Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-29

to attack them, under the hope OF recovering
the stolen property, andinnicting such chas-
tisement as might deter them from the COM
mission of similar acts in future. l was on
the advance with twenty men, and made a
dctou 10 cut them of from the caverns, to
which they always fled for shelter, in case of
danger. They observed my movement, and
Immediately detached about fifty of their
number to guard the entrance, while the 9TH
crs retained their post and we could now
distinctly see them collecting huge stones
and other missiles. At this moment, an old
grey-headed Baboon, who had previously
visited us al the barracks, and was known
among the soldiers by the name of Father
Murphy, was seen distributing his orders,
and, with the apparent judgment of most
consummate general, planning the attack
Perceiving that my design was defeated, l
Joined the corp dc main, and rushed on to
the attack, when a scream from Father Muir
ply was the signal for general encounter,
and Immediately the host of Balloons under
his command, rolled down enormous stones
upon US, and we were compelled TO give up
the contest to save our lives-and the glory
to be won by a triumph over such foe, was
not of character 10 make Us at all amb-
tious to gain it at the hazard of our heads
and shins. In our retreat, which was
prompted by what Falstaff' thought the
better part of valar," they actually followed
us TO our doors, shouting, in indication OF
victory; while, during the whole night, we
heard such yelling and screaming, that we
expected a night attack on the barracks in
.to,ll haze, a
,onch ~ re 'murderous saltpetre' and blue
pills. In the n,ccrn';ng, however, we found
tina, all this oulcry hau' been created by DIS
put,-s about the Division - -" h''"het 'o ~
we saw e:oht or ten of them with l'.'ec.> "
it on their backs, amongst the others stru,'.'ed
Father Murphy.
These rascals annoyed US day and night,
and we dared not venture out, unless in par
ties of five or six together. One morning,
Father Murphy had the consummate impu-
dence to walk into tho grenadier barracks,
and was IN the act Of stealing a sergeanl's
rcgimenta coat, when a corpora's guard
(Which had Just been relieved,) took the lib
erty of stopping the gentleman at the door,
and secured him. He was ii powerful brute,
and too much for one man. Notwithstand-
ing his frequent misdemeanors, we did not
like to kill the creature, as we were not GER
tain that he had correct ideas respecting the
laws of neum and tuum so, having frs,
muzzled him, we shaved his head and face,
and turned him loose. To this ceremony
he submitted very quietly, and when thus
shorn and otherwise ttivated, he was really
IA good-looking fellow, and on the whole,
more prepossessing in countenance, than
many OF the fashionable hoods who figure
in Bond street, at the West End. We then
started him up the hill, though he was reuc-
tant to leave us. Some of his companions
came down to meet him, but, from the alter
alton which the shaving produced, they did
not recognize him, and accordingly pelted
him with sticks and stones SO numerically,
that poor Father Murphy actually sought
protection from his former enemies, and in
time became quite tame and domestcated,
and remained with u.s."
An Irish soldier, who had been one of the
22d regiment, IN verifying this last crcum-
stance, said that every word of it was Gods
truth, and that if he (Falher Murphy hadn't
died within the last year, he was still aliye
and at the barracks !-London paper.