The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-11-21
sfIctt m istflIanp.
OF, THE WILLOWS.
A Tale of the Revolution.
BY H. A BUcKINHAM.

"This must be the house: the junction OF
two roads and brook in fir. Mt, the banks COW
cred with willows. This place meets the de-
| scription exactly. Order the men to dis
mount, with the exception of couple of pa
| trolls on each road -zEi isa 7Ei .H.
The speaker was dressed in the blue and
scarlet uniform of the British light horse, a
corps that was formed after the lanking of the
English troops in New Jersey, as soon as the
horses could be obtained to mount the men,
He was an officer of some rank evidently, and
his carriage and delneanor were both naughty
aristociatc IN the highest degree. Why not?
he was the eldest son of the British earl.
"The house appe; rs to be deserted, COL
Harcoprt,"' said tie junior officer as he dis
mountsd. '''i "i ~ 1''- - 1i'-' -f7= 'a
/ I'VE will see. This way half dozen of
yot1,"2 he said to his men. 'Try the door
| yonder. If it is fastened, break it open, and
report if any ore is inside. If there should
be and they attempt to escape, shoot them
down. but give them warming to surrender.
The men advanced to the door, which they
found to be fastened, and after-demanding ad
mission, to which they received no answer,
they proceeded 10 break it open; which delay
cd them sea,etiaac, for tiie dsof was strong
oaken 1one,' This, done, they entered.
"Do you knowthe man by,sight, 1ieutenaRtr
asked Col Harcourt while the Ii, en- were Lusily
t.f on.
"No, SIR but, there is1a fellow j, picked up
| en- tie road. in the rear, that knows him:
WE'LL He does not appear to owe him much
favor"
.sOrder him to the front" fgcg a--Er
The countryman had not very pIepossess-
ing countenance. There was bald surliness
and cruel expression OF features extremely
displeasing -F b.
ba 6What is youraname y said Col. Harcourt
IN his quick sniiitary manner. -.#as
"J ohm Claasen." i-
sDo you know Peter Van Dykcl"
every we'll "y--5-l, ar. -.,.....
ais this his dwelling ?" ''A J'
I k'tYes-thoagh since bis mothers death and
has sisters getting married, it is hard to say
sshere he keeps himself" or a-5
."iDoes. he not bean the name of being
| great rebel, aad dangerous mas to those who
! favor the king in this neighborhood
"Yes, from the Passaic to tie Hack
and thirty miles around. If I'd had my way,
hc'd been hung long ago, and his house burn
led over his head He is the leader of every
rebel gang from the army, asd points out the
honest farmers homes who stand by tt cir
king. whose barns they plnnder,} and carry
! away their grain and cattle
"Nhy you tell bitter, tale about iip,-
| Has he ever injured you ~ 2
| "Injured me? He and parcel of robbers
! ike himself came one afternoon to urn my
house and hang me before the door, which
| they would have done, but for the arrival of a
number of friendly neiehbors, we'll armed.
when they went off in double quick time"
| Does he not venture into New York some
times in Disguise pa inquired the colonel.
II have heard so. He was slippery fron a
! hoy ,up and can disguise himself any way
| He's a precious scamp. and you'll do a favsr
to this part of Jersey if you hang him as soon
as EoH catch him " s. .--'- - ..-
This conversation had heen held rear a
stone wall on the other side Of which was an
Eold garden. but the ,treubles of the times had
left 4nau tivated, and che gooseberry and cur
| rant bushes had grown zap rank and untrm-
med, and che hriars stretched oxeF :he walls,
COVERING ,the ground from sight. ~
Under this qcoxeT, ind within ten feet of the
colonial and Claasen, lay crcuched the very
man they were taking of. He had barely
time to escape from the .hnuse and conceal
himself upon sthe approach of horsemen,
whom he did not then suspect to be within
ten miles of 4iim. fE E.i s:ay in-}t o'
Twice or thrice on hearing the base lies of
Claaseu he waslon the point of raising and
confronting him, but little reflection was left
| and he thought that was not the. occasion to
place his life in jeopardy which he certainly
would do, since the parts of troops had come
out expressly to take him. dir +''~
%fDo yea know with any. certainty Claasen
how long since Van Dyke has been 10 the
nelghborhood ?". 80
/ K 81 heald that he was seen last aight two
miles from this in by path through the
woods coming In the direction of His fholse." !"
s,That,is the information received, and
am determined to capture him. sooner or later.
If you can point opt his whereabouts or. arrest
him yourself, you shall have reward of fifty
gu meas bse= oa iiiw .fa-i q,
Claasen was as .avaricious and fond of money
as he was wicked. Fifty guineas was large
sum, indeed particularly in those days, when
gold was rarely seen. - .-i'i-
Ia will catah ihim, colonel, before he is
three days older. I know one Of his .haunts:y
2 ssWhy not leadsus there then p
f.It would be. of no use this tipe of day.
:Besides he may not be there for day or two,
and / shall have to5bc cautions In looking out
for him. = i'es ,zsYi
q eWellyIseeure him., and the fifty guineas
shall be yours g1adzys1sT -. =. .Ii7Gi
Several of the soldiers nowocame from the
house, and stated that they had searched the
house from top to bottom, but could find no