The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-12-31
INisGell ME u VI 3.
RecOIlecfiOns or the OIaem Time.
First Series---N 2.

10 he Editors o'tte 4Bgis d atclIgenccr
MEssRs. EDITORS: In my last letter, in
what might have seemed indelicate haste
to speak Of myself and my juvenile obser-
vations and enjoyments, failed to refer to
as many of the men of the Olden times as
was my purpose and desire. Hence | hes
itatingly ask you to allow me another letter
and perhaps another still. Isay "hesitating-
ly," not that you have not already shown
more courtesy and forbearance than had
a right to expect, or my unpretending re-
Elections merited, but because | feel that
your space could be much more profitably
occupied and your readers much more
agreeably entertained.
1t is my purpose, with your permission,
to go little farther back in this letter
indeed to my earliest recollection-to the
period near the close of, and Immediately
succeeding the war of1S12-in other words
to the time Of the burning of Havre dc
Grace by Admiral Cockburn. was a
small child then-not big enough for
"breeches with pockets in 'em"-but my
recollections are quite vivid of some of the
men and incidents of the time-more per-
haps from hearing than from sight.
You have doubtless read-for history
has recorded-the heroism of John O'Neil
and his daughter Jennie on that fearful and
| trying occasion. | cannot say that | was
an eyewitness, but l was there, saw the
contlagration, and often heard variations
of the incidents, both from Mr.. O'Neil, and
Others who participated in the events of
that dark and gloomy hour. Mr. O'Neil,
like Others of his day and nation, Che was
an lrishman) thought he could fight fleet
or surround an army, loaded his fire lock
and repaired to the old red warehouse on
the shore OF the river, Immediately in
rear ofthe bank, and but short distance
above the point where the railroad came to
the river in 1851, the last time | passed
through that part of the world. As the
barges from the fleet approached the shore
laden down with Britian's veterans, Mr..
O'Neil fired upon them as rapidly as he
could load his daughter Jennie, then lit
tie girl, standing by INSIDE. He thus con-
tinued until the soldiers actually sprang
upon the shore, wrenched the gun from his
grasp and captured him. A British officer
was heard to remark at the time that they
would have killed him upon the spot, but
for the pleasure it would afford them to
hang him, as he was claimed as a subject
OF George the Third, and therefore trail
tor.-He was taken to the fleet off the
mouth Of the river, tried, condemned to be
run up to the yard arm, and preparations
were actually making to execute him, when
a small boat was seen approaching the fleet
from the shore, with white flag floating
on the morning breeze. The boat CON
A hron Tor Ifat Of
Jarrett0 and the wife, or some of the fami-
the mission at the risk of his own life or
liberty, but by his address and courage he
succeeded in procuring the release of the
gallant old man, though not without a
great deal of difficulty, who was again re-
stored to his family. Mr.. O'Neil was a
nallor, and many time in after years have
| stood by his forge as he worked and
smoked his pipe, and heard him relate his
feelings and purposes, as he stood alone and
confronted the British Lion. Jennie grew
up to be handsome woman, and yet lives
trust, to relate the adventures of gallant
grandfather to house full ofjewels.
l relate this incident, not because it
may be new or interesting to your elder
readers, but because the "History of the
Late War;" in which it is recorded, may be
out of print, and the circumstances may
not be familiar to your younger readers. l
shall never forget them. 1t occurred in
the early morning, and the rays of the
rising sun were dancing upon the surface
OF the broad and tranquil waters as that
dark fleet of barges rode upon their bosom
and brought dismay and destruction to the
peaceable and quiet inhabitants. Most of
the citizens-many of them as they sprang
from bed--tied to the woods and coverts,
and from thence watched the volume of
flame as it wrapped and dashed their dwell
lings, and left them village of shoulder