The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-23

IN knowing the country thoroughly, rem
dered concealment on the part of the
Wings difficult. The patriotic inhabitant.
were compelled to be on their guard as
much as if surrounded by hostile Indians
Andrew and his brother, therefore, with
others, kept their horses and guns to be
ready at a moments warning for any en-.
terprise that might offer itself One night
Captain Lands, an officer in the rebel
army, came to the Waxhaw to spend a
night with his family. Fearing his arri-
val might be known to the Tories, who
would at once capture, him, guard Of
eight men volunteered to keep watch
around the house. Andrew and his elder
brother Robert were among the number.
No signs Of disturbance having been
seen during the evening, the party lay
down on the floor Of the house and went
to sleep. One Of them, however, being a
British deserter, and fearing re-capture,
could not so easily compose himself.
The night wore on, and all was still
without save the music OF running water :
and everything hetokened repose and safe
ty. But little after midnight, the Brit
ish deserter, who sat, wide awake, outside
the door, thought he heard a noise near
the stable, and, stealing cautiously out
saw party Of Tories stealthiy approach
ing the house. Rushing back, he seized
the person lying nearest the door by the
hair, exclaiming, "The Tories are upon
us the Tories are upon us p The sleep
er thus aroused was the hoy Andrew. In
stead Of showing the agitation natural to
lad Of fourteen, he quickly snached up
his musket, and running forth in the d.
rection pointed out by the deserter, saw
the dim outline Of body Of men silently
advancing. hesting his musket in the
crotch of an apple tree, he stoutly hailed
them. Receiving no answer, he hailed
again, and still receiving no reply, he fired.
a volley instantly followed, and the deser-
ter fell dead by his side. The party, how
ever, finding themselves discovered, hated,
uncertain whether to advance or retreat
The house had hall running directly
through il, from east to west, with door
at either extremity. The party at which
young jackson fired was approaching
tho east door but, in the mean time, an
other detachment had taken a slight cir
cult around the house, in order to stop the
inmates from escaping by the west entrance.
The latter, mistaking the volley which had
been discharged at Jackson for that of a
sallying party from the house, wheeled,
and fired at their friends. In the mean.
time, Andrew had re-entered the house.
and, running to the west door, began,
with two Others, to fire on the enemy. In
a short time, both of his companions were
shot down by his side; but the gallant
boy, though alone, boldly maintained the
contest. 1t was uncertain how this une-
quail conflict would end; when, suddenly
over the crack Of the musketry, there rang
on the clear night air The shrill blast of a
bugle, sounding the charge. The Tories,
alarmed, turned and fed precipitately.-
Andrew expected every moment to hear
the tramp Of cavalry sweeping along the
road but no cavalry came, and lie and
his remaining friends kept undisturbed
watch ever their dead and wounded COM
rades until morning.
1t turned out afterwards that Major Is
bel, who was in the neighborhood, had
heard the firing, and, supposing that Cap
tain Lands house was attacked, snatched
down his bugle, and blew charge to
alarm the assailants, though he had not
a man with him.
The coolness and selEpossession Of An
drew in this night attack exhibit a pres
ence Of mind and courage seldom witness
ed in tried soldier, and foreshadow the
the great commander. ...
In the mean time, Lord Rawdon, hear
ing that the stubborn and patriotic Wax
haw settlers had returned, despatched
Major Coffin with detachment Of in
fantry and dragons to capture them
the sturdy settlers were informed of their
approach, but resolved to maintain their
ground. Some forty Of them assembled
at the village Westinghouse, and were
waiting for reinforcement which was mo-
mentsrily expected, when the British de-
tachment approached with the Tories,
dressed in the garb Of settlers, in 'front.'
Deceived by their dress, the patriots sup
posed them to be friends, till they were
entering the village; when, discovering
their mistake they leaped upon their hor-
ses and fled. The drago ms, however dash
cd ia s=aong them, ard CAPTURED eleven
out Of the forty. The two Jacksons were
among the number who escaped. An
drew and his cousin, Lieutenant Crawford
kept together but in galloping across a
marshy field, the horse Of the latter mired,
and fell. Before he could recover himself
he was fired upon, wounded, and taken
prisoner. Andrew kept on, and soon az
ter encountered his brother, when the two
continued their fight to Cain Creek, on
the banks Of which, in dense thicket,
they concealed themselves. till next morn
ing. Crouching like hunted panthers in
their place Of retreat the two brothers
passed long and anxious night, and
watched the sun struggling up through
the tree-tops with longing eyes. They,
however, dared not venture out till late in
the day but, as hour after hour passed
by, and they heard no sound ofpunuit
I