Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-10-04

- "e HoTFoFs David soon learned that
party Of royalistss led by Major Wilson
celebrated for his toryisrn and ruthlcssness
were to start early the ensuing day on ar
Ieypedition to seize and hang the two Bun.
4 kers, who had made themselves narticu.
larly obnoxious to the royalist leadefs,-
David knew enough Of this partisan war.
iare to be assured that no mercy would be
shown to his friends; he also knew enough
OF the character Of the major to suspec,
That some strong personal motive had lee
70 the planning Of 50 distant an expedition
when there were others as inyitine neare,
home. Tie accordingly set himself to dis.
cover from his half inebriated companion
the truth. Nor was it long before success,
crowned his adroit ross-examination.
why, you see,' said the host, Il believe
there's little revenge for slight re.
ceived from these fellows sister, mixed m
with the majors desire to catch the B,,n.
kers. The girl is very pretty, they say,
and the major, when she was down here
On visit last year--before the war
wanted to marry her, but she would have
nothing TO say u him. Ever since, he has
avowed to make her rue the day. You
may depend upon it he will have her On
his own terms now--thank Heaven! there !
no law any longer to prevent any honest
royalist from dong as he pleases 10 those
fascally rebels. But yonder is the major
Now, suddenly said his host starting up.
\ will i~pducc you to him at once-a
merry eel~w you'll find him. Lord love
you he's as brave as lion.'
David, though horrified at the diabol-
icai plot he had heard, saw the necessi,y
OF assembling in order to learn further Of
the tories plans, and find means, if possi-
BILE, to circumvent them. He arose. there
fore, and shook the Majors hand warmly.
pledged him Immediately in brimmer;
and soon contrived to make the royalist
believe that he was anxious 10 Join troop
and take part against the rebels. This in
duced the major TO be Unusually civil, for
he wished to secure so athletic a recruit
himself. II was not long before bargain
had been concluded between the two
David refused, however, to sign the agree
ments that night, he pretended that several
others Of his friends were disaffected and
desiroas If joining the loyalists; and his
object, he said was to secure commission
for himself by inducing them to join. This
tempting bait took; the major promised
him q command in his troop, in case Of sue
cess, and David signified his intention Of
setting forth after he had taken few hours
rest. In order to lose no time in gathering
The dread of discovery had been con-
stantly before our hero during the manage
ment Of this negotiation, for his person was
well known to many Of the majors troop,
and il any Of them had come up, his feigned
name would not have protected him from
detection. He wished to get off that night
as he had proposed, but to this neither his
host Nor the major would hear and he was
forced to remain till morning. What was
his anguish to hear, on rising, that the
major had been gone some hours, and was
already on his way to the Bunkers, with
his troops. Descending his anxiety, Da-
vid partook Of a hasty breakfast, and mount
ing his horse, rode slowly away. But
when out Of sight Of the house he struck
into fierce gallop, which he continued
till he came in sight Of cross road where
was . tavern. Here he stopped and learn
ing that the royalists had taken the high
road, he turned aside into narrow and
more scircuitous one.
1T is my only chance to avoid them,' he
said, again dsshing into gallop. Pray
God, may reach the settlement in time to
collect few Of our lads and march TO the
Bunkers. There is no other hope now
left
Night had fallen, as they expected, be-
fore the tories were able to reach their des-
tination. At length, however, after a ST.
lent march through the woods, it broke
upon their view. A light was burning in
one Of the windows, and when they ar
rived close to the premises. the lively
notes Of violin reached their ears, prov
ing that the brothers were not aware Of
their presence, but enjoying themselves in
imagined security.
Now, men, whispered the leader Of the
tories when give the word, 6rea yolley
at the house BY way Of introducing our
selves: we will then surround the place
and enter it,
At that instant the. deep bay Of q dog
rang in their ears, and large mastiff
sprang from under the house and rushed
at the major.
ssFire!' ha cried.
Twenty guns broke upon The stiffness
Of the night--the dog fell dead every pane
sof glass in the front Of tho house was shiv-
cred, aud the tories yelled like savsges.-
In an instant the light in the house was
extinguished--the violin as quickly ceased,
and noise was heard at the door. The
,t0siesl isnnediately made rush at it. Bot
Il was already barred, and being made Of
stout oak plank, resisted all their efforts.
A rifle cracked from one Of the upper wins
dows, and one Of the tories fell desperately
wosnded. Another report spccseied, and
another tory fell, and Major Wilson was
now fully aware that both Bankers were
at home and wide awake. "A shed turned
the rain from the front Of The house, and
underneath this, the tories, shielding them
selves from the fire Of the .Bunkers, went
to work At the door. Suspscting such re-
si,snnce perhsps from his knowledge Of
their character.-one ofthe menhad brought
an axe, with which he commenced heW1t<
1t The door, and soon cut It to pieces.
Here desDer1fe battle ensiied. The two