Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1859-04-27
CPAPTER .

BRIGADE, ""TnE PIONEERS OF KENTUCKY"
etc.
CPAPTER /.
THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN.
Seven men, coming from different points,
urging their way with great difficulty
through almost impervious walls inter-
laced and opposing shruDbery, met at mid
night beneath the spreading branches of
q cypress tree, at place called Laurel
Swamp, in South Carolina, in the year
III. They gathered sticks and leaves
and made fire. The flames, springing up
from the dry heap, threw red glare upon
their faces, which were scanned and dis.
figured by the play of bad passions. They
were young men--the oldest not being
more than thirty-fve years of age. As
they stood in a circle around the fire, they
resembled group of vagabond English
gipsies, fresh from the stocks or the whip
ping post. They were armed with sabres,
knives, pistols and muskets. Their faces
were smutched with powder, their boards
and hair long and neglected, their gar
ments torn by conflict and the sharp teeth
OF the cypress hedges. The names of
these men were respectively as follows -
Martin Vantassle, Nathaniel Herrick,
Philip Langford, Simon Arrowswith, John
Nicolson, James Pollard, and Timothy
Becker.
Vantassle, tall, athletic, ill-visaged
fellow, was the leader of these fierce and
intractable spirits. Unsheathing his heavy
sabre, and planting its point in the ground
between his feet, he addressed his com,
panions. HHr
Men" he said, in hard, harsh voice.
that harmonized well with his general
prestige, ''we've met here tonight to bind
ourselves together in perpetual fellowship
by solemn oath and mutual agreement
Every mans hand is agin us-leastwise,
in these parts-and ours, in turn is agin
every man. We've sworn allegiance to,
his gracious Majesty, the King of Great
Britain and the rightful ruler of these co.
lonies have touched his money, and will
do his work." .Hf NO
"lt isn't the king care so much about,v
muttered Nat Herrick, "but the utter des-
truction and determination of the Wings.
South Car 'liny is already more'n half con-
quered. The rebel cause is rapidly growin'
weaker, and We'll soon sweep 'em away
like chaff. It'll be strange if Nat Herrick
don't have his share Of the plunder."
There was an applauding murmur around
the grim circle. IL was comm to that
subject" added Vantassle, impatiently.-
ii reckon l know the merits of the case,
and understand the natur' of your feelin's,
my lads. We never seed the King of
England, any of us and il we should, it's
agin reason to s'pose that he'd speak tous;
and to tell the truth, we care little about
him. love Martin Vantassle better nor
| do any king in the world. | fight the,
Wings because their side is the weakest,
and ! hate 'em; and there's prospect of
maxim somethin' by it. When we've driven
'em out, which will be soon, 'cordin' to.
present appearances, we'll be masters of
the country ourselves. Well have houses.
and lands, and niggers to wait on u.s."
"That's the kind of talk like to hear"
said Jim Pollard. 3
tits a kind of talk, too, that'll prove
prophetic" rejoned Vantassle.
at would, if we could keep Marion and
Sumpter still, interposed Langford.
"Ihe Swamp Fox will soon be still enough
I'll warrant vel Colonel Tarleton is on
his track, and he'll trap him afore he's
week Older. However, that's neither here
nor there; let them fight for glory who
will-our motto is Booty and Beauty"
'We know who yOur beauty is" said 81,
mon Arrowsmith, with leer it is Jessie
Burnside"
And he shall have her, too |" said Her.
rick, with an OATH
"Thank'e, Nat Herrick; and if yo,
don't succeed with Ruth Haviland it'll be
no fault of NINE"
"And will nobody speak word for me9'r
asked Langford. "A hundred, you like"
cried Pollard "though to me it appears
like the greatest nonsense to be runnin'
arter women when there's so much real
fghtin' to be done Mymistress is bloody
one, and find her wherever there is n
Whig to hang, till to rifle, or a house to,
burn. Howsomdever, if you like judith
Burnside, it's none o my business, and
reckon none of us II stand in your way
She's very handsome, and proud as she is
handsome ; and if you wiz her at all, it'll
be by foul and not by fair means. don't
want to be hard on ye, Phil Langford, but
Pm sure you can't do much in the way OF
what folks call honest courtship. But
don't be down-hearted, lad, for we're
bound to aid each other under all circum.
stances, and in Ill cases."
i Martin Vantassle drew his sabre from
the earth and thrusting L forward, held
it over the blazing fire; the blade was din.
ted and serrated with service, and there
we're red stains upon It. The other six un-
sheathed theirs and crossed them upon
his, when he dictated terrible and i'm.
pious compact which they severally re
peated. 1t was too profane and shocking
to be put verbatim upon paper. They
pledged themselves TO mutual brother
hood and crime; TO exterminate the strug-
Cling and hunted Wings; to give no quarS
ter to the captured foe to pursue the fly
} ing fugitive with remorseless fury TO com
init every enormity upon the defenseless
patriots; TO rob, TO burn, TO outrage helps
less innocence.
|. Continued on tho fourth pqge,l