Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-25
5Qlortcstrr SaiID Spp.
PREPARED EXPRESSLY FOR THE sPY.1
Relics and "Reminiscences of the
Olllen Times.

No. L.
HlSroRICAL SCRAPS AND TRADITIONAL INCL
DENTS OF THE WAR IN rs AND Is
Long Islaad-Whe PJains-Ncm Jersey-
Washington DiSpirited and 1Ssured-Is Vic
torious-1776 and l777.
IContinuedJ
"When did such a case happen, uncle Now
do tell us one of your instructive stories"
"When in the army, near New York, a
company OF mounted men was put under my
direction TO examine the situation of the enc
my, and select the most favorable ground to
post our army for an engagement, if they chose
to meet us in battle. On returning to our
quarters we were suddenly brought to a stand,
by the appearance of large body of British
troops stretched across our road and hem
ming us in either side. Our only way of re-
Eat lay in the direction of their rendezvous
fsd shOtted cannon. If we surrendered, they
would sent us aboard prison ship to die OF
disease or starvation. Ii we gave battle. NV
brave comrades would be shot down and
slaughtered. And thought of their sad fate.
and the distress of their friends | thought of
your dear aunt, and our family of young chill
dren, how they would grieve and suffer if their
earthly support and protector were taken from
them; OF my aged parents, how their hearts
would sorrow to excess if son Billy were
SIAM These thoughts and a thousand scenes
OF my previous life were brought wildly to
view IN minute. For moment felt sadly
embarrassed, and | think the feeling was more
painful than any fear Of bodily harm could
be-"
but, uncle, you were not killed or taken
and how did you escape %
AS we could not pass on the right or left
nor turn back, we concluded to press forward
and take them by surprise. So giving reins
to painting chargers we dashed through
their midst, and passed on. l always thought
it was mercitul Providence that saved US
from destruction
His recollection of the event seems to agree
pretty well with Mr.. Spragues version, ex-
cept that the one describes the quick decision
and prompt action of the sagacious warrior in
the critical moment and the other the emotion.
al operations of a sensitive mlnd under the
pressure of great responsibility.
And now, courteous reader, let us turn
awhile from the strifes and pers of the battle
field, to the sorrows and sufferings of the ru-
raj home. Oh We favored housekeepers of
to-day, who can replenish your caddy with In
perial Hyson at any village grocery, and i'm.
blbe It's exhllerating extract at pleasure, read
the letter below. compare your comforts with
the prlyaliOns OF the mothers, who lived in
times that tried mems souls and womens pa
thence, and rejoice in your happy lot Ye
welto-du matrOns, and rejoicing mothers,
who recline on well stuffed oltonans, to dis.
cuss the blessings of crinoline over cup of
savory OolOng, think of the times when your
indispensable morning beverage was a tabOocd
article OF consumption, and tOiling mothers left
TO suffer and pine without tasting the cooked
nectar. Ye well fed, satisfied Dutch-old-gen.
temen OF Goshen, remember Il former mayor
OF your proud city was black-hearted traitor,
midnight incendiary, and would be murderer;
and ye present earnest, restless, Yankee-born
merchant princes OF our commercial empori
UNI, turn back few leaves OF your history
see the days of your small things the poverty
OF your China trade, when pound OF tea
could not be procured in y our city Tor dove or
money and rejoice in the marked change
especially in the tea trade.
W. Ii. to his wife, dated
'NoRTu RIVER, 6 miles above
New York, Sept. 10, 1776.
81 am sorry to inform you that there is no
tea to be purchased at New York, Tor love or
money. was there yesterday, and tried all
over the city to purchase some. | have writ
ten.to brother Benjamin, (of Middletown, Ct)
to buy some there, if there is any to be sold
also requested Mr.. Earle to buy some on the
road and carry TO you"
The British troops on Long Island struck
their tents and went aboard their fotiila in the
bay on the first of September Our forces
were also Withdrawn and stationed at different
points ON the Hudson, and along the Jersey
shore, to watch the movements, and repel en-
crOachmenls of the enemy. Col. Henshaw's
letters during this autumn mention several
engagements in New Jersey, and ON the banks
of the river, where the losses on either side
were not severe. On the last of October he
sums up the operations of eight or ten days in
the following letter.
"WHITE PLAINS, October 81, 1775
'In your last you want to know whether |
was in the battle mentioned in my last. was
there. In our brigade seventy five were killed
and wounded the whole of killed and wound
ed on our side was about one hundred. OF
the enemy, by the best information we could
obtain, about five hundred. Since then we
have had several skirmishes some of them |
was not engaged i'll, though | saw them all.
One of them last week was fought by Reeds
and Larned's regiments, when we had six
killed and wounded, and the enemy above two
hundred. The same week scouting party
of our men came across the famous Rogers
with a scouting party of the enemy, who made
thirty prisoners from Rogcrs's party, and
killed number more. This week we have
had some hard fought battles. On Monday,
the 18th, about two thousand of them came
on a height land on the plains, attacked
our piquet and after some time forced our
men to give back. The loss on either side
cannot ascertain, but suppose we had killed
and wounded nearly one hundred, as the fire
of cannon and small arms was heavy for some
time The day before they attacked our lines
MT.,.I Of tI.i, l,r;,r
Fades and some of their ships. Their ships were
much damaged one of them they were oblig-
ed to tow off. Our men at the lines reserved
their fire till the brgadcs advanced pretty near
then gave them u heavy fire, which caused
them to retreat. They formed and advanced
a second time, when we gave them the second
fire they retreated as before, and formed the
third time, came up, and fired at the lines,
which was so Warmly returned that they re-
treated. Our troops jumped over the lines and
pursued them and killed many, but the mum.
Der is not ascertained. We shall know the
number in a few days. We had but one killed
in this battle. We took fourteen Hessans ono
day this week, and one English officer; have
had several deserters come in this week. The
enemy are now encamped within gun shot OF
us, and there is Il continual firing of small
arms. We let two Hessans, whom we took
some time ago, return to their camp. We
daily expect an engagement with the enemy.
Brother Denny was here today 10 see me.
He is ationed at Tarrytown, eight miles from
this. Last night we took DIR Whitworth's son
(of Boston) prisoner he was in some office
with the enemy"
Col Little, commandant of the regiment,
having been appointed to another branch OF
service, the chief command devolved on Lieut.,
Col. Henshaw, and continued so during the
following winter. 1t will be noticed in the
above letter, in rto inquiries whether he
was in u battle mentioned in a former letter