The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-05-04
A Revolutionary Anecd0te.


My grandfather. n revolutionary
soldier, was accustomed to relate the
following among the incidents of his
experience during "thc war
1t was during the famous Jersey
campaign, TITS. Attached to the
company to which he belonged was
private soldier, an invoterate fault
finder sour, grabbed, perpetually dis
gruntled' about something; but who,
nevertheless, VAS never suspected Of
a leaning towards the enemy, and had
always done his duty as a good sol
der of tho Continental army. On
one occasion, lieutenant and part of
his company, including the subject
of our story, were sent out on scout
ing excursion, instructed to watch the
movements Of body of the enemy who
were prowling in the vicinity. It was
a very warm day, and the party, after
a three hours tramp, came in sight of
the foe, who, being i'll greater num-
bers than was anticipated, compelled
the lieutenant and bis men to use
''the better part of yalor," and pre-
pare for retreat On this, "old
Grouty," as he was called, lowered his
musket, broke forth into u TRADE
against military duty in general and
scouting parties in particular, and
finished by declaring that he had
done enough for one day and was de-
termined to remain where he was for
the remainder of it. To the repre-
sensations of his comrades that he
would be captured by the enemy, he
replied, that such an event would be
preferable to any further exertion, and
stay he would and abide the result.
After exhausting argument and en-
treaty, the lieutenant informed him
that rather than suffer him to be taken
by the British and give them the in
formation they would seek concern
ing our forces, if he persisted in his
determination to remain, he must
shoot him in order to secure the gen
eral safety The reply was, shoot
and be hanged; ! shall stay whore /
am"
On this hurried consultation was
held by the officer with his men, and
it was resolved to experiment with
him, and avoid, if possible, the sacri-
fec of his life. He was told to take
his seat upon log in the woods
where they then were, and, to avoid
alarming the enemy by a general vol
ley, single soldier from behind was
to send bullet through his heart.
/ The announcement was received with
logged resignation and an unalter-
ed purpose. All being ready, the sol
der detailed MS executioner, at the
word of command, fired blank cart
ridge, while, by pre'arrangement, n
second simultaneously threw small
pebble smartly at the spot intended TO
be hit. The man fell and groaned,
and the lieutenant approached, ex-
pressed his opinion that the wound
was mortal, and his sorrow that his
duty compelled him to the measure,
babe him adieu, and then led his par
ty to the rear, whore they concealed
themselves to watch the result.
The martyr to stubborness lay, for
some time, uttering an occasional
groan, varied with maledictions upon
the service, his fate, the red-coats,
and his comrades. His wrath toward
the latter seemed to be kindled by the
bungling manner in which they had
performed their duty, leaving him to
a lingering death instead of despatch
ing him at once At length, with n
dolorous exertion, he raised himself
ON his elbow and looked over and
beneath bis shoulder, as though to de-
ternine the nearness of his exit by the
quantity of blood that had issued
from bis wound. Apparently as
tonished at finding none. he next,
with slow but seemingly less painful
movements, commenced feeling be
hind his back for traces OF the bullet
hole. dissatisfied with this, he raised
himself to a sitting posture, and with
much exertion took off his coat, and
finding no perforation, the truth and
the trick flashed upon him at once,
when seeing some strag lers Oh the
enemy in the distance, he started up,
seized his musket and ran, as none
had ever seen him before, toward the
American lines. He arrived long in
advance of the lieutenant and his par
ty, who had never occasion thereafter
10 censuro his ballled subordinate.
H. Az Il -