Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-01
Far the Journal.
An INCIDENT OF THE REFOLU-
TION.

An old and venerable friend some years
since, related to us the following incident,
which took place in the Revolutionary war. If
memory serves right, we think it was the next
year after the Declaration of Independence.
in the summer of l7-7; it was time that
tried mems souls and womens also. as the
few words we have to relate will show. The
narrator lived in Concord, Mass, and was an
eye witness. Great surveillance was kept up
in regard to the use of tea, and emissaries
were constantly on the alert 10 detect and
prevent its use, as there was fine imposed ;
consequently when there was rap at the
door door bells were seldom used IN those
days. the first thing was to secrete the tea
pot; it was sometimes put into secluded
closet, sometimes into the cellar, but more
frequently into the ash-holc; in this way de-
lection was evaded and its use in many fami-
lies constantly kept up. Not that they sym
pathized with Great Britain in her tyranny to
keep up high duty upon the article, but did
not choose 20 torego the pleasure of its use, a
colonial law to the contrary, notwithstanding !;
wnen rap was Aedfu AT Tue uooi IL was olteh
a subject of debate who should go and open
it. As very few males, except those of great
age, remained at home, it more frequently
devolved upon the mother or mistress OF the
family. On one occasion an officer in full
costume rode up to the door of the house of
which the narrator an inmate, and de-
manded admittance for himself and staff,
some eight or ten persons. The lady of the
house was non lused and gave no direct
answer. She however asked his name, which
he refused to give. but assured her no harm
should be done to her or the house; he then
galloped away, saying he should be back by
sunset, il being then in the early part of the
afternoon. In few minutes after, another
officer came galloping up to the door and
requested lodgings for himself and staff for
the night; the lady said she could not accom-
modate him, as an officer had just been there
for the same purpose, and she had tacitly
! consented. He at once inquired the color OF
his uniform, how it was trimmed, &C., when
he said, 'that is Gen, Gage, British officer
! he shall not come near this house if | can
prevent it; my name is Ward | will now &c
and return in few minutes with my staff and
protect you and your house from all depre-
dations, whether from Old Gage or any Other
British emssary." Gage, however, got wine
| of it and did not make his appearance. Grea
CONSERVATION and alarm prevailed Throughout
the State, as Massachusetts was then thG
| principal seat Of the war, so that when guns
/ and ammunition passed and repassed, it wa;
uncertain to which party it belonged; it sc
happened that there passed the house one day
! at intervals of about an hour, a cannon, occu-
pying the whole day; near sunset very
large one came along stopping directly oppo-
site the house, when the teamster came to the
door asking for refreshments it was with
| great reluctance that he was admitted, as the
inmates were still under great fear; he, how
ever, assured them that he was their friend
and all those big guns they had seen pass tina
day belonged to the Americans, and were
going down to Boston to beat back the British
"Now, ladies'" said he ''stcp to the door an,
see the old sow, as you have this day seen hel
| nine pigs" for these ten guns are termed tn,
sow and nine pigs; the gun was one OF larg'
caliber, but not to compare with those now il
use. AN OLD CITIZEN.