Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-09-07

captain, WnOm nTS. IcCOSuiAeu 40 ii'e'A'
previous to joining the British army lived some NJ
teen or twenty miles below, This name suppress. =
the family still live in the State, and some OF N
are said to be respectfully received orders = cake
his troop and scour the country for two or three
miles round.
In an hour everything was quiet and STILL and
the plantation presented the romantic spectacle OF
regular encampment of some ten or eleven huhofed
of the choicest cavalry of the British king:
Half century after, the good lady told the writer
of this article that she prepared for the kings OIL
GERS .as good dinner as you have now before YOU
and much the same materials" Now, for the intor-
nation of Mrs. B. and others of the dilitantl ct the
present day. 7 will try to describe what IN North
Carolina, then was called good dinner. The hrst
dish was, of course, the boiled ham, fanked with
the plate of greens Opposite was the turkey sup
ported by the laughing baked sweet potatoes;
plate of boiled beef another of sansages and third
with pair of baked fowls, formed line across the
centre of the table, half dozen dishes OF different
pickles stewed fruit, and other condiments, filled
all the interstccs of the board Such was the din
ncr which the good old lady compared to that she
SCI for King Georges officers have forgotten to
say that the fashion of those days introduced stiml
lating drinks to the dinner table, and the peach
brandy. prepared under Mr. Slocumh's own personal
supervision and which others besides Mrs. Butler
have mistaken for homemade wine, received the I'M
reserved praise of the party.
Any person who has visited a Carolina plantation.
where no lady prcsidcs over the cuisine department,
will readily allow the probability that the colonel,
when Unexpectedly visited by the lady and her ira
Yelling friends, had bad supper. But his phiz
should have told person of intelligence and obser-
walton, that he had been used to better.
The dinner had been well discussed, and the OIL
GERS were freely discussing the peach toddy. A
Scotch officer, whom take to have been Major Fer
guson speaking of it by the name of whiskey, said
he had never drank as good ont of Scotland. An
officer, speaking with slight brogue, insisted it
was not whiskey and no Scotch drink ever e1ualled
it. "To my mind" said he, ait tastes as that Or
chard smells" "Allow me- madam" said Colonel
Tarleton to inquire where the spirits we are drink
ing are procured?"
Mrs. S. From the orchard, where your tents
stand"
Faith" said the Irish captain, well have few
sober men in the morning; but, colonel when we
conquer this country, is it not to be divided out
among us =
Colonel Tarleton-"The officers of this army will
undoubtedly receive large possessions of the con-
qucred American provinces"
Mrs. S." Allow me to observe and prophecy,
the only knd in these United States that will ever
remain in possession of British officer, will meas
ure but six feet by two"
Tarleton.-" Excuse me, madam For your sake,
regret to say this beautiful plantation will be the
ducal seat for some of us.
Mrs. S--"Don't trouble yourself about me; my
husband is not man who would let a duke or
king even have quiet seat on his ground
At this point the conversation was interrupted by
rapid volleys of Firearms appearing to be IN the
wood, short distance to the eastward. at is some
struggling scout" said one of the aids running
from the piquet guard
There are rifles and muSketS" said Tarleton,
las well pistols, and too many to pass unnotced.
Order boots and saddles, and you, Captain
take your troop in the direction of the firing"
The officer rushed out to execute his orders, while
the colonel walked to the piazza, and was m,nedi-
ately followed by the anxious ladies' who too we'll
guessed the cause of the interruption
May be allowed, without offence, madam, to
inquire if any part of Washinytons army are in
this neighhorhnnd'" said Tarlntnn. -
6 presume" replied the lady, THAT 1t is known
to YOU that the Marquis and Green are in this
State" and, added she, you would of course not
be surprised at call from Lee, or your old friend
Colonel Washington, who although perfect gen.
t!eman, it is said shook your hand (ponting to the
scar left by Washngton's sabre) very rudely, when
last you met"
a loud order to form the troops on the right, was
the only reply, and springing on his charger, he
dashed down the avenue few hundred feet, to a
breach in the hedgcrow, leapt the fence, and in a
moment was at tie head of his regiment, already in
line.
Being an inexperienced narrator the writer has
omitted description of the localities, which is ne
cessary to understand the scene which ensued,
and will endeayor to remedy, as far possible, by
short description. The house fronts the cast and
an avenue of half mile in length and about one
hundred and fifty feet in breadth, stretches to the
eastermost side Of the plantation where was high
way and, beyond that open grounds, partly dry
meadow and part sand barren This avenue was
lined on the south side by high fence and in a
thick hedgerow of forest trees, now removed and
replaced by the Pride of India and other ornamental
trees; on the north side, the common rail fence Of
or eight feet high, such is all plan
tations of good farmers i'll the low country, where
the necessary timber is convenient. The encamp-
uent of the British troops being on that part Of the
plantation, lying south of the avenue, com
pletely screened by the fences and hcdgerow, from
the sight OF any person approaching from down the
country. As soon as Tarleton reached the ground
he ordered the company which he had detached moi
to leave the open ground, being apprehcnsive from
what Mrs. S. had said, that the fight in the woods
was only prelude to an attack on his camp. AT
this moment, some Of the tory troop who it will be
recOleced, were ordered to recOnnotre the country
appeared in the open grounds described as east aG
northeast of the plantation, closely pursued by
body Of American mounted militia and a running
fight with every kind of weapon, in which four OF
five broad swords shown conspicuous was seen
The pursuing party appeared to be in too grea
haste, and too busy with the tories to airy thing
else, and both parties entered the avenue together
With what horror did Mrs Slocumb recognize in thu
leader Of the pursuing party her husband and Maj
Williams, and two of her. ncighbors, following tn
tory captain and four of his troop, half way dowr
the avenue where of the tories fell, and thei
pursuers were interrupted in their course by o
those provdential nterferences, which has oftel
saved the brave and imprudent.
When Mrs. Slocumb heard the order given for tn
tory captain to patrol the country round, she sen
bag Of corn to the mill, about four miles off, tn
road which she knew her husband must travel if h
returned that day, thinking in this way to war
him of the danger of approaching his home. Wit
the Incidence and curiosity natural to his race, tn
old fellow had remained lettering about the prem
ises and was now lurking under the hedgerow, &C
mirihg the red coats dashing plumes, and shinin
helmets of the British troopers, he suddenly sprun
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