girl. There was sad story concerning
her late, but am old now and have forgotten it,
Letter from an Aunt in ireland, 10 her .Nthhew.
DEAR NEPHEw--T have not written to YOU
since my last before now, because as we had moved
from our former place of living, did not know
where letter would find you; but now with plea
sure take my pen to inform you of the melancholy
news OF the death OF your only living uncle Kilpa--
trick, who died very suddenly last week after lin
Igerng illness of FIVE months. The poor man was
| in violent commissions the whole time of his sick
mess, laying perfectly quiet, and speechless all the
while calling for water. had no opportunity Of in
forming you Of his death sooner, except had wrote
lyou by last post which went off two days before he
died, and then you would have had postage to pay
am at loss to tell what his death was occasoned
oy, but fear was brought by his last sickness,
tor he was never well ten days together, during the
whole time of his confinement, and believe his
sickness was occasioned by his eating too much OF
RABBITS, stuffed with peas and gravy, or peas and
Igrasy stuffed with rabbits, ! can't tell which bue
be that as it will, as as he breathed his ase
| the doctors gave over all hopes OF his recovery.
| need not tell you any thing about his age, for
lyou well know that in December next he would
have been 25 years old lacking ten months, and
had he lived till then he would then have been JUST
SIX months dead.-IIis property now devolyes on
his next OF kin who all died some time ago, so that
expect it will be divided between us, and you know
his property was something very considerable, for
he had fine estate which was sold to pay his debts;
and the remainder he lost in horse race; but il
was the opinion of every body at the tine, that he
would have won the race, if the horse he ran AGAINST
had not been too fast for him. never saw q man,
and the doctors all say so, that observed directions
and took medicine better than he did He said he
had as leave drink cruel as vine if it had only the
o,Irun -
stake If it had the same relish But poor soul he
will never eat or drink more and you have not
living relation in the world except myself and your
two cousins who were killed in the Hast war. can't