Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-04-28
From, the Ne,c York Times.
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS
The Devils Half Acre.
RY WAN. T. RODGERS, JR.

q - ~ BY wM. T. RODGERS, JR.
Across the whole length of New Jersey
extends chain Of broken yet partially
CONNECTED mountains, called the "Blue
Ridge" a branch of the Alleghauies.-
Through the county Of Somerset runs
lateral spur Of rocky and isolated bills,
covered for the most part with sparse
growth of chestnut, oak. and stunled cedars.
On the top of one Of the largest Of these,
called .Shaunock Mountain" is large
sspace, covering nearly three acres, barren
Softree or shrub; the surface Of which ap-
pears to be formed ofa single rough stone.
4 s'Tis called the "Deyi's half acre." Near
the centre is ragged opening or pit, about
20 feet in diameter, which appears to PEN
setrate into the very bowels of the earth.
Itbas been sounded to the depth ofa thou
sand feet, and no indications OF bottom
found. A stone thrown into '' the aWett,"
as il is called, can be heard rafting for a
long time against the rugged Sides; until.
with aterribe and neutrality-suspicious.,
lit plunges into the wafer. a noise like
that OF a seething cauldron is heard, aud
soon there issues from the mouth OF: the pit
IA column Of damp vapour, possessing an
snncommoDiy fGtid smell istie va Ponr;is
,S,ssTs, fiainmab ble and Qact proves
] the presence of carhure,ted hy ydrogen gss,i
aofWhat is called by miners .fire damp
Although at asdislance OF three hundred
feet from the surface, ii has been proved
sbyexperimenls with quadrupeds that lie
can be sustained $500
The incident am about TO relate occur
red sometime afterihe passage'of General
Washington, with his army. across New
Jersey. ia the spring of l777. -
The Infamous cruelties Of the maraudlng
parties of British soldiers, had awakened
eyery feeling Of resentment, and aroused
in every bosom an implacable haired,
which only the exlermina,ion ofthe lnhu-
man moosters could allay. a5z..
Taking advantage Of their natural pro.
,ectors, a party Of demi-brutes, under the
command Of Captain Smith, had commit
ted outrages upon the unprotected females.
which would shame The very name OF man!
Every able, bodied man, and many who
were scarcely able, had aocked 10 the SIAN
dard of Washington, and had gone to ac-
company him iu his victorious expedition,
leaving their wives and daue uehers, their
homes and property. TO the protection of
the aged men and boys.
AT length, a cowardly assault upon
family. composed Of an aged widow and
her t5ree lovely daughters, who, after be-
ing gcruelly outraged by the brutal soldiers,
were beaten nearly To death, and the old
widow and a grey -beaded negro killed and
thrown into The well" OF the Devils
I half.acre," SO exasperaled the young men,
that they resolved upon vengeance. &
A secret meeting was held, and they re-
solved to meet The next evening at the foot
of the ridge, 10 punish the towards, who
were encamped, in fancied security, about
quarter of a mile from the scene Of out
rage. The greater part Of the day was
: spent in moulding bullets, and preparing
their weapons, which being accomplished,
they waited with feyerish anxiety the ap-
pointed hour.
Twas a lovely eve; such an one as we
raroIy seein our chaDgeable climate. The
SUP. bathed in halo ofgolden light, slow
II descended behindthe towering steep Of
I Shamrock. The bright stars looked dowa
from the ether, with seemingly eucour-
aging smile, upon The band Of youthful
I heroes, who had silently gathered in a
copse al the base of the mount. Each mo.
menr some brave boy would noiselessly
approach, With his rifle upon his shoulder,
and, with simple nod Of recognition, take
bis place, and quietly await the order Of
The person who was. to- be their leader.
The one chosen 10 command them, was
sturdy youth of about l8 years of age !;
8 strongly built and very athletic; he carried
3 long rife, and was clad 10 plain rustic
suit o fgrey .'homespun." Hisquick move-
ments and hurriedly whispered instructions
showed that he felt the Importance, and
understood the danger of the attempt they
were abou, to make; and the IRE that
flashed from bis dark eye, proved that he
was equal 10 tho emergency.
Al length The party, numbering 49, was
all assembled; the ages of none exceeded
eighteen, while tho majority was sill
{ Younger. The order,o march was given,