Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-09-12

had been shown all the defences of the
place, and Pierce had noted with keen
eyes the small garrison, and showing
the credentials given him by Col. War
ner, gained all the. knowledge of the
place he desired, and after having lull-
ed the Captain into security, by tell
ing him that there was no enemy in
the, country, and that Burgoyne was
still at Montreal, and that large sup
ply of stores were coming up the lake
in charge of Ethan Allen; the Cap
tain made him bearer of dispatches to
Gen. Schuyler at Fort Edward, and
he departed ostensibly on that mission,
but in reality to inform Frazer of the
almost defenceless condition of Skeenes-
borough. t,.o ....,,
At Fairhavep, Pierce meeting with
'sRed Deer" a Chief of the Mohawks,
a band of Tories under one Reming-
ton, he reconsidered his motion, as the
politicians say, and unfolded to them
his plan for the sacking of Skeenes-
borough. For his share in the spoils
all he asked was what he should take
from the bodies of those whom he
should slay with his own hand, and that
the girl Lucy Morgan should be given
him as his prisoner. This was quickly
agreed to, and thus, as we have seen,
he led on the attack. .Iis.5T %
During the dialogue just mentioned
the boats had all huddled together, as
if their occupants were deciding upon
the method of attack, they being
about forty rods from the island
| Soon the word to be in readiness was
passed from man to man, and turning
to Tom, he said: "Now send your
regards to Pierce, fire. y H uJ
Upon the instant, the east side Of
the block house belched forth one
broad sheet of flame, as the six pround-
ers, which had been loaded with mus
ket balls, and one hundred and fifty
muskets and rifles sent their messages
of death over the waters of the har-
Dor. The discharge had taken them
completely by surprise, and hideous
yells and shrieks arose from the crowd
ed feet, which told the crowded garri-
son that their fire had been well di-
rected. fJ
There, cuss yem cried one of the
gunners, aye red devils and black
hearted crabs, ye can now go to Tophet
dancing to your own music. ] kinder
reckon old Vermont did yer business
for ye that time" M .,.
Those sturdy patriots needed no or,
der to reload, but sprang to do it as
soon as possible, and almost before the
smoke had cleared away they were
/ again in readiness. a'r ,.If,n I5 fns
-"Cuss ye, gritted Perkins through
his clenched teeth, shaking his rife,
"that's the second time ye've sarved
me scrubby trick, when I've had ye
pinted at Jim Pierce"
The scouts rife had missed fire,
and having reprimed it, after carefully
pricking the vent, he looked to see the
extent of the damage done to the enc
my. b l,bnr &aa'S mpfi liiEv
Nearly one half of their boats had
been destroyed, and those who were
left, were making their way to the
shore, scattering themselves as much
as possible, while Pierce was nowhere
to be seen. '-s5i'. af
Captain Stuart then ordered his
men at the .canons to aim at the four
boats nearest the shore, and that every
rifeman should endeavor to pick
his man, and the order to fire was
given. isHd u hro1 9di 30 .orei
The matches were applied and trig-
gers touched, and away sped the bul.
lets to administer their lesson of eterni-
ty. The result, on account of the
boats being so widely scattered, was
not SO disastrous to the enemy as the
first, yet their loss was alarming, and
the survivors redoubled their efforts TO
reach the shore. e4e 9si'
"Lord, see 'em claw Go il, We red
devils, helrs ahead Y said a settler, as
he rammcd home bullett, and pro.
cecded to prime his piece. Fl guess
ye'll remember this little surprise par.
ty as long as ye wear ha'r." 'um j
BY this time the party was at the
shore, and were hastily debarking. -
They had. scarcely landed when they
received the third discharge from the
fort, and the ambush on shore poured
in their deadly fire, which completely
demoralized the remaining force, and
they fed in all directions, having los,
four-ffths of their force. hs4fo
II wonder where that rapscallion,
Jim Pierce, can e?'' said the, scout,
turning TO the Captain. II don't think