Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-03-22
Corresponbentt. O.
LIE CLAIRE, Iowa, March IA, 1865.

During the struggle of the American
Colonies to free themselves from the tire
some oppression and bnrdensome taxation
OF the British government, of nearly every
one of those who took part in the defence
OF their homes and firesides at that peril
Gus period; short and separate history
might be written, which, when collected
into one grand general history would
make up the most interesting and truthful
representation of the principle and charac-
fer OF that people: though it might lack
the pampered gliding Of the finished
authors pen.
We admire the greatness and skill of
the leader when fully developed by the
hard course of events; but more, thev,
the bone and sinew, the real actiue perfor-
nters that drives a "cause" into exis-
tence, and establishes and defends
But few of the present generation of
Americans that cannot revert to some
noble, brave and patriotic part taken in
the war for the liberty and independence
OF the Colonists, by an honest and true
ancestor.
vi what am about to write, is in re-
iation to an event in the life of my great
grandtather-John De Bow During the
war he served under General Washington,
and once on his visiting his family in New
Jersey, he was informed that one Jake
Pagan a notorious ioyatst and plunderer
with band of Tories were securing the
surrounding country and committing all
sorts OF mean acts on the inhabitants
There was no safety in &c fitting with
merchandise, as every wagon would be
overhauled by this band. In those days
the roads were so few, and without was
The one used as thoroughtare, there was
no possibility of going around or in any
way avoid the gang of rubbcrs, who con-
tlnually marauded the country 1t was
rich haul to laulr up dozen or two of
great wagons and ransack them of their
! goods.
/ Bnt, Pagan and his band were COM
PEELED to quit the business by little sharp
'nduCeDaent which was offered him and his
followers, much TO his surprise. How
and by whom he was induced, will be
told. John De Bow held a bitter hatred
Of the Tories, and always brought them
to grief when All opportunity offered itself
Being informed as to Fagans where
abouts, he conceived the plan Of making
a 8 flank movement" on him, AMI thus
stop the cause of the eternal dread the
people were living under. The plan was
this All the men in the immediate coun-
try around were TO meet together at a
known whiskcy still" on certain dav,
armed with anything they could pick up,
some with rifles, others with shot guns
and few with old muskets a sufficient
number OF great wagons were to be
brought, into which the company were 10
be placed, as many as could be convent
emily carried in each The company
numbering about 100 men were on
baud " at the appointed day, and they
were forthwith packed into the deep boxes
OF the wagons, in lying position 50 that
they were then covered over with long
rye straw, the usual way Of fixing up a
load, Each man had his gun at his side,
and in full preparation for any emergency.
Orders were given by De Bow, when the
preilminaries were through with, and the
teams moved off along the road, with
their would d-be-supposed :" lot of whisky y
ihey all passed along quietly Chat is
independent of the rafting of the great
, wagons and the continued urging Of the
teamslers,) till they entered piece of fiat,
swamPy ground through which the road
wound It's way In that section of the
country the timber is very heavy anJ
stands like dark wall. In this, Fagan
and hls men were concealed
hen the teams were making bend
through thicket of willows, which lined
the road, suddenly dozen or more mer
hied across the road, armed with musket.
and ordered a & ''halt." When the wagon:
were finally brought to a dead stop. b,
orders of Pagan, and signals, the rest OF
his men came pouring from the wood ,u.
armed, Tor the purpose of politely examin
ing the =" stock" on hand. About the
'ime they were all prepared TO mount tn,
wagons, and taken entirely by surprise
"A signal given by De Bow every MAJ
raised himself up in the wagons, and in :
nash hundred guns had dealt their dea,l
blow from steady hands and trusty guns
and in few minutes ere,u man compo
sing mat notorious band were laid low
ragan was shot to pieces nearly. The,
'ieu MS oody to pole and stood it at tn
roaa s'oe, there to rot and fall to tn
GROUND 30 ended loyal man and
loyal band 1t is fact that De Bow
children after him, so hated the .sTories
that the boys wonld pitch into every fel
low that they met, where they got win,
OF them either being slightly tainted wit
} Tory principles, or it was enough to know