The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-12-13
An Incident of the Revolution.

! The want of provisions in the camp o!
Burgoyne, just previous to his capture by
the Americans. began to be severely felt;
the Americans had seized their supply.
which some boats contained; all resort to
the country lying round, where tory friends
were 10 be found, was totally cut off. The
prosecuting Americans had fenced them
in as with a wall Of vengeance, which
could not be passed; famine had COM
menced its unnerving power. sickness
was multiplied among the soldiery, fever
attended with deliriums, raved from couch
to couch. Water, water was the inces.
SAINT cry. And although the Hudson on
one side of the camp, poured along its
silent waters, and the rapid stream of Fish
Creek roared swee,ly in the ears Of the
sick and dssponding forces, yet it was i'm
possible to sn stch drop from those dread
fully guarded waters;a hundred bullets
were sure to pierce whoever made the
attempt, 80 soon as they stopped 10 touch
the silver current. But such were the
cries for water by the sick and dying, tha.
their women moved by pity, were made
superior to the dreadful crisis, ginning
that the Americans would 70. through
feelings of gallantry, shoot female
snatched hastily their pals and ran to the
shores to see what the event might be.
Their opinion Of the enemy, ss.it proved,
with respect to their persons was correctly
formed, but their pals were doomed to
harder fate. for while they could net find
it in their hearts to spill the blood OF de-
fenseless females, they were sure TO riddle
their pals as they hung from their hands,
so that little or no water could be pro-
cured.
In this dilemma, faithful wife, who
had LETT her native country for love Of her
husband, who was one of the unfortunate
Hessians sold by his government to the
King OF England at a certain sum head,
to fight in cause the merits Of whichHhe
knew nothing; this woman, as she moved
from couch to couch. listening to the
means OF the sick for water, suddenly re.
solved: ! will try, perhaps may succeed
to bring little. Her husband tried 10
dissuade her. but she persisted. her sym.
pathies were strong, tor as kind and
comforting angel she made it her business
to hover over the dead and wounded OF
her countrymen. 1.-THE Hessians.) all the
titttc sbS hdu VOcu tnc Ouc
sprang along the adventurous path that
led to the dreadful shore. her husband fol.
lowed close as he dare; already she stood
al the brink in full view of the guns Oh the
other side; for a moment she cast an i'm.
ploring glance that way and then to Heav-
en- Tor protection; her right hand had dash
ed the vesssl into the waters; q struggle to
clear the open shore, and reach the deep.
ly. shaded bank, had -narkad her sagiiated.
demeanor, when ball, aimed at her pail,
struck. as she had stopped over the vessel
too low, her angel bosom-,he blood
spouted aud dyed the ground, before her
quivering frame fell crimsoned in the gore
Of her faithful heart. Her husband, who
had waited but short distance for her
return, had not moved his constant eye
from his all on earth, while within his
soul vibra,ed between the vast extremes Of
hope and despair her screech struck his
esr---her reeling frame showed him tha,
the shalt Of death had cleft her heart as
sunder She had but touched the ground
where she fell when his arms enciroled
her, dyed in spou,ing blood from her bo-
som: frantic with grief, he dreaded no,
the flash OF the fatal rifles, but bore her 10
the camp, struggling in the pangs OF dis
solution where he Impressed on her fading
forehead, the last kiss Of fervent affec-
ton.
The grief Of This man was respected.
not a gun moved its trigger, hushed we're
the volleys Of the sympathizing, yet brave
Vermonters; her pail, aud not her person,
had been the aim Of the distressed marks.
man, the green mountaineer.