The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-06-12

4
resistance. They awaited not TO organize
an equal army, and march in solid column a.
gainst their formidable foe nor needed they
any baggage trains or camp equipage to de-
lay and cucumber their movements. Their
tried rifles ever hung ready in their reach /;
their strong steeds were saddled at the word;
the sound Of the invaders approach was
their call to the field and their instructive
rallying place was the front Of the foe. " All
OF q sudden" says chronicler in Ferguson's 3
army, ga numerous, fierce and unexpected
enemy sprang up in the depth Of the desert ;
the scattered inhabitants Of the mountains
assembled without noise or warning, daring,
well-m0unted, and excellent horsemcn."
The numbers assembled reached two thou
sand, but lest the enemy should evade them,
nine hundred of the best mounted pushed on
many Of the officers in the ranks as pri.
vate volunteers-and soon brought Ferguson
to bay on that fatal mountain, ]" from which
ne boasted that all the rebels from hell could
not drive him" But in short hour the
naughty Briton and his army were surround
ed and pressed in alright upwards to the
mountains crest; his men fell like leaves
before the leaden hail; the fiery circle clos
ed faster around him, and soon his own white
horse was careering. riderless. down the noun.
tain side. and his surviving troops tire
down their arms in unconditional surrender.
i5nt now that the victory was won, the work
OF this impromptu and patriot army was over.
| The few words of the historian, Irving,
truthfully tell the remainder Of the charac /.
teristic story "This victorious army Of
/ mn tai E.tl AZ. 4
blow. They had no plan Of campaign; il
was spontaneous rising Of the suns Of tie
soil TO revenge il on its invaders; and having
effected their purpose, they returned ia tri.
umph 10 their homes"
And, nearer our own homes, tradition loves
still to tell Of another time when the sons
Of the soil rose in patriotic ardur To ayengc
It on the threatening invader. The dashins
'TarleIon, at the head Of his "legion Of lley.
lis mounted on the swift race-hOrses nil
lage, from the stables Of the planters of Eas-
tern Virginia, swept up the valley Of James
River aud the RiySnna, made descent up
on Charlottesville, and into the very portals
of Monticello, driving the Governor Of this
proud Commonwealth, refagee, into the
forests Of Albemafle, and the Legislature in
hasty flight across the mountains TO Staun.
tnn-tle frontier town OF The State. Flush.
ed by his successes, il was thought he would
follow in pursuit aud invade this mountain
girt valley, never as yet profaned by the foot
Of foreign foe.
And on nne quiet Saturday evening, when
the rural inhabitants were resting from lhr
labors Of The week. and awaiting with accus-
toned reverence the hOlier rest Of tie com.
ing Sabbath, an express rider came dashiug
across the mountain with the startling tidin.,
that rarletUn was already approachin. tn.
ward Roeki,h Gap. The express passed ON
his way a house where religious service was
holding, and one who was then present. anil
yet lives in green old age, tells with faith
frl memory how the pious and patriotic pa.
tor Rev. Archibald Scott) at once, 10 thrill.
ing tunes, invoked his people to rally an their
strength, and with their lives in their h nds
drive back the invader. The wives and
daughters he hastened to their homes 10 helm
prepare their husbands, brothers and loyer.
for the defence Of their fresides aud their
honor. By nightlall. the men. mounted on
what horses could be had, or on fuoi, we're
all moving towards the mounlsin gap, armed
with their ready rifles, but some, Tor want nf
better weapons. carrying their moving srythes
and iron forks, saying as they went, :" we
will 'lurn our plough shares into swords,
and nur pruning-hooks iato spears 10 meet
the invader Of our land"
The alarm spread with the speed Of the
hery cross along their ancestral highlands II
ancient Scotland. and BY early morning the
whole valley was ia motion, not as was their
won't on that sacred day, TO gather in the
houses Of PRAYER, bnt in the familiar spnti-
ment Of their fathers, that resistance 10 ty-
rants is obedience 10 God" they marched
with the blessings, aud under command 81
their patriot pastors, WIN on that day, hesi.
tatsd not 10 exchange the Bible and the pull
pit for the sword aud the saddle. Aud snon
al along that misty mountains top there
bristled an armed host that might well have
ilismayed stonter heart than Tarletan'..
We NAV almost be forgiven the vanity ii
wishing that he had not been turned FROM the
ittempt, well believing, frnm the temper that
rallied such host, that the proud Tarleton
would have met a resistance ir.. lat uncun.
lurrablc spirit--that courage neVcs to sub. :
Rit or ,ield-which would have immortal. .
zed our own mountain pass with victory
as that Of the Swiss Margarteli,
Y Il defeat, itself still glorious as that which
oreser balloss the ground where
"----thc unconquered spsrans sill are free.
~ iheif proud charnel Of fhermcpylS.'
No wonder the immortal Washington, ev.
T remembering the ready patriotism Of the
ien Of Augusta, who had stood by his side |
10 Valianfiv n,, tbr fsIds "a his youfhlul fame .
nd had won laufels for themselves in an |
undred other battles. should have paid them
be tribute or recommending their favorite /
,ader, Andrew Lewis. foe the commander
l.chief u the American armies. No won.
er that IL The darkest days Of The patriot
ause, when the brs,est drspaired, he still q
upelessly relied on the men Uf these noun. Z
lins. snd appointed the last refuge and r4i /
iing-place for freedoms followers Among I
le businesses Of Augusta. Aud no wonder q