Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-06-02
TIE HOURS SIEGE.
A SKETCH OF THE REvoLuTto

uuJ InOugn Jne river was In 'front.' OF us,
and the forest stretched for miles behind
us, and away to the right and left, could
not catch even the sigh of leaf or the
ripple of the water, so sultry and heavy
brooded the darkness around us.
had not been in the best of spirits that
day, for it was the time when we dreaded
every hour to hear of the bombardment of
New York; and though in the house of
Thomas Oakley, a brother of my father
l had nothing to fear, there hung over me
Zach terror and dread of that day that
l could not help fearing lest some evil had
happened to my parents, who were still in
the city.
AS usual with the sleepless, all sorts of
fancies teased my brain. My room, like
all the Others was large, and furnished in
the style that seems so quaint to people OF
the present day.
The chimney-piec was tiled with Dor
celain, curiously wrought into illustrations
OF scripture. The d and furniture, that
had all been brought from England, was
tall, dark, stiff aud carved, while the
walls were hung with sombre family por-
traits And as | lay and wished for day
the tiled figures seemed to move and glow
er at me In the uncertain light that came
through loop-hOle in my window, while
thought the eyes of the portraits were,
one aud all, fixed on me with a solemn,
warning stare; and so it happened that
heard the old clock strike one, two three,
and was just falling off into a doze, when
there came light step along the hall, and
cousin Grace called in strange, scared
voice, outside the door: "Helen, Hell.
enl"
was up in a moment and out to where
she stood, looking like spirit, with her
ashy face, and fair hair falling about her /;
and remember the thrill of astonishment
with which, spite of my fright, saw that
she was already dressed, and held in her
hand q powder flask.
Put ON your clothes as quick as you
70 can, Nellie" she said, in a voice that trem-
bled little, though she was doing her
best to be calm. "Brant's men are COM
ing and father wants US all down stairs"
Brant's menl 1t is difficult TO make you
understand the horror with which that
name was pronounced and heard; or to
express the terror with which, as hurried
on my clothes, thought of Grace and my
self in the power of those merciless saw
ages. No wonder that she trembled in
every limb, or that Thomas Oakley and
his five stalwart sons, men not easily
daunted, looked pale, as they moved about
In the dim morning light.
Idon't know as | have spoken to you
before of Thomas Oakley, a man over six
feet ins height, and of noble presence.
with grand face, that looked as if it might
have been chiseled out of marble, and hair
as white as snow, although he was scarcely
past his prime. We have no such men
now a-days. have his portrait In my lit
tie cabinet yonder, and you may see that
he looks as he was, kind and noble gen
tlemap.
AS for his sons, they were like him
tall, strong -limbed, fearless and devoutly
attached to their stately mother, who was
preparing breakfast, while they fastened
the iron shutters of the lower windows,
and barred the heavy doors.
It's a shame to rout you out so early,
Nellie" said Mr. Oakley, as he noticed my
pale, frightened face; but if we don't eat
our breakfast now those rascals may not
give us a cha ace to eat it at all and to my
mind, after good cause, there's nothing
like a good breakfast before going into a
fight"
Il wish Mark was here" said Grace,
timidly.
mo doubt, Pussy; but I've sent for
him. You Yost, the half witted lad that
brought the news, has gone on after him
and the volunteers, who were TO start tor
the camp to-day; and ii we can but keep
the rascals at bay till they come, we may
give them as good peppering as they de-
serve"
Ay, if! but oh, that dreadful uncertain
ty. The house was of stone, and so
strongly built, that it was doubtful if they
could either raze or fire it. But who knew
what else might happen? How many OF
that iair family would gather around the
board tomorrow morning2 All! it was a
dreadful day but think the hour before
the attack was the worst of all.
II was not to be expected that we could
eat much breakfast; but hurried as the
meal was, 1t was hard y over when one OF
the boys whom my uncle had posted al
the look out, called out that they were
coming, and stealing along the woods at
the right, as it they hoped to surprise us.
AT once the men hurried with their riff
To the windows Of the second story while
Mrs. Oakley, pale, but still outwardly
calm, mDtioned us to follow, and hand out
the powder.
Then came dead silence.
"Look out, Simeon" said the father, in
low voice, land tell us what the Iascals
are about"
",Posting themselves around the house
but under cover. They think to catch us
mapping. There's man coming this way
now-he-why, father, it is Walter Van
Culyerl'
We all started. The meaning of this
sudden attack was clear enough now.
Van Culyer had been professional
patriot and a warm admirer of Grace and
on his rejection by her, had gone away
vowing to take terrible revenge ON the
whole family.
"The traitor" muttered my uncle; !" 1t il
he, then, that has brought down this
swarm of hornets. What is he doing
now"
"He has been trying the windows to SEE
if they are fastened. Now he is at the
door"
The words of Simeon were at timel
drowned in series Of laundering knock
at the door.
Mr. Oakley went to Simeon's window
and demanded:
Who is there"
Waiter Van Culyer."
What do you want J"
"Food, rest and shelter. Brant's mel
are on my track. Let me in quickly"
The sharp crack of a rifle and the word
liar and hypocrite we're his answer. !
fierce yell arose from behind the haystack
and outbuildings, as twenty dark form
rushed forward, brandishing their weapon
and firing at random, while as many NOR
lowered on the outskirts ofthe wood.
Within the house was perfect silence
broken only by the low "now boys" c
Mr.. Oakley and the crack OF six of tn
best rifles In the country.
ask downi A man for each bulle
Goodl" said the exulting voice Of m
uncle, "The powder, girls, and Wen Civ
'em another"
A shower of bullets, that ratified lik
hail,tones about the windows, cut sh d
Il h.N- II. l.nI
ms, ms ToIu s, SaressIv S on tbs 0fe% oor and So y
marked:
THE serpents are kinder than antic
pated. They are going to keep us In bu
lets as we'll as exercise. So much the be