American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-07-08
ron THE wATcHMAN.
Revolutionary "Reminiscences.

luton and as, perhaps some may be grauned WIN
20, !, ia in NV power to rccollect piopose to pay
he d,bt Of amusement that owe to others, by at,
,.mot;np some account of what saw and expert
rnced during the time when, 1t has been wen sao'
!. mems souls we're tried" However amusing II
may be to some. to read IN newspaper Ne uet
of bloody rencounter or OF sanguioary campaign
vet when these things come to be realized 10 our
own experience, they appear IN totally oinelent
ljpht. And although such was the experience OF
both men and aronen during the progress OF inc
awful contest in which the American Colonies were
engaged for about eight years-yet 10 inc ooyS q
that day. it was source OF amusement, as lew oan'
gerous scenes or circumstances TOOK place WIN"
the bounds OF this Borough; though some trans
pired that were not only painful to the immediate
sufferers, hut also to those who saw the punish
ments inflicted and heard their cries.
When The British troops took possession OF WI
minptop. in I717, was boy OF about IA years OF
age, and though somewhat alarmed, at hrst' ny ne"
faces and the broad Scotch and Hessian Dutch IAN
guages, also new to me, yet lew weeks renoerea
me very familiar with many Of the officers and SOL
diers OF both these nations-and being OF playful
dsposition became favourite with several wound.
ed officers Young men, who we're billeted in the
house adjoining that in which lived. But before
| 7 proceed TO detail the little know OF revolutionary
affairs, feel disposed to mention the earliest I'm.
nressons that received in relation to war. Several
years before the commencement oil Inc reYolutloh,
soldier Of the British troops 10 the Colonies, NAG
deserted and took shelter in this town, where, II
recollect Alright, he had been concealed consider
able time and when at length he was discovered
a sergeant and file Of soldiers were sent alter him
and apprehented him. They were IN iuil military
array-And were striking novelty to the town. and
more especially 10 the boys, who followed them
bout the streets as an object OF the highest curl,
osity and such indeed they were to us and pre-
sumo to the citizens of the Borough generally, as
it was an extremely rare circumstance to see
soldier in the place. Alter they had got possession
Of their prisoner, they we're detained some time in
the town. negotiating for his release-and boy like,
| followed them about the streets and into store
near where lived. In the Store remarked that
the officer was most io,mdaby armed with what
was to my young IDEAS Tremendous instrument =
hough it was nothing more than common cut and
Unjust sword yet as he U.s. It as walking STICK
and occasionally leaned heavily upon 1t, was sur
lprised to see how il benz and RECLAIMED Its straight
direction. This circumstance gave me my hist
IDEAS Of soldier, and the impression was deep
l9ne-as soldiers and especially English soldiers.
were 10 us boys truly terrible race oil men. These
had been successful in detecting the ceserer, whom
they led about the town prisoner and probably
handt ufed or tied; and as we did not know but he
would be shot Tor his crime, our sensations on the
occasion, are not easily described. The deserler,
Ihumanely offering to pay sum OF money 10 ran
som him from death and he long continued here
as aborer, and for years lived in the employ
ment Of one Of our ancient and valuable citizens
who will now recolIect these circumstances parcu.
! larly The soldier died in this Borough, and was
Inferred in one OF our burying grounds.
In the year l777 the Battle OF Brandyuine wa'
fought on grounds that have often passed over.
have stood on the spot from whence Howe directed
1.-The operations OF his troops-a beautiful elevation
which, il is said, he declared presented one OF ths
finest views that he had in America. 1t is, ir
truth. charming spot-from which thirty farms
may be seen at that season when the view is no
obstructed by the abundant foliage. From thi
situation may also be seen Birmingham Meeting
:. House and hill contiguous on the northern sid
j Of which and in the burial ground, the heat of thu
contest took place. After the battle, the Ameri
cans ietreated by way of Dilworth's Town, TO Con
T, cord, and thence towards Philadelphia. Som
j; years afterwards one OF the Delaware militia VIII
); was in that engagement having discovered IN
conversation with my vile, that she was we'll &C
I'D quanted with Birmingham and its nelghborhood
inquired Of her whether there was not small tow
within short distance OF the meeting house, an
was surprised to find that it was several miles of
= as he " had run that distance in short time tn;
he had been in the habit of considering it but aoot
&c one fourth oil a mileo The British troops, afte
H. the battle, took possession Of Wilmington on III
en- night preceding market-day. Next morning. whe
Err, my father early to go TO market, on openn
ia the door he observed red coats in the street.
ale perhaps had been expecting visit of that kind
and yet he was not prepared to admit such sisito
INTO his house. He had always been denominated
whig, and my brother was, at the time, soldier
militia company. and probably had been engage
in military exercise the day preceding, as his e,
and other accoutrements stood behind the front doc
Finding who had got possession of the town, n
-, Sc father Immediately cosrd the door and summons
ss,,. me to assist him in secretng the arms which
en- did SO eectually that they caused US any d
ilty turbance In the course Of my rambes about d