The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-22
VOL 10, No. A. Whole No, 5l9

mode ofwaEtare made ncursiops into the set
Elements, and laid them waste: marking their
progress by deeds ofwanton and savage cru
city. Two ofthese men who had been engag-
ed in this border warfare had been, as before
observed, arrested as spies IN the camp OF
General Clinton, and were now to be tried
for their lives
The preliminary arrangements having
been made, an order was issued TO bring IN
the prisoners. The charges were few and
briefly stated. They set forth that ''lhe pris-
oners had in the first instance, abandoned
their country in the hour ofneed,nnd having
gone over to the enemy, did afterwards ell
ter into that enemy's service, and did com
init acts Ofaggression upon the true, and pat
riotc inhabitants of the Province of New
York, and being thus engaged i'll the service
ofthe enemy, did come into the camp as
SPIES"
The trinl proceeded. Witnesses we're ex-
amined, who testified to the prisoners having
been residents Of the Province of New York
previous TO the war, and indeed their families
ut that time, lived in the vicinity, and within
few miles of the camp. They knew from
general reputation, thar they had joined the
enemy. But no overt act was proved, espe-
cally against the principal prisoner, whose
name was Newherry.
slave all the witnesses been examined"
asked Gen. Clinton
There is enc other witness, who is mOmen-
tarily expected" was the answer ofthe Judge
advocate.
la u few minutes u man entered. lie was
bowed down. not with years, but with sorrow.
His gray hairs, were the mark, not of age,
but OF misfortune. For a moment his eye
rested on Newberry, and the guilty prisoner
] la la a GaarrDInR nlnnCp OT
the witness. lie was sworn, and commence
| ed minute detail of the destruction in the
previous year, ofthe neighboring settlement,
where he then lived; that he was absent when
! the Indians. and tories disguised as Indians,
/ renched his house; that he hasIened home
only TO find his house on fire, and his whole
I family, his wife and four children. massacred,
| that he succeeded in eXtIngulshIng the fire;
and ON examination found one OF his children
daughter about eleven years of age, still IL
live; that he carried her to the door, and she
, revived so as to he able TO sit up; thut while
supporting her IN his arms, he saw another
party OF the enemy approaching, when he
fed and concealed himself: that The leader OF
the SECOND party was known TO him; and that
he aDproached the door, the tory leader wiki
"A bIoW OF his tomahuwk, extiugulshed the
spark Of life which was llinding up in the
bosom of his child. "And there said he
pointing TO the prisoner Newberry, "sits thai
tory leader May God have mercy on him
for cannot"
He SAT down under great excitement Of
feeling, and burrying lis face in his hands
subbed aloud. AS for Newberry, his face pal
ed aud his lips quivered, when the witness
commenced his narration: and when he con
cluded, DESPAIR seemed to have seized him
The court pronounced him guilty, and be
was hung the next day. His wife pleaded
for him IN vain. The interest OF the PATROL
caHse required Ihat reributye justice should
be dealt out. she was permitted, however
to take the body other husband for the pur-
nose OF burial. II was placed in rude cot
lin, and laid in the basement room ora house
in the vicinity OF the camp; and while several
persons were setting. a large black snake is
sued from the wall and, passing over the cot
tin, glded away into the opposite wall.
Ii may we'll be imagined that aInazement
seized upon those whO were witnesses ofthis
strange event. The tale soon spread. and II
was readily inferred and believed that His
Satanic Majesty had offered in that shape, 10
convey away the soul otthe guilty Newherry
As a consequence, the God OF Hosts was on
tine side the patriots. The patriotism and
courage olthe people were much promoted
by this strange occurrence.It must be boz ne III
mind that most OF the early settlers IN That re-
gion OF country We're Germans, and that they
partook largely of the superstitions OF their
luther land. Many u German mother on this
occurrence, called to mind, and related to
her listening children, the tales ofthe spirits
of her native mountains in Germany; and for
many long years aTIeI the close of the revo-
lutionary war, the trial and execution ot':5ar-
geant Newberry, founded fruitful theme of
winter evening conversation, and the subject
OF many nursery tale.