The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-11-12

t'Ohe Nv tue ipW CpuntTy he cHcamD
meut Of the British troops being on that
part of the plantation south of the ave.
nue. it was completely screened by the
fences aud hedge row from the view oil
any one approaching from down tho
country.
While tho uien we're busted, dffer ent
officers came Up at intervals, making
their reports and receiving orders A.
mong others, Tory captain, whom Mrs.
Slocumb Immediately recognized; for
before joining the Royal army, he had
| lived fifteen or twenty miles below-re.
ceivcd orders in her hearing, to take his
troops and scour the country for two or
three miles around
In all hour everything was quiet, and
the plantation presented a romantic
spectacle regular cncompment of some
ten or eleven!hundrod choicest cavalry of
tho British monarch, Tho officers were
! pnrtaking of a dinner in tho mansion,
prepared for them by Mrs Slocutnb.
They were interrupted, however, by rap.
Id vollcys Of firearms, appearing to pro.
coed from the woods. short distace to
the eastward. One Of the aids pro-
nounced it some struggling scout running
from the picket guard, but the expert
cuce Of Colonel Tarletou could not be
easily deceived
There are rifles and muskets said hn,
'as well rs pistols and 700 many to pass
upnoticed Order boots and saddles, and
you, Captain, take your troop in the di.
rection of the firing
The otlicer rushed to execute his or.
ders while the Colonel walked into tho
piazza, whittier lie was immediately fol.
'oSed by tie anxious ladeA Mrs Slo.
cumb's agitation and alarm may he i'm.
egincd for she guessed bu. too we'll the
cause Of thu interruption. % tho first
arrival Of the officers, she had been i'm
rortuue1 evon With harsh threat. (not.
however, by Tsrlston) to tell where he,
husband, whea absent on duty, was like
ly to hc found but, after her repeated
aud reremptory refusal, mad escaped fur
tber nlolcsisticn on the suhject She
feared that he had nov returned
rectodly, apd might fail into the
cnemy's hands before be was aware of
tier presence.
llor sole hope was n precaution she
had adopted soon cf!er tic coming of
her unwelccmc guests. Having heard
Tarloton give the order to lie Tory CAP.
tain ga .,r..,.: -. ,Hnv :, ~, "a
corn to TIE riil,abort four miles distant,
on the road she knew ler husband must
travel if lie returned thcl d9y. Zig
George. was instructed to warn his mas
ter OF tie danger approaching bis home
With tho in6oicace AID curiosity natu9-
oil to his race, however the CID fellow &c.
maiued lettering about the premises'and
was at this time lurking under the hedge
row, alniliu2 the rcd coats dashing
plumes aud shining Helmets Of the Brit
ish troors.
Tie colonel and some ladies continued
on the lockout on the piazza 'Nay be
allowed, Madam : at length, said Iar,!e-
ton without offence to inquire if any
part Of Washington's army Is IN the
neiglhorhood 2
/ presume it is known to you, said
Mrs Slocu,ab that the Marquis and
Green are in this State. And you would
not. Of course sho oldcd, after slight
/ rause. be surpris1d 1T q call i.om Lee.'
or your old friend Co!oael Washington
who although perfect gen!il"icn 1t is
said, shook your hand (poiuting to the
scar left by Wasa;ugton's sabre) very
rud,ly when last you met
This spirited auswe inspired T"rleton
with apprchonsiops that the sElrmish In
the woods only the prelude to concer-
ted attack on his camp. His only reply
wac loud order to form tho troops on
tie right, and springing on his charger,
he dashed down the avenue few hum
dred feet to breach in the hedge row,
leared the fence, and in a moment was
at The head of his regiment whlca was
already in linc. =,
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Slocumb, with
John Howell, a private in his band Hen
ry Williams. aud the brother Of Mrs.
Slocumb, Charles Hook, boy about
thirteen Of age, were leading hot Pur'
suit Of the Tory captain who had been
sent to reconnoiter the country, and
rome Of his routed troop. These were
first discerned in the open grounds east
aud nortte east Of the plantation, closely
pursued 10y body of American mounted
militia, while running fight was Kept
M with f'f vent vro' "ns. ih vl.'h = h'
uI Ggu biuaus,.o.., gl.unieu conspicuous
The foremost of the pursulog party ap
poarcd too busy with the Tories to SEQ
anything ELSE, aud they entered he ave
hue n; the same moment with the pur
sued. With what horror ard ccG:.erna
ton did Mrs. Slocumb recogonize hel
husband. her broihsr aud two Of hel
neighbours, IN chase Of the Tory captain
and four of ais band: already half way
down the avenue, aud unconscious thai
they were rushing into the enemys midst
About She middle of the avenue on'
of the Tories fell, aud tho course OF thu
Arave ara imprudcnt young officers wa'
sudden, arrested by Big George VII,
sprang directly il. front Of Their horses es
crying Hold on, Msssa ae ueIpr as
here i Look you i A glance 30 Una tf' t
showed the young men their Danger tn,
were within pistol shot OF a 'logsanS
men drawn up in order Of battle; Wheel
Jog their horses they discovered a trooI
already leapiug the fence into the q, sV
cnue in their rear. Qaiek as t6ongh,
Il i.