American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-03-25


this point was not moro than twenty
feet wide, and was directly overhung
by the mass ofrock on which onr he,
roes stood. If the British band de-
scended the creek, they would certain
ly pass this spot; and if they passed
1t death was their certain doom. In
about an hour the quick ear of Wilson
detected the measured beat of muflled
oars.
"They are coming" he whispered !;
let no one drop his rock until | give
the word then all drop at once"
1t was beautiful night to work q
work OF death. The heavens we're
spangled with innumerable stars and
every object upon which the moon
beams played upon spanked with ell
yer radiancd.
Closer came the doomed royalists,
and the hearts of the boy patriots beat
wildly intheir bosoms. Peeping over
the cliffs cautiously, James Wilson saw
the tory boat slowly but surely ap-
preaching. An officer stood on the
bow guiding the oarsmen by his orders
and the epaulets on his shoulders, told
that he was the identical fiend, Major
Bradstone.
,"Don't drop till I give the order"
whispered James.
When the boat was about twelve
feet from the rock, the boy leader fell
securely behind his stone defence, and
shouted:
"Who goes there 2"
In q moment the oarsmen ceased
rowing. and gazed with amazement a.
bove them. The impetus which the
boat had acquired caused it to drift
slowly beneath the rock, and just as it
was fairly below, came forth the doom
ed words:
"Cut loose boys in the'name of Lib,
erty."
Each boy pushed his rock at the in
stant, and with one impulse the gigan.
tic stones fell. A loud shrek from
the dark waters told how well the plan
had succeeded, and as the exultant bows
again looked over the rock, nothing
was seen but few pieces of floating
wood. The boat had been burst to
pieces, and the occupants had found a
grave at the bottom of Whiteelay. A
cry OF victory burst from the Joyous
lips of the youthful patriots, and it
was echoed along the creek in solemn
grandeur.
"Now for our prisoner!" cried Frank
Howard, bounding ahead; but what was
the astonishment of all to find, that
IN the efforts to free himself, Geo Liy.
ingston had been caught by the fatal
cord and choked to death. There was
no time for repining; the traitor and
his son had met their. deserved doom,
and there was no one to mourn their
loss. 80
"Such be the end of Americas foes
forever !" said James.
Old Livingston's house was search.
eel and to the surprise of every one. not
merely guns, but three brass field pie.
ces, several barrels of powder, and an
abundance of balls, &c., were found con-
cealed in the tory's cellar. The mill
tary stores found here we're given OVER
to the American troops, and found a
loVial welcome at their head quarters.
Had not the British party been so sig.
nally defeated along the banks Of
Whiteclay, the town of Newark and
the whole northern part of the State
OF Delaware would have been overrun
boy predatory bands of British soldiers.
James Wilson and Frank Howard
both joined the army of Greene, and
served with distinction in the Southern
campaign. Frank fell in the memora.
BILE battle of Eutaw Springs, bewailed
by all who knew him. James lost a
leg at the siege of Yorktown, and re-
tired to bis native village but NOR
tlhcation ensucd, and he expired with
the ever to be remembered words on
his lips; "Cut loose, boys, in the name
of Liberty !"
The village of Newark still stands
and has become town of some
celebrity. The scene of the defeat Of
the British by the boy patriots is still
pointed out, and is a sacred spot in the
annals of Newark.
Such, reader, were the acts of the
boys of '76; and though they have no
monumental pile to preserve their
memories, they live in legends, song
and verse, where they will exist when
history has been swept into obscurity.
Let our literary mon redeem from
the darkness, the deeds Of American
youths, and while they recount the no.
Bile, heroic achievements of our reyo.
lutionary patriots, let them not forget
the boy heroes.
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1t seems so easy To bn onod notnrod