Democratic banner., 1846-05-02

" uAihS ol Tic oiu PSOPlo AEoW INC sCebe
of danger.
81 gladly surrender my charge to you,'
said George to three or four females and
one or two lads of the party. "Convey
them to your house and keep safely there
yourselves till the British army have passed.
DO not remain in the fields, even at this
distance, and expose yourselves to draw
their fire. Catharinc l trust to your dis
%cretion to see TO this. Now one shake Of
the hand, and return to my duty with MY
'fel!ow-couEtrymen.'
con, George, do not 60. You-but |
will not detain YOU. I will not be selfish.
/ will forget myself, and think only of my
poor country, which needs every arm in its
defence"
"Hatriotic as beautiful, my sweet Kate
he SAID bending from his saddIe-ror lie
was already scatedin it again-and press
ing his LIS 10 her check. 81 shall return
TO you b. night. But DO not be anxious if
.rou Should no: see me then. an resolved
tofoiiow the enemy till we see him fairly
and safely shu. up in Boston again"
Tins speaking, the young man touched
his horse with his spur, and in a moment
after he was hidden from the fearful gaze
Of the young girl by a clump Of trees.
Thc'youngPatriot had just time 10 regain
the house, and throw himself from lis horsc.
when the van OF the retreatiDg column
came in sight a quarter of a mile Distant
1t was moving on in great confusion, scv-
eral Ct the piatoons'broken, and running
each man by himself in advance of the main
body, while the officers, both On horseback
and on foot, were trying to rally ten. As
they came or, young Monroe ccn'd scc
them occasionally wheel and FIRE ia plu-
toons, at either side of the highway. wier-
the flash Of a gun showed them that
enemy was concealed. Those who ran
IN advance, before passing a barn, or tree.
or a~nyeobject that would afford shelter to
their enemies, would rush upon it with a
shout, discharging their muskcts. 70 drive
a dista'.cc any lying i'll ambush. The
firing from The fields was inccssant. and
George could see Tie British dropping in
tier raEl,s in great numbers.
Ashc took his position at an upper win
do: of the house, he felt tlIat to fire upon
an enemy SO harrasscd and driven, was al
most unmaniy, but a moments reflection
upon the character of that enemy. confirm
ed him in the fearless discharge of his duty.
the column came near. those in Tic van
fired Upon thc house, but did not stop, for al
moment they were more closely press
I'd by the Americans than they had been,
the commencement Of their retreat.
wentby at a long heavy trot, evident
y greatly fatigued. The faces Of the SOL
liers looked stern and irag9ard, and many.
an eye was turned wariIy from side TO side
If the p~crilous road; FIR from some uncx-.
quarters the death shot had often
into their ranks and lcssencd their
numbers.
"Poor fellows" said George, as lie OBJ.
them through, Z ~crcvi,c III the win
icw, 81 will got FIRE upon t.."m l"t mvon
.icir chiefs. Thcst men are but !.ircii ~,
Their leaders most merit 10 bccCI.e the,
Of CIR riffs
Secure in his Position, which concealed.
from view, willie lie could see clearly.
the disordcrcd march by the scarlet col
INNS Of Tie flying enemy, he waited until
nc should discover an officer Of rank.
The whole body ~ the enemy Lad nearly
no one Of tncm~ s!o"n;ng Fer the,
souse, SAFE a single wcundcu lli.r, VIC.
seated himself upon tie cu-bstone Of the.
veil, and wistfuiIy looking down, called
PAINFULLY fer wafer" His comrades were
n TOO great Por;l themselves to heed Ia"
he whole body of British to aman felt that,
in'ess relief Game from Poston, not orc Ct,
!lem would ever reach the city. One third
u their number was already Lil.c.! CT wour-I
Iceland while they were diminishing their
american assdllauts were increasing. The
country was pouring from its bosom
strong men who were rushing 10 the
Gene of battle and death, with wl.atcvcrI
weapons they could lay hands on. EACH
tire situation Of the foe became more
desperate; and from a march the retreat was
asst taking the character of a fight. Ne
nan, therefore, could give heed to his fell
ow.
The rear of the column which was n1ostI
TO the terrible fire of the amhus-I
;aded Americans, just as it CAM in sight Fl
he position which George had taken up.
and poured in by pIantoons a %!icrc,
md destructive fire upon their foes. T:,el
Americans drew back for a few minutes.
md the British soldiers, encouraged, gave al
oud huzza and pressed on past the house..
in the rear rode q E-;t;cL r1.ol