Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-01-22
THRILLING INCIDENTS OF THE REV
OLUTI0NARY WAR.

In speaking of the horrors of civil
war, few people realize the individual suf- /
fering and fearful peril to which thou
sands of lives are exposed history only
treats of great events in which the pro-
ninent actors of the time were engaged
while the freside and domestic tragedies
which were far more deeply and intense
" dramatic are left unrecorded, and
only live as traditions in The minds Of a.
few descendants of the performers.
Among the various spots abounding
with stories Of terrible interest, none
have witnessed scenes more friShttai
than thc valley of the Mohawk during
,ba revolutionary war; and it is one OF
.ba most extraordinary and exciting OF
Ao.e incidents that we propose to re-
late.
twas in the year 1880, that an old
.,-mor named Sammons lived in the
..;rbborhood of the village of Johns
.,r1 and near to the old Johnson estate,
a5cb had been sequestered in conse-
,,,a of the former owner, Sir John
Johnson, becoming a commander IN the
p-4.b forces, Mr.. Sammons was OF
Ggman extraction, and a native OF
UarbIstown, Ulster county, whence he
had immigrated TO lis present abode
This family consisted of three sons and
one daughter, all handsome, sturdy, tear
less, independent and staunch Wings
like their father, who WAS member OF
;be Committee of Safety, and held
Eeutenant's commission in the American
army. The whole family were wei
known TO Sir John, who had severa
times experienced protection from then
in times of imminent danger but thi'
did not prevent a most dastardly ant
fendish attack upon their home and per
sons during one of his marauding eXcur
sions to the vicinity Of his former re
sideuce. He was always accompanied
by band of Indians, who, ike pact
of wild beasts, sprang upon and tore t'
pieces whatever be marked as his prey
On this occasion, however, with rem
nant of humanity, he detached them Il
various directions, and proceeded steal
tbily to surround the house with his owl
immediate troops, desiring TO capture tn
family alive and carry them off as pr
soners.
1t was very early in the morning, an
the first gray dawn had hardly began
streak the horizon, when the farmer
youngest son, Thomas, very handsom
young man, about nineteen, opened th
back door of the farm house and con
menced taking an observation. He wa
only partially dressed, and was rumln'
ting on the chances of safety in ventu
ing out before daylight, as he desired, G
urgent business for in those times stra
Indians were always prowling abou
and wife and family could never couI
on the safe return of the beloved one
even though they went abroad but for
short distance and in broad daylight
Concluding it would be safer TO wait u
til the sun rose, was about retreatin
when hand was placed on his shouidt
and words arrest you in the King
name," informed him that he was pi
soner. The whole family were asle
up stairs, or in the act Of rising, and
old man and his two eldest sons we
soon secured; the females, consisting
the wife of the eldest son Jacob, and
young girl, the only daughter of the (
man, were left unmolested by the orc
of Sir John.
Thomas begged for an opportunity
getting his clothes, at least his shoes :
stockings, which was brutally refu
him, accompanied by the thrust of b
onet, which would have killed him
not his fair young sister thrown her;
between and warded off the blow. l
complaint brought a reprimand 70
soldier, and permission to finish dressl
while the fierce troops ransacked {
plundered the house and out building
everything they contained which CO
be carried with them, including sc
horses belonging TO Mr.. Sammons.
whole party were then marched off,
father and sons closely pinioned
placed between files of soldiers, Il
q course being directed towards the ri
Here they were joined by the Indi
and trayersed several miles on the
hawk Valley, suffering the keenest
ture from the sight of the desolation
Il misery around them. Wherever Il
II was building, it was burnt and sack
II sheep and cattle were killed, horses
n propriated, homes laid bare, hush;
And f,el,o-. i