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

uttcrable, and with swelling crest said:
Sir, do you receive flag of truce under
arms.
Excuse me, beg you,' said the Amer-
| can captain, I'VE are not soldiers, only back
woodsmen, and know more about Telling
trees and following the pillow, than of militia
ry tactics : saying which the American, to
rectify his first error, ordered his men to
ground arms.
This, of course, still more astonishcd the
Brton. He looked indignant-then suspl-
cious-then little terrified, and at last de.
livcred brief message in haste, and incont-
nently sought the fleet again. lie declared
that the ignorance of tactics was fcigned, to
draw the Commodore into snare, and in
formed those who sent him that some YAM
kee trick was under process of develop.
ment.
The British wanted tho spoils, but they
were too suspicious TO attempt a landing, if
by making compromise, they could secure
IA part of them. Accordingly another Off
Ger, with another flag Of truce, was sent to
parley. Captain Francis Brown was this
time depu,ed to receive the officer. Brown
took guard with him.
The British officer looked very suspicious
ly upon Brown and upon the guard. lie
conversed with the utmost caution, as though
he expected either TO find trap door or
springing mine beneath his feet. After
spending a short time in conversation, the
officer suddenly discovered that the width
and clumsy aspect Of Captain Browns gar
ment beokened something not exactly right.
He thought that Brown was a regular off,
Ger Of the American army, aud that his regl-
menlals were masked for some stratagem EN-,
by clumsy and hastily made ovei clothes.
Impressed with this idea, the Britain sudden
ly grasped Browns pantaloons by the knee,
exclalming half loosely, while he handled
; the cloth most firmly.
'What a pity such excellent CLOTH should
be spoiled by "a bunglng tailor
Brown smell out the subject of the officers
movement, and quick witled, he carelessly
replied
'Oh! l was this morning prevented from
dressing fashionable, by my haste TO meet
distinguished VISITORS
The officer then made proposition, that
if the provisions aud stores which might be
in and about Rochester, were delivered up,
Sir James Yoe would spare the settlements
around.
'Wil you accept and comply with tits
offer = inquired The bearer of the flag Of
truce.
BLOOD knee deep first !" replied Francis
Brown. with startling emphasis.
While this par!ey-the last clause ofvhcf
was enough 10 alright the oldest and stought-
est soldier-an American officer with his
staff, returning from the Niagara frontier
was accidently seen passing from one poin,
TO another. This, with other curious cir.
cumstances, confirmed the Britons in the he
lief that large American army had collec.
. ted, and that the Yankee officer feigned ig.
norance for the purpose of enticing them on
J shore to be slaughtered or annihilaled
They had no proofs exactly as strong as no.
y writ, but they were rresolutc, undecided
and frightened, and they were thus half.con.
: quered. No sooner had the flag of truce
got back to the fleet than shower of bumb.
: and balls was sent from each vessel. The
attack was Immediately acknowledged will
great spirit. How
Why rusty old six-pounder had beer
mounted on log and secured up for the oc
casion, and as soon as possible it was let of
) on the English vessels. A few hours were
t spent in this manner, and Sir James Voc
, assured that he could not be safe in that vi
: cinity land with one of his vessels shattered
by the aforesaid log-mounled six FOUNDER,
run down to Puytenville, about twenty
5 miles eastward Of Genessee. There they
: learned how thrty-eight or forty green mill
, tia men had beaten of and prevented
large British fleet from landing, by sue
ccsslul Yankee Trick.
As soon as the keen edge of modification
#, was worn of, Sir James and all his people
/. laughed at the siratagem heartily, and its re
suit. 1t was a noble Yankee trick, that.