Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-09-19
CHAPTER VII.

Horace Cleveland had learned from one
of the prisoners he had captured during his
last excursion along the enemy's lines, that
his cousin was detained in building at the
corner Of Ann and Union streets, (Which
ancient building is yel standing, and guar
ded by CorporaI's guard, half Of whom
were generally away Of evenings, carous-
ing among their messmates, stationed in
and about the lower end Of Ann street, ha-
wing no fear Of their prisoners escaping,
on account Of his resigned, contented dis
position. General Howe's head quarters
were at the Providence House, CornhlI,
which stood some distance from the street,
in front Of which, and in its immediate vi
vinity, including the old south church, were
quartered the best troops in the British ar
my, And as no assault was feared from
the Americans at Cambridge. all the officers
and soldiers off duty made the few squares
around the quarters Of the commonder-in-
chief their lounging-place, to talk, drink,
and hear the news from day to day. Cleve-
| land knowing the lofty heights of Dorches-
ter would be occupied by General Thomas,
and be seen by the besieged army in Bos-
ton, causing great surprise and commolion
in the town, had so arranged his plan, two
days previous to the taking possession Of
Dorchester heights, to have half the num-
hel of his well-trained band enter Boston
in the dress Of farmers, at different hours
of the day, having their horses put at the
usual stopping places of the farmers, in the
| vicinity of the market. not far from Ann
street, each to have brace Of pistols Sc
creted about his person, and to enlist os
dragons, as vast number OF the tories had
done after the battle of Bunker Hill. After
enlistng, they were as raw Yankee re-
cruts, TO have permission to look about the
town, 10 see The sights, and make friends in
the usual treating Way with those guarding
the prisoner, and if possible, TO see her on
Of curiosity should this prove successful,
note which Cleveland had written to hr
cousin, informing her of his plan, that she
had friends near at hand, and to be read
for flight at moments notice, was cntrus
ted to the hands of one Of his men, in som'
way to be placed where she could saieI,
reach it. The plan thus far succeeded ad
mrabIy-assisted by copious draughts o
brandy, and other requisites for such da
ring experiment. Cleveland had also pro
! vidpd one horse wagon, at the bottom o
which were concealed a number Of swords
together with stone jug filed with bran
DIV; these were covered with straw, u
which lie had placed some raw meat of va
rious kinds, to have all the appearance
farmers wagon, which was to be drive
by one of his men, and followed the do
after by himself and the rest Of his BRAY
t band, at different hours, also on the da
r preceding the taking possession OF Dol
! chester heights; for the night OF the da
: which discovered the Americans on tn
t heights was the period fixed for the atteml
= TO release his cousin.
$ The second of March the bombardmer
/ of Boston commemorative British arm
, were in great DISNEY; the nightset in vii
a dense fog; the town appeared in comm'
ton, and the tories were hurryng to an
fro, for fear the town " ould be gwen III
h Amid all this, wagon stood at the corn'
of Union and Ann streetsi SOME OF Clev
lands men, dressed in British uniiorr
!, stood near, bantering the driver, and asI
: ing him to their quarters to drink. III
s corporal of the guard, finding the drive
r had jug of good brandy, invited him IN
their mess-room, which was adjoining tn
o of the prisoner, the corporal having II
l. KEY. The WAGNER reluctantly assente
n and in the course of on hour the corpora
: with four of his guard, were in deep s'et
!, from the effects Of the brandy, one only r
1t maned awake. By this time five of CIev
I, lands men sauntered in, dressed as Brltl'
Ie soldiers while Cleveland and the rest OF h
% band were within pistol-ehot distance,
waiting anxiously the result. One OF Il
= men in the guard-room proposed to sho
- the wagner the handsome prisoner, WI
IS was soon to be hanged, if he would gi
'r them the remainder of the brandy. ltw
agreed to, and the key was taken from t
l- pocket of the corporal by the single guar
= who was himself half intoxicated. 7
l. door cautiously opened, and all entered,
t: The guard was Immediately gagged wi