The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-11-12
I'll / sfflIonD.
Incident of the Revolution,


From Mrs Ellet. 'Wom.n of tho
Revolution,' we drew The following 10.
teresting sketch: When Lord Corn.
wallis set out fot Wilmington. with the
avowed purpose of couqucring Virginia.
he encampcd. on tho march FROM Hall.
fax, on the Neuse. on wha. is now Wayro
county, North Carolina His head QUAR-.
t9rs were at s prjnebank, while Colonel
Tarlcton. with his rcuowucd legion. Ct.
camped on the plantation Of Lieutenant
Slocumb. The owner Of tlis ine estate
held subaI,orn's commission in the
state line under Colonel WASHINGTON,
aud was in command Of q troop Of light
horses, raised in his nnghbofhooi, whose
duty 1t was to act as rangers, scourp,
the country for many miles around,
watching the movements of tho enemy,
and punsling the loyalisls when detect
cd III their vocation pf pill.ge and mur-
der These excursions had boon fro.
quert for two or three years, and were
often of.evcrsl weeks duration AT the
present time Siocumb had returned to
the vicinity, aud had been sent with
twelve or fifteen recruits TO act as scouts
~, ~, 'stI God uf the British gen.
T,n,. gfal me morning Of the day Cd which
noitcrei The encampment Of CornwAli!s,
which he supposed to be his whole force.
He then, with Lis party. pursued hls
way slowly back in the direction OF his
|, use. little dreaming that bis beautiful
and peaceful home, where, sometime be-
fore. he had left his wife and child, was
then in the possession Of the terrible
Tsrloton.
Daring these frequent excursions Of
the rangers, and the necessary absence
Of her husband. the surpcrintendonce OF
the plantation bad always devolved up-
on Mrs Slocumb. She depended for
protection upon her slaves, whose tideli-
ty she had proved. aud upon her own
fearless and Intrepid spirit The scene
Of Tho occupation of her house, and Tarl-
eton's residence with her, are drawn
from her own relation
1t was about 10 o'clock, on beauti-
ful spring morning, that a splcndidly
dressed officer. accompanied ~ two aids
and followed at Ghort distance by
grard Of some ;weuty troopers, dashed
to the piazza in front Of the anciont
looking mansion. Mrs Slocumb was
sitting with her child and near rel
a,ive Young lady, who afterwards be-
came the wife of Major Williams a
few house servants were also on the pi-
azza.
Tho officer raised his cap, and howine
to his horses neck, addressed the lacy
with the question:
Have I the pleasure of seeing tho
mistress Of this house and plantation p
1T belongs to my husband
IL be at home p
lie is not
Is he a rebel ?
No, sir. He is in the army of his
country. fighting against our invaders /;
therefore not a rcbel'
ltisuot little singular that although
the people Of that period gloried in their
rebellion. they always took offence at BE-
ing called rebels
i fear madam said the officer, that
VIC differ in opinion \ friend OF his
country will be friend of the king, our
master
Slaves only acknowledge master in
this country replied the lady.
A dsep flush crossed the 1oria cheeks
of Tarlton. for he was tho speaker and
turuine to Que Of the aids, he ordered
linn to pitch the tents and farm lhe en-
campment in the orchard and field on tbs
light. To the other aid his orders were
to detata a quarter guard. and station
tickets on each road, Then boviot
yery low. he adde,! Madam, the service
of his Majesty tequirts lbe 'Hmlorssr..
occupation Of your property: ana II
will not be too great an ipconSenier1c
Twill take up my quarters in your house,
The tone admitted DO controversy
Mrs. Slocnmb answered My family
consists of only myself, my sister anc
child and few negroes. We are YOU
prisoners
From the piazza where he seated
himself Tarleton commanded view o
tho ground an which his troops were ar
ranging thcr;camp, The mansion front
cd the east, and au avenue one hundred
and fifty feet wide. and about halfa mil
in leuglh, stretched to the eastern sid
Of the plantation, where vas highway