Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-02-24
vERMONTERs IN THE WAR OF 1919.

Z The Catedoniaa is publishing series Of
biographical sketches of noted characters
formerly living in that county. and Civ.
ing incidents of Vermont history. They
are quite interesting. We clip thefollow-
ing in relation to drafted soldiers in
1912, from recent number:
The last of the year l776 and com.
mencement of l777 was the darkest Pc
riod in our nations history. Gen, Bur-
goype had arrived on the western bank of
Lake Champlain, had met the Indians in
congress and given them war feast to
arouse their courage Grown Point and
.licopderoga had been taken, and Bur-
goyne had started with the intention Of
going to New York with his army. In
the midst of these disastrous and alarm
ing circumstances, Congress called loudly
for men to meet the impending danger.
The Green Mountain boys with their
usual promptness, responded to the call.
None were more prompt than the members
of the Scotch settlement in Ryegate and
Barnet. The drafted men in Eyegate
were Somers and Ried-Frye Bailiy, Of
Newbury, attended to the raising and
mastering of the men iii the surrounding
towns On their march over the Green
Mountains, and in the state of New York.
they were kindly treated by the inhabi-
tants. They had got within few miles
of the Mowhawk, when they were met by
a man on horseback, who in the greatest
haste informed them that fifteen boats
loaded with provisions for Burgoyne's ar
my, were quietly going down the river,
no one being there to molest them. He
begged of Capt Bailey to hurry his men
as fast as possible and capture the boats
as it was known that unless the British
army got provisions soon they would be
obliged to surrender Capt Bailey and
his men hurried to the river in double
quick, and founl the boats as described,
rapidly making their way to relieve the
half star ed army. Bailey had no way of
! getting to the boats and could do no very
little damage to them having only few
queen s-arms and fowling pieces for arms.
However, they had come to fight, and
fight they would, so stringing themselves
along the river bank they fired on the
boats; but they We're too far away to be
injured much, although the men became
frightened and getting to the shore they
fastened the boats and going Oh the land
began to make fires Thus the two par.
ties stood, one on either side of the river,
without the means of disturbing each
other Bailey and his men proposing and
reproposing modes and ways sfor coptur.
ing the boats; the men on the other side
quietly smoking their pipes and drinking
whskey. Things remained in this state
until dark when Bailey told. his men
that there was but one way to capture
the boats and that was to swim the river
and bring one of the boats to this side,
and if two men would volunteer for that
purpose they would do a great service to
the Continental Government Somers
was the first man who stepped forward;
he was followed by man from New
Hampshire, both ready to engage in tbs
hazardous enterprise Their clothes were
takeg off and tied on their shoulders,
when all marched down to the river
go" said Capt Baily, fetch one Of
those boats to this side; if you are likely
to get hit give us the signal. God be
with you" This was the brief command,
when the two men entered the river on
their perilous journey. Many of the
the men believed that their two comrades
J had gone to find a grave, consequently
the next hour was an hour of great anx+
, iety But in the midst of their worrying
and watching dark object was seen ap-
preaching the shore. and In few min
ntes the we'll known voice of Somers was
, heard 10 low tone calling on Capt. Bal
ley. The men we're prevented from nsing
any loud expressions Of JOY. Tho boat
was surrounded and empted in a shcrt
TINE and vas so6r allea pish I'D. s4s