Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-21


formidable army to repel an English feet and OPP
pose clever off-shnot of the British forces The
first thing that the little band of Americans did was
To throw up breast-work - rude and slight near
a deep hollow, beside the Inwer Falls This
brenswork was called Fort Bender They then
hurried down the junction of the Geneseo aud
Lake Ontario, because there the enemy declared
they would land. They left behind them two old
men, WIN several small boys 10 remove the women
and chllden into the woods in case the British
should land Tor the provisions, and the destruction
of the bridge at Rochester
The Rochester forces we're commanded bv Fran
els Brown and Elisha Ely, who acted as capiuins--
/ The Amorlcans were elegantly accoutred in vari-
Gus garments of shapes and mikes almost antedi-
/ luvan. NO two men we're armed with like weap.
ors. Certainly they had all fire arms but they
were not fashioned in the same styre Tho disci-
pine ol lhese troops were as curious us their cos
tune and equipments. But If they displayed ap
awkward front to the warke eye they also exhibit
ed sagaclly and cuurage-two qualities quite us
much needed as pretty uniform and good tactics.
/ The enemy watched the on-shore proceeding with
considerable interest They beneld, as they sup
posed numerous bodies of militia marching 10 the
head liU!ers, and preparing to give then a warm
reception.
TO deceive the British, the forty men had march.
ed and cuuncrmGtched through the whole woods
from point 10 point, In such manner us to convince
the soldiers in the vessels that the whole country
was aroused and preparing for action. The British
thought IL was high time to he cautious and there
fore sen, an officer with hIp of truce 10 The shore
One Of the mill. capt ms with ten of the best
looking and most soldier like men were sent to
meet the officer The men carried their arms Ms
upright as might be consistent with their plan of
being ready for action, by keeping hold of their
triggers.
The British officer was asonishod He looked
all kinds Of things, utterabe and unuterable, and
with a swelling crest said
"Sir, do you receive a flag of truce uiider arms"
"EXcuse lie, beg you,' said the A nercan cap
tain, "we not soldiers, only backwoodsnlen and
know more about telling trees and following the
plowr than Of military tactics saying which, the
American, TO recty his first error, ordered his men
20 ground aas
This Of course, still more astonished the Brton
He looked indignant then snspcious-tlien little
terrified, and al last delivered brief message in
haste, and incontnently sought The fleet again. lie
declared that the ignorance of tactics was teigned
10 draw the Commodore into snare, and informed
those VINO sent him that some Yankee tick" was
under process of development
The British wanted the spoils, but they were too
snspcioHS to attempt landing, if by making
compromise, they would secure part Of them. Ac-
cordlugy another officer, with another flag OF
truce, was sent to parley Captain Francis Brown
was this tlme depued to receive the officer. Brown
took guard with HIM.
The British officer looked very suspiciously up
on Brown and upon the guard. He conversed with
the utmost caution, AMI as though lie expected Ell
Their to find trap door or springing mine beneath
his feet. After spending short time in cunversa.
uon. the officer suddenly discovered that the width
and clumsy aspect OF Captain Browns garment be.
/ t kencd something not exactly right.
lie thought that Brown was regular officer of
the American army, and that his reginenas were
masked for some stratagem, by clumsy and hastily
made overcoths. Impressed with this idea, the
l5rtun suddenly graspel Browns panaloons ov the
knee excaimlng half jocosely, while he handled
-tne cloth most firmly,
a., "Wtmt,R ply such excellent cloth should be
spoiled by Dungllng tailor"
Brown smelt out the subject of the officers
movement, and quick witted, he carelessy replied
con | " Us this morning prevented from dressing
fashionable by my haste to meet distinguished Wis
: tiers"
The officer then made proposition, that if the
provisions and stores which might be in and about
Rochester, we're delivered up, Sir James Voc would
spare the settlements around,
evil you accept and comply with this offer ~
inquired the bearer OF the flag Of truce.
Biood Knee deep GrsiP replied Francis Brown,
t with startling emphasis.
While TINS pGrley-the last clause of which was
enough to aiinght the oldest aud toughest soldier
AN American officer with his staff returning from
the Niagara frontier was accldeuty passing
from one pOlll u MS, VIII OtiGT
circumstances confirmed the Brltons in the belief
that large American army had collected, and that
the Yankee officer felgned ignorance for the pur-
2 pose OF entclng them on shore to be sIaugh cred
t or anuihllded. They had not proofs exactly as
strong holy writ, but they irresoute, unde
D cided and frightened and they were thus halt con
5 quered. No sooner had The hig of truce got back
i to the fleet than IA shower of bombs and balls was
n sent from each vessel. The attack was immedi
: ateIy acknowledged with great spirit How?
e Why rusty old slx-pounder had been mounted
= on log and secured up for the OCCASION and as
5 soon ms possible 1t let off on the Engs YES
sells A few hours wore spent in this manner, anC
d Sir James Voc, assured Tat he could not be safe
t N that vicinity land with one of his vessels shat
t tered by the aforesaid log mounted six FOUNDER,
II run down to Puyltenvllle, about twenty mile, east
ward OF Genesee There they learned how thirty
(; eight or forty green militia men had beaten off ant
,, prevented large British fleet from landing, by
succe. siu Ydn6ee Trick.
!, As soon as the keen edge of modification was
d worn of, Sir James and all his people laughed a
d the stratagem heartily, and its result 1t was no
? bic Yankee trick, that.