Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-08

4
thousand men, knapsacked, armed and
accoutred, swung themselves, one by
one, across the abyss, slender cord
their only support, and an alpine tor
rent their only footing. The terror OF
the Austrian post may be conceived,
when they saw a thousand men rushing
down upon them from the Alps by pas
sages which nature herself had forth
fed with seemingly inaccessible ram
partsi The famous battle Of Narengo
took place Immediately after; and the
construction of the military road of the
Simplon shortened the distance from
Paris to Milan by nearly fifty leagues.
Heroic Exploit of Peter Francisco
While the British army were spread
ing havoc and devastation all around
them by their plunderings and burn.
ings in Virginia in 1871, Peter Fran.
cisco, an American trooper, had been
accommodating, and while stopping at
the house of Mr.. Wand, in Amelia,
county, nine of Tarleton's cavalry
coming up with three negroes told him
he was prisoner. Seeing himself
overpowered by numbers, he made no
resistance; and believing him to be ve-
ry peaceable, they all went into the
house, leaving the paymas,er and Fran
cisco together. He demanded his
watch, money, &c. which being deliv-
cred to him, in order TO secure his plum
der, he put his sword under his arm,
with the hilt behind him, while in the
act of putting a silver buckle in his
pocket; Francisco finding so favoura-
bic an opportunity to recover his liber-
ty, stepped one pace in his rear, drew
the sword with force from under his
arm, and instantly gave him blow
across the scull.
"My enemy" observed Francisco,
"was brave, d though severely wound
ed, drew pistol, and in the same mo-
ment that he pulled the trigger, cut
his head nearly off. The bullet graz
ed my side. Ben Wand, the man of
the house, very ungenerously brought
out musket, and gave it to one of the
British soldiers, and told him to make
use ofthat. He mounted the only horse
they could get, and presented it at my
breast. Itmissed fire; | rushed on the
muzzle Of the gun, A short struggle
ensued. disarmed and wounded him.
Tarleton's troops of 400 men were in
sight. All was hurry and confusion,
which increased with repeated halloo.
ing, as loud as could, 'Come on my
brave boys; now's your time; we will
soon despatch these few, and then at
tack the main body" The wounded
man flew to the troops; the others were
panic struck and fed. | seized Wand
and would have. despatched him, but
the poor wretch begged for his life; he
was not only an object of my contempt
but pity. The eight horses that were
left behind, gave him to conceal for
me. Discovering that Tarleton had
despatched ten more in pursuit of nae,
| made off. ! evaded their vigilance.
They stopped to refresh themselves. /,
like an old fox, doubled, and fell on
their rear. / went next day to Wand
for my horses. He demanded two for
his trouble and generous Intentions
Finding my situation dangerous, and
surrounded by enemies where | ought
to have found friends, went off with
six horses. intended to have reveng-
ed myself on Wand at future day,
but Providence ordained that | should
not be his executioner, for he broke his
neck by a fall from one of the very
horses which he had extorted from
| me-"
| A Gentle Reproof.--There Is no
sound which greets more harshly on
the ear of man of a feeling, generous
disposition, than to hear brutal hus-
band speak harshIy to an amiable wife.
The wretch who can treat aeonaan jill,
deserves the contempt Of his fellow
creatures-but when that woman is
one who looks to him for support, for
kindness and protection--one whose
path through life he is bound brewery
1 noble principle to strew with flowers,
the brute who plants the thorns instead,
like Cain should have mark set upon
his forehead, that he may be known
and summed by every honest man.
But there is many a worthy woman,
who could tell an affecting tale of pa
! tent suffering under unmerited abuse.
| Zachariah Hodgdon was not natural
ly an ill.natured man. 1t was want of
reflection, more than corrupt and un-
1 o,ararouc heart that led him To cnnsId-
| er his wife in the light of an inferior
being, and to treat her more it.e :,
sZnre than an equal. If he noo. ,,,:.l'