The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-08-07
Vol. If. No. 3. Whole No. 523.

cursor of death. A corporal saw tho smoke,
and noticed stir among the branches. WIN
a keener eye and quicker perceptions than
the rest, and being wthall an old soldier
who had seen service in other fields where
England had dcluged innocent soil with the
best blood Of its offspring, he at once guessed
the whereabouts the invincibe marksmar.
The moment he communicated his discovery
to the rest, there was Il speedy retreat indct-
ted towards the platoon. This body ut once
dashed towards the towering oak, and halted
within musket shot.
'1hat for your leader shouted n voice from
among the branches; and, true to the markE-
mans purpose, the ball entered the brain Of
the Inflated commander. A yell ofrage was
uttered as the officer next in rank stepped up
and paused u moment.
'I'hat for the nearest man on the right!
exclaimed the voice, and again his victim bit
tho dust.
Now men, cried the Britain, waving
sword with frantic excitement over his head
snow men, ire-fire, | say, before he has
time 10 Reload
The voey startled the echoes oftho for
est, and the muskets Seichcd forth their coli
tents in flames and smoke. A few twigs
dropped from the tree. but the tenant was to
every seeming, unhurt.
NO. he spoke, in n sonorous and deep
voice that was distinctly heard and had some
lIllilp uUCul lN III ms tDuCS--4 NJ. hOl Ntls 1
lack three men, by my taey, to make up the
amount devoted 10 the god of vengeance
Here is for one y
A cavalry soldier was dashing by; his horse
had taken fright and could not be checked.
Once more the fatal rifle uttered i;s dealt.
song, and the alarmed steed fled ridcrlCss Oh
its way.
Burn the tree down. exclaimed ono of
the men. Fire can be communicated 10 the
trunk easily
'Will you undertake the deed? inquired
tho commander, with a sncer.
4 WILL, replied the man. Tear some wad
ding from your coats and give it to me-
They complied with his request, and de
livcred to him with alacrty what they pro-
cured from their well padded garments. He
now became the lion Of the field, MS the rifle
man had been. Every eye conferred on tie
private as he made up loose parcel of liz
, llamabe stuff: A pile of the drycst branch
es Whereabouts was next obtained and broken
into respectable brush fjggots. The private
then fired the wndding with the lock Of his
musket aud little powder, and famed it i'll
to blaze. With the lighted mass in one
hand, and the bundle oil brush in the other,
he started maniulIy to the trce-the platoon
followed him few PAGES, and almost impcr-
ceptibly narrowing the distance between
themselves and the riflenan. The private
reached the foot Of the tree, and with eager
haste threw down the taggots and iredthen',
! As lie was rising from his STOPPING posture,
| the occupant Of the branches made himself,
for the first time, visible. With his feet firm
/ ~ cicnchcd among the boughs, he allowed
! his body, ms quick us thought, to depend ov-
cr and taking aim with his weapon, pulled
the trigger. The daring private sprnpg up
and fell over upon ibis back, while his feet
scattered the mass which he had intended,
would have made the tree the Americans ius
neral pile.
Brother my oath is fulfilled! have up-
/ pGascd the angry demon that called for Il
rccompcnse Of your slaughter. Now, them,
continued the riheman, who was no other
Us the reader may have anticipated, than
Charles Piggot-'Now, then, take good aim
and bring me down. am out of anunilior,
have killed us many ofyou as had determir,
ed to, ana have no further cause for remain,
ing here. Fire and if more than one shot
in proportion to five hits me, you are bett1F
handlers offire-arms than think you are,'
The soldiers were evidently won 10 favor
him I'y his intrepidiy. He was entirely d.
vested of clothing except short pair of yc's
low hreeches His feet, legs, body and hetd
were destitute of covering, but begrinmcd hy
powder, smoke, dust and Precipitation. As
he looked down upon the men from the tree,
| (tho descendant and near relative who gives
MS these facts says he was, even in his mis-
cradle plight, commanding and admiration.
ton in the platoon when Piggot commanded
them to bring him down, and the men looked
70 their officer as iffor further instructions,
The officer was unused to the melting mQod,'
nor could lie have succeeded 10 any feeling
of compassion consistently with his duty op
his aspirations as Il true Englishman, The
memory of his brethren was to be welded
to some rctributive act worthy oftheir bloody
destinies, and lie gave the signal for the last
effect in tho drama of Piggot's enacting--
! They fired as he shouted-"l die satisfied -
brother, can meet you without shame!" and
| he pitched oyer, sWayed in the branches Il
moment, aud then dropped scnseless clod
upon the ground.
The word was soon given that the invisi.
bic foe, whom they had all feared, was pun,
ished: and ere that eventful and TO WASH
ington) disastrous battle was concluded, 10
one who wore n red coat or fingered his
Mniesys pay wasted a seconds thought up
on poor Charles Piggot.
When the wounded were picked up and
the dead buricd-a duty performed by tic
inhabitants aud the uglsI--Figgot's body
was found where it had fallen. A hole call,
ed by courtesey grave was scoppcd out for
its reception at the foot of the oak. The ri,
fc-the uneyring, vengeful riGe--was so
firmly clenchcd in the left hand that it could
not be removed, but was buried with him,
Thus the thoughtlcss and unintentional pre-
diction to the old Albion Islander Lockslcy,
that Charley would "die with his rifle in his
hand was too truly and literally accomplish.
ca.
Not many years ago. I've have not the eX,
act date an old tree in the vicinity we have
mentioned was uprooted i'll a heavy gale,