Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-09-21
AN ODD CIRCUMSTANCE.

During our struggle for independence, a
queer transaction occurred at tavern not
many miles from Germantown, between an
American and British soldier. 1t was on
the day prior to the battle at Germantown,
vet fresh in the recollection Of many of our
citizens, that weary traveller, with a
duck gun of a large bore resting on his
shoulder, demanded nght's lodging at a
public house on the high road his bare
feet, brimless hat, and torn clothing, GER
tainly left no good impression on the mind
of the tavern keeper, as to the likelihood of
his ever beng paid for his meals or lodg-
ing; but mine host being a true Amerl-
can, and recognizing the traveller at once
to be provincial he literally extended
to him the comforts of his house and home.
The soldier being weary, retired 10 bed
shortly after his arrival About an hour
after, the tralnping Of the feet of horse
was heard in front of the tavern, and before
the bar keeper could open the door, the
heavy tread of man was heard on the piaz-
IN of the house.-The scarlet coat and rich
epauettes of the new conner at once con-
vnced the Major Domo that he was an
English officer. lie entered the bar room,
unloosed his sword belt, and inperatively
called fer supper and II bed. Here was u
dilemma; there was but the one bed-a
double bed, by the way--in the house, and
it was occupied by the American private.
The landlord at length hcsitating|y declar-
ed thatunless he would condcscend to sleep
with fellow traveller he could obtain no
lodgings. IT being several miles to the next
public house, and already late at night, the
officer finally accepted the proposal and
was ushered to his dornliory by the light
of flaming pine knot. The night passed
TRANQUILITY away, if the lusty snoring OF both
travellers be excepted. IN the morning our
provincial private was the first one to
awake. He looked, apparently with much
surprise, at the British officer, who lay qul-
etly breathing with his mouth open, as II
to catch flies. He then examined his tat
tered shirt, pinched himself III the legs and
arms, and then muttcred strange. d--d
strange!' Finally he pinchcd the officer i
nose, who jumped up evidently terrified.
'Who are youp demanded our proyin-
cial.
'Tm a soldier was the reply.
What's your namc.'
'Jacob Ellworth.'
:You're liar: that's my name: I'm
Jake Elworth.'
sNo, you're not that's me- answered the
officer, who by this lime had recovered his
courage.
'What? dye want to tell me that you're
Jake Ellwolth, when I'm Jake himself 7!
>, 81 ,,u,lngf in tIIIl rhI III c
eyes, no how you can fix it'-pultlhg his
thumb to his nose and shaking his fingers
sGve me none of your impudence, sir
/ shall not put up with it, replied the off,
Ger, shaking his fist AT the provincial.
This movement reused the Ire of tho
Yankee to such a degree, that with hi:
cenchcd fist he struck the Briton blow Or
>the face and leveicd him to the bed; "A noIse
ensued, and but few minute elapsed ere
the landlord with his attendants arrived a
the door: each of the combatants appealed
TO him to decide who was the real Jack t'lI'
WORTH and which was the man that hat
come to bed last. The landlord surveyed
them each in their turn, but their faces
their size, and the color Of their hair resem
bled each other SO much that he declared
at length he was unable to distinguish on'
from the other. At this moment the host
Ter arrived at the door with the intelligence
that party Of English soldiers could d d
seen some distance off, marching in the di
recton of the tavern. The officer laughed
and the Yankee looked aghast, but sudden
ly recollecting himself, lie selzed the Eng
lishman's uniform, ran out OF the room an'
ordered the hostler TO saddle his horse. Ii
the yard of the tavern he completed M
dress, mounted the officers steed, and bold
ly meeting the detachment of English sol
dicrs, ordered them to take d--d rebel
whom he had made prisoner at the mex
tavern, to the camp. The man@uure sue
cecded, and the Yankee escaped to tn
American camp. The English officer IN tn
mean time was arrested by his own men, bu
whether the mistake was ever discovered
this deponent saith not.