Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-09-22

night when the captain left Van Steen's door,
even then he fingered at the gate with johann
na, engaged in low conversation. and as he
mounted his horse he willingly promised to
call again in a day or two. His feelings as he
rode back TO his quarters, were entirely differ
ent from what they had been Il few hours be-
fore. He gave up all thoughts of plundering
Van Stems grain and cattle. He decided in
stead to captivate his daughter.
For weeks Captain Wilson was away from
the camp more than usual, yet his company
received no orders fIom him it was nearly
month since they had been ordered even to
hold themselves in readiness to march at mo-
ment'S notice and his men began to wonder
what the matter was, and his lieutenants to
feel uneasy, fearing that their brave Captain
was contemplating turning .raitor but Wilson
did not notice their uneasineSs, or if he did, it
made no difference in his course of action
On one or two occasions the Captain had spo-
ken with Van Steen in regard to purchasing
stores of the club with which he was connec-
ted, but they wanted gold, and declined taking
the notes of the Continental Congress, which
was all that Wilson could offer. One evening
after having exhausted their efforts to trade
with no better success than before, and Stecn
had retired with his pipe and his wife, to for
get the world and its cares in smoke and sleep,
leaving his daughter and Young Wilson to talk
over things more pleasant to young hearts than
gold, but not half as substantial, Johanna told
the Captain that there had been British Off
Ger in the vicinity that day trying to buy the
grain that the protective club of which her
father was a member had received offer
from him for hay, grain, horses and cattle, and
they were only waiting till the morrow before
they accepted his terms, to sec if something
could not be done with Wilson SO she advi-
sed him to accept her fathers offer or he would
lose the trade.
"Good ~ exclaimed Captain Dick, ssjust as
could wish Let the British buy them. they
can pay for the stock bnt will never use it.''
'sWhy, what do you mean 20 inquired
Johanna.
ssI mean just this,'' replied Wilson, s'you
are to be my spy you shall keep yourself ad-
viscd in regard to all the movements of this
officer; yon must learn of your father when
he is to come for the provisions, what he is to
pay, about how many men he is TO bring to con-
yey it to their camp, and everything else re-
garding the matter that you can find out, and
inform me | shall be here every night, you
can tell me what you have learned during c
day. When the British come 10 take their
goods, / shall be on their track with my men,
meet them on their return. take them prison
ers, and of course secure their stores without
paying penny for them.''
.sCapitail capitali'' exclaimed Johanna, so
loud that she feared she had woke her father:
which would have been miracle. They COM
pleted their plans, and the captain mounted
his horse and started for camp, his head crow
ded with ideas. lie made his command happy
the next morning by telling that he should have
smart Job for them in few days, and to be
prepared for hard work and plenty Of it.
For two nights the captain learned nothing
from his spy, more than that the officer had ell
gagged 1G horses, twenty three head OF cattle, a
hundred bushels of grain .-and three ton Of hay
but he was still in the neighborhood buying
more horses. The next evening Johanna in
formed him that the British had, that day,
bought about twenty horses, with cattle and
sheep, and that all were TO be removed the
next night. s.Thcy arc to be here at eleven
o'clock she added, with one hundred and
twenty men. and remove everything. l saw
the officer myself and talked with him he
called me syery pretty Just as though didn't
know that before, and said that, alter he had
got through whipping the ID Yankees, he
should have to come and make love to me-.
s:The fool - muttered Wilson.
s.Oh, don't be angry, Dick" said Johanna,
she's nothing but a red-coat, and they don't
know ANYTHING, you know. But yon were tell
ing me the other day how much you paid your
snics. and last night you called me your best
| spy now what are you going to give me -
ssGivc you Why, the name OF Mrs Captain
Wilson when the war is thro'. w ont that do?''
sit will
Early the next morning, Captain Wilson ap-
| peared at the headquarters OF the army, and
| laid before Gen. Washington his information
| in regard to the stores, his means OF obtaining
it. and his intended plan of operation; he then
| asked the privilege of picking one hundred
| men, 20 be detailed with his command, for the
! expedition. Leave was granted INN, ana eve
| rything done to facilitate the enterprise, for
| the Commander-iu- Chief placed great reliance
| on Captain Dick. All day long two hundred
| men were in active preparation for one OF
ssDarc-devil Dicks hard jobs,'' and at night
| fall everything was completed. About eight
O'Clock the detachment were mounted, and
| took up their line of march. They proceeded
nearly five miles, then turned from the road
down a small winding, which, followed for q
| quarter of mile, brought them to a clearing
! on which stood a house and barn near these
| buildings the mill creek emptied into the
! Schuvlkill. The men dismounted, the horses
| were fastened, unbridled and fed, ard guard
| posted two men were detailed to watch the
| Stream. and report the first signs of floating
| lumber, as Johanna had agreed, the moment
| the British commenced to work, to tip pile
of her fathers boards into the water, below
i the DAM so that the swift current would sweep
them down, and Wilson would be notified OF
their operations refreshments were furnished
| the men and they were ordered to be within
| hearing of the house, as they were liable TO be
| wanted at any moment. The company had
| rested nearly two hours, when the guard re-
ported ssplanks coming down the stream .
| The men were divided, half of them being
! placed under the command OF Lieutenanl
/ Watts, and the whole detachment rode back
TO the road. Sentnels were placed at the toT
of the hill, from which they could have full
view of more than mile, with instructions to
report the moment they saw the enemy advan
cling. The captain and lieutenant stationed
their commands on either side OF the road II
ambush. and ordered them to stand by theil
horses heads until they saw Captain Wilson
moupt-then every man was to mount, ane
wait for the word sscharge," when the enem,
! ,,.ro N be surrounded. but not shot hred un