Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-01-13
Alistr!lallD.
TEE MOCK ERTER.
i LEGEND OF THE REVOLUTION
BY BENJAMIN BALL.

IL the commencement of the Ameri
/ can Revolution there stood, on the banks
/ of the Delaware, a cottage inhabited by
/ an old man. his wife and an only SON
Though age utterly incapacitated the old
man for active service, yet he willingly
sacrificed his son on the alter of his coun-
/ try's freedom and with blessings innum-
cradle, Henry Harland left his home to
enter upon new and untried life.
/ To his young and ardent mind, which
( had pictured all the imagined glories of a
/ soldiers life, and the honor of fighting for
a country's freedom. the disappointment,
when the reality came to view, was a mo-
mentary gloom, but was soon forgotten In
1 the excitement of a skirmish with the
British, that took place soon after the ar
rival at the camp.
After about a month, the company.
which had been considerably augmented
! by the arrival of recruits, was ordered to
I join the main body under Washington. at
the Highlands. Here our hero expert
enced different scene. 1t was not the
! remisness of duty that had characterized
the first entrance of the soldier. Here
every one was subjected to severe com
mands, and Washington himself saw that
no order as to the regular duties of the
/ soldier was disobeyed Here, in several
minor engagements, Harland soon gained
( a name among the soldiers for courage
and bravery and for his conduct in one
skirmish he was applauded by Gen
/ Washington before the whole army.
In this event he but tasted glory, and
I the young soldiers ambition was excited
to quaff the rich goblet of fame that was
/ held out to him, and he eagerly desired
/ for some enterprise of danger to present
itself, that he might show to Washington
/ that his commendation was not unmerit-
i ed An opportunity was not long want
/ ing.
Washington being desirous of making
a most important move against the enc
my, was anxious to send a trusty spy to
/ find out the true state and contemplated
actions of the camp. To this he was fur
/ ther melted by deserter from the enemy,
/ who swore, on the pain Of his life. that he
/ brought him the correct watchword of the
British but as Washington did not like
( to trust his further information. he deter
mined that now would be the best oppor-
+ tunity that might for some time be offer
/ ed to send his spy to the British camp
From the numerous volunteers that ager-
/ ly stepped forward and desired to risk
their lives for their country's freedom
Henry Harland was chosen. and after
communIng with the cOmmander-ln-chlef
he left the American army, and proceed
ed on his destined expedition
He was dressed completely in the uni
form of a British soldier, but his heart
would often throb quick, and now and
then he would stop as the full force
of his danger came across his mind
/ True, the thought that the British desert
cr might have given him the wrong watch
word flashed across his mind, but he did
not think Of returning. The danger was
as nothing when compared to the service
he would do to his country, and the glory
that would accrue from it. Thus he ap-
preached the line of sentinels that guard
ed the British camp Stepping boldly up
to the first one. he whispered The Kingl'
but no sooner had these words passed his
lips, than with a loud shout of exultation,
the sentry discharged his musket, which
was quickly followed by discharge from
the whole line
Astonished stupefed and bewildcrcj
Harland was seized, and to his utter dis
may, he heard himself designated as a
rebel by the crowd which now gathered
around him TriumphantIy he was borne
before the commander but the broken
acclamations which came to his ears. con
vinced him that the deserter was only a
1 stratagem to decoy an American to the
British camp, for they vainly believed
threats and promises would eXtort from
/ him every movement of Washington.
With a proud, bold mein, Harland con
fronted the commanding officer but what
was his surprise when he was told that if
+ he would betray the secrets of the Amer
lean camp, be was at liberty to pursue
honor and glory with the Kings troops,
I or to return unmolested from whence he
came but on the contrary he should die
the death he deserved
ask me not" said he. while fash of
iusultcd pride lit up his features, 'ask me
not, for an American soldier never fears
death and life itself would be odious to
me, after had played the part of a trai-
/ tor
Surprise was the first feeling of the
Briton. but the next moment. rage was
the predominant passion.
ana Iu0H SudtI ulc - Sdll he, as 4
rebel dog should die. Ay r' continued he,
when he perceived that his words awokc
no porcePtible emotion in his listener,
"and by my word, you shall be hung amid
/ the gaze of thousands, and in your death
throes you shall be taunted as q felon by
those with whom you and your comrades
would vainly attempt to cope. Ha ha P'
he said, as he saw that the spirit of his
captive wriihed under his words, you
will be ready, methinks, by tomorrow
morning. to commence your journey to
New York {" And calling to his soldiers
he ordered himaway, but threatened the
lives of his guards if he escaped.
Having heard this threat, Harland knew
It would be hopeless to attempt his es-
cape. AID he lay down strongly mancled,
and sought to gain some repose, though
the thoughts that now rushed through his
mind effectually forbade all thoughts OF
sleep The morning davned and he was
led down to the river. strongly ir0ned. and