Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-12
Original StOrp.
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Written for The Spirit cfhe Age Raleigh
The Yankee Privateersman,
OR THE BOLD BRIG OF CAsCo BAY
ATALE OF THE TIMES OF '76.
BY w. NJ T.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTERI.
The reader who has ever perused the
slightest portion of American history, we'll
knows, that throughout the memorable era
of '76, that year which was rife with so
much danger to Columbia's patriotic cause
and which characterized the weakness Of
Eugland's imbecile monarch, and the in-
trigue and baseuess of an English court,
the feelings Of the little baud Of Freemen,
were far from being buoyant. They had
TO contend against we'll disciplined phal-
anxes, the flower of British soldiery, the
fear Of the whole continent and worse
than that, against their own sordid and cow
ardly countrymen. But they placed their
confidence in Him who rules above, and
swearing to gain liberty worthy of Free
men or die, they grasped their frelocks in
frmer grip while many rude prayer wing
ed its sacred way to the God Of battles, they
boldly strobe on to grapple with, aud beat
the invader from our hallowed sod.
Perhaps an epitomised view of the affairs
OF the Americans at that time will not be
amiss, but will tend to recall more vividly
to the mind Of the reader, the important
incidents that transpired in that time hon
orcd year, and may perhaps cause our tale
to be perused with more interest.
Sir Wm. Howe, if the reader will re-
member, after evacuatng Boston sailed
with his army for Halifax. Our great
Washington, thinking New York was their
object, soon removed to that city the chief
part of his army. On the 9th of Au-
gust, an engagement took place between
Brooklyn. aud Flatbush; the Americans
under Putnam and Sullivan being surroun-
ded and exposed to the fire of the hireling
Hesslans in front and Of the British sol
diery in the rear, were defeated with a loss,
according to their own statement, of up
wards of 1000; but the British say about
1000. Three of our brave generals-Sul-
hvan, Lord Stirling and Woodruff fell into
the hands OF the enemy. During the heat
OF the engagement, Washington executed
his admirable retreat from New York over
through Brooklyn, which the anabasis of
Xenophon can only parallel. Washington,
with part of his ragged troops retired to
White Plains on the 18th of October, when
and where an engagement took place in
which several hundred fell General Howe
soon after reduced Fort Washington on
the Hudson under Col. Magaw; the Brit
ish at this time held shefr sway IN New
York city, Long Island and Staten Island.
The small army of Americans who were
bravely fighting for freedom, was greatly
reduced by the loss Of men in killed, woun.
ded aud captured, and by the departure ot
those whose terms of enlistment had expi
red. To add to the foregoing disasters (a'
We torn them) General Charles Lee was
taken prisoner and the British had scizec
upon Rhode Island. The whole number o
our scantily supplied troops, under tn
Wagner General, on the west side of tn
Delaware, was about 5000, many of whor
were without shoes or comfortable clott
ing, aud in this the darkest hour of th
Revolutionary struggle, when our forefatt
ers were contonding manfully for the so
they trod, General Howe issuing hamln
.procamations, Offering to all a free pardc
who would submit to regal authority; an
this had some effect, for many persons fea
ing the con6scation of their property, s
ded with the King, thinking of course tn
he would gain tie victory. Washingto
Justly termed Pdter PatriG, aware of Il
Importance of striking some decisive bic
in order to animate the expiring hopes
his beloved countrymen, on that memorial
night, the 25th Of December, '76, cross
the Delaware, fell on the enemy at Ire
ton by surprise and took the whole bod
consisting Of about 1000 Hessians who
commander, Colonel Rahl, was killed
the onset. This victory and the repulsi
of Sir Peter Parker's feet off Fort Mo
trie on the 2Sth of July, of the same ye
raised the dropping spirits of the AmeriC
army and told the British in thunder to1
what oppressed Freemen could do. But
the time of which we write, Washingto
victory at Trenton was not accomplish
and the courage and hope that had been
cited in the bosom of the small and gall
ban by the action at Fort Moultre
died away, and to use the language
good historian the aspect of American
fairs was indeed gloomy" During
year, the events of which seemed fata
American Independence, although it
Just declared, our northern sisters had
been idle; they had furnished their allC
quotas regularly, and their ports teer
with privateers.
Without further parley we will on '
our tale.