Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-05-08

er; they halted at the gate, and with
loud hail called for the owner of tn
house. The major quoted his terrific,
wife, and walked out-with a manner s.
composed that it would have commando,
respect from a party of soldiers-to NEE
Cunningham. That outlaw had one,
served under his command. But til,
front of determined wickedness coul(
not be abashed before the clear eyes o.
honor and virtue, when irresponsible
power was in the hands of such wretches
As Caldwell came within few PAGES Of
the leader of the party, the latter DELHI
crately drew pistol, took aim at his
heart, and fred The major sank tc
the ground, and in few moments ex-
PRED.
Mrs. Caldwell, the widow, always per-
sisted in her assertion that the shot was
fired by "Bloody Bill Cunningham, him
self" But the account of another per-
son, who knew the victim well, was that
''the deed was committed by two ydetts,
who happened to be in advance of the
captain and that when Cunningham
arrived, he affected to deplore the bloody
tragedy, protesting that he would as soon
have shot his own father ~ The account
given in "Curwin's Memoirs" confirms
this statement.
The compunction of the Tory leader,
if real, was short-lived His men en-
tered the garden with their horses, and
rode up and down in fiendlike sport
They then burst into the house, plumber
ed it of everything they chose to carry
off, and set it on fire, watching the flames
with hateful glee as they rose on high
and wrapped the building, and riding of
with yells of satisfaction The scared
inmates were left to seek shelter where
they could, ard the widow seated in the
yard beside her slaughtered husband.
Not many months after this tragical
occurrence, a lad named James Creswell,
who afterwards rose to the dignity Of
Colonel, and was even then noted thro'-
out the ncighborhood for his active hos
tility to the loyalists, happened to be
staying at the house Of Rebecca Cald-
wcil the mother of the murdered officer.
One OF the negroes came running in
with the startling intelligence that a
body o. Tories was coming along the
road towards the gate. A moment af-
forwards, they were in fu.l'sight, and
escape was impossible. The lads death
was certain, should he be discovered.
Hide yourself, Betsy, quick |" ex-
claimed the old lady. And you, James,
do as | bid you" She snatched down
some of her daughters clothes from the
closet, and hurrienly ordered young Cres-
well to dress himself in them, which he
did as quickly as possible.
Mrs. Caldwell, meantime, ordered her
own horse and Betsy's horse to be saddled
Immediately, saying she was going in
great haste to visit Mrs. Nelly. BY the
time the enemy were in the yard, the
horses, ready for the ride. stood before
the door. The matron walked out in her
bonnet and shawl, and seemed little dis
concerted atsightofthe strange intruders.
| "Come along, Betsy" she cried i'm
/ patiently: come along; you know am
in a hurry"
Out walked tall awkward figure in
female toggery, the bonnet sIeuehcd over
the face 50 as completely to conceal the
features. The two passed through the
midst Of the Tories, sprang upon the hor-
ses, passed through the gate, and set off
at full gallop on their journey. The in
truders, meanwhile, were inquiring ca
gerly for their Intended victim, and set
men to watch the doors, while they
-seayehaA Le-s.i. - aa,sa e.. a..a u.
Cresswell.
The young woman finding further con
cealment impossible, came forth from her
hiding place, confronted the enemy, and
was soon recognized as the real Betsy"
The marauders saw that they had been
tricked, and that the youth whose life
they wanted was beyond their reach and
they revenged themselves by stripping
the house Of all the movable goods it
contained. One Of them SWORDS it
usually happens afterwards--that he had
his suspicions--for "the ga'al took nigh
ty long steps as she went to mount her
horse"
At the close of the war, Elizabeth
Caldwell married Robert Gillian, the son
of revolutionary officer, and himself a
gallant soldier of that stormy period .--
The revolution had stripped them of all
their property. Roberts own account Of
his beginning in the world is worth pre-
serving. After was married." said
he, ''my father gave me land for settle
ment. ] took my axe and went out into
the woods, about mile from his resi-
dcnce, to select place for house, leav-
ing my wife to prepare my breakfast and
bring it TO me. found a spring, and
chose place to set my house; cut down
tree for the first log, measured It, and
began to think over my future prospects.
! said TO myself: i am here without
means, without assistance and about 10
commence provision for a family, with
nothing TO commence upon what can ]
do! ] have been 50 long in the camp,
am not used TO work. Suppose leave
the job and run awayp While musing
thus, ] saw my wife coming IN search Of
me with my breakfast When she came
up, we sat down together on the log; ]
to eat and talk, and she 10 look on and
listen. ] stated to her my plan for the
house; but at the same time told her the
prospect Of living was bad, the difficult
ties were great, and J did not zee how !