The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-05-24

| bic to this day. 1t was singular 1act thii'
three old men, seventy years and upwards
each, who were Tories, the battle coming on
so Unexpectedly, took shelter in this tavern,
(Cooper's) where the British found them and
put them to death.
The name of one was Wnship. well re.
member his son The heavy discharges Of
musketry at the tavern brought my mother
into the streets or road, who had learned moth
| Ing certain of what was going on since my
father left her on .he previous evening. TO
II her utter establishment she saw the battle rag.
| ing at less than half mile distant; she instant.
| " returned to the house, secured large nag
OF currency SO much wanted at this time, ana
and a few small articles then taking one child
of two years old in her arms and having TWO
older hanging to her apron, she sailed forth
to 20 to Captain Whttemore's, about two
miles distant across the fields, on the bank OF
the Mystic river, (womcn and children had
already fed there, to the number of a hundred
of the former. and two or three hundred OF the
latter.) She had scarcely set foot on the
road when one child cried for bread; she re-
turned to the house, and cutting loaf, gave
piece to him that wanted it and wrapping
the remainder up in her apron, she was again
in the road. In the meantime the battle had
approached so near, she was within point
blank shot Of the retreating enemy, who let
20 whole volley at her, which did no other
damage than to pass two balls through her
cap. The Americans saw her perilous situa-
ton and called out to her, run, good wo'
mani" She did so, and arrived safe at the
house of refuge.
The enemy in the meantime, sent out flank
ing par,y with the intention of cutting off the
retreat of the mother and child-an object
which they came nigh accomplishing the
Americans did not succeed in turning their
flank until they had approached the house
near cnought to lodge bullets in it--and Il
very large elm tree, within twenty-five feet
from the house, was spattered with them and
! took great pleasure in cutting them out ten
or twelve years after.
After my mo TIERS escape, they entered the
house. took every article of clothing and bed
ding, except the beds themselves, which they
ripped open, split up the furniture, and then
set fire to the house-but the building was
saved. They also killed horse in the stable
and some hogs in the pen.
Near my fathers dwelling was Bradsh's
Troy tavern. When they arrived at that
Mrs. Bradish who was in delicate health, rose
from her easy chair to retire from the front Of
the house; she had not left it a minute when
a ball passed through the back of it: it was
the only one fred at the house. and was prob
ably done inadvertently. The British officers,
who had been in the habit of making trips to
the country, particularly on Sunday, knew
every family which was near Troy, for many
miles around, and dealt with them according
ly, when they had an opportunity. 1t was
not until dark that they arrived in Charleston,
when the Americas withdrew from the contest,
and the British encamped on Bunker's Hill
The next morning they entered Boston.
The loss on both sides has been differently
stated and my memory does not serve with
certainty on this subject; but pamphlet
which l remember to have read, ailidavits Of
many occurrences of the day, it seems to me
put down the loss Of the British at 245, be-
sides many wounded, and that of the Ameri
cans at l40--but am not certain, nor have
| any authorities at hand to refer to on the
subject.