The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-06-20

der command of Major were sent on the
farm, who commenced driving the stock
and collecting them together ina field near
the house preparatory to taking them to the
road. The stock was large and consisted
of horses, horned cattle, sheep, hogs &c.
The family having had previous notice of
wha, was going on in the neigborhood, con-
ceaed one COW, and as many sheep as they
could in the celer. Mr.. Holmes, the mas
ter of the family, anil owner of the farm and
stock, was absent at the time, but was COM
ing home when he was met by the Major
at considerable distance from the house,
who informed him of his orders-Holmes
disputed their right, and said they should
not strip the farm. Holmes was at the time
afflicted with a severe bile OH his arm, and
had that arm in sling. The Major caus-
ed him to he taken off his horse, his arms
to be pinioned and his feet tied, and then
laid on the ground to prevent his in,erfer-
ance, and then ordered his men to proceed
as speedily as possible, as they had but
little time to work n." All this the women
were Ignorant of-but finding strangers
driving up the stock, and no man on the
farm to interfere, came to the rescue
Mrs. Holmes, the wife, Prudence Wea-
yer, hired domestic, and Sally Allen, a
young woman of the neighborhood, who
happened to be there, aided by the farm dog,
boldly sailed forth in defence of the premi-
ses The women filled their aprons with
stones, with which to disperse the sheep,
this with the aid of the dog they soon ef-
fected-much sooner than the soldiers had
collected them
This conduct, on the part OF the women,
so snraged the Major that he drew his
sword and threatened to kill Mrs. Holmes,
(fhc General of this amazonian 6and,) if
if they did not desist. She told him no.
she would sooner " sell her life on the spot
than suffer hoof to be taken away" Mrr.
Holmes retreated few steps backward.
but face to the foe, from the point of the
Majors sword, which brought he- back a
galnst stone wall, when lie thrust his
swords's point through her clothes and
thick pair of stays, which she had on, SO rs
to raise the skin on her breast, a little.
Prudence, having by this time out hanked
the Major, got round to the other side Of
The wall with n cord-wood stick in her hand
and then let him have it over the face and
eyes-head and shoulders and thus beat
him off, and rescued her commander!
The stock now being all scattered, the
soldiers were coming to get more energetic
orders from the Major, and being exaspera-
ted before, and now, seeing Prudence,
welding her cudgel, cried out Major !!
Major !" 6" Let us shute the Tory B."
lone of them even cried from excess Of
anger.) At this request ofthe soldiers, Sal
Iy Allen put herself in a menacing attitude,
and, and with her right hand drawn back,
with good stone in it, rejoined "Sh-u-t-e
Shu-te and be d--d to you, towards "
At this stage of the action two armed ves-
sells made their appearance standing into
the River; when the Major and his men
took the alarm, and with the alarm took TO
their heels, fearing they should be taken,
before they could get Off the Island The
stock on that farm was thus saved-not a
hoof was taken away.
The American troops reirea,ed and got
off the Island without my fighting, and
without any other loss than a few pieces Of
heavy cannon.
On Sunday the Sth. OF Dec. the Trans
port William Henry, came down and landed
the 32d Regiment at the long wharf On
the same day the main army landed at
Stoddard's shore, in MiddIetown, and on
Mooday December 10th, they marched in
to Newport. The fleet came down and the
Men-of War anchored in the outer. and the
Transports in the inner harbor The army
consisted Of about 5000 men, English and
Hessians.
Persons were appointed to take an sc-
count Of every house, in every street in
Town, and report its capacity and number
Of persons inbobiting the same, when esch
householder was compelled 10 assign a
part Of the rooms to the use of the army,
which was thus quauered during every win
ter of their stay; butt the summer they
were mostly encamped out Of the cornpsc,
part Of the town.
The nrmy found moro ample winter
quarters 10 Newport 10 consequence Of one