Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-12-20


worldlings are not worthy. often heard
them repent the story of their suferings and
sorrows, but always with grateful acknowl-
Judgements TO Him who guides the destinies
Of men as well as nations.
One morning when returning from the
old Fly market at the foot of Maiden Lane,
| noticed two of these old soldiers in the
sugar house yard they had only three legs
between them-one having a wooden leg
| stopped moment TO listen to their con-
versation, and as they were slowly moving
from the yard, said TO them
Gentlemen, do either of you remember
this old buldingP
Aye indeed | shall never forget it, re-
piled he of one leg. For twelve months,
that dark hole pointing TO the cellar, was
my only home And at that door saw the
corpse of my brother thrown into the dead
cart, among heap Of others, who died in
the night previous, Of jail fever While the
fever was raging we were let out, in compa-
MES Of twenty, for half an hour at a time,
TO breathe the fresh air; and inside we were
so crowded that we divided our number in
to squads Of six each. No. stood ten min
utes as close TO the window as they could
crowd, to catch the cool air, and then step
ped back, when No. 2 took their places !;
and so on. Seats we had none and our
beds were but straw on the floor with YER
min intermixed. And there continued he,
pointing with his cane to brick in the wall
is my kil-time wo-k-'A. V. S. l777,' viz:
Abraham Van Sickler-which scratched
with an old nail. When peace came some
learned the fate Of their fathers and brothers
from such initials
My home being near by, asked them to
step in and take bite. In answer to my
inquiry as 10 how he lost his leg, he related
the following circumstances.
In l777. said he, i was qnartered at
Bellyille. N. j., with a part of the army,
under Col Cortlandt. General Howe had
possession of New York, at the same time,
and we every moment expected an attack
from Henry Clinton. Delay made us less
vigilant, and we were surprised, defeated,
and many slain and made prisoners. We
marched from Newark, crossing the Pas
sale and Hackensac rivers in boats The
road through the swamp was corduroy,
that is, pine trees laid side by side
In September, 1895, travelled this road
and found il in the same condition.
We were confined he continued, in
this sugar house, with hundreds who had en-
tered before us. At this time, the brick
meeting house, the North Dutch Church,
the Protestant Church in Pine street, were
used as jails for the prisoners while the
South Presbyterian Church in Cedar street,
(now house of merchandise, was occupi-
ed as hospital for the Hessian soldiers, and
the Middle Dutch Church for riding school
for their cavalry. j well remember il was
on Sabbath morning-as If in contempt
of Him whose house they were Decorating
that they first commenced their riding OPP
erations in said Church. On that same day
vessel from England arrived, laden with
powder, ball and other munitions Of war
She dropped anchor in the East River, OPP
posite the foot Of Maiden Lane. The wealth
er was warm, aud thunder storm came on
in the afternoon. The ship was struck by
thunderbolt from Heaven. Not a vestige
Of the crew, stores or equipments was ever
seen after that The good Wings and A
mericans, all over the country, said that the
God Of Battles had pointed that thunderbolt.
we we're crowded to excess continued
TIC Oiu 'Ctttdis Jul PiV'tSiobo Ddu, SCdtty
and unwholesome, and the fever ragged like
a pestilence. For many weeks the dead
cart visited US every morning, into which
from eight to twelve corpses we're thrown,
piled mp like sticks of wood, with the same
clothes they had worn for months, and in
which they had died, and often before the
body was cold. Thus, every day expecting
death, made up my mind to escape, or die
in the attempt. The yard was surrounded
by close board fence, nine feet high.
informed my friend here of my intention,
aud he readily agreed to follow my plan
The day previous we placed an old barrel,
which stood in the yard, against the fence,
as if by accident Seeing the barrel was
not removed the next day, we resolved to
make the attempt that afternoon. The
fence we intended to scale was on the side
of the yard nearest TO the East River and
our intentions were, if we succeeded in get
ting over, TO make for the river. seize the
I first boat we could, aud push for Long Isl
and
Two sentnels walked round The building
day and night, always meeting aud passing
each other at the ends of the prison. They
were only about one minute out Of sight,
and during this minute We mounted the bar
rel and cleared the fence. i dropped upon
stone and broke my leg, so that lay still
at the bottom of the fence outside. We
we're missed Immediately and pursued
They stopped moment to examine my leg,
aud this saved my friend for by the time
they reached the waters edge, at the loo. OF
Maiden Lane, he was stepping on shore at
Brooklyn, and thus got clear. was carried
TO my old quarters, and rather thrown than