Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-07-18
BUFFALO, PUTNAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WE

- A"A va dAbOl
taken few hours rest, in order to
lose no time in gathering together
his recruits. -, :',..,
The dread of discovery had been
constantly before our hero during
the arrangement Of this negotiation,
for his person was well known to
many Of the Majors troops; and if
any of them had come up, bis fei GIL
ed name would not protect him from
detection. He wished to get that
night, as he proposed, but to this
neither his host nor the Major W puld
hear, and he was forced to remain
till morning. Whatwas his ang uish
to hear that the Major lad been
gone some hours and was already
on hisway to the Bunkers with his
troops. Descending his anxiety,
David partook of n hasty breakfast,
and, mounting his horse, rode slowly
away. But when out Of sight Of the
house Ire struck into n fierce gaHop,
which continued till he came in sight
of n cross road, where there " as
tavern. Here he stopped. andlearn-
ing that the royaIistS had taken the
hiyh-road, he turned aside into q
more narrow and more circuitous BY
road.
1T is my only chance to avoid
them he "a id, again da<hing into II
~gnIlop. i pray God | may reach
the settlement in time. to collect n
few of our lads, and march to the
Bunkcrs. There is no OTHER hope
left now
Night had fallen, as they had ex-
pcctcd, before the tories were able
to reach the vicinity of the house
they were in search Of. At length,
however, after Il silent march ill tie
woods, IL, broke upon their view. A
light was burning in one Of the win
dows and when they arrived clio Sc to
the premises the lively notes Of a Vi
olIn reached their ears, provingI that
the brothers were not aware of thrir
presence, but were enjoying them
selves in imagined security.
Now, men, whispered the leader
Of the. tories, when give the word,
fire a %ollcy at the house by way of
Introduction; We will then surround
! the piece and enter it,
Wthnt instant the deep bay of It
! dog rang on their ears. and q large
Anastiff sprang. from under the house
land rushed at the Major.
'l'ircr. he cried.
/. Twenty guns broke upon the still
ness OF the night-thc dog fell dead
every pane ol'gIass in the windows
WAS shivcrcd and the tories yelled
like savages. In an instant the
lights in the house were cxtinghcd-.
the HioIin. qnickly ceased, and
noise was heard at the door The
tories Immediately made a rush al
it; But twas already barred, and
bcingmade Of stout oak plank, re-
sisted III their efforts. A rifle crack
ed from one Of the windows, and one
of the tories fell, desperately wound
led. Another report succeeded and
hnothcrtofy fell. Major Wilson was
now fully aware that both Bunkers
were at home and wide awnke. A
shed turned thc.rain from the front
Of the house, and beneath this the
tories, Shielded from the fire of the
the Bunkcrs, wcnttoWork at the door.
Suspccting such resiStancc--pcrhaps
from his knowledge Of their clarnc-
tcr--one Of the men brought an axe,
with which he commenced hcwing
at the door, and soon cut it into
pieces. Here a desperate battle en-
sued. The brothers, powerful men
and courageous as they were strong;
and now with dubbed rifles they dis
putcd the whole force. The door
being small, they stood their ground
for half an hour telling during that
time, some olthosc who had the te
ncrity to~entcr first but finally mum
bers overcame them, and they were
flung upon thc~iloor and bound +
The tories inllamct<to madness at
the resistance which had been made,
and at their own losses, now seized
the mother aud sister. and4 made
preparation to hang the two brothers
before their eyes. The ropes were
already tied around the necks of
their victims, when the Major adj
dressed his men: /.
Now, friends, as soon as these
Williams are dead, we will set fire to
the house-the old woman there
said he, with a brutal laugh, tmay
be left inside, but the young one ]
reserve for myself
Hist cried one Of the men, in ia
loud voice. The Major ceased, and
they heard voice outside the house.
Altho' the words were spoken low,
the listeners distinctly heard: When,
fI<say fire, give it them!'
Aman witha blanched cheek now
rushed into the house, exclaiming-
I THE yard is fu III Of menu +
'Firer cried deep voice from the
ward. A general volley succeeded,
and so well had the aim been direct
ed in the door, that several ofthe to-
Eries fell either de ad or wounded. In
-. - tor;a,f epfreata1 nm the