Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-05

you."
Ice then rcseaied himself Al the iohls and
wroie The following order:-"pursue 50 Car as
YOU eau with scfeiy, Sergeant Champe, who Is
suspected OF uldeseuing 10 the enemy, and has
taken tic rond leading TO Pauler's HOOK
I Bring him alive, lhul be- may suffer in the pre-
sence Of ths army; bot ki.i him Il be resisls or
escapes aieF being taken When Middleton
arrived, Lee placed these orders IN his hand,
de'aullg him a -t,w momcnis, however. in ale
visug what course 20 pursue; not 10 urge the
horses 700 rapidly through iuU winding road OF
. ihe woods, and. above al, 90 BE- constantly on
his guard, lcsl be m ghi, by his c8gyr pursuit
improyidenlly fall into lbc hands OF lho cuemy.
+ hen Middleton departed, il was a few min-
ules after twelve, so that Champe had only the
starr Of rather more than an hour-Jy no means
as long as was desired. 4 shower of rain fell
Immediately after the Sergeant Majors depar-
lure from camp, which enabled the pursuing
parry to take the trail uf his horse; knowing, a.
officer aud trooper did, the make Of their shouss
whose impression was an unerring guide. Tho
dragons were frequently, during the night,
compelled TO halt TO examine The road, as lhev
we're solely guided by the impressions made
/ by Champe's horse. They traced him easily
and rapidly, as il was evident that no other
charger had passed since the descent Of the
rain. When day broke, Middleton and his par
" were no longer found 10 halt, but passed for
ward with yigur and rapdny. Al length they
reached an emiucncc near The three Pigeons,
some few miles on the north Of the village oil
Bergen, and Middleton himself discovered
! Champe, not more than half mile in front, re-
scmblirg an Indian in his vigilance. At tho
same moment the Sergeant got sight Of The pur-
suers-whose object he was no stranger to
and giving whip and spur TO his still vigorous
horse, he determined 10 ouIsinp them. On they
flew, the pursuers aud the pursued, and The
deep gens Of the road echoed TO the sound of
cheering voice and railing sabre. The road
was hiIiy and winding, and in not few places
required both care and skill in riding TO pass
with safety. For few moments, the relreaI-
ing form Of Champe could be seen by his pur.
sucrs bending eagerly forward over the pummel
/ of his saddle, as if impatient at the progress
which his powerful charger made in bis rapid
aud enormous leaps.
/ "On, bows. on" shouted Middleton TO his
followers, as he lost sight Of the Sergeant in de-
scending long and rain-furrowed bill, 'Champe
( is beating US, and we shall yet lose him, if wo
.
| foot of the hill, the CorneI recoIlecling short
route through lhe woods 10 the bridge below
/ Bergen. turned his horse's head suddenly from
The main road, bidding the men follow him.
/ Coming to halt, he divided his party, directing
Sergeant with few Dragons 10 take the near
cut, into which they had just entered, and pos
/ sess with the utmost despatch the bridge, whilst
he with the residue followed Champe. This
plan gave him a decided advantage, by which
means he doubted not but that the flying Ser
geanl Major would be compelled 10 surrender
/ himself a prisoner, as he would be closed be-
tween his own party and that under the COM
mand oflhe suballern. But Uhampc. also, did
not forget the Short cut, and would have taken
il himself, but he knew il was the usual route Of
the Continental parties when returning from the
neighborhoud of the enemy. lie, therefore,
wisely preferred the woods 10 the road, per.
suaded that his pursuers would avail themselves
oft. Relinquishing his intention of getting to
Pauer's Hook, he determined 10 seek refuge
from Two British galleys which he knew were
anchored few miles west Of Bergen.
/ Entering the village Of Bergen, Champe turn
ed short TO his right, and disguised his plans as
much as possible by taking the beaten streets,
turning as they turned, and watching with the
eyes Of an Argus each angle OF his road. He
passed safely through the village, and took the
road leading to EizabcIhlown Point.
Mean while, Mddlelon's Sergeant gained the
bridge as ordered, and anxiousIy awaited the
approach ofthe fugitive. The Cornet pursued
his course through the village and soon arrived
also at the crossing His modification was ex-
IRENE on discovering thai the deserter had slip.
Il d.
road, he inquired of the villagers whether dra-
goon had been seen that morning preceding his
parry. He was promptly answered in the afir-
native, but could learn nothing satisfactory as
to the route he took. Whilst engaged in in
quiries himself, he dismissed his troop through
the village 10 take the trail of Champe's horse.
One of his men ht il just as the Sergeant, leav-
ing the village, got into the road leading to the
Point. Pursuit was again renewed with vigor,
and Champe was re,discovered. Apprehend-
ing this event, the Sergeant prepared himself
for it by lashing his valise on his shoulders and
holding a drawn sword in his hand, having
thrown away the scabbard. This he did in or
der to preserve what was indispensable to him,
and toprevent any interruption 10 swimming,
should Middleton, when disappointed at the
bridge, take the measures adopted BY himself.
Galloping down the road with fearful rapidly,
the eager and exulting Dragons gained gradual
ly upon the almost despairing fugitive. At
length, Champe arrived opposite to the galIeys.
Spnnging from his foaming horse, he rushed
like madman through the marsh to the river,
and plunged in, at The same moment loudly
calling for help. Scarcely had he gone
beyond his depth, when Middleton and his
troop came up. They fired upon Champe, but
without effect. Those on board Of the vessels
having heard the voice of The fugitive, instantly
lowered boat, and rescued him from his peri
ous situation. Middleton, GoiIed at the very
moment when his arduous pursuit seemed about
to be attended with success, returned 10 camp,
-. :