The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-03

we have an hour to. work, let us busy
ourselves in rolling some of those rocks
to the edge of the precipice, and when
the red-coats pass below, let us then
sink them to the bottom."is sa gaAW
Each Of the hoys set to work, andin
an. incredible short space of time nine
huge rocks, each half ton in weight,
were balanced upon the edge of the
giant precipice. The creek at this
point was not more than twenty feet
wide, and was overhung by the mass of
rock on which our heroes stood. If
the British band descended the creek
they would certainly pass this spot, and
If they did so, then certain death was
their fate. In about IAN hour the
measured beat of muffled oars was de-
tected by the eager listeners.
"They are coming" whispered
Wilson, "let no one drop his rock
until | give the word, and then all at
once" s5sr ae.l., --,rl. .....r
1t was beautiful night to wreak a
work Of death. The heavens were
spangled with innumerable stars, and
every object which the moonbeams
played upon sparkled with silvery ra-
dance. a- sa.E ~
Closer came the doomed loyalists,
and the hearts of the boy patriots beat
wildly in their bosoms Peering eau
tiously over the cliffs, James Wilson saw
the Tory boat slowly but surely ap-
preaching. An officer stood on the
bow, guiding the boatmen by his
orders, and the epauletts on his shoul-
ders told that he was the identical fend,
Major Bardstone. ,aeeas ..i rsr-s
4 fa" Don't drop until l give the ORDER"
again whispered Wilson. rss.,o., -.
Il When the boat was about twelve feet
from. the rock, the boy leader fell Sc
curely behind his stone defence and
shouted: "Who goes there ?'alaGcu
In a moment the oarsmen ceased
rowing, and gazed with astonishment
above them. The impetus which the
) boat had acquired caused it to slowly
! drift beneath the rock, and just as it
} was fairly below, came forth the doom
ed words: hs.h egrA mafr Ia o3lt5
" Cut tloose in the name of Liberty p
Each boy pushed his rock at that
moment, and with one impulse the gi,
gantic stone fell A loud shrek from
the dark water told how we'll the plan
had succeeded, and as the exultant
, boys again looked over the cliff, nothing
was to be seen save a few pieces OF
floating wood.
The boat had been burst to pieces,
and the occupants had found grave at
the bottom of Whiteclay. A cry OF
!. victory burst from the joyous lips Of
the youthful patriots, and it was echoed
along in solemn grandeur. n01.i
Now for = our prisonerl'' cried
Frank Howard, bounding ahead. But
: what was the astonishment of the boys
y to find in the efforts of George Living
ston to escape, he had been caught by
u a fatal cord and choked to death
;. There was no time for repining; the
traitor and his son had met their de
e served doom, and there was no one to
!, mourn their loss.
d "Such be the fate of American foe.
foreverw said James Wilson. -Ga,
Old Livingston's house was searched
r and to the surprise of every one, mo-
! merely guns, but three brass field
S pieces, and several barrels of powder
and an abundance of balls, ETC., were
e found concealed in the Tory's cellar
The military stores found there were
given over to the American troops, anC
: found a joyful welcome at their head
9 quarters Had not the British party
:, been as signally defeated along th'
banks of the Whiteclay, the. town o
Newark, and the whole northern par
of the State of Delaware-would hav,
been overrun by predatory bands o
e British soldiers. i5.-' Ai'f sHa.aHa
James Wilson and Frank Howard
d both Joined the army of Green, ant
e served with distinction in the Southern
d campaign. Frank fell in the memora
l. BILE battle of Eutaw Springs, bewaile'
It by all who knew him. James Wilson
r lost a leg at the seige of Yorktown, AM
l. retired to his native village, but morti
r ficatioI ensued, and he expired witt
k the ever to be remembered words OIL
IS his lips: Cut loose in the name o
e Liberty % - ''y
e. The village of Newark still stands
n and has become a town of some celeb
i rity. The scene of the defeat of tn
British by the boy patriots, is, sti
o pointed out, and it is sacred spot il
e the annals of Newark. +
e Such, readers, were the acts of tn
y boys of '76, and though they have NJ
e monumental pile to preserve their mem
h cries, they live in legends, songs. am
v verses, where they will exist when his
E. tory has been swept into obscurity.
e Let our literary men redeem iron
D. darkness the deeds of American youths
'f and while they recount the acts of on
a revolutionary patriots, let them not fol
nj get the boy heroes. "& 's@i .'t'e
n Il ssIELag eij go ri afof2 hQfs.po
q vrsW Did you ever know an acto
IS who couldn't. act Macbeth?
l. Did you ever know an orator VIII
E. was accustomed to public speaking?