Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-19
The ola windmill.
~ HosER WHITE,

OF the 81 LaWrtnCe, sLhuus Tue uIu atouo
windmill, noted as the spot where the
rebels OF 81 made a stand and held out
for several days against the force brought
n dislodse thom. Much OF historic in.
L "est hovtrS sround its dilapldated
W. g besides q considerable cluster OF
Inc \ hnts, where the hali.tamed chill
dreu u the l3Fest engage In the manu-
iactr9 OF articles of bead-work which
they spOss OF for fire water and other
necessaries OF civilized life. The old
mill is fast going to decay, while no
hand is stretched out TO avert its des-
tructioD, snd ic few years it will have
passed away from sight and perhaps
from memory. With the exception of
massive cross beams which have been
left for the chickens TO roost upon, it is
completely Quilted. Its ground floor
has been used as sheep pen, and It's
shining dome, which, upon q clear day,
may be seen sparkling in the sun st a
great distance, has been partially torn
away. Its thick walls show many in
dentations where the stones have been
removed either by artillery practise at
the time o. its seige, or by the equally
destructive hand of Time. A little tav.
ern faces - from the other side of the
road, and few struggling houses, scat
tered along upon either hand, stand like
so many travelling thinkers at a cross
road, as II uncertain which way 1t were
best to 80. They do not move in either
direction however, but stand in SLOUGH
in attitude, gaping at the gloomy old
Windmill as Il towers aloft, or 81 the
blue waters OF the st. Lawrence, which
almost wash its base. But the old
windmill has story connected with it
"a bit o. romance woven in with and
lighting up its sterner history, and it
is this which we have set out TO tell.
The leader Of the party Of rebels who
converted the windmill into fort and
made there what every one must allow
to have been 4 gallant defense, was Col.
Won Schultz, 3 German American, in
whose defense, afterwards, Sir j. A.
Macdonald won his first laurels as an
advocate 81 the bar With Col. Won
Schultz were associated several brave,
but misguided young men, and among
them Capt. Heustis. He WAS young,
highly cultured, gentlemanly and ex-
tremely chivalric, and the only son Of
one o. the wealthiest and most respects
Die lamiliea az Boston. His untamed en-
thusiasm in the cause of liberty, his love
OF adventure and OF daring deeds, led
him upon the thankles5 task OF freeing
Canada from England, when the Cana
dian people, then, as now, did rot desire
q separation from the mother country,
out only modification Of their form OF
Frn ha uferAnl -
wild and hopeless expedition he was
betrothed TO one of the fairest daughters
OF his native city; and to her alone he
confted the reason of his departure, the
high object he had in view and the point
Of his destination. With an enthusiasm
in the cause equal to his own, she babe
him go; and after such a parting as
lovers usually enjoy, he was soon upon
his way 20 Ogdensburgh.
The rendezvous Of the volunteer revO-
lutioDsts, the party OF action" of that
time, was upon an island in the st. Law
renee, 8 few miles up the river, where
they organized their expedition and
waited for reinfOrcements and supplies,
which they very much needed before at
tempting the capture Of the town Of
Prescott, and from that point entering
upon the conquest OF Canada. Many
delays and disappointments were expe-
rieneed. The Canadians did not enter
into the affair with the spirit that was
expected OF them. The United States
Government was hostile to the move
ment, and 'he utmost secrecy and eau
ton had 20 D. observed to guard against
surprise or interruption from either
shore, and me consequent failure OF the
expedition. Recruits came in slowly
and their friends in Canada failed to full
all their promises of aid and assistance
while the government was particularly
vigilant and alert. While Won Schultz
was remaining thus inactive and in dis
tresslng perplexity, there landed upon
the rebe. island, one evening, q youth
who had come off from the American
shore in & small boat. He was slight
and delicate in appearance, and seemed
hardly fitted 10 encounter dangers and
hardships, but there was an air OF deter
minati0n about him, and as he was well
armed and anxious to make one OF the
company, his services were accepted.
He gave,his name as Ross Coe, and his
youth and good looks Joined to his lively
and oblging disposition, soon made him
a general fsvorite with the men. He at
tached himself particularly to Capt.
Heustis, and was regarded with feelings
Of more than ordinary good will by that
officer.
At last Col. Won Schultz determined
that farther delay was useless as well as
dangerous, and with rash courage be
made up his mind to remain still no
longer, but to strike at once upon Cana
dian soil. With bis small and int fficient
force, and probably relying upon native
reinforcements as soon as his standard
was raised, he left the island and moved
TO the attack on Prescott. The history
of that movement, as well as its unsuc,
cessful result is well known, and it Is
not our purpose to repeat II. The invs.
ders were not welcomed with that joy
and delight which they expected. They
came as deliverers, but were received as
enemies. They were obliged to abandon
offensive operations, and enter upon de-
{ensive measures, and for this purpose
they retired to the old windmill, and
there for q while they babe defiance to