Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-06-10
BuRs uHDER THE sADDzE.
- - A Tale osfthe Revolution. =. =.

l., 20 A Tale Of.the Revolution -.
During the mouth of March, 17T8, the Brit
.ish army being at Philadelphia, and the Amer
lean forces at Valley Forge, the american
/ Cominalder-in-ehief was desirous of having
| some information concerning the state Of af
/ fairs in the city, and desired Capt. Allen he
! Lane to pick him oit few trrsty men for tht
/ purpose. MeLane selected FIVE of his own mer
with Sergeant John Marks for leader, and sent
/ the latter to head quarters to receive irlstruc
/ tions Marks was a very young man to be en-
trusted with important advices, being only
twenty-five years of age; but McLane4 had
! frequently marked his conduct in Camp and
| field, had made himself well acquainted with his
| character, and knew that he could be thorough
| ly relied on. Marks was a la1k, beny fellow,
with high cheek bones, square jaws, and rather
/ large mouth but he had fine expressive eye
his features were exceedingly noble, and his
| eouitenance entirely under his control. With
| this he possessed great powers Of rnimicry,
which he used to show of frequently for the
! amusement of his companions, and had a repu-
tation forshrewdness. His muscular frame had
not yet received its full developement; but his
habits had made him almost as active as a
panther. He was fully instructed by General
Washington as to tie information desired, and
left at dark, arriving ina short time at Fort
| Kennedy, on the Schuylkill. AT that point he
struck across the country, and by means of by
ways, with which he was well acquainted, hay-
ing been raised in the neighborhood, eyaded the
scouting parties Of the enemy, and arrived at
Mantua before dark. Here he posted his lit
tle troup, in clear hollow, overlooking the
river while disguised as a countrylnan. with a
sack. Of vegetables, which he had stolen from a
garden in the neighborhood, rode into the city.
lie had escaped detection, but managed to
sell his vegetables to a number of Howe's staff,
was taken to the Generals presence. and in re-
turn for false Information in regard to Wash
net-- moytpents, managed to learn some
facts Of Importance. Promising to return in
few days, with more vegetables, he was enabled
to leave the town leisurely. with passport in
his pocket, and some sugar, coffee and other ar
ticles of like nature in his sack. He Joined his
men, without suspicion, about nightfall, and af-
ter dark the little party set out for its return.
Now had Marks kept the course by which
he came, it is possible be could have reached
the American lines in good time, and safely.
But it happened that about mile from the
river, at point nearly opposite Spring Mill
lived farmer by the name of McIlvaine, who,
although Quaker and a non-combattant, was
welldiposed towards the American cause
McIlvaine had daughter named Priscilla, a
young and handsome girl, to whom Marks was
strongly attached, put who had never betrayed
any symptom ofaffection in return. The house
was half mile or more out of the former route
but lover like the trooper took his men in that
direction. 1t was late in the night when he
neared the place-the moon down-yet it was
probably some satisfaction to the young man
to look upon the buildings where he supposed
his lady-love to be buried in sleep.
As they silently and swiftly passed along, the
watchdog of the farm began to bark, the in
mates Of the house became alarmed, and a
light at one of the windows showed them to be
stirring. AT the same moment horseman rode
unexpectedly from the shadow of small patch
of woods on the left, and challenged the new
comers. The answer was a pistol shot from
Marks which tumbled the challenger from his
horse. A general alarm at the house succeeded,
which was answered by bugle call a short dis
tance ahead. Marks found that he had comeupon
post of the enemy and dashed on with his force.
At turn of the road hundred yards further,
they found small detachment formed across
their path AS the Americans knew the roadfork
ed on the other side of this force and their chan
ces of escape were good, if they could reach the
left hand road, which was mere by-path, to be |
ridden by only one horse at a time, they eharg-
ed sword in hand. Three of the troop manag- |
ed to break through and escape, but Marks, |
and stout trooper by the name of Gail, from |
Bucks county, were intercepted, and obliged to |
cross swords with the enemy. 1t proved use
less to contend with superior numbers, by this |
time reinforced by others from the farm house; |
and after short and severe contest, resulting |
in the death of one of the British troops, the
two Americans were taken prisoners, and car
ried back to the house of McIlvaine.
Marks was filed with chargin, partly at his
folly in taking the most dangerous path, and
partly at his inability to convey to the com
mander-in-chief the valuable information he had
picked up in the city. He veiled his NORTH |
cation, however, in cool and careless demean- |
OF, and in reply to the Lieutenant commanding |
the British detachment, said that he had been |
out on a foraging party and had lost his way
and managed to get almost in sight OF the city
before he discovered his blunder. Priscilla. |
who with the rest of the family, was now awake
and dressed, saw, but apparently did not rec
ognize Marks. After some more questions. |
which were answered in what seemed to be an
open manner, the Lieutenant directed the |
Americans to be placed securely bound, and
guarded, in an upper room of the house, there
to remain until morning. By the way of COM
fort he gave them the assurance that they
would be hanged as spies.
Marks and his companion passed sleepless
night it was not alone the prospect Of an ig-
nominious death which troubled him but he
had learned enough in the city to know that
surprise movement similar to that attempted
on the previous 4th of December, against the
American forces was set for the following day,
and was aware that it was entirely unexpected. |
Herevolved various plans of escape in his mind, |
none of which appeared practicable, and finally
concluded to dismiss any premeditation on the
matter, and he prepared to take advantage OF
unexpected circumstance. AS for Gahl, he
took matters like a philosopher, and snored
away all night in happy unconsciousness ofhis
situation. At daylight the prisoners were
brought down and placed upon the porch while
Lieutenant Draper and the men under his COM
mand took breakfast in the house. The horses
of the troopers, with those of Marks and Gah
also, were all sadded and hitched to the fences,
under the charge of a little Scotchman, named
McPherson. Priscilla, accompanied by Lieu
tenant Draper, came out, the former, bearing
some food. After it was partaken, Priscilla
laid the dishes and forks upon bench and lis
tened with apparent interest to the questions
put by the Lieutenant. The latter by the way
of encouragement, assured the two Americans,
that if they gave true statements, their lives
would be spared otherwise they would certain
ly be hanged. He then left them for a short
+;,,o 70 dinect The info PricoilIa