Nebraska advertiser., 1864-03-10

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tom.
! Each boy Immediately set to work, and
in an incredible short space Of time, nine
huge rocks, each half a ton in weight,
were balanced upon the edge Of the gi-
ant precipics. The creek a. this point
was not more than twenty feet wide and
bv a mass of rock on which our herOe:
stood. If the British descended the
creek they would certainly pass this spot
and if they PASSED it, then death was
their certain fate. In about nhour the
quick ear of Wilson detected the meas.
ured beat of the muffled oar.
They are coming" he whispered
'.let no one drop bis rock till ! give the
word. and then all at once -
Peeping cautiously over the Gins, he
saw the Tory boat slowly but surely ap-
pIoaching., An officer stood on the bows
guiding the oarsmen by his orders, and
the epulets on his shouldeas told that he
was the identical Mojor Bardstone.
Don't drop till l give the ODER again
whispered Wilson.
When the boat was about twelve feet
from the rock, the boy leader fell secure.
ly behind the stout defence and shouted:
WHO goes there?"
In moment thesearsmen ceased row.
ing, and gazed with astonishment around
them. The impetus which the boat had
acquired caused it to drift slowly beneath
the rock, and just as twas fairly below,
came forth the loud doomed words, Cut
loose in the name of liborty"
Each boy pushed his rock at that in
stant and as if with one impulse the
gigantic stones fell. A loud shrek from
the dark waters told how we'll the plan
succeeded, and as the exultant boys a.
gain looked over the rocks, nothing was
was seen but few pieces of wood -
The boat was burst in pieces, and The oc-
cupants found watery grave at the bot
tom of Clay Creek, A cry of victorp
burst from the joyous lips of the youth
ful patriots, and was echoed along in SOL
emn grandeur.
Nov for eur prisoner % cried Frank
Howard, bounding ahead; but what was
the astOnlshment of the boys to find that
in his efforts to getfree, George Livings-
ton had been caught by the fatal cord and
choked to death. There was no time for
repining; the traitor and his son had met
their deserved doom, and there was no
one to mourn their loss.
Such be the end of Americas foes for
ever!'' said Wilson.
Old Livingston's house was searched,
and to the surprise of every one, not on
Iy guns, but three brass field-pieces, sew
eral barrels of powder and balls, were
concealed in the Tory's cellar. The mil
itary stores found here were given over
to the American troops, and found Joy
Gus welcome at head quarters. Had not
the British party been so signally de-
feated along the banks of White Clay,
the whole northern part of the State of
Delaware would have been overrun by
the predatory bands of British soldiers
James Wilson and Frank Howard both
joined the army of Greene. and served
with distinction in the Southern cam
paign. Frank fell in the memorable
battle of Entaw Springs, bewailad by
all who knew him. James lost leg at
the siege of Yorktown, and retired to his
native village, sbut modification ensued.
and he expired with the ever memorable
words on his lips Gut loose in the name
of liberty'' eIa
The village of Norfolk still stands and
has become town of some celebrity
The scene of the defeat Of the British
Of the British by the boy patriots is still
pointed out, and is a sacred spot in the
annals of Newark.