The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-05-22
TILE BOY PATRIOTS.

History lb ulleu Will ING uecuS VI tho
men Of the Revolution, nor are the pat
riotic women forgotten in the "burning
woods" of the annalist Of '76, but where
is the historian who tells of the boys Of
that gloomy period? Who writes their
biographies
There were boys in the Revolution,
boys Of noble patriotism and dauntless
spirit-boys who would not become trai.
tors although the rack aud gibbet con.
fronted them-boys who toiled with an
endurance aud boldness unequalled in
the annals of a nation, for the independ
ence Of the "Old Thirteen" and had they
now just desert, the brightest star in
the American constellation, and the wi
dost stripe in the broad canvass would be
dedicated to the boys of '76.
Let US relate an instance.
1t was in the year l777. Philadelphia
was in the hands of Howe and his inhu,
man soldiery, who on the fields Of Bran
dywine, gave the American people an ev
idence Of British inhumanity The in
habitants of Delaware and Pennsylvania
were at the mercy Of their foes Bands
of Hessian dragons secured the vicinity
Of Philadelphia for miles around, and
committed acts that would disgrace
vandal.
On the evening Of delightful summer
day, group of boys ranging in age from
twelve to seventeen, were gathered to.
gethcr on the steps Of tenanlless store
in the village of Newark, Delaware. The
town seemed lonely, and with the excep.
ten of the youthful band already told,
not human being met the eye. All the
men, capable Of bearing arms, had left
their homes to join Washington on the
Schuylkill. A youth of sixteen years,
mounted on barrel, was giving an &c.
count of the disastrous battle of Brandy.
wine James Wilson, the parrator, was
bold boy, enthusiastic in his love Of the
American cause, and possessed Of no lit.
tie intelligence. His blue eyes and fax
en- bair gave him an effeminate appear.
ance, but beneath that homespun jacket
throbbed heart that never quailed in
danger or shrank before an obstacle His
father WIS commander OF the Delaware
regular troops. and his mother was dead.
The boy concluded his narration, and
was deeply lamenting that he could not
join the army.
II am not old enough" said he, "but
had / musket | would not stand idle
here, with my hands hanging uselessly
by my side"
care there no guns Of any description
in the villagel" inquired listening
youth.
"None. I have spent nearly week
in trying to find one, but my efforts have
been of no avail. I strongly suspect that
old Tory Livingston has several in his
house, bnt as be permits no one to tres.
pass on his land, I am unable to say pos
itively"
"Why not take party aud search his
dwelling 7" asked Frank Howard "he
has no one there but his cowardly son
George, and I can thrash him as easily
as that ]" the boy swapping bis fingers to
imply the readiness with which he could
trouDce old Livlngston's son.
James Wilson's eyes sparkled with joy.
"If any three boys in this company will
help me, / will search old LivinRston's
house tonight. All who are willing to
60, step forward three paces.'
Every boy in the crowd, without mo.
ment's hesitation, stepped promptly for
ward. a
i The boys eyes flashed like stars "Now
by the dead Of Bunker Hill. I will search
old Livingsion's, though death stand 10
my path"
| With firm tread and the utmost silence
the young heroes took their march for
old Livingstoh's.
"livingston had been long suspected
of harboring British spies, and some Of
his former laborers had reported that he
had kept up q regular correspondence
with the BIitlsh commander At al
: events be was generally regarded by the
genuine Wings as a dangerous man, and
was therefore avoided. as
At the time James Wilson aud his'l lit
tie band left the deserted store house in
) the village Of Newark, dusk had given
f place to the dark shades Of night The
! moon was shining brightly in the clouds
! and every object was perfectly distinguish
able. The boys walked forward, main
teining solemn silence. AT length they
gained the bank of the creek, and slowly
following the wipdings of the path soon
came in sight Of the object Of their des
tination. AS they came to little log
bridge which crossed little shallow riv.
ulet leading into the White Clay Greek
james wilson ordered them to halt.
"Lst Frank Howard and myself recon
noitre the premises first, to see whether
any danger may be apprchended. All
the rest stand here until we return. Max,
no noise, and keep a constant watch"
James and Frank silently departed, and
were soon lost to the eye in the woods
through which the path ran. Scarce had
they gone from view Of their companions
when the quick ear Of Wilson detected I
noise.
"Hist," said he to Prank, as he pulled
him behind gigantic beech tree. The
noise soon reviewed into q human football
and in another moment George Living
stop, the Tory's son, stood opposite The
tree, Wilson darted from his cover and
tightly griped the boy by the neck. The
: cowardly youth trembled like reed.
"Speaks one word,' said his captor
etand Til toss you into the creek y
The Tory's son was struck dumb with
fright, and before DO could recover from