Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-06-04
Sf(tsttllantous.
ANECDOTES OF REVOLUTIONA
RY TIMES.


At the battle of Eataw Springs, the fol.
lowing udicrous incident occurred. The
Americans had pursued the EGG ish so closely
that they had taken refuge in brick dwell
ing, while in their haste TO close the door
upon the rapidly advancing Americans, they
shut cut some Of their own officers, who
were Immediately surrounded by their cap
tors. The Americans were now exposed TO
| CALLING fire, from those within tho building
and they only found safety by interposing the
persons of their captives between themselves
and the marksmeu at the windows. Among
the British officers taken was one Major
| Barry, who, without slightest resistance, be-
gan only with a profound solemnity to emu.
merate his many titles. "Sir, am Henry
Barry, Deputy Adjutant General of the
British army, Secretary TO the commandant
Of Charleston captain Of the SD regiment
&C." Enough, enough" replied Col. Man.
ming, in whose hands he had fallen, you are
just the man ] was looking for. Fear poth-
ing you shall screen me from danger, and
shall take especial care OF you" aud with the
pompous major held before his person, the
American officer secured a safe retreat.
On one occasion, during tue war of the
Revolution, stranger applied to the resi-
dence Of Gov. Clinton for hospitality and was
received, aud while refreshments were prepa
ring for him the Governor entered into con.
versaton with him, in the course Of which, in
reE ly to some questions proposed by the host
he manifested SO much uneasiness, that the
suspicious became confirmed IN their minds
by observing him take something from his
pocket and swallow it, Mrs. Clinton imme-
diately conceived OF a plan to make him dis
gorge his secret. She proceeded to the ktch-
/ H., 4 -, -, bo
of coffee preparing for him. The man par
! took Of the beverage, and ere long he began
to show signs of indi.posiiion he grew vio.
lently sick, and the result was, q small silver
ball was discharged from his stomach The
ball was unscrewed, and found to contain
an important communication from Sir Henry
| Clinton to Gen. Burgoyne. The man was
arrested as spy, and "out Of his own mouth,
as it was said, "he was convicted." lie suf.
| iered death.
In one of the ncursions Of Indians upon
our frontier settlements during the revolution
u very romantic incident occurred The
celebrated chief Cornplanter made an attack
apon the neighborhood of Fort Plain. burn.
ing and destroying and among the prisoners
he captured was one john Abel, an old in
habItant. The party had not travelled but
a few miles on their return when it was dis
covered that this Abel was almost as well
acquainted with their language as the Indi
ans themselves. This interested the chief
and on inquiriIg of his captive his name
Cornplanter knew at once that he stood be-
fore his oOn father, Abel, twenty five years
before, had been trader among the Indians
of Western New York, and in one of his
visits he became enamored Of a pretty squaw,
and the result Of this affection was the grace
C..l .1,lu. Il l.. -.
now, for the first tme saw standing before
him. The chief had learned from his mother
the history Of his parentage, aud his fathers
name. The meeting was certainly extraord
nary to degree. The young chief held out
strong inducements TO his white father to &C
company him to his tribe, but paternal aEec
tion did not seem so strong in the heart o
Abel as bis love for the comforts aud luxu
ries OF q white mans home, and so be choose
rather to be restored TO liberty and be re
returned to his friends. This was yielded
and he was conducted 10 honor back to tht
settlement. Thus singulariy met aud parted
father and son.
The naughty Tarleton, Wanting his featt
of gallantry TO the great dispsragement o
ths officers of the continental cavalry, said t.
a lady at WilmiDgton-"I have q very ear
nest desire to see Jour far-famed hero, Colo
mel Washington" Your wish, colonel
might have been fully gratifed" she promptly
replied. "had you ventured to look behind yoI
after the battle Of the Cowpens." 1t was il
that battle that Washington had wounde'
Tarleton, which gave rise to still more pOiut
ed retort. Conversing with Mrs. Vile
Jones, Col. Tarleton observed: "You ap
pear to think very highly OF Colonel Wash
ing,on, aud yet have been told that he
so ignorant fellow that he Gao hardly writ
his own name" ut may be the case" sh
readily replied "but no man better than your
self colonel, can testify that he knows hos
to make his mark"
When Marion's brigade was once engage
in battle Capt. Gee was supposed to be MOI
tally wounded. A ball passed through, IA
cock Of bis hat, very much tearing n6t onl
the crown but also his head He lay for ma
ny hours insensible but suddenly revivin
his first inquiry was after bis hat, which ben
brought to him, friend at the same time ia
lnaatainv fiLa annalad stat. NJ his had N