Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-02-29
LIEUTENANT WOOD.

Slcs.
LIEUTENANT WOOD.
Among the many who focked to support
the newly raised standard of American
liberty was John Wood, brave, active, in
telligcnt Pennsylvania. He had volunteer
ed his services to General Washington and
received an appointment in chosen body of
! "hght-horse scouts" whose business was to
keep the Commander well apprised of the
movements of the British outside OF Phila-
delphia.
| One time when Jack" (as he was fami-
! liarly called 10y the troop and two or three
| of his comrades were on II scout" near West
| Philadelphia, they met n small detachment
of British to avoid an encounter the Amcri-
cans fled into .road--which led to ano-
ther way leading from the city-closely
followed by the enemy. Before they reach
ed the end of the road. "A troop of Hessiau
horsemen approached in front at gallop.
The scouts, short distance from an angle
of the road, halted, held briefconsultation
drew their pistols, waited in silence until
the Hessians turned the corner, and then
gave them volley which dropped u couple
of horses those behind could not be checked
in time to prevent being piled over the
bodies of the fallen steeds The result was
a complete formation of a barrier of men
and horses, breast high, across the road.
Jack" and his party, as soon as they saw
the effect Of their shots, leaped the fence on
their left and disappeared in the neighborine Q
woods, leaving the pursuing party of British
to condole with their wounded and bruised
comrades.
after several remarkable escapes from the
enemy, Wood was eventually killed by q
portion of the same division of Hessians
whom he had so roughly handled as above
mentioned. The lieutenant, in one of his
rambles became acquainted with and wooed
a young woman residing in West Pbiladel
phia. When expecting customary visit
. she informed the British of it; they, on the
day appointed, despatched body of "Ia
, gers'-Hessian rlemen--to house located
by his road. The "Yagers" entered the
dwelling, drove the family into back room
placed guard over them, and watched fo
! some one. Presently our lieutenant made
his appearance, riding slowly along, unsus
pecting danger, and when opposite, rifle
man fired through the crack OF the door a
it stood ajar, and shot him in the back
: Wood Immediately wheeled and gallopeC
l back with speed nearly two miles, where ht
met countryman coming to market. Th'
farmer, seeing he was wounded, and th'
= blood running down both sides of his sad
: die, told him so-"Ride on-ride for life !!
and then urged his own nag down the roaC
to NEE: the pursuing Hessians. AS soon a
A he came in sight of them, he waved his ha
: and shouted Turn back For Gods sake
!. turn back There is whole troop of rebel
D tearing down upon you!" The "greeE coats
t needed no more. They instantly turned ant
fled, leaving the countryman far in the rear
Poor Jack" rode half mile further, whe
r. he dropped from his steed and was carried
! into house near by, where be bled profusel
: through two beds, till it coagulated on th
floor, and shortly expired.
THE FLOATING BRIDGE.
e At the time that Washington and his al
;, my lay in winter quarters ut Valley Forg'
II the Schuylkil, at Market ST., Philadelphia
d was crossed upon FLOATING" or "moored
Q bridge, generally secured by stout hawsei
e to each shore. This was one of the prime
pal exits for foraging parties OF the Englis
n from the city. No crowded town then OF
o cupied the western side all, except III
Il nucleus of village or two, was thini.
d settled farming country, the road ct an
l. from the bridge being lined on either sic
d by thickets of bushes and briaFs, with O
casionally lonely dwelling.
It While the American main body was II
is active, smaller Getaohments of picked me
having o better knowledge of the regio
,r than their enemy, ventured on and eyG
10 within their lines. A "Major" Jessup cor
60 manded company Of twenty men, selecte
n. for their agility and feetness of foot. Thes
30 known as "Jessup's Scouts" acted as ind
pendent rangers, cutting of or driving
TX weaker parties of British. One dry, fros
ey night, having "got wind' of an intend'
ID movement of the English. they marched fro
be Valley Forge to Market street, severed g
n fastenings oil the bridge, but just sntilc'e