Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-11-05
THE TRAITOR BOY.
N INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION.

THE TRAITOR BOY.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION.
The Writer has been indebted to his friends
for many of the incidents which he has given to
the public; among those which have been kind
ly furnished HIM, is the following. 1t cannot
fail to interest the reader on more accounts than
one. To see a boy just able to yield the rifle,
engaging in the defence Of his country during
the American Revolution, was no uncommon
occurrence But it was most extraordinary
age of maturity, fighting on the side of liberty,
when his parents and all his relations are active
partsans on the opposite side.
1t may with truth be said that hundreds and
thousands took side, during the American Rev.
oluton, from accident of incident; while it is
not denied that the great mass of the people
were actuated by living principles of liberty in
their resistance to tyranny and oppression. But
it would seem that Jordan Montjoy espoused
the cause Of his country in the same manner
that Sir John Falstaff is alleged to have known
Prince Hal, in his encounter with the robbers.
1t was no reason or reflection on the NATTER
Nor was he governed in his choice by interest,
for this would have prompted him to have Ia
ken the side of his father and relations. He
must then have known by instinct that liberty
was the true and lawful inheritance of his cOun-
trymen, and that duty required him to forsake
father and mother and cleave unto it with ardent
and Unsuitable feelings Of love.
The parents Of Jordan Montjoy were tories
of the deepest dye, and their house was place
of common rendezvous for "bloody scout when
in Spartanburgh District. All the meetings of
the tories in that part Of the country were held
fbora apd tho ecbomoc op6 pIans of rnurdar md
devastation were there formed and concocted.
No wings ever visited the house through social
deemed it prudent so to do under
any circumstances, unless with strong escort
Jordan associated with none but the friends Of
his father; and seldom saw any of those who
were opposed to him; yet he felt a secret par
tiality for whom he knew not, and whose prin-
ciples he never heard mentioned, except with ex-
ecration! He was thought by his friends to be
to young to be of service to them, and was
therefore suffered to remain at home in peace
and quetude. Their schemes and plans how
ever, were not concealed from him and he had
free access to all their deliberations and meet
ings.
1t was during one of these meetings of the
bloody scout" that he became cognizant of a
deep laid scheme to surprise and capture COM
Captain Thomas Farrow, of Laurens District
No sooner had he heard of all their arrange
ments than he mounted a fleet horse, and put
off post-haste to inform the Wings of their dam
ger and contemplated destruction. Captain Far
row Immediately determined to take advantage
Of the timely warning, and surprise the tories by
an attack that night This he did successfully,
and turned the scale against the" bloody scout"
L. oc tLo., H.. -,
the neighborhood This traitorous act of young
Montjoy became known to the tories, and they
threatened his death on sight In consequence
of their threats and the high displeasure of his
parents and relations, he had to leave home for
ever, and take up his abode in the American
camp. He became in a short time one of the
most active, enterprsing and daring partizans of
whom the Wings could boast He was always
sent out to reconnoitre and spy out the move
ments of the tories. In one of these adventures
near his fathers house; he met a company Of
tories; under q noted leader by the name of
Gray. With the speed of an arrow he dashed
by Gray, fired his pistol in his face, and made
his escape in safety!
For some time during the latter part Of the
Revolution, young Montjoy belonged to an
American garrison on the frontier of Georgia.
On one occasion while there, he volunteered to
go with small detachment in pursuit of some
Indians, who had been stealing some horses in
the neighborhood. The detachment was under
the command of Lieutenant, who did not ex-
ercise that precaution which is absolutely nec-
essary in the pursuit of Indians. The detach-
ment was surprised and all killed except Mont
Joy and one other. Montjoy did not leave the
ground until he had fired his rifle and two pis-
tolls, and seen all his comrades, save one fall
side by side. He escaped unhurt, although sew
eral balls had passed through his coat and panta-
looms.
On another occasion while in the same garri-
son, the indians became so troublesome that it
was dangerous to venture out at all. 1t was at
the hazard of ones life to go to the creek or
branch of the fort. There was an old lady in the
garrison who had horse about this time which
she could get no one to ride to water for her.
After making application to several, she asked
Montjoy if he would be so obliging as to risk
his life in riding her horse to water. Without
any sort of hesitation, Jordan complied with the
old lady's request, took his pistols, mounted his
horse ndrode to the creek. While the horse