Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-04
The Traitor Bow.
IN INCIDENT OF THE REyo1urloN

The writer has been indebted to his friends
Tor many of the incidents which he has given 10
the public; and among those which have been
kindly furnished him, is the following. 1t can.
not fail to interest the reader on more accounts
than one. To see Boy, just able to WELD the
rife. engaged in the defence of his country du-
ring the American Revolution, was no uncom.
mon occurrence. But it was most extraordi-
nary circumstance to find one, not yet arrived at
the age OF maturity. fighting on the side of lib.
erly, when his parents and all his relations were
jealous and active partizans on the opposite
side
1t may with truth be said that hundreds and
thousands took side, during the American Rev
olution, from accident or interest; while it is
not denied that the great mass of the people
were ~stUatsd by principle IN their resistance to
tyranny and oppression. But it would seem that
Jordan Montjoy espoused the cause Of his coun-
try in the same manner that Sir John Falstaf' is
alledged to have known Prince Hal, in his en-
counter with the robbers. 1t was not reason OF
reflection which taught him that right and jus.
tice were on the side he took, for he was toe
young 10 reason or have reflection on the matter
Nor was he governed in his choice by interest
for this would have prompted him to have taken
the side Of his father and relations. He must
then have known by instinct that liberty was the
true and lawful inheritance of his countrymen,
and that duty required him to forsake father and
mother, and cleave unto it with ardent and insa-
table feelings of love.
The parents of Jordan Montjoy were tories of
the deepest dye, and their house was place OF
common rendezvous for the "bloody scouts .
when in Spartanburgh District. All the meet
ings of the tories, in that part of the country
were held there, and their schemes and plans of
murder and devastation were there formed and
concocted, No whirs ever visited the house
through social intercourse or deemed it prudent
so to do, under any circumstances unless with a
strong escort. Jordan associated with none but
the friends of his father, and seldom saw any
OF those who were oppose to him. yet he felt a
secret partIaity for those whom he knew not and
whose principles he never heard mentioned ex-
cept with execraton He was thought by his
friends to be too young to be of service to them,
and was therefore suffered to remain at home in
peace and quetude. Their schemes and plans,
however, were not concealed from him, and he
had free access to all of their deliberations and
meetings.
1t was during one of these meetings Of the
bloody scout" that he became cognzant OF
the deep.laid scheme to surprise and capture a
company of " liberty men," under the command
Of Captain Thohas Farrow, of Laurens District.
! No sooner had lie heard all their arrangements
aian ie nsomteS ileet horse. aud put of post
haste to infornE the Wings of their danger and
contemplated destruction Captain Farrow i'm
mediately determined to take advantage of the
timely warning, and surprise the tories by an at
tack that night. This he did successfully, and
thereby turned the scale against the bloody
scout" to the terror and confusion of their friends
/ 4
young Monjoy became known to the tories and
they threatened his death on sight. In conse-
quence of their threats and the high disp!easure
of his parents and relations, he had to leave his
home forever, and take up his abode in the Am
erican camp. He became in a short time one of
the most ctive, enterprising and daring parti-
zans of whom the wings could boast. He was
always sent to reconnoitre and spy out the move
ments of the tories In one of these adventures
near his fathers house, he met company oil
the tories, under noted leader by the name Of
Gray With the speed of an arrow he doshed
at Gray, fired his pistol in his face, and made his
escape in safety.
For some time during the latter part of the
Revolution, young MonIjoy belonged to an A.
merican garrison on the frontier of Georgia.
Onone occasion while there he volunteered tc
90 with small detachment in pursuit of some
Indians who had been stealing horses in the
neighborhood. The detachment was under the
command of Lieutenant, who did not exercise
that precauton which is absolutely necessary
in a pursuit of Indians. The detachment was
surprised and all killed except Montjoy and one
other. Montjoy did not leave the ground unit
he had fired his rifle and two pistols,and seen al
his comrades, save one, fall side by sides He
escaped unhurt, although several balls had pass
ed through his coat and pantaloons.
On another occasion, while in the same gar
rison the Indians became so troublesome that i
was dangerous to venture out at all. 1t was a
the hazard of ones life to go to the creek 0
branch, within sight of the fort. There was a.
an old lady in the garrison who had horse a
bout this time which she could get no one t
ride to water for her. After making application
toseyeral, she asked MonGoy if he would be s.
obliging as to risk his lie in riding her horse tt
water. Without any sort of hesitation, Jordal
complied with the old lady's request, took hi
pistols, mounted his horse and rode to the creek
While the horse was drinking, he discovered a
Indian slipping from the bushes nearest the for
and before he could wheel, the savage had hi
bride reigns in his grasp, With the qncknes
of thought Jordan drew his pistol and lodge
the contents of it in the bosom of his assailan'
Such boldness and presence of mind, such per
feet command of himself, under circumstanc
so well calculated to try the nerve OF lad, ae
quired for him, very deservedly, high charac
,or an,onc hie assoriates in arms.
Many other incidents similar to the aoov'
nigh, be related it is said, Of this youthful her
Of the Revolution.
KEEP MovINa-Miserable is tine man wh
slumbers in idleness Miserable the workma
who sleeps before the hour of his rest' or WI
sits down in the shadow, while his brethren wor
in the sun. There is no rest from labor
earth. There are always duties to perform, fun'