Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-04-30

was quickly followed by the whole line OF sentl-
nels.
Asionished. smpefed and bewiIdered, Harland
was seIzed. and to his Utter dismay he heard him
self designated as The rebel by the crowd which
now poured around him. friumpantly he was
borne before The commander: but The broken ex
clamaons which came TO his ears convinced him
that the deserter was only slratagem 10 decoy
American to the British camp, for they vanly
believed that threats and promises would ex'ori
from one every moment of Washington. With
proud, bald mein, Harland confronted abe COM
mandlng officer but IS hat was his surprise, when
he was told that If he would be,ray the secrets Of
the American camp, he was at liberty 10 PURSUE
honor and glory with the kings soldiers. or TO re-
turn unmolesled from whence he came but on
the contrary, if he refused, he should die the death
he deserved.
"Ask me not" said he, while flash of insuted
/ pride lat upon his features, task me not-for an
| American soldier never fears death, and life itself
would be odious to me after had played the part
Of a traitor"
Surprise was the frs, feeling Of the Briton; but
the next moment rage was the predominant pas.
sion
! "And thou shalt die =" said he; Idle as rebel
dog should die. Ayr he continued, when he
saw that his words awOke no perceptibie emotion
in his listener; "ay! and by my sword you shall
be hung amid The gaze of thousands, and in your
death lhroes you shall be tainted as feon by
those with whom you and your comrades would
vainy endeavor to cope! Ha ha" he said
when he saw that the spirit Of his captive wrthed
under his words, "you will be ready me thinks
by TO morrOw's morn, to commence your journey
to New York I" Aud calling to his soldidrs. he
ordered him away; but threatened the lives of his
guards if he escaped.
| Having heard his threat, Harland knew it would
be hopeless 10 atlemp; To escape; and he lay
down, strongly manacled, and endea vored to gam
some repose. "a Though the Thoughts that now rush.
ed through his mind, effectuaIy forbade all thot's
of sleep. Morning dawned. he was led down to
the river and placed, s,rong ~ ironed, in boat
manned by six men, and sent down to N. York.
Far different is the first view Of the city fiem the
noble Hudson now 10 what ii was then, few
miserable fishermal's hu,s. Sir Henry Clinton's
quarters were situated near the centre of the city,
and th,her Harlaud was taken. Fifteen minutes
Sir Henry was alone with the superior Of the SOL
diers, and then the captives fate was known to
him; the nexi day, a, sunrise he must die.
Scrutnizing eyes were bent on him, but nc
emotion was visible; and with moody silence,
he was led to the Provost prison. However DOR
mant his emotions without. he was left alone,
and surveyed the dark aud gloomy walls Of his
prison. Yet he looked calmly upon the near ap-
proach Of death, and although it was hard 10 die !;
hard, aud he fell that il was hard 10 leave his be-
trolhed Alice without one kiss STILL he consider
ed himself as one Ofa number who were to die
for American liberty, aud be determined that the
sacrifice should be willingly made.
Night drew on, and with it came gloomy thot's
to the imprisoned soldier. Alone, in the dreary
cell, with BIT a few hours between him and dis
graceful dealh-W ashington unconiious Of his
! fate, and perhaps even then believing in HE deser-
ton, wondor his thoughts were gloomy and
sad. Then the gbbet rose before him and he fan
cied that he could see the multitude eagerly waits
ing for his DEATH and hear ,heir exullation as they
Witnessed his dying agonies. He endeavored TO
shu! Out his thought, but new vision rose before
! himS Alice, hearing of his death, and dying Of
broken heart, wrung tears from him which no
torture could have brought forth. And thus pas
sed The night; and now the first gray tints that
hera1ded the approach Of day. We're visible thro'
the grated windows of his cell. Although the
night had been one Of anguish to him, still the
dawn seemed fastened on before its time. and the
east now appeared to brighten more rapidly than
il had ever done before.
five moments more Of life were all that were al.
oded him-and at that moment the roll of the drum
was heard 10 prepare for the execution. He knelt
down and fervently poured forth his soul 10 the
Searcher ofall hearts. and asked help to support
him in this his trial. SUDDENLY, quick sharp crack
Of musket was heard, and then the hum Of the
impatient crowd vas suddenly hushed. as the drum
beat forth to arms; then came mighty rush, as
the multitude swept over the pavement, past the
building. shouting they come-they come" He
looked out-the crowd seemed borne by one com.
mon impulse toward the north end of The city
He waited. Hours passed on, and the roll of the
drum. and the frequent discharge Of musketry al
the other part of the city, told that the excitement
was in that quarter.
Still he was left in suspense ill near night, when
! the same one who had told him Of the near ap.
proach of his doom in the morning. came with the
intelligence that his execution was deferred ill
the following sunrise. All the reasons that msg-
inaton could couture up, were construed as the
right cause Of this interruption but were soon sci
aside as utterly futile. And now night had set ill.,
and he determined to use some method to effect his
escape. He had observed in the day time that the