Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-28
From the N. Y. Express.
AMERICAN WOMEN.

Who ofus has not admired the number !
less instances Of female heroism and pnlrl- !
otism, sprinklcd over the pages OF American
history, more numerous and more brilliant
to the heart than are TO the eye all the gems
that ever adorned the crowns Of the :mpc-
rial world. Such examples, for instances,
as were seen IN our own city. The vile
and daughters of an American general III
all The leisure hours oi'day and evening de-
voting themselves to their country, gaihcr-
ing themselves socially together and there
designing & executing all that noble hearts
and industrious bands could do Tor the hun.
pry and ha!fcIad soldiers of the revolution.
The wife and daughters of tie brave Put
nam were thus, in New York, with n for
elm foe within a gun shot OF their dwell
Ing, devoted to the cause Of liberty, and 1t
was this very sight which ma lie the heart ol
the wife Of a distinguished British officer
publickly acknowledge, with tears III her
eyes that she TURNED HER BACK UPON LIB
ERTY when she lett the shores ol America.
The story OF Mary Hillman of Tisbury, Ms
a woman, now mlirm and old, and petit
ioner Tor relief 10 the present Congress, is
one recently made familiar to us. The
commander of a British ship the Unicorn
somewhere in the year l77G, is in want Of
a spar for his ship. A Liberty Pole erect
ed by 'jhe rebels" is the only stick ol Tim
Der that can be Obtained, and some Of the
citizens, whose love Of gOin is greater than
their love for an emblem of liberty, or per-
haps not having the substance lheycare not
for the shadow, barter away their liberty
pole Ia1 "a small pilance to the British COM
mander. Upon the night succeeding tie
purchase, Mary Himan, then about fifteen
years of age, with two other girls by the
names OF Parnel Manler aud Horiah Allen
destroyed this lberly-pole, by boring holes
10 it and filing them with powder; she then
set fire To the pole and totally split i; to pie
ces on the spot, thereby preventing the beu-
eft that would have accrued from this sale
of,he liberty pole 70 the enemy, and taking
the standard or colors from an invading en-
emv. Such instances are by no means rare,
and in conclusion we publish two or three
additional anecdotes which will lorcbly il
luslrae The extent and strength Of This pat
| riotic feeling:
To Mrs Pinckney, the wife Of Col. Chs.
/ Pinckney, British officer once said, ''it is
| impossible not to admire the intrepid firm
ness of the ladies OF your country. Had
your men but half the resolution, we might
give up the contcst-America would he III
vincibe."
Mrs Daniel Hall having obtained perms
sion to pay a visit 10 her mother on John,
Island. was on The point Of emharking wher
an officer stepped forward in the most AT.
thoritative manner and demanded the key
of her trunk.
"Whot do you expect 10 find there" as
ked The lady.
81 seek for treason" was the reply.
"You may save yourself The trouble o
search then" said Mrs Hall, you may fine
plenty OF il al my tongues end"
An officer, distinguished by his inhuman
lily and constant oppression TO the unlort
unaie, meeting Mrs Chs Elliot in garden
adorned with great variety OF flowers. as
ked the name Of the chamomie which ap
peared TO flourish in peculiar uxuriance.
"The rebel flower" she replied.
"Why was that name given 10 il ?" ask
ed the officer.
"Because," rej6ined the lady, "it thrive
most when most trampled upon"