Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-10-13
Yankee Tact.

-
n hundred men, on the Ogefchee R'
er, at a distance Of about t wenty -fv
miles from Savannah. Fiv e ships-o
war also lay in the river, well manne
: and provided for exigencies. A
about dusk of the day in question
fCol. John White, man Of extraol
. binary courage and energy, accom-
panied by Captain Etholm, three sol
diers, and pne Of bis servants, wer
riding along the banks of the river
unaware of the proximity of Frencl
and his force, until the report of (
gun some distance ahead, brough
them to stand. Having reconnoi
tired the epem Us position ant
strength, White, in a voice character
istic Of his bold and fearless nature
said:
~There, Ell tboll ln, there's chance
! for u.s.
[ what now, Col inc CURED Etholm;
not understanding the drift of the
ICoI's remark.
"Why, we mus st capture this lit
tie squad of Britishers ahead of US,
"Whatl ace, wit hout any more aid,
inquired Etholm, perfectly thunder
struck at the Coils remark.
Eyes, we six, said White in re-
ply; "with the aid Of little Yam
k9e tact it can be easily accom-
plished, At least, as men, as Ameri-
cans, as patriots, it .behooves Us to
ma Ike the attempt"
At this singular proposition, the
so oilers, and eve n Captain Etholm
mi qrmured, and began to ia alk Of
retrcating, when White drew up his
pohderous frime to its full height,
and in a determined voice, said;
Gentlemen, you may go home;
and when you are esconcedid your
beds tonight, think of John White,
as alone, fighting for your liberty;
for as true us there's God in Heav
EN-, l shall n OF leave this place un-
It'll have tax en- that army or die in
the attempt 7
4Gol. if the plan was feasible, yes,
if it was not perfectly hair-brained,
| would consent; but as it is, | do
not. feel like remaining, TO throw
away my life" said Etholm, seeing
that White was really in earnest
The plan is feasible; with the aid
of you five, / will promise that in
less 5.than three hours | will have the
shi ps and the land force in my pow
er; and added he in powerful
Vol &c, ''if you are men, if you are
true e-hearted Americans, you will
sta j."
1--WE will stay!!' exclaimed the
me b in chorus White, greatly
pie; e;sed, ordered them to collect all
the dry underbrush and loose wood
to be found in the vicinity, which
he arranged with lis own hands, in
sue h manner, that when lighted it
won bid give rise to the suspicion that
a l. rye force was encamped near. II
HaN wing waited until ii was quite
dtr k, he ordered their piles to be
and then he and his com
rad es rode hastily from point to
poi ht, giving orders in a loud voice
asst hough to alarge force. White rode
forward, and coming near to the line
Of the enemy exclaimed:
Throw down your arms, and sur
sender, as prisonersIof war, or I Shall
be obliged to 4llo W my enraged sol
diers to wreak vengeance upon YOU"
.Etholm could hardly repres$ a
hearty laugh. at the Coils coolness,
not withstanding the imminent dan
ger OF their position.
French, not doub biting that he was
surrounded BY a large force, and
qui te anxi6us TO spare blood4hed,
after some delibera ton wi th bis men,
con cIuded to sure nder.
The Col. was n ow in a difficult
position. 1t was necessary to keep
up the deception until the prisoners
we're secured, and how he was to do
this was puzzle; but summonlng
all bis shrewdnesss TOT which he hau
goodly degree,) he rode up TO
French and in a loud voice, III pfder
that he might be heard by the sol
diers said:
..The recent outrages committed
unon American citizens, by the Brit
fsh Armv, u ms NlV'hf'l lf'