The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-08-15


n struggle ensued, which ended ia his dis
e arming and wounding the soldier.
o Tarlton's troop of four hundred mel
|, were now in sight, and the other dra
s goons were about to attack him. Seein!
b his case was desperate, he turned to
a ward an adjoining thieket, and, as
cheering on party of men, cried out
r "Come on, my brave boys, nov's your
, time; we will soon dispatch these few
and then attack the main bodyl" at the
same time rushing at the dragons with
the fury of an enraged tiger.
They did not wait to engage him, but
fed precipitately to the troop, panic
struck and dismayed. Seizing upon the
traitorous villain w, Francisco was
about to dispatch him but he begged
and pleaded so hard for his life that he
forgavc him, and told him to secrete for
him the eight horses which the soldiers
h.d left behind them Petceiving that
Tarleton had dispatched two other dra-
goons in search of him, he made off into
the adjoining wood, and, while they
stepped at the house, he, like an old fox,
doubled upon their rear and successfully
evaded their vigilance.
The next day he went to w = for his
horses, who demanded two of them for
his services and generous intentions.
Finding his situation dangerous, and
surrounded by enemies where he should
have found friends, he was compelled to
make the best of it, and left with six
horses, intending to revenge himself
upon W - at future time; "but,n as
he said, "Providence ordained that 1
should not be his executioner; for he
broke his neck by fall from one of the
very: horses"
Many other anecdotes are told of
Francisco, illustrative of his immense
strength and personal prowess. At
Camden. where Gates was defeated. he
retreated, and after running along the
road some distance, he sat down to rest
himself. He was accosted by a British
dragoon, who presented pistol and de-
manded his immediate surrender. His
gun being empty. he feigued submission,
and said he would surrender-at the
same time remarking that his gun was
no furthor use to him, he presented IT
sideways to the trooper, who, in reach
ing for it, threw himself off his guard,
when Francisco, quick as thought, ran
him through with the bayonet, and as
he fell from his horse, he mounted him
and continued his retreat. Overtaking
his commanding officer, Colonel Mayo,
of Powhattan, he gave him up his ami
NAL, for which act of generosity the
Colonel afterwards presented him with |
a thousand acres of land in Kentucky. |
The following anecdots, exemplifying
his peaceful nature and his strength, is |
told of Francisco. How true it is we
cannot say, but we tell it as it was told
to US many years ago, while he was still
living in Buckingham county.
One day while working in his garden
he was accOsted by stranger who rode
up to the fence and inquired if he knew
where a man by the name of Francisco
lived.
Raising himself up from his work;
and eyeing his interrogation, who appear
ed to be one of the "half- horse, half-ali-
gator" breed of Kentuckians, he re
piled: "Well, stranger, I don't know of
any Other person by that name in these
parts bat myself"
"Well, reckon you amt the man
want. 1 want to find the great fighting
man I've beard tell so much about
The feller, they say, can whip all crea-
tion and Kaintuck to boot"
II cant tell you, stranger, where
you'll find that man." said Francisco,
resuming his work as a hint to the other
that the conference was ended; but the
was not to be bluffed off, as
he would term it.
"Look ere, stranger" said he, return
ing to the charge, "what might be your
name?n
"My name is Peter Francisco, at
your service"
"Ahl" returned the other, "you're
just the man I want TO fnd''-at the
same time riding inside the fence, he
and tied the animal, rough,
ungainly Indian pony, to one of the
posts.
"My name is Big Bill Stokes, all the {
way from Old Kaintuck. 1 am the
Kaintuck game chicken, 1 am. I can ;
outrun, outjump, outhop, knock down,
drag out, and whip any man in all them
diggins So, as heard of feller down
hereabouts who could whip all creation,
[ thought I'd saddle old Blossom, and &
Just ride over and see what stuff he's l
made of, and here / am. And now, {
stranger, Pm most starved for fight, {
and 1 am bound to see who's the best |
man before go home. It's all il good l
feeling you know; and if you lick me, +
Why, I'm satisfied. But {
"Stop minute, stranger, said Fran I
cisco; 'syou've mistaken the man entire |
Iy; I'm no fighting man at all ). and if {
[ was, I've nothing against you to fight G
about f
"weIl, I don't know; is there any {