Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-11-11
HEROIC WuMEROF THEREYOlUTIOA.
MARY ANNA GIBBES.

When the news reached Charlestown
that the British had eneamped on Mr..
Gibbes' plantation, the authorities in that
city dispatched two galleys to dislodge
them. These vessels ascended the river
in the night, and, arriving opposite, open
ed heavy fire upon the invaders en-
campment. The men had received strict
iniunctions not to fire upon the house, for
fear of injury to any of the family. 1t
could not, however, be known to Mr..
Gibbes that such a caution had been
given; and as soon as the Americans be-
gan their fire, dreading some accident, he
proposed to his wife that they should
take the children and seek a place of
greater safety. Their horses being in
the enemy's hands, they had no means OF
conveyance; but Mrs. Gibbes, with en-
ergies reused to exertioD by the danger,
and anxious only to secure shelter for her
helpless charge, set off to walk with her
children to an adjoining plantation situa-
ted in the interior. A drizzling rain was
falling, and the weather was extremely
chilly. The fire was incessant from the
American guns, and sent-in order to
avoid the house-in a direction which
was in range with the course of the tugi-
tives. The shot falling around them, cut
the bushes and struck the trees on every
side. Exposed each moment to this
imminent danger, they continued theil
fight with as much haste as possible fol
about a mile till beyond the reach of the
shot.
Having reached the houses occupied
by the negro laborers on the plantation
they stopped for few moments to rest
Mrs. Gibbes, wet, chilled, and exhausted
by fatigue and mental anxiety, felt he
strength utterly fail, and was obliged t.
wrap herself in blanket and lie dow
upon one of the beds. 1t was at this tim
when the party drew breath freely-witl
thankfulness that the fears of death wer
over-that on reviewing the trembhn!
group to ascertain if all had escaped un
injured, it was found that little boy
John Fenwick, was missing. In the hur
ry and terror of their flight, the child ha
been forgotten ard left behind Wha
was now to be done? The servants re
fused to risk their lives by returning 70
him; and, in common humanity, Nj
Gibbes could not insist that any shoul
undertake the desperate adventure
The roar of the distant guns was sti
heard breaking at short intervals the dee
silence of the night. The chilly rain We
falling, and the darkness was profound
yet the thought of abandoning the hell
less boy to destruction was agony to til
hearts of his relatives. In this extremit
the self-devotion of young girl inte
posed to save him. Mary Anna, ii
eldest daughter of Mrs. Gibbes, then on
thirteen years of age, determined to We
ture back, in spite of the fearful per
alone. The mother dared not oppo
her noble resolution, which seemed i
deed an aspiration from Heaven, and 81
was permitted to go. Fastening alol
the path with all the speed of which 81
was capable, she reached the house, ST
in the undisturbed pos ssion of t
enemy, and entreated permission fro
the sentinel to enter, persisting in spite
refusal, till by earnest importantly Of su
plication, she gained her object. Scare
ing anxiously through the house, S
found the child in a room in the thi
story, and, lifting him joyfully in
arms, carried him down, and fled W
him to the spot where her anxious
rents were awaiting her return. I
shot still few thickly around her, f
quently throwing up the earth in
way; but, protected by the Provider
that watches over innocence, she joir
the rest of the family in safety. I
boy saved on this occasion by the int
pidity of the young girl was the late G
Fenwick, distinguished for his services
the last war with Great Britain. F
wick place, still called Head-quarte
was three miles from Peaceful Retire