The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-05-09

drew out the bayonet, the spirit of the Briton
took its flight, leaving his body grim and
senselcss clod,
t. the Enclosed eve
Still lowering on his enemy
When Edward had collected his scattered
faculties, he found himself surrounded with
the suffocating smoke, which q strong wind
was bearing, in heavy volumes, from The
westward. The tones ofan alarm bell were
also swinging heavily by on the night wind
and millions Of sparks and burning fag-
ments were rising and fallingju the vest
The direction ofthese fiery signs gave rise
to the worst suspicious, and rushing up the
intervening height, which formed the east
ern limit ofWiIIow Valley, the dreadful truth
flashed upon him; the home of his childhood
was in flames! and where was his father and
sister? The thought was madness. In Il
state bordering on frenzy, he was led away by
the compassionate neighbors from the smok-
ing ruins. The blackeued and bloody corpse
ofCol. Downer had been rescued with diff
Guilty from the flames when the roof was fall
ing in, and now all was over, was borne in
mourntul procession TO the village. Isabella
could no where he found. AS a great part of
the house was in flames before the neighbors
reached it, the villains having been thorough
in the work and the torchnppied in a dozen
places, it remained, for the night, uncertain
whether she had persisted with her father and
was now covered with the warm ashes ofthe
place, or had been carried offby the enemy
The search ofthe morning rendered the lat
ter conjecture probable; the ruins were raEzcd
to the bottom, but no body could be found.
The middle of May saw Boston beseiged
by an army of twenty thousand men. Con-
spicuous in this thr6ng Of patriots was n band
ofan hundred nen,all ia the flower of hfc, s.
all born in Willow Valley and its neighbor-
hood. They were distinguished above all
their brethren III arms for their discipline.
the prowess of their leader, and the spirit of
fierce hostility TO Britain which they breath
ed. But what made them more remarkable
was the singular banner under which they
had sworn upon the grave ofthis murdered
patriarch 10 conquer or die. 1t represented,
on one side, simply willow blasted by light
ming; on the other, II house in flames, and
party ofSolders dragging offa struggling fc-
male. With these characteristics, 'Downer's
Volunteers We're justly considered the ette
of the continental army and continued to sig
naIize themselves by constant acts Of daring
and intrepidity, throughout the war.
During the last days ofMay, there was
runner atIoat, that young American was TO
be hung in Boston for an attempt ON the life
of British officer, the Hon. Capt. Gordon
of LesIie's grenadiers. This was followed hy
another, that he had escaped and hand bills
offering Il reward for his apprehension, We're
circulated, some ofwhich even reached the
quarters ofthe American Army.
twas during the prevalence ofthese rum
ors, that our Joab Fisher whom we have seen
brought low by British bullet, and who,since
that eventful day, had not been heard of,sud-
denly appeared in the camp. 1t seems that
Joab's BGotan head was the means ofsaving
his life. For the ball, striking Il G !op stone
upon which Joab prudently rested his gun,
either for the purpose oftaking sure aim, o:
with aview ofeXposing only that part Of lis
person which he had reason to believe inyul.
nerable-gIancod thus to the forehead ofproof
behind it, and thence into the air. The ouIy
evil consequence therefore was, that lie was
entranced some twenty or thirty minutes; for
OF bis subsequent operations he chose 10 ac-
count no farther than that he had been TO
Boston. Considerable information which
he communicated to his commanding officer
respecting the situation of the enemy in Bos-
ton went to prove this, but what had carried
HIM thlther in such an unaccountable manner
he ohstinately refused to tell. Long used to
indulgence from the family of Downer, for
his honesty and attachment, he now asserted
his prerogutye, and was dismissed TO his du-
W without farther questioning. lie had been
gone but few minutes when Downer, who
had risen, and was walking to and fro, in fit
ofabstraction, as he turned towards the door,
saw standing IN it a youth, apparently about
seventeen. His countenance would have
been eminently handsome had il not been for
the darkness of his complexion.
sWho are youp demanded Downer, sur
prised at the suddenness of his apparition.
The stranger replied not, but entered in
considerable agitation, and placed one of the
aforesaid handbills in the Captains hand II
stated that the assassination ofCapt Gordon,
was attempted coniointly by two persons, one
ofwhom had been taken and was particular
ly described in the advertisement; but of the
other no account could be given; fornotwith-
standing the attempt was made on the Com
mon in broad day, he had managed to escape,
and there was no doubt had assisted i'll the
rescue ofthe other. .,... ...
j aim your countryman,' at length said the
youth and the person described i'll that hand
bill; but 1 know run no risk in making this
disclosure. Task also the privilege ofeulist-
ing in your corps s9 rsel7-lr, 81 ss
you are my countryman? said Downer,
coldly; 'ifso you are safe, but 10th ann ! TO ac-
knowledge as such, one, who would stoop to
the assassination even of an enemy
Assassination said the youth Indignantly,
these hands are as pure as your own. The
blood which shed, flowed at noon day, and