The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1867-09-11
THE MIDNIGHr ATTACK.
by franklin Wilcox.

i'''' 'N'0
Carolina.
There was something commanding
and impressive in his appearance. In
height he was nearly six feet; his eye,
heavily shaded with dark lashes, was
dark ,;.and piercing, his hair was of a
sandy hue a beard covered the lower
part of his face shade darker than
his hair; his form was we'll built, de-
noting strength and agility. He was
clad in suit of homespun gray, with
Il light cloak thrown carelessly over
his shoulders concealing the weapons
beneath it. At that period it was UNI
safe to travel unarmcd. 1t was soon
after the fall of Charleston, and row
ing bands ofiubilant tories ranged the
country lying principally between the
Santec and the Savannah, plundering
and insulting, with malicious hate,
the families of those known to be
wings. Murders were of frequent oc-
cnrrence, and scarcely Il night passed
but what witnessed an illumination OF
the sky, and the next morning pile OF
ruins marked the place where stood Il
patriots home. NJ len who loved their
country better than their lives, fled to
the swamps and organized themselves
into small squads, to escape the pcrse-
cution that followed British rule in
the Caroinas-a persecution rescmb-
ling that of the IIuguenots. Those
were the days when mems patriotism
was put to Il severe test. Moultrlc
and others were prisoners, but Sumter,
Marion, Pickcns, and other brave par
tisans, kept the British alive to the
fact that they, at least, were not sub
ducd and from time TO time, by thcil
brilliant exploits, told America that
they were still battling bravcly for the
"rlincd cause"-to use the British eX-
preston. Noble men! Long will they
live in the memory of their country
men; while history, ever ready tc
award praise, will chronicle theil
deeds, and hand down to postcrity the
names of these brave champions oI
American Independence.
Thcstrangcr,aft ,aftercrossing the Santce
rode a mile along its banks, and came
to road running at right angles with
the river. lie turned his horses head
and gallopod along the road. Mile
after mile he rode, and just as the sur
was expiring in the west, he turned
into wood, through which the roac
evidently had been cut to admit the
passage Of troops. He rode slowly J
through this road and dismounted oI
the edge Of u large swamp. Taking
silver whistle, richly ornamented, from
his bosom he blew it distinctly. 1T
echos had hardly broken the solemn
stiffness of the forest when a man ap
pearcd on the scene and thus grcctet
the other:
"Well, captain, your success?'
The one addressed as "captain,'
after glance around replicd,-
GAS well as could be expected
Wearrey. l not only found out the
+number, equipments, &C., of that in
fcrnal band oftories, but learned they
were to meet tonight at the Old Farm
House, back of Massasoit Creek. They
shall not escape my vengeance now
he muttercd, as to himself "M,
poor father calls on me to avenge hi
cruel murder, and this night shall SCI
them destroyed or me corpse! How
are the boys, Weary, since | have
been gomez"
! "All right" responded the other,
with the exception Of CollGns. Ill
left the camp to visit his family, ant
this morning his dead body was foun'
near Knox's Hill"
oils death shall not be unreveng
ed," said he, with an oath. "But tax
the horse, | will follow"
The path, which looked much used
led over marshy tract. Here AM
there it was bridged by falling cypres
trees across in OTHER places they wer
obliged to wade through. They pass
ed through the swamp and descende
into kind of valley. In this vale
there stood few houses, made partl
of logs and partly brushwood. In an
around these cabins were men engage
in different occupations some wer
! polishing their rifles, and Others, il
small groups, talking of recent event,
; At the entrance of their leader all 50
luted and gathered around him to hca
the result of his movement. He ha
been on a scout to ascertain the where
abouts of the notorious Keane.