Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-10-28


cattle as present to General Washtngton
than receive thousands Of dollars ia B,7'tsl
gold .forthem. f. W
On being informed of this speech, the
commander gave orders that detachment
of soldiers should proceed TO drive the reb,
els cattle, then grazing in meadow in ful
view, down to the river, and slaughter
them in the face of the prisoners.
! What, meanwhile, must have been The
feelings of the young wife, herself about tc
become a mother, when her husband and
brother were led away in her very sight
The farm was mile or more from the riv.
err; but there was nothing to intercept the
view, the ground from the meadow slopina
down to the water. Mrs. Israel was al
this period about nineteen years Of age,
and is described as of middle hight, and
slight but symmetrical figure; Of fair COM
| plexion, with clear blue eyes and dark hair, i;
her manners modest and retiring. She was
devoted to her family and her domestic con-
Germs, II needed the trying scenes by
which she was surrounded, to develop the
heroism which in times more peaceful, might
have been unmarked by those who knew
her most intimately.
From her position on the lookout, she
saw the soldiers land from the ships, shoul-
der arms, and advance towards the mead
ow. In an instant she OWNED their pur-
pose, and her resolution was taken, With
boy eight years old, whom she bade fol-
low her at his utmost speed, she started off,
determined to battle the enemy and save
the cattle at the peril of her life. Down
went the bars, and followed by the little
boy, she ran to drive the herd to the open
lot The soldiers called out repeatedly to
her to desist, and threatened if she did not
to fire on her.
Sire away /" cried the heroic woman.
They fred The balls few thickly around
her. The frightened cattle ran in every
direction over the field.
"This way," she called to the boy, moth
ing daunted; this way, Joe Head
them there Stop them, Joe Do not
let one escaped"
And not one did escaped The bullets
fred by the cowardly British soldiers con-
tinued to whistle around her person. The
little boy, paralyzed by terror, fell to the
ground. She seized him by the arm, lifted
him over the fence, and herself drove the
cattle into the barn-yard. The assailants,
baffied by the courage of woman, and
probably not daring, for fear of the neigh
bors, to invade the farm-houses, retraced
their steps, and returned disappointed to
the ship.
All this scene passed in sight of the off
GERS of the Roebuck and the two prisoners.
The agony of suspense and fear endured
by the husband and brother, when they
saw the danger TO which the wife exposed
herself, may be better imagined than de-
scribed. 1t may also be conceived how
much they exulted in her triumph.
The trial was held on board the ship.
The Tory witnesses were EXAMINED in due
form and it was but too evident that the
lives of the prisoners were in great danger.
A kind-hearted sailor sought an opportuni-
ty of speaking in private with Mr.. Israel
and asked him if he were Freemason.
The answer was in the affirmative. The
sailor then informed him that lodge was
held on shipboard, and the officers VIII be-
longed to it, were to meet that night.
The prisoners were called up before their
judges, and permitted to answer to the ac-
cusations against them. Mr.. Israel. in bold
but respectful language related his story
and acknowledged his secret visit to Phila-
delphia not in the character Of a spy, but
to carry relief to his suffering parent and
her family. He also acknowledged having
said as. was testified, that " he would rather
give his cattle to Washington, or destroy
the whole herd, than sell them for British
gold" This trait Of magnanimity might
not have been so appreciated by the enc
mics of his country, as to operate in bis IA
vor, but that watching his opportunity, he
made to the commanding officer the secret
sign of masonic brotherhood. The effect
was instantly observable. The officers
stern countenance sofiened his change of
opinion and that of the other judges be-
came evident; and after some further ex-
animation the court was broken up. The
informants, and those who had borne testi-
mony against the prisoners, hung their
heads in shame at the severe rebuke of the
court for their cowardly conduct in betray-
ing and praaerring charges against an hon
orable man. bound on a mission of love
and duty to his aged mother. The acquit-
ted prisoners were dismissed. loaded with
presents of pins, handkerchiefs, and other
articles not TO be purchased at that time,
Tor the intrepid wife; and were sent on
shore in splendid barge, as mark of
special honor from the officer in command.
MARY SLOCUMB.
An anecdote communicated of Mrs. Slo-
cumb, is strikingly illustrative of her reso-
luton and strength of will The occur
renee took place at time when the whole
country was reused by the march of the
British and loyalists from the Cape Fear
country, TO join the royal standard at VIII
mington. The veteran Donald Mcdonald
issued his proclamation at Gross Greek, in
February 1875, and having assembled his
Highlanders, marched across rivers and
through forests, in haste TO join Governor
Martin and Sir Henry Clinton, who were
already at Cape Fear. But while he had
eluded the pursuit of Moore, the patriots Of
Newbern and Wilmington Districts were
not idle. 1t was time of noble enter
prise, and gloriously did leaders and peo-
pie come forward to meet tho emergency.
The gallant Richard Caswell called his
neighbors hastily together and they came