Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-09-05
YANKEE TRICKS,
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT.

Common consent is very queer sponsor.
Common consent makes wits of stupiditics,
fools of wise men, gaIlants of Josephs, and
rascals of honest individuals. Common
consent stamped Yankees in their first
days, as shrewd, incompatible trcksters.
and common consent was pretty near right
just at that time. Whether the Yankees
are match for opposition now, We leave to
older, and wiser heads to determine. We
gained our independence by sheer force of
arms. Now and then fortune would favor
orr side with an extraordinary good
event or circumstance, but not very frequent.
ly. 1t was fight twenty times where il was
vancouver successfully once. The En-
gish, always on the look ont for squalls and
Yankee tricks not unlrequently deceived
themselves in the most ludcrous manner.
In the month of May, 1914, Sir James
Voc, with fleet o! vessels to the number OF
thirteen, of various-'aes, appeared of the
mouth of the Genesee, threatening to annihi-
late Rochester, and destroy every improve
ment and person in the vicinity. Grca,
alarm was created by this. Messengers
were sent out at once throughout the country
W. pColbC "SsO uIOuSCu@llhC
the fiery cross of Rhoderic Dhu, the sum-
mons sped, and what think We, was the re.
suit In Rochester there were then Just
thirty three people capable of bearing arms
and about a half dozen came TO help them
Truly formidable army TO repel an En-.
glish fleet and oppose clever ofi.shoo, Of
the British forces. The first thing that the
little band of Americans did was to throw ur
breast work-rude and slighl-near deer
hollow, beside the Lower Falls. This breast
work was called Fort Bender. They then
hurried down the junction of the Genesee
and Lake Ontario, because there the enemy
declared they would land. They left behind
them two old men, wit, several small boy.
| to remove the woren and children into the
woods in case the British SHOULD land for the
provisions, aud the destruction of the bridge
at Rochester.
The Rochester forces were commanded
by Francis Brown and Elisha Ely, who &C.
ted as captans.-The Americans were ele
gantly accouired in various garments o.
shapes and makes almost anlideluvan. Nc
two men were armed with like weapons
Certainly they had all fire arms but they
were not fashioned in the same style. The
discipline Of these troops was as curious as
their costume and equipments. But if they
displayed an awkward front to the warlike
eye, they also exhibited sagaci,y and cour.
age-two qualities quite as much needed as
a pretty uniform and good tactics. The
enemy watched tho on.shore proceedings
with considerable interest. They beheld
as they supposed, numerous bodies of mill.
Tia marching to the head quarters, and pre-.
pairing 10 give them warm reception.
To deceive the British, the forty men had
marched and couatermarchcd through the
whole woods from point to point, in such a
manner as to convince the soldiers in the
vessels that the whole country was aroused
and preparing for action. The British
thought il was high time to be cautious, ant
therefore sent an officer with a flag Of true,
to the shore. One Of the militia captains
with ten of tho best looking and most soldie
like men were sent TO meet the officer. Thu
men carried their arms as upright as nigh
be consistent with their plan of being read.
for action, by keeping hold Of their trigger
i The British officer was astonished. II