Litchfield enquirer., 1853-09-29


 Olina, there lived, during the American Revolution an honest old German farm CT. who, amidst sll lhsinfeclions of to. iiry atmosphere. remained true to the cause of the land cf hiS adoption. ansear- nest. ardent, uhe6lItntutnIsing advocate of independence. and SlthOugh not under arms. n valuable AuxiIiNsy in the struggle for .American nalionalisy., His name was Hans Gtiger. and although himself an emigrant. Ae had reared around him . family of sons aud daughters of Amer iCa1 soil. all oE whom partook of the old mans political sentiments. In sfact, liis household presented what iD those days might he regarded almost as an ans omaly, an enii,e family or true. blue whigs. But with all his zeal and whole heartedness, Hans was constrained to do what he disl with grsat caution and se> creey. for he lived among those wbo would catch at any d;sloyalty to the king as pfetext for violence and outrage.
 The safety, not only of his property. but of his person and tke persons of those who relied on him for protection. wcte at stake, There were tory eyes npob him. and the vindictive. hatred of Ihaa class of spirits towards anything like re> bellion, Is too we'll known to doubt tho result Of any appearance of disloyahy on the part of the equiet old farmer. So he kept his own counsel, and When urged by them to take part in the royal cause. he excused himself on account of old age, and the duties devolving upon him in the care of,his young. but up-growing family. But on the other hand he lost no opportunity of conveying useful in; formation b the commanding officers of the patriot forces. which, from time to time entered the district in opposition to the invaders of the province.
 Emily Griger was the eldest child of this faithful but nnobtrusive old patriot
 At that time eighteen years of age. she had been reared in all the peculiar vir- tues of German housewifery and Ger man economy. She could bake the bread. b. ew the malt. wash the clothes. milk the cows. or if need be drive the oxen upon the plantation of her father. Yet with allthese solid accomp mplishments. those of a more delicate and effeminate nature were not forgotten: and in her character were blended with the useful the most virtuous aud gentle attributes of her sex. She possessed . tender heart and clear judgement: lively sense alike of her duties 10 her God, her country and her fellow mortals, exhibit ing a character at once firm. free and amiable.
 At the time of which I write, an or. ganized band of tories, sustained by . few British troops, had completely swept over the neighboring district of Ninety Six,and fortified themselves in the village of that name, from which scouts were continually securing the whole province, carrying with them the brand of the in. cendiary and the dagger of the assassin -the whole being under the command of that notorious tory John C,uger, a native of the city of New York. at that time holding commission of Lieutenant Colonel from the enemies of his native land @4 nsea se@# mA 4 8g
 To reduce the horde of villains and drive them from their stronghold. the American General. Greene was dispatch ed. but with force inadequate to the task. He had laid seigs to the fortress of Ninety Six. but finding 1t stronger than he had first supposed, was compell. ed to submit to the delay necessary to the erection of counter works. and finally began the assault But as the details of this stern encounter are familiar if histo- ". I shall not dwell upon them suffice ii to say that wben the tory commander was on the point of surrender. inforna- 9iion was conveyed to him that Lord Raw don. having heard of his critical alsituation. was at that moment near at hand with a sufficient force for his snccor. The effect of ,his informaiian. while il inspired the garrison with renewed energy, was most disastfous upon the beseigeTs. and. Gen. Greene found himself compelled to raise the seige and withdraw his little force. He hastily crossed the SaIuda river. and rstreated in the direction of the Enor. mee. leaving the tories stillmasiers of the district. Lord Rawdon. after reaclhng the fortress of Ninety Six. and fnding all safe. set out in pursuit of General Greene. but eventually deemed t pSu> dent to give up the chase and snrn his attention to the occupation of F,iday's ferry at Granby. and the concentrations
 of strong force as that plece. with tue ultimate view of sweeping the entire con- tinenial power from the province. To prevent this plan, General Gr cue deter. mined to intercept the expected reinforce, ments of the British commander. and. accordingly halted on the banks Of the 'Salada, in the immediate vicinity of our old i,iend Hans Griger. v
 To accomplish his precautionary meas l. ure. General Greene found t necessary 10 send instructions to Generals Ma,iOn and Smrnnfar SeAi3rinw tha anmniYv aon1eN