The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-04-25
TGIs IsGLALlILANEUUSo
A "REMINISCENCES OF THE REVO
LUTON.

The following facts and incidents respect
,iog a noted Tory Of the Revelation, who's
name is yet mentioned IN many legend OF
adventure Of that memorable struggle, are
for The frs, time, We believe. collected and
presented TO the public. They are inter-
es,ing n themselves, and valuable as they
present picture of the state of things that
existed in portions Of the country, when 10
the dread Of The British Arms, and The a.
lsrms OF the Indian Outrage, were combnd
the s,esllhy, midnigh, attacks Of Tory ma
rauders, producing feelings of constant sp~
prehcnson and alarm among the inhabi-
tanls.
Claudus Smith, though native Of
Blookhaven, l.. !. resided with his family
a, place called Smiths place, in Orange
county, Ried aud was known as the avow-
ed advocate Of immortality and crime; =
coutse Of life which Ied to tho most Gsas
rous consequences, as will be related.
At the opening Of the revolution, Ciaudi
us, with a patty Of associates men Of dar-
ing and desperate character, espoused tbe
cause OF the enemy. and by their lreqUen
deprodatio1s upon the inhabitants OF Oraug'
county, d.Ied that region with dread ant
apprehension They had frequent inter.
course with the BRUSH AT ~ y and often
alter night attack upon a Ge(encelese
neighborhood, pilIaging The houses Of lhe
farmers, they would repair 10 the city will
their booty, and spend season in merri-
men aud debauchery.
Caudius Smith was leader of the gang
man Of large Statue and powerful nerve;
of keen penetraliOn man upon whom mas
ture had bestowed abilities worthy to bt
exerlod in a better cause, He conducted
hls expeditions with such caullousness, as
!. scarcely ever to be suspected until in the
very execution of ,hem; and if a sudden de-
scent was made upon them, By some hoIr
stroke or willy manoeuvre, he would. sue
cessfuIly evade his pursners and make hi;
escape. The aged people Of Orange coun
ty tell many a surprising tale of This nolet
msn some Of which are doubtless irNe.
~ length, in the execution Of their ne
ladsus plans Of plundcr and blood, Claudl
us, with four Of his party, some Of whom
were his sons, on the 5lh or 6lh Of Oclobe
1878, approached, al about / o'clack a
night, the house of Capt. Woodruff, a
Oxford; (who was then absent on duty, an
whom it seems by their own declaration
they intended to mnrder) when they robbie
ihe house OF a variety of valuables.
Then locking Mrs. Woodruff, with he
children and negroes, in an upper room
they left, and proceeded at about l2 o'cloc
10 the house Of Nathaniel Strong, who be
ing in bed, they broke and entered the out
er door broke pannel out of the door {
the inner room, where Major Strong lodg
ed. being alarmed, entered The room arm
ed with pair Of pistols and a gun. A
soon as he entered ,hs room, he was fred
through the Window, but escaped unhur
The assaliaDls IheG called TO him to d,
liver up his arms, and he should have qua
lers, on which, setting down his gun again
the wall, ne approached the door 10 open
but as be advanced, they through the br
pannel shot him with Two balls, and he e.
PiEed without speaking word. Taking