The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-07-04
rRnM THE OLD NORTH STATE Va.

While the British army. when on is way
to Wilmington, after the Guilord battle, lay
encamped for day and night on Haymaunt
at the west end Of Cross Greek. now Fay
etteyille. on the ground at present occupied
by the United States Arsenal, and number
OF private dwellings. During this time the
soldiers. in little squads, ranged through the
village, gratifying their cnriosity or their
propensity TO plunder. and in these plumber.
ing operations, as usual with the British arr
nv wherever il went, the whig portion Of the
community were the principal sufferers. Tae
soldiers wherever they could, seemed to take
a malicious pleasure in wantonly destroying
the property and distressing the families Of
those who were in favor Of independence !;
and numberless acts of cruelty and Of an in
human disregard to the safety and comfort
of the helpless, we're committed over the
country, which were utterly inconsistent with
the boasted honor and magnsnimity Of the
British nation.
Belonging to the whig class Of the citizens
in Cross Creek at this time, was little
Dutchman. by the name Of Lewis Bowel.
who kept bakery and did very fais bust
ness in his way. lf his was mot the only es
tablishment of the kind in the place. il was
the most popular, and got the run oil the Gus
tom. As he did prosperous business he
bought his aour by the barrel: anl when the
flour was consumed the empty barrel was
mt up stairs, or "on the lnft'. as Il was
termed aud .he stock Of empty barrels had
accumulated until the upper story oi hi, liz
tie frame dwelling was nearly full. A squad
Of soldiers while ranging about in every di-
rection, ready to seize upon ANYTHING that
would crafty their avarice, their vanity or
their astronomical prnpensities, on seeing
the sign. BAKERY. in large letters over the
door, thought this must be the very pl,ee
FOR them. and forthwith entered the house.
without leave or license. Whether they
we're aware Of bis position on The political
arena is nat known. nor is it matter nf any
importance. All men love goul eating. aud
IN oder to quiet the clamors II "batking
stomach" will eight harder, and show a innrr
reckless disregard Of friends aud foes than
for any thing else.
Having been so much harrisscd along the
first part of their retreat, and having march
ed for the last ffty miles over an uninter-
rupted stretch Of sand hills anil sand barrcns,
where, if there was ever any thing COOL ior
man or beast il had doubtless been destroy
ed By the recent conflicts between Tue whis,
and tories, probably no sight eonl,l be np'"
grateful u them than a well furnished "a
ker's shop. However this NAV h4se been.
the temptation was mt an nrlinafv mr. id
them aud whether imprlled by the craving.
Of hunger, or by their lawlcss habit of pldp-
der. they were not disposed to lay any res.
traint upon themselves.
While they we're ranging thro1sh The house
in every direction. as chance or caprice led
the way, some into one apartment and some
into another, two Or three concluded that
they would 20 up stairs and try their luck
there. As Lewis Bowels. though an honest
whig was no fighting character, aud when
the British army entered Gross Creek. he
found himself in pcr,lous condition. u 4
was not more eongenisl 10 his disposition. It
uas certainly more in his line Of business to
lei others Rght the battles Of freedom. and
Tor him TO follow his trade and furnish them
with the stat Of life but now the enemy hau
come 10 his iOUr and something must Oe u0ne.
If he remained there he expected nothing
else then 10 be seized by them, and perhaps
be nut 20 death as a rebel. Ii he attempted
10 escane. he would certainly fall into the
hands Of The tories, who would, beyond all
question, deliver him up to the British. In
this dilemma he biz upon an expedient which,
il il did not succeed just as he wished, re.
suited more perhaps to his satisfaction. lie
had made his wife. Few hours before, head
him up IN one Of the empty barrels and this
barrel, as the room was nearly full. stool not
...... fl,an n r.av fa.s fra,tt fha head af fhe
stairs