Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-22
gellistellang.
What was Done by a Bottle of
Brany.
AN EpIsopE IN THE "PArRIof WAR"

AN EPISODE IN THE "PATRIoT WAR.
1--WE came more than once very near
fighting" said the Canadian Colonel, as
we watched the first Irregular train" cross
ing the Niagara suspension bridge.
"About the Caroline affair do you
mean?'
"No. That was not the most critical
time, though Sir Frances Head, the most
wrong headed fellow in her Majesty's
service, did his best to put things into a
muddle?'
"Was it when we caught that poor fool
MLeod, and came near hanging him!"
"No. 1t was before that. Both Gov
ernments had time TO get cool, and saw
that il was folly to 60 10 war about him. u
sStill if he had been found guilty of the
murder of Duffy, we must have hung him ;
and as your government had assumed the
responsibilities OF the affair." how could You
avoid making it case of war;"
"a little diplomacy settled all that
We agreed TO find witnesses who would
swear to an oliti, and you agreed to be-
lieve them: Upon my honor 4 believe you
undertood the more difficult task
''How and when was it that we came so
near coming to blows9 and what prevent
ed the catastrophe
sit was prevented by a bottle of bad
brandy. The affair is a portion Of the un-
written history of the times, and worth the
telling
"How was it, Colonela"
at was no: long after the burning of
Caroline, and there was excitement enough
on both sides of the line. We had a
couple of thousand men, and the Patriots
were encamped on Navy Island. We had
no very definite information as to their
numbers. Some said there were five hun
dred; others guessed them three times as
many. But few or many, they had plenty
of artillery and small arms, as once came
near finding out to my cost wi en- | ap-
proached the Island in command of re-
connoitering force. They popped away at
us, and it is wonder that we were not
blown ont of the water. We had fitted out
an armed fo;illa, consisting of two schoon-
ers and acouple of scows, for the purpose of
covering a landing upon the Island. But
MS we could not at that time command a
sufficient number of boats, our squadron
hay inactive in the river a few miles above.
Your Government had in the mean time
sent General Scott to the frontiers to try
and keep the peace. A little fellow is
ths General" He saved you and US
more than one war. Don't you think
your Government is acting rather shabbi-
ly, clubbing about few dollars more or
less?"
at does look like it, Colonel Rut do
pend upon it, all will be right at last
The country knows too well what it owes
to the old veteran 10 suffer any injustice to
be done to him."
"Well," continued the Colonel, 1--WE Law
in the river commanding the access to Ma
Wy Island, and General Scott had erected
a battery on the shore commanding us, and
within point blank range. About this
time the little steamer Bracelona dropped
down from Buffalo to Fort Schlosser, car
rying, as every body supposed, recruits
and supplies to our neighbors on Navy Is.
land. However We ascertained from oul
. spies that her papers were all REGULAR
peaceful trader plying between two Ameri-
can ports-and we could not interfere. We
afterwards learned that she had commen.
ced running between Shlosser and Navy
Island on picnic excursions and such like