Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-02-22
\ Revolutionary A0prnt1rc
THE PATRIOT PRISONERS.

In the year 1880, while the war was still
vigorously prosecuted between Great Britain
aud the North American colonies, a number
of remarkable aud painful occurrences, arising
out of this unhappy dispute, took place on the
borders Of Canada and the revolted districts
Among these events. the following may con-
vey to our readers an idea oe the suIfrrings
TO which our people were sometimes exposed
during that war:
Old MIR. Sanmonds, with three sons, and
one or more daughters, lived upon the old
johnson cstatc in the western portion of
Now York. which had been scquesterod -
Sampson Sammonds. the father. was sturdy
old whig. and well known to the British
Commander. Sir John johnson, whom he had
often talked with about the rebellion His
sons. Frederick, jacob, and Thomas, the
youngest, eighteen at the time of which We
write, were much Of the same mind aud body
young Simpsons. knotty and fearless. Sir
john. knowing their characters, thought he
would catch tLcm alive. and take them to
Canada so be sent his Ind!ars out of the
way. and by good management captured the
whole rsce eaily in the morning without a
blow. The old man and his boys were at
once bound aud narched on in the direction
of Canad'. though by little way. That
night, the youngest, by the aid Of the wife Of
British .fiicer. managed to escape; aud the
next morning. the father, having procured an
interview with the tory chief, read him such
lecture upon the ingratitudc Of thus troat-
ing one who had formerly stood by him. and
upon the iuiquty Of bis conduct generally.
that he too was set free. aud span Of his
horses returned to him. But Frederick and
Jacob were less Fortunate and were directly
taken to the fortress Of Chamblce just within
Canada, between Lake Champlain and the
st. Lawrence. At that post there were
about seventy prisoners. and not very strong
garrison; so that the first thing the young
sammonds thought OF was an escape. Find.
ing, however, their fellow cap:ives indisposcd
to do anything for themselves, Jacob and
Frederick determined to act without the rest,
and accordingly, the first time they were ia.
ken out of the fort together. to assist in some
common service they sprang from the ranks
at concerted signal, and put, as the phrase
u.s. in the west The guards startled, and less
feet offoot, could not catch them and though
Jacob fell and spTainc1 his ankle, he sian.
agee, under cove. u tho smoke produced by
by tho gunshots made at them. to hide him
self in clump of bushes. winch his pursuers
did not think of searching 1T had been
agreed previously between the brothers, that
in case 6f separation. they we're to meet at a
known spot at ten o'clock at night.
Jacob, the lame one. mistook the hour, aud
having gone to the spot, and not finding bis
brother there, he left it, with the intention of
getting as far from the fort as possible before
daylight. his accident making time especially
important TO him. lie accordingly pushed
up the western bank Of the Sorel river, to-
wards Lake Champlain. intending to swim it
Just below the lake. and then fad his way
along the eastern shore. Various events,
however. occurred to prevent his doing this !;
but after running great risk, by putting him
self within the power of tory. whose chief
excelepey seems to have been the possession
of most kind and fearless wife. no was so
lucky as to fud a canoe; of which he took
charge, and in which be made good Roadway
bone until in one Of the narrow passes Of
Champlain. the British Notifications, on both
sides, forced him to leave his vessel and take
TO the woods again.