Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-11-28
S:aa 4 g2Iy.
AN INCIDENT or THE REVOLUTION

~ " " - - : = - erH 3
AN INCIDENT or THE REVOLUTiON
(TuE following history Of William Bancroft.
in the days Of the Revolution, may be send bv
some with satisfaction, aud is worthy 10 be kent
IN remembrance among the noble deeds OF those
times. II was related many years since by Mr..
Bancroft, slight notice of which is in Oordon's
History of the Revolution u ~ ~
When on a tour to the West. I met with the
subject Of this treatise at New York. The crate.
lnl remembrance Of the soldiers of the Reyolu.
ton by our country became the subject of CON.
versau0n. Alter there had been an interchange
Of opinion among us, Mr.. Bancroft observed
that he had applied 10 Congress for pension. !.
but owing TO the circumstance that his name
was stricken OF the rJll before he had served
nine months. To serve General Washington in a
more hazardous relation, he could not obtnn
IL; though he thought his circumstances and
his claims for consideration were rs great os
any soldiers. He then related the foIlowino
history Of his life:
" was born at Woburn, north Of Boston. I
enlisted in the army as soldier for three wears.
studiousiy endeav0red 10 understand nv duty
in my relation, and thought was proficient
at least os much so as other soldiers. One
day, Immediately after Washington's arrival at
Bfooklyn, | was detached, by the officer of the
day, among the guard. II SO happened that
was placed as sentinel before the General =
quarters at 0 O'Clock. About 10 O'clock The
Generals carriage drove up, which knew as
| soldier, but not rs a sentinel. hailed the
driver
WHO comes there7'
He answered, General Washington
'Who is General Washington p
lie replied, 'The Commander of the Amer.
can Amy
Il don't know him.-.Advance and give the
counter. sign
| The driver put his head within the carriage,
and then came back and gave The counter sign.
The coun,erSign IS rlsht,' replied; Gene
raj w ashngton can now pass.'
| The next morning the officer OF the day came
to me and said, General Washington has CON.
inanded me TO notify you TO appear at his quar-
tcrs precisely at 2 O clock
what does he want with me p
Il don't know, replied the officer.
In obedience TO his order, went TO his Quar-.
tcrs at the time appointed; bnt my mind was
greatly harassed 10 know whether | had dis.
charged my duty Alright the night previous. I
gave the alarm at the door, and a servant an.
peared.
The servant made the report, and immedi
a,cly bade me come in, and conducted ma IN
the Generals S room. When | entered he ad.
dre ssed me:
are you The sentinel that stood at nv doc,
at O'Clock last nightp
Yes, slr;-and enjeavored to do my dutv !,
i WISH all my army understood it as well n.
you do,' sad the General. This relieved th,
burden of my mind.
The General then continued, Can you keer
q secrct?' i
Il can ntry.'
are you willing to have your name struck
from lhe ioli ol the army, aud engage in Sc
cret service at the hazard Of your life, for wbicl
promise you forty dollars month D.
i am willing 10 serve my country in any wa,
you may think best
Cail mere a! precisely I o'clock this even
i'S' anu VIII give you further instruction.
lhen fellfed, and precisely at Z o'cock
returned. Tie General presented me with
Sea'eu leltef, without any superscrp,ion n,
ASKED me II had ever been on Roxbury Heights
| toiu HIM had, and at his request describe,
lhe level ground on the top. He gave M, fin
couhter-slgn, lest should not be able 10 retur
before the senllnels Received it; direc ted me I
converse with NJ one on the way. and if
. Should Observe any DprSon IN H. =, r,, -. 49,.
pearcd to notice m,. nrlcn,r,' ,io 'oaa VINO ul'
TO the iIen,bls untiI L,. wa, n',t " ~ " ~
when had nscended tho uo;'.t,t oat y, I'sn.' hn
around careGullv. and If J;taa. m.s, ,ius. ioo
, son | mns, lesn a, , I;,, 'soore,cu '.y pel
, safer noone IN taknms I'm NUM- a''
m;nt muct On ~, ,Ln ,,,a., y'',."s appcaie
should see not roo, ''.,;aI =; tn0 pI',n' "ncl
with ana hand and H ,,i VII ouuiu 'cls aus
, feet Fan, Il mns, t.Ia p."u ~. sum "oout iou
nIa.a .' ~. M ,s od .an1 .he lou'.u stone an
would r,; sc II cnougH 70 n, t"~ Ia. ,o'M, T Mm''
W. ,',nu ,,,,,t " ,i E " put ny nanu anoI'.
u ''s. ",;n ,"vn 1 .'ei uuer the 'ock' Salo In
thars;, ,at,arU 49, ;U' = nnu sgoo'u HOLLOW;
th; =; 70 ,t '.s,ut :" ~ o'ns ~ " 'e' aAa pu
''iJ nau;u'. ~ ."1 ,an; saliu p'aou'
~. g. ua;,t. ia! iiStiuctiohs' hhaae III
,t "a' ~, .ne 'iesns, anu Il0tlihs occurred VOL
tia s g. Ston oSI' '.at lpu'o ,he fock an
,n,,or 'thnn, u"' "nu IN tno hoiiow scale
;ns,,J ,,a wi, .n, ,'npe''s.,p.io". ~, lnei au
r',o'i ~, "'u p''ceu lle stolie us louh
~. h.etu,heu , .o tne uenerai's quarters, an
( Wo than s.;I "a '''''' 'ou"o uHocf Ihe roci
~ Van n',v '"," r,,;,o 49,,
,o,r,,u ,; ', io' ""o appear ~ o CLOCK u
nh;" ia rls
;r I Wv 10 sole tile' carrying ana brln!
s ,e''est ,@, ~,anoet 1eils annoyed IN any n
Iis,., st.., M ,os.n oosetVeu person al SON
u.',"noo ~. .,a,oii"s che same way was goln
anu nc e!eo MG win more attention than wi
p,oas,ns "I s aome. took rather clrcutous rout
INV ',''u no ouliie W tle hclghts' was con-
utn' ';l 81" TWO persons descend on the opposi
z ei"e, hiio'S tnC si'iilS. l went even TO ma