Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-02-13

taking the young soldiers hand
said e f ! -s.
you are the man | expected woule
volunteer for this service. Go, anC
God protect you'll II they see yol
from the block house, they viii try
and cover you with their FIRE. Sci
possession is your only hope. Nov
away, while the enemy are partially
withdrawn
But here Elizabeth stepped for.
ward, and, addressing her brother
said .391 ~. ,
'Silas, let me undertake this enter
prise
'YouI' replied her brother, viewing
her with astonishment. Impossible
Do you know the danger of the at
Tempt" iI TalsC .@
Perfectly she answered. 'Yor
have no men TO spare. Every one il
needed in defence of the Fort; anC
this is the only service I can render.
But man would be more fleet
Elizabeth, and more certain of sue.
cess said her brother.
Still you have no man TO spare;
and a woman would not run the
same danger in passing thro' the
enemy. Besides, if fall, shall not
be so much missed, nor your forces
weakened
The colonel was moved to tears,
and embracing his sister, exclaimed
Then go! Gods will be done, and
may he protect your
A dozen men now sprang forward,
prompted by the devotion of this
heroic woman; and Ashley Harper,
more urgent than The rest, insisted
that il was his right, as he was the
first to propose. But Elizabeth
would hear no objections, and at
once began TO make preparations for
the enterprise. Partially divesting
herself of her clothing, so that her
speed might be the less impeded, she
was lei out at the gate Of the lort,
followed by the prayers and blessings
of all within; while from one Of the
embrazures the eyes OF Ashley Har-
per followed her, as she fled like a
young roe through the lines Of the
enemy. Now she falls! Twenty
muskets are iaised by the savages tc
stop her progress; bat a cry OF
'SquawI squawT' saved her. She
reaches The block house i safety, and
is admitted
A period OF awful suspense await
ed them in the fort. The men were
anxious for relief, the colonel was
regretting that he permitted his sis
ter to go, and Ashley Harper was
breathing prayers for her safety.
In the block house, the excitement
was equally as great, and astonish-
ment was expressed by every one at
the intrepidity of the maiden. Her
brother there persuaded her to stay
with him, offering 10 send one OF
his own men 10 the Fort with the
powder. But she overruled his ar
guments with the same logic she had
used with her brother Silas, and was
at last permitted 10 return. A keg
Of powder was poured into a table
cloth, and she again sailed forth to
run the desperate gauntlet.
In the Fort, every heart was beat
ing with the utmost anxiety; and, as
the dusky foe was seen gathering
around scarce vestige OF hope was
left for the safety OF the heroic mai
den. Still watched her lover from
the embrasure, and still prayed her
brother silently. Forward she sped
on her return with her precious bur-
den, as though her feet were winged,
while the enemy, at length suspicious
Of her errand, were pouring show
ers of lead after her. Yet onward
she came unharmed--apparently un-
alarmed--preserved by an Omnipo-
tent power; and at length reached
the gate OF the Fort, which was
thrown open with eagerness TO ad-
nit her. As il closed with safety |
upon the little band within, it was !
with a hundred bullets,
while the savages around made the
air peal with their demoniac yells of
disappointment and rage. The bro
Iher welcomed her with tears. All t
pressed around her to thank her for
her brayery-all but Ashley Harper:
his heart was too full Tor expression. /
The result OF this adventure was
he successful defence of the Fort
against the besiegers. But ere ths3
war Of the revolution was ended,
Ashley Harper slept with the dead
heroes of our country, having fallen
It the battle OF Saunders Greek, in
North Carolina, August l6, l7S0.
P1f there were 10 clouds there
would be no rainbows, and If there
we're no troubles. we would moi i