Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-04-06

commander, we'll nigh as notorious as MN u
scif, and took several prisoners, and among U
hem the Governor of the State, Thomas !
'}urke. and started Immediately for Whining !
. IN. intending to pass through Chatham Coun- r
". CAPTAIN Townsend and his company,
had, a short time previous, joined the forces I
under the command Of general Butler, and
tho General, learning of Fannen's exploits
Ind chicanery ut Hillsboro' resolved to give {
BIN battle on the way to Wilmington. With
Zlis view he intercepted his march ut Lind
Ms Mills, in Orange county, now Alamance.
Although little is said in the history of our
E3untry concerning the battle at Lindley's
sfilIs. vet It was a sanguinary and tragical
struggle IN the war of Independence; blood
eowcd freely from the hearts OF Wing and
Tory there on the 14th day of September,
1871 and the shrill and piercing agony Of
+,e wounded and dying went up from the
bloody ground like q mourning requiem.
The scene of battle lay along the north
I'm bank of Cane Creek. The public high
,vay run along the narrow valley Of the
s,ream. A considerable hill, covered by a
4onse forest, sprang up from within a few
yards Of the edge of the slowly moving wa
or and wound along the base Of the hill un-
I'll 10 turned into a small ravine and crossed
tho creek.
The Wings being aware that the Tories
~rere within a few miles Of the SPOT, conceal
IL themselves in the bushes and behind the
vrccs on the hill side, and silently awaited
their approach, resolved to fire upon them as
roon as they entered the valley below and
ramo fairly between their guns and the creek.
They did not wait long for soon they
heard the clatter Of the horses feet coming
,lown a rocky hill that slopes down to the
narrow valley above mentioned. On came
TIE unsuspecting Tories, laughing and whoop.
;1o Mt their success in Hillsboro'. As soon
rs they were fairly in the range ola charge
r.om the artillery of the Wings, their comman-
Tor in a low, distinct voice gave the order to
IRE. A sharp volley followed the command
ppd MANY of the Tory ranks. both horses and
r,en. fell at the first fire. The charge was
promptly returned by the Tories and q brisk
Gro from both sides was kept up for some
f,inutes. Owing to the advantage possessed
w the wings, both in numbers and position,
, ,ov lost hut few men, while quite a number
&c the Tories were killed on the spot and sew
ernl severely wounded. Among the woun-
lied was Robin Eastman. Fannen was al
:, severely wounded, but he made good his
threat, on his Red Doe mare, given him by
m old Tory named Lindsey, and conveyed
Lis prisoners at length to Wilmington and
delivered them to Major Craig.
Such Of the wounded as were unable to re
.-eat were carried to a house thatstood abou
: quarter of a mile up the creek and who's
y~1ters have only within q few years fallen IN
nd whose timbers have grown moth b.. eaten eIttt9r
I'D Tories were attended by Doctor Pyle, him
s,lfa leading Tory, and who distinguished him
ri at the memorable hacking match Al
.r nm examination of Eastman's wounds h
, I'D him thathe must die. He received this ar
rouncement with the most furious terror an
nlrnestly besought the Doctor to save hi
10, who frankly declared his inability to d
- and commended his soul to God. Whe
Eastman became convinced that he must II
Iced die, he requested that Baptiste Howar
1,icht he brought to him. Howard was a.
sing in burying some of his friends, tia
lad fallen on the battle-ground, and when h
ms informed that Eastman was dying an
ished to see him, he repaired to the oil
h,use. He drew near the bloody pallet
straw on which lay the dying Tory.
II have sent for you," said Eastman
a. that l might speak to you of our past life.
speak on" said Howard.
"When / saw that | was supplanted |
~. the -afeetinns-of Columhine Gree
. seek revenge upon yourself and Columbin
6rst made an attack upon her between OF
c,mp and her home-she promptly met n
assault with q severe blow with a dagger
EENfSS lily IH-yO y biO oNdls L hGAG q
fliled her with a letter purpoting to be fro
v1u, and expressing an idea Of your bein
f,lm some cause, sorely disgraccd-I a
"ure that piece of villiany rendered her u
klppy. Again, l sent her another lett
With your name attached, requesting O me
jir with her at the old chestnut tree ne
Rugglo's Cave. She was innocently deco
Il into the net, and | found her quietly
~raiting your expected approach. | laid I
guilty hands upon her and ruffain like CARR
iryr to the mouth of the haunted cave, int
dug to confne her there and perish her il
n submission to my wishes, when some I
Laown man rushed upon me and rescued |
f,Jm nv clutches. Upon q second effort
~ls more successful, and thrust her into
Lorrid cave, and I have since learned IL
= ~ were confined there at the same time, a
~r.isouer waitingoxecutIon by my Tory bre
r,n. How you and Columbine escaped
unknown to mo.
by the aid of a tried friend" interpo'
Howard.
Lot mo speak on" said Eastman ''fo
have not long to speak"
All nv acts Of villainous perfdy have b
~ n protective Providence, wisely and S
t~5ssfuily counteracted in every instance q
INV covered with shame, and a soul wit
,lis aching and bloody bosom swollen W
win, / must die ana meet an ln1eXlDle GO0
Measure my reward in righteousness! n
10 Lord deal mercifully with my s
trough Christ Jesus! pray you, Howa
=, forgive my %villainy in trying to rem
u and Columbine Observation-Disclosures mt
i.lst that | may die without your curse ha
Ing to my soul an accusing witness"
Its given" said Howard.
And may heaven bless you for it." 8
n, " and will you tell Columbine that d
intent and craving her pardon for the
lries I submitted her to 2"
II will" said Howard.
Eastman did not secn to hear Howal
answer he lay quiet for some minutes v
y furious, delirious stare d%arting from his
Int, CLASSY eyes up to the black joists of
oil building "a sardonic grin played c
his nervous, twitching features rendering
h:leous to look upon and then, as if S
,.ed with fresh and more lively horrors,
c,nvulsively clutched and tore the stray
5 CORY pallet, while between his frothy
mo this single word, uttered in terror
T. rood sarcasm
"FIExDs y"