Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-06-15


and, with s,mpIe nod of recognition. tako
his place and quietly await the order Of
the person who was To be their leader.
The chosen to command them. was n
sturdy vout1 of about IL years Of aga.
strongly built. and very athletic; no car
ried a long rlh,, and was clad in plain
rustic suit Of gray "homosPun.' His
quick movements and hurrieily whisper
ed instructions, showed that he felt tho
importance, md understood tho danger OF
tho attempt they were abou. to mako; q nd
tho fire tina, flashed from hts dark eve,
proved that he was equal 10 tho cnergan-
cy.
At longth the party. numbering ff:con.
were nil assembled: the ages of none ex-
cecded eighteen. while tho majority wero
still Younger. The order to march was
given, aud tho young band followed their
leader in profound silence.
Twas n noble sight! those brave young
spirits. setting out to avongo tho wrongs OF
their mothers and sisters, nj tho risk Of
their own lives, and against fearful o1ls
Of numbers and experience; bar stern re-
so!vo sat upon ovory brow, and firmly
beat oach heart. Soon they approached
Of their hatred; tho British numbered
twenty. and wero all wrapt n profound
slumber. Slowly and stcai.hiiy they
nearcd tho enemy, their hearts beating
violently "a they saw them II their
poxcr-bu, no. word escaped their lips
their calculations had been we'll made,
and they continued to advance cautiously
until they wero within about ,hlrt" faot Of
tho red coats, when gesture from their
loader brought them 10 4 stand. Each
boy singled out his man-,he command
was givcn in n low tone, and tho sharp
port OF fifteen rin . broke upon the still
moss Of the night, and re-choai along tho
hills and craya Of Shrnnock ,--ins,antlv.
unier covcr Of tho smoke. thov rushed in
upon tho survivors, md pinionol ,hem Gre
they could recover from the sudden sur
prise! The aim Of tho boys had been
fn'Iy truc-fiftccn soldiers. (among them
Capt. Smith, lay we'.ering in their blood.
grooming and ming'ing curses and cxocra-
lions with their departing breath!
Tho five prisoners. securely bound, wore
mn rched at once to tho copse from which
tho vo1thful band had Sc; out; ,hero n con-
sultation was held to determine thair fate.
Some who had inJividl,I wrongs to
avengc. wero desrous to hang them at
once upon the nearest tree. Others. more
lonlen,, wished 70 allow them n soldiers
death. Many ana various wore tho opin
ions and methods proposed -bn, they ali
agreed - be guiled BY tho decision Of
their leader. Dan Lount.
Daring tho whole affair, Dan had scarce
" spoke cxccp.to give tho necessary com
I'll L.,
eide tho fa,o of tho prisoners. no merely
said-..To tho Devils Half Acre,'
A responsive ave" burst simultanc-
ouslv from all. and in n few minutes thoy
stood ncnr the month Of "tho weit."
sin with them" cried tho excited boys:
.'here they buriod tho Gallo, and Pomp!-
In with them" and spite tho struggles Of
tho captives. they were already upon tho
very verge Of tho ynwning pit, when their
leader exclaimed .hold,"
''Not yc. boys" said Dan; 81 wish to
saw a few words before YOU throw them
in,' AMI when tho prisoners had boon led
back few feet. he continued IN q voice
with emotions:
You all know the widow GaIo-vou
know her lovely Observation-Disclosures
amablc. Ighi-hear,od. happy girls. You
know them, bat not as we'll as |. The
eldest is my af1ianccd bride! NY whole
soul is wrapped up in her-shc is my
guiding strr--I lovo her better, far bet
ter than my life, and the wrongs she has
suffered wrngs my worry soul! Before
YOU. you SEQ the guilty porpetrators--
Look at them-nrc they fit to love7'
No, no!' exclaimed each and every
one.
Then. my friends they arc not fl, to
die!
We have already spilled blood enough for
one night. and tho death of those man
will not repair the wrongs already com
mt,ed. What say you! Will it not be
nobcr far to spare their livesl Let US
leave further vengeance to the laws. or to
Him who has said vengeance is Minc!"
Fifteen have already forfeited their lives
NAV we not spare the five!'
Through every heart was still burning
for revenge. the example shown by poor
Dan, who had suffered more than any pres
ert. softened their hearts. and they allow.
ed themselves to be persu AIDED.
A gentleman landing from a vessel at
tho other day, just from
handed his valise to another on