Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-29
familg Gmele.
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
THE SOLDIERS VOW.
BY F. N.

DDS of the +" time that tried mems souls"
The British army, commanded by Clinton,
well accoutered and clothed, and flushed
with recent success, was marching through
New Jersey to New York. The army
under Washington, poorly clothed, indif-
ferently armed, and greatly reduced in
numbers by the privations of Valley
Forge, was also performing a series OF
hasty marches through the Jerseys, but
with what intent few were able to say
until friend and foe met with carnage on
the glorious field of Monmouth.
At the time of which we write some
portions of New Jersey were infested by
bands of robbers, who secreted themselves
by day in the dense forests Of pine, and
sailed forth by night to deeds of murder
and pillage almost without parallel. The
disturbed and unsettled state Of the coun-
try greatly favored their designs, and as
no resistance was offered for some time
to their marauding propensities, they f.
nally grew SO bold in their midnight ex-
petitions, that the names of Fenton and
Pagan became the terror of the surround
ing country. The peaceful inhabitaat:
were nightly in fear of being murdered
and their houses consigned to the flames:
and many a blackened roof.tree, and
many stories, some of which have COM
down to the present day, bore sufficient
evidence of the %inhumanity of the "pine
Robbers
In the days of the revolution there
dwelt, not far from what is now the vii
lage of c., an aged man named
George Farr, who was known to be {
firm supporter of the cause of liberty
He had equipped and sent forth his only
son, Frederick, to help fight the battles
of his country, and the family was il
consequence reduced to father, mother
and their only daughter.
1t was o beautiful spot where the-olt
house stood. In a beautiful clearing
which was surrounded by the grand ole
woods it occupied a gentle eminence
that sloped away On all sides, with un
broken surface. In the rear not over
hundred yards distant, a murmurins
stream took its meandering course dowl
the bottom of a shady glen, where thu
birds were went to discourse sweet musi,
This beautiful valley was called Long
Gully, and was believed to be haunted
by the good people of that vicinity
Strange supernatural forms had beer
seen gliding with ghostly tread through
the murky darkness Of gloomy winter
nights. Boding sounds had been heard
echoing far away in the midnight air, al
though a ghostly revel was being held
and so firm was the belief of the country
people that the spirits Of the departed
walked this beautiful retreat, that many
a luckless swain has trudged weary miles
through the dark rather than encounter
its horrors.
But to our story. It was a balmy
evening in the month of June, that George
Farr and his family had been sitting in
front of the house enjoying together the
cool, refreshing breeze, and the beauty oil
the night. The moon had just risen, and
was displaying her shining disc above
the nsighboring forest trees, bathing hill
and dale in a food of silver light. The
murmur Of the mimic waterfall in the
gully below was family borne to their
ears, while the whippowil and night arr
seemed to be tuning their evening sere-
made to the queen of night, as she mount
ed the star spangled canopy. Long had
they thus sat, amid the serene beauty OF
that summer night, but their thoughts
did not wander into the realms of fairy
lands. The stern realities of life would
not permit that. They knew not what
hour or minute their thresholds might
be invaded by a band of lawless r%ufians,
thirsting for blood and plumber. And
| where was their defence? OF what avail
would be the feeble arm of the patriot
against such odds? Truly that was a
terrible time, when no one knew at what
hour they might be called to defend those
whom they loved from death and dishon-
or with their life blood. But now all
have sunk in repose. and midnight, with
its silence, reigns around. The moon is
sailing in mid heavens, and the watches
Of the Silly night have not been disturbed
by any sound to indicate to the uncon-
eious sleepers the danger that even now
hoyers over them. But presently a dark
form cautiously energies from the shadow
of the gully, and stands for some moments
in a listening attitude, as if to be assured
that all is buried in repose. Then a low
whistle is given. and FIVE more shadows
join the first, and all move with cautious
tread towards the house. Sleep on now,
old man, for too soon shall you be awak-
ened to a consciousness of FOUR doom,
for those dark shadows, as they hover
about your habitation with the noiseless.
ness of v~isitants from the unseen world.
are none other than a portion of that ter,
rible band that has desolated many a
ireside. But the faithful watch dog is on
the alert, and gives the warning of dan
ger. In an instant the old man appears
at the window, musket in hand. and as
one of those dark figures meet his gaze
he c~omprehends instantly that danger
is abroad. There is a flash and stunning
report, and one of the robbers. with a
hollow groan, sinks to the earth. The
smoke has not yet cleared, and bark |!
they are at the door. Blow after blow
falls upon it in rapid succession, until,
with a crash, it yields, and the robbers
rush it, madly thirsting for blood, and
just as the old mar is falling, with a bul
let through his heart, the old musket
again belches forth its contents, a hot
blast is blown into their faces, and two
corpses strew the floor.
Mrs. Farr and her daughter shared, if
possible, a worse fate. They were cut
and hacked in a brutal manner. and as
the first streak Of aurora tinged the east
ern sky, the robbers completed their
~