The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-09-19

British officers or experienced scgeans, often head
ed poties that spproached the shore in silence during
tho night and attacked outposts. Once they sue
coded in surprising and capturing an on''e' anu
twenty men, without the loss Of man on their part
Gen. Washington determined to relieve the forces heu'
the bay and our regiment was the one rom winch
the selection was made. The arrangement oil our
guard, as near as | can rccollect, was as ioliows'
A body of $50 men were stationed short distance
inland In advance Of these were several outposts'
consisting of an officer and thirty men each. The
sen,inos were so near MS TO meet in their rounds and
were relieved in every two hours. II CHANGED, one
dark and windy night that Lilly and myself were SEN
tnels on adjoining posts. All the sentnes were d.
rected to fire at the least alarm, and retreat to tho
guard, where were to make the best defence 1--WE
could until supported by the detachment in the rear
In front Of strip of woods, and the bay was
SO near that could hear the dashing Of the waves.
1t was near midnight, and occasionally star to be
seen through the flying clouds The hours passed
heavily and cheerlessly away. The wind at times
ronred through the adjoining woods with astonishing
violence. In pause of the storm, as the wind died
suddenly away, and heard only moaning ut dis
tance,l was startled by an unusual noise in the woods
ed that heard the heavy tread of body of men and
the rafting of cartridge boxes AS met Lilly, in
formed him of my suspicious. All had been quiet in
the rounds, but he would keep good watch and fire
tho least alarm. We separated, and had marched
but a few rounds when heard the following
sation. Stand The answer from a speaker
rapidly approaching, and in low constrained voice.
'Sand yourself, and you shall not be injured. If
you fire. you are dead man. If you remain where
you are, you shall not be harmed. If you move, /
will run you through
Scarcely had he spoken, when saw the flash, aud
heard the report of Liily's gun saw a black
rapidly advancing, at which fred and with all the
sentines rereated to the guard, consisting of thirty
ment commanded by ensign. An old barn had
served them for guard house, and they barely had
time TO turn land parade in the road las the British
getting over fence within six rods Of us, the
number Of eighty, as we supposed. We fired upon
them land reteatcd in good order towards the deatc
men in the rear The enemy, disappointed Of their
expected prey, pushed US hard but re-
inlorced and they in their turn compelled to
treat, and followed them their heels TO the boats.
We found the next mornig that poor Frank Lilly, af-
ter discharging his musket, was followed so close by
the enemy that he unable get over fence, and
he was run through with bayonet. 1t was apparent
however, that there had been violent struggle. But
in front Of his post British non-commssioned Of
fcer, one of the best formed men ever saw, shot
directly through the body. He died in great agones,
as the ground wasstorn up with his hands, and he
had bitten the dust. We discovered long traces OF
blood, but never knew the extent of the enemy's
loss. Poor Riley took Lilys death much at heart
that he never afterwards the he previously
had been. He became Indifferent and neglected his
duty. There was something remarkable in the
Of his death. lie tried for his life and SEN
fenced to be shot During the trial and subsequently
he discovered an indifference truly astonishing On
the day Of his execution, the fatal cap was drawn o.
his eyes, and he was caused to kuee in front of
the whole army Twelve men were detailed for the
purpose of executing him, but pardon had been
granted, unknown to Riey,n consequence of his age
and services; they had cartridges The word
ready gwen and the cooking of the guns could
be distinctly heard At the word stire Riley fell
dead upon his face, when not gun had been dis
| charged.