The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-14

and, - No have no muskete or anmnnition,
We must make the best Of the occasion. The
British band viii Pass this spot in their boat,
aod - ws hare "a hou. to wosk, letas busy
ourselves in rolling some Of thsss rocks "a
the edge Of the precipice, and when tha red
costa pass below, let W sink then to The
bottom"
Each boy sss to work, and in an Incredibly
short space Of time nine huge rocks, each
halt ton in weight, were balanced uren the
edge Of the giant precipiee. The creek at
this point wAs not more shan twenty feet
vide, and was overhung BY the mass Of rock
on which our heroes stood. II the British
band descended the creek they would GER
tainly pass this spot: and il they did so, then
death Was their certain fate. In abeu. an
hour the measured beat Of muilled oars was
detected by the eager listeners.
"They are coming" whispered Wilson ;
sslet no one drop his rock until give the
word, audxhsn al q onca. =
ssls w1s beastifua sight 70 ~rsak work
Of death. The heavens we're spangled with
innumerable stars, and every object which
the moonbeams played upon, sparkled with
= silvery radiance.
Closer came the doomed loyslis,s, and the
hearts Of the boy patriots beat wildly in their
bosoms. Psering cautiously over the cliffs,
james Wilson saw the Tory boat slowly but
surely approaching. An ofhcer stood on
the bows, guiding the boatmen by his orders,
and the epaulets on his shoulders told that
he was the identical tiend, Major Bardstone.
"Don't drop till give the order" again
whispered Wilson.
When tho boat was about twelve feet
from the rock, the boy leader fell securely
behind his stone defence and shouted "Who
goes there ?"
In moment the oarsmcn ceased rowing,
and gazed with astonishment above them.
The impetus which the boat had acquired
caused it to drift slowly beneath the rock,
and just as il was fairly below, came forth
the doomed words:
"Cut loose, in the name Of Libcrtyw
Each boy pushed his rock at that instant,
and with one Impulse the gigantic stone fell.
A loud shrek from the dark waters told how
well the plan had succeeded, and 40 the
exultant boys again looked over the elf,
nothing was seen but y few pieces af floating
wood. ...,...
The boat had been burst to pieces, and
the occupants had found grave at the
bottom Of Whitelay. A cry Of victery burst
from the the Joyous lips of the youthful
patriots, and it was echoed along in solemn
grandeur. ......
"Now for our prisoner!" cried Frank
Howard, bounding ahead. But what was
the astonishment Of the boys to find that in
the efforts Of George Livingston to escape,
he had been caught by the fatal chord aud
choked to death. There was no time for
repining the traitor and his son had met
their deserved doom, and there was no ono
to mourn their loss. ........
"Such be the fate Of Americas foes
forever !" said james Wilson.
Old Livinsston's house was searched, and
to the surprise Of every one, not merely
guns, but three brass field pieces, several
barrels Of powder, and an abundant Of balls,
etc., were found concealed in the Troy's
cellar. The military stores found there
were given over to the American troops,
and found Joyful welcome nt their head.
quarters. Had not the British party been
as signally defeated along the banks OF the
Whitelay, tho town Of Newark, and the
whole northern part of the State of Dela-
ware-would have been oyerrun by preda-
tory bands Of British soldiers.
James Wilson and Frank Howard both
joined the amy Of Green. and served
with distinction in the Southern campaign.
Frank fell in the memorable battle of Eutaw
Springs, bewailcd by oil who know him.
James Wilson lost a leg at the seige OF
Yorktown, and retired to his nntive village,
but modification ensued, and he expired
with the ever-to- -to-be-rcmembered words on
his lips, "But loose, in the name Of Liber-
typ
The village of Newark still stands, and
has become town Of some celebrity.
The scene Of the defeat Of the British by the
boy patriots, is still pointed out, and it is a
sacred spot in the annals Of Newark.
Such, readers, were the acts Of the boys
Of '76, and though they have no monumen-
raj pile to preserve their memories, they
live in legends, songs and verses, where
they will exist when history has been swept
into obscurity. zs
Let our literary men redeem from dark
ness the deeds of American youths, and
while they recolect the acts OF our revolu-
tionary patriots, let them never fovget the
boy heroes. a.s