Mountain Democrat., 1857-06-06
Revolutionary Recollection.

insults of cruel md oppressive focs.-
BCund to pay obedience to laws predica-
ted on the momentary power Of a proud
and vindictivc commander, it can bc bet
ter pictured than described. To obtain
the common ncccssarics Of life, particu-
larly flour, they had to go as far as BriS-
tol, distance of eighteen or twenty miles,
and even this indulgence was not granted
them until II pass was procured from Lord
Howe, aS guards were placed along Vine
street, extending from the Delaware to
the Schuylkill, forming n complete bar
ricr; beyond these, through the woods,
extending as far as Frankford, were sta
toned the piquct guardS-thus rendering
it in n manner impossible TO reach Bristol
mills unless first obtaining pass.
The commander. in-chirf Of the AmCri-
can forces was then cncampcd at Valley
Forge, suffering from cold, hunger, and
the inclcmcncy of the season. The Brit
iSh rolled in plenty, aud spent their days
in fraSting, their nights in balls, riots and
dissipation; thus resting in supposed Sc
curity, while the American chiriluin was
planning mode for final cxtirpation. A
poor woman, with six small children,
whose husband was at Valley Forge, had
made frequent applications for pass
Engagement rendered it impossible for
her cruel tormcntcrS to give her onC.-
Rendered desperate from disappointment
and the cries of her children, She started
alone without pass, and by good luck
eluded the guard and reached Bristol.
1t will bo remembered by many now
living that six brothers, by the name of
Loale OF Doalr, about this time committed
many acts Of heroic bravery, but more in
the character Of maraudcrs than soldiers.
They were mon full six feet high, stout
and active, n fearless intrcpidity charact-
crizcd their deeds, and they always sue.
cccdtdin making their escape. Amarkcd
partiality tothc Americans rendered them
obnoxious to the British and always well
como to the former, to whom they con-
vcyed what information they could CLEAN
in their adventures.
Our adventurous female having pro-
cured her flour in pillow-casc, holding
about twenty pounds, was returning with
light heart TO her anxious and lonely
babes. She had passed tho piquct guards
ut Frankford, and was just entering the
woods little this side, when a tall, stout
man stepped from behind tree, and put
ting y letter in her hand, requested her to
read it. She graspcd with eager JOY the
letter bearing tho character of her hus-
bands handwriting. After n pause he
said, "your husband is well, madam, and
requested me to say that in short time
he will DO with You; money is o scarce
article among ns-l mean among them /;
but on account Of your husbands PARTIAL:
ty to the cause Of liberty, am willing to
become his banker" So saying, hC hand
ed her purse Of money. "My means,
madam, arc adequate, or I would not thus
lavish" seeing she wasQbout to refuse it
"YOu said, sir, my husband would sec
me shortly; how do YOU know that which
seems so impossible! And how did you
know me, who never
"lIush, madam, we are now approach
Ing tho British guard; suffice it to Say,
the American commander has that in his
head which, like an earthquake, will shake
tho whole American continent, and ex.
pungc these miscrcants; but, hark take
the road to the lcil-arcwcll." So say
ing, he departed. She gave one look, but
vacancy filled the spot where he stood
With a slow, cautious step, she approach
cd Vino street. Already her fire burnt
beneath her bread, when the awful word
"halt" struck her to the soul. She start
cd, aud found herself in the custody of q
British sentinel.
"YOur pass, madam"
al have none, Shiny children arc"-
"D-n tho rebel crew, why do you
breed enemies to your kingI This flour
is mino-oif, woman, and dio with your
babes"
A grcan was her only answer. The
rullan was about parting, when the for.
NOR messenger appcared-his whole de-
meanor was changed-hmmblc simplicity
marked his gait-he approached the guard
with seeming teAriIlncss, and begged
him in q suppliant voice to give tho poor
woman her Hour.
Fool idiotw exclaimed the guard,
"-who are youy Soc yondcr guard.housc
If you interfere here, you soon shall DO
its inmate"
MAY be so, sir; but won't you give
tho poor woman tho means of supporting
her littlo family ono week longcrS Re-
collect tho distance she has walked, the
weight of tho bag, aud rccollcct"--
"u--l and fury, sirrahl Why bid mo
rOcOllcctY You plead in vain--begonc, or
I'll seize you as u spy"
"You won't give the poor woman her
tloury" ~.
NO."
: "TheN, by my country's faith and
hopes Of freedom, you SHALL" and with a
powerful arm he seized the guard by tho
throat and hurled him to tho grOund.-
''Run, madam, run-See, the guard house
Is alive--scixO your flour, pass Vine street
and you are safe. Twas done. Tho
guard made an attempt to rise, when the
stranger drew pistol and shot him dead.
Tho unfortunate maN gazed around him
with fearless iutrCpidity. There was
but ono way Of escape, and that through
tho woods, SeiEing tho dead mans mus
kCt, he started like a deer pursued by the
hounds. "Shoot him downl down with
him I" was echoed from ono line 10 the
other. The desperate was lost in the
woods, and general search commenced; !;
the object Of their search, in the mean.
time, tIew like Rghtnlng; the guard was
left bChidd, but tho whole piqust line
would soon DO Alasmcd-One course alone
presented itself and that was Il. mount
his horse, which was concealed among
tho bushes, and gallOp down tho Dela-