The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-08-28

down the junction of the Gcnesee and lake
? Ontario, because there the enemy declared
they would land. They left behind them
two old men, with several small boys TO re-
move the women and children into the woods
in case the British should land tor the provls-
ions, and the destruction of the bridge at re
chester.
The Rochester forces were commanded
by Francis Brown and Elisha Ely, who acted
as captains. The Americans were elegant
ly accoutred in various garments OF shapes
and makes almost antediluVian. No two
men were armed with like weapons. Ger
tainly they had all fire arms, but they were
not fashioned in The same style. The dis
tciplineo OF these troops were as curious as
their costume and equipments. Blu if they
displayed an awkward front to the war-llke
eye, they also exhibited sagacity and courage
two qualities quite as much needed as a
pretty uniform and good tactics. The enc
my watched the on-shore proceeding with
considerable interest. They beheld, as they
supposed, numerous bodies of militia march
ing to head quarters, and preparing to give
them a warm reception. To deceive the
English, the forty men had marched and
countermarched through the whole woods
tfrom point TO point, in such a manner as 10
convince the soldiers in the vessels that the
whole country was aroused and preparing for
action. The English thought it was high
time to be cautious, and therefore sent an
officer with a flag of truce to the shore. One
of the militia captains with ten of the best
looking and most soldier-like men, were sent
| 10 p,oott tho oGEoor FNbo man oorrioA THAR
arms as upright as might be consistent with
their plan of being ready for action, by keep
ing hold of their triggers.
The British officer vas astonisbed. He
looked all kinds of things, utterable and un-
utterable, and with a swelling crest said:
"Sir, do you receive a flag of truce under
arms, and with cooked triggers?"
"Excuse me, | beg" SAID the American
captain, eve are not soldiers, only back
woodsmen, and know more aboutfelling trees
and following the plough, than of military
tactics;' saying which the American, TO rec
tify his first error, ordered his men TO ground
arms.
This, of course, still more astoLished the
Briton. He looked indignant-then suspic-
ious-then a little terrified, and at last de-
liyered a brief message in haste, and %inconti-
nently sought the fleet again. He declared
that the ignorance of tactics was feigned to
draw the commodore into some snare, and
informed .hose who sent him that some
"Yankee trick" was under process of devel-
opment.
The British wanted the spoils, but they
were too suspicious to attempt a landing, if
by making a compromise, they could secure
a part of them. Accordingly another officer,
with another flag Of truce, was sent to par
ley. Captain Francis Brown was this time
depuled to receive the officer. Brown took
a guard with him. r a.la
The British officer looked very suspicious
ly upon Brown and upon the guard. He
%conversed with the utmost caution, and as
though he expected either to find a trap door
or a springing mine beneath his feet. After
spending a short time in. conversation, The
officer suddenly discovered that the width
and clumsy aspect Of Capt. Browns garment
betokened something not exactly right.
He thought that Brown was a regular off
Ger of the American army, and that his regi-
mentals were masked, for some stratagem,
by clumsy and hastily made overclothes. I'm
pressed with this idea, TIE Bliton suddenly
}gFasped Browns pantaloons by The knee ex-
Eclaiming half Jocosely, while he handled the
cloth most firmly,
"What a pity such excellent cloth should
be spoiled by a bungling tailor"
Brown smelt out the object of the officers
movement, and quick wItted, he careiessIy
replied
"Oh! | was this morning prevented from
dressing fashionable, by my haste 10 meet
and salute distinguished visitors
The officer then made a proposition, ihatif
the provisions and stores which might be in
and about Rochester, were delivered up, Sir
James Yoe would spare the, settlements a
round.
will you accept and comply with this Of
fer?' inquired the bearer of The flag of truce.
Blood knee deep frSt?' replied Francis
Brown with startling emphasis.
While this parley-the lastclause ofwhich
was enough TO alright the Oldest and tough
est soldier-an American officer with his
staff, returning from the Niagara frontier was
accidentally seen passing from one point 10
another. This, with other curious circum-
stances, confirmed the Britons in the belief
that a large American army was collected,
and that the Yankee officer slammed ignor-
ance for the purpose of e%nticing them on
shore TO be slaughtered or annihilated. They
had not proofs exactly as strong as holy writ.
but they were Irresolute, undecided and
frightened, and were thus half conquered
No sooner had the flag of truce got back to
the fleet than a shower of bombs and balls
was sent from each vessel. The attack was