The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-02-15
For lhe Recorler.
THE TORY,S ESCAPE.
rR,yE STORY or THE REVOLUTION.

who, in our Revolutionary struggle, espoused
the cause of the mother country, and took up
arms and fought against their neighbours, their
friends and kinsmen. And, no doubt, some
Of them acted consistently. Having taken
the oath Of allegiance to the British King,
when the war broke out they did mt feel
themselves al liberty to depart from it /; but
a greater number were actuated by that dis
nosition which has controlled certain class
Of men in all ages Of the world believing
that the resistance OF the Americans would
be unsuccessful, and in the end be oyerpow'
cred and crushed. they were anxious to be
found where they could have the opportunity
Of sharing the honors and spolls o. the VIC
tors. But whatever may have been the
cause, il is lamentable fact. that there were
far too MANY in the Old North State for her
credit. And this must have been one Of the
most disagrecable and distressing features
in the war. Who can imagine the feelings
of the Wings and Tories when they would
meet face IL face on the battle field! We
are informed by historians that at the battle
Of Ramsour's Mills. III the heat Of conflict.
when the parties were near each other, aud
a puff Of wind. would.roll back the dense cur
tains Of smoke which enveloped them, that
friends, neighbors. brothers, and even Ia
theirs and sons. would recognize each other
on opposite sides. dealing death and destruc-
ton TO each other; but enough Of those sick
enng scenes, aud TO our story.
We are not certain. but believe Il to have
been short time previous TO the battle fought
between Gen. Green and Cornwallis az Guil .
ford Court House. that small party OF
Wings we're assembled at Col. John Me-
bane's, the place where David Mebane, Jr.,
now resides. about nine miles west Of HILLSIDE
rough, near the present county line OF Orange
and Alamance. The Tories, when the Brit
ish army were in reach, would always collect
in parties. to pilot the British over the coun-
try and harrass the Wings as much as posi-
BILE. On this .oecasion they made their APP
pearance about three hundred wards east OF
she house above mentioned, in the public
road where some large white oaks now stand.
After the parties had fired on each other
Few times, the Tories broke and ran; the
whigs, ubo were mounted. or part OF them,
Immediately gave pursuit; they followed
them about half mile. being close alter
them, to an old field generally known as the
Muster Old Field. aud here they met with
serious accident. In the confusion and haste
of the race, one Of the Wings let his gun dis
charge itself accidentally, and having II on
his shoulder al the time. the man next be-
hind him. whose name was Jane. MINIS.
q relative Of the MINIS family who now 1--we
in that neighborhood, received Us contents
in the forehead. killing him instantly, and Il
was said the blood spouled up near foot
when he fell.
This circumstance causing some delay.
enabled the Tories 10 gain considerable dis.
lance ahead. and separating, they continued
10 Nv in different directions but the pursuit
having been renewed. about mile aud a
half further ON IN the old public road, near
GraselIy Hill, two Of the Wings. by the name
of Steel and Hodge. supposed TO be residents
of the Hawlields, succeeded IN overtaklng
Que of the Tories by the name Of Hastings.
and when they came up with him he had
stopped and was in the act Of loading his
gun, but being too hard pressed 70 get through
with il, and having the puwder rammed down,
he Ieyeled his gun aud fired at Hodge VITA
the ramrod in the barrel. which entered his
side above the hip. passing entirely through
ri. body. Hodge being thus disabled. Steel
rushed on Hastings. sword in hand. Hast.
ings lodging behind tree. Steel attacked
him. striking with E,s sword hrst % one side
Of the tree and then the other. This game
&c striking and dcdging was Kept up, until
Hastings, who did not dodge quite last
enough, exposed his nose. the sword coming
down upon Il severed il entirely from his
face. except a small portion 81 kin AZ the
lower end, his nose falling down over his
mouth. lie then surrendered, and others
coming Up he was placed IN charge OF Moses
Crawford. to be conducted back TO Col. Me-
bane's, aud there hung up 10 the limb oil a
tree. bat 10 passing through the lane Of
James Mebane, Sr.. opposite the house where
Mr.. Eli Sharp resides Al this tme. Crawford,
thinking that Hastings being so severely
wounded woald scarcely make an attempt 70
escape, suffered him 20 Tall back and walk
along BY his side. llasting, watched hts
opportunity and suddenly seIzing stake IN
the corner Of the fence. snatched i oat and
with il single blow Ielled Crawford to the
ground. springing over the fence he then
made good his escape. Running about hall
Of mile. he came TO barn, belonging 10 a
Mr.. Wilson; he here seereted himself IN the
upper part of the barn amongst the hay, Tod
der, &c. Having made his presence known
20 Mr. Wilson and family. who we're b..
neighbors. they waited on hin. sewed up his
nose, and dressed his other wounds. Of Which
there we're several made on his head by
steel's sword. III. face and nose became 20
much swollen and was so sore that he could
not eat anything Tor several days, and then
nothing but little mush and milk. and 20 h..
eagerness 20 eat this his wounds would bleed
affesh. Not considering this retreat safe
from Tie Wings. who we're securing the eoun'
try in search Of the Tories, he left the barn
and vent about a nile farther north, TO
large lhieket in the forks 81 a branch he here
secreied himself and remained anti the war
was over. being provided Tor secretly BY
family Who lived IN the Deighborho"d. Alter
the excitement had in some degree subsidized,
he yentuted out. aud lived 10 the country
many years afterwards. but only 10 be rldi'