Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-12

muskcts, and ammunition, into heaps and
nothing escaped that was dcstructiblc hv the
human arms, powder or fire. The fruits of
seven weeks mortal toll, skill, labor, and
blood, were destroyed in two hours, with the
loss Of | 900 men. The Americans suffered
severely, loosing 800 men, including some of
the nOhlcst spirits of the army. But Fort
Eric, and its heroic band of defenders. were
savcd-and saved by an achievement 50 skill
iul and fortunate, SO gallant and brilliant,
that it has never been surpassed
The sortic from Fort Erie was the last of
four great conflicts, fought in the course of
sevcnty-lour days. and virtually closed the
campaign on the Niagara frontiers
The torpor of astonishmcnt at the result
of the sortic, subsidized, in the British army,
into II feeling of inrxprcssiblc anger and
modification. Nohodv felt it more acutcly
than General Drumh"ud. lie bcthought
him of Price, and directed him to be brou ght
hv II file of men. Pale with passion, he
broke ont with, "Nillain. YOU have betrayed
me You shall die the death of Il spy and
traitor, and poured ont Il stream of charges
and invcctiycs. Price listened in silence till
he had exhausted himself, and said, d" Cen
rral, am IN your power. you can hang me
if YOU please; but it will be poor encourage
mcnt to dcscrtcrS It's pity the scntincls
hadn' shot me, as they came nigh doing.
when was seeking your protrction.' As
to dccciyiug him Price replied, that General
Brown did not cntrust his plans to his sol
dicrS, especially to Il lad scarcely twenty
years old. lie said he had referred to the
rumorS and talk of the camp as his sources
of information, and the American prisoners
would confirm it; and if General Brown did
not intend to move down the river to Fort
L. Il
he (I'ricc) was deceived too and that was
the very reason, he urged, why he had has
tened his dcsrrtion at 81 much peril. Num-
crous condolences, Indicating concert and
understanding with the American head
quarters, he found it difficult to clear up;
but he did his best and all who knew him
will readily believe that he spoke pcctiully,
simply, with entire srli-posscSSion through
that face of his, Us imp"rlious to emotion as
50 much sheet iron. The result was that
Gcu. Drummond was staggered in his opinion
but not convinced. You H,aY be innocent,
Price but your story is the same as Il spy
would have told. calculated and intended to
deceive and mislrad.' =" And that waS
fact; the General had me there, said Price,
relating the scene to- IL friend many years ago.
But hc escaped IL drumhcad court martial ON
the spot. lie was put under the provost
and thence to Montreal, with considerable
number of American prisoners and dcsrrtcrS.
The Americans hated him as dc>rrtcr, the
English rs SPY, and he got nothing but
kicks. thuml,S. and curses from both. \
fortnight after, he was charged with being II
spy, and ten days after. tried at Montreal.
before IL military court. y dcsrrtcr from
our army. hy the name of Abbot Could, was
the ostcnsihlc iniormcr and witness against
him. He testified that Price. Il corporal, and
doing sergeant duty at the time Of his pre-
tended assertion, h"I tllr confidence of th"
officers, and related variety of circumstances
tending to inculpatr him; but the evidence
was deemed incunclusiNc, and he escaped
conviction. But he was not ucquittcd and
waS rcmandrd to prison. from which he was
liberated hv the kind intervention of that
benevolent gentleman, IIoratio Gates, who
became Interested for him, and anSwcrahIr
for his appearance, and that hc would report
himself at stated times. Ne. Even after the
news of peace, his release was stcrnly re-
fused.
\ singular circumstance accomplished it.
There are some who may remember of Lieut..
Nhcldpn, hclongin" to one OF the later raised
rrgimcntS-a Young man of great strength,
and of Il COURAGE that better deserved to he
called desperation. He had been engaged in
fatal duel, and at La Cole Mill he continued,
alone. loading and firing AN abandoned field
piece. exposed To the fire of the whole garri-
son, and disrcgardiug all orders to retire; I;
when finding his balls wholly ineffective
against the solid masonry, and launching II
yollcy of taunts against the cowardly raScal>
that had Skulkcd into an old mill-cntorcrd
by the gesture most expressive of contempt
he retrcatcd, opening his bosom, and leisure
" bdctiHg towards his friends. The John
Bulls. admirng his intrcpidty or amused
at his audaclty, ceased firing he got back,
his clothes and hat riddlcd with balls.
1t pleased tn strange Lieut.. Sheldon, some
time after the peace, 10 visit the loyal city Of
Montreal, and to attend the theatre dressed i'll
the full uniform of an American officer. "God
Save the King" was played some one inst
antly called out that the Yankee soldier should
take oil his hat with n scurrous remark, and
the demand was reechoed by the audence.-
Sheldon rose and coolly said, that if he had
t been treated with civiIlly, he might possibly
have taken off his hat in honor of their crazy old
: King but as 1t was demanded with insult, it
would come of when his head was pol ed from
his shoulders, and not bciore;" and with this
concllintory remark the row Instantly com
, menced. hcldon fought bravely. Price
| who had witnessed tc whole scene, let him.
, self down from the attic region of the theatre
, at all events, placed himself by Sheldon's side
- aud siid-"l | will stand by you. Let us secure
T. our rear--wc can take care of front and nanks.
They placed their backs to the wall-and thost
Jared badly who came within striking distanc,
/ of two OF the most athletic and powerful mcI
. to be found, skllul and experienced in sucl
Y conflicts; and especially Of Ericc-ior he wa
iei-handtd-.and "A leit-hanGcd blow is NOR,
g sure and effective, from being an uneXpccte,
: one to the adversary. The assalIants wen
!. down in heaps, dashed against benches, angle
i and sharp-cdged things, receiving severe am
D fatal woanGS. Victory had nearly declare
r itself for the two rcAoubtabe champlons, whc
e large body of soldiers, Informed Of the Van
q kce row, rished in and the contest was renewe,
n 1t was nov ore of life or death, to prlc
IA especially, t.! cow2rdly blow with Il billet &
c wood on the head OF sheldon, land him sense
ia less. s'nglo glance suiticel to inform Pre-
3. that Sheldon was beyond the reach of iunhc
Is aid, lie died few days afterwards Of HI
y hUrts j-and collecting As strength, he made
n rprlng. dashed the ASSISTANTS aside, gained tll
N door, the entrance, tie street. aud conceale
L. by the darkncss-hat,c>s, his clothes torn