Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-01

settlers, who hatl remoxeSl the most
vallbble parts q their property to the
forts 81 81
= The armament was small, consist
ing of four old brass six-pOund field
pieces.
M OuJt. William Stuart, who WAS at
that time in command of Block House
Island, was informed by a scout and
hunter, whose name was Perkins, that
General Frazer, with one Thousand
! British trosps,4 had attacked Colonel
Warner at Hubbardton, and the colon
lists, after severe fight, became demon
allied and fled in all directions. He
also stated that five hundred Indians
and Tories we're coming by way Of East
Bay to Skeensboro, with a view to its
destruction. p r VI at Eas .s-
Scarcely had the commander gath
cred in the women and children OF the
ettlement and made his arrangements
to repel the attack, when night set in,
clear and cloudless. si
/ At about eleven o'clocA the enemy
were reported in sight. They were
coming from the direction Of East Bay,
and IN large number Oh canoes and
/ batteaux, while upon the land some of
4 the force was employed as scouts. The
whole force of the Americans was
about three hundred, one-half of whom
were on the island, and the rest am
pushed in the woods on the mountain
side, Just below Ke hosha-quan-
/ Falls. No sound, either at the fort or
on shore, indicated that the settlers
d. were aware of the approach OF the
enemy.
4 On came the fleet of boats silently
dipping their oars, hopeful of surpris-
4 ing the settlers and elated at the
thought of the easy victory and the
rich spoil that awaited them; for this
was depot of supplies for large ex-
tent of country. ,,ua
/ Our scout, Tom Perkins, was looking
through loophole in the fort, watch
the movements of the fleet, until, as
the enemy drew near, he turned to his
commander with flashing eye and
Kissing through his clenched teeth
+" l say, Captain Stuart, do you see
that boat ahead tharl" .,e
eyes, Tom" he replied. What Of
I it2'
This of it, said the scout; if
Jim Pierce amt in that boat, hang me
for consumed fabergasted Toryl'
/ Jim Pierce" said the Captain,
che is one of our friends, and | be-
lieve he has our good at heart, not.
withstanding his. rough nature. He
was here yesterday and dined with me.
| think You are mistaken" "9H.a
/ +" Dined with you, Captain, did hea
| Did YOU harbor that are skunkitferous
/ Torys Did We warm that rattlesnake
! that's now ready to bite yeg He's a
Tory spy--one of Burgoyne's most
valuable scouts. 4aE
I Il harbored Pierce, certainly" said
! the Captain ~ thought him a friend
to our cause; and he was recommended
to me as a faithful scout by my supe
rior, Colonel Warner"
! "Capting, said Tom, 81 don't swar,
cos Lucy Morgan axed me not to; but,
Jerewsalem wouldn't like to rip out
4 now2 'Twould dew me good. Has
| that darned skunk imposed on the
Kernel tew + must put an end to
your desait, Jim Pearce; for I've got the
pill in old Thnnderer's belly what was
casted for ye, ' patting his long rifle as
he spoke "Now say yer prayers, for
4 Tn going to sponge We out. "
/ AS he said this, he brought his rifle
to his shoulder, but the Captain laying
I his hand upon the scouts arm, said
! "Wait until give the order to com
mence the battle. then you may turn
7 your attention to Pierce
THAT'S allus the way said Perkins,
I when a Teller has, clear sight, and
! good shot, but kin watt
\ 1t is true that Pierce had dined with
| the Captain the day before, and had
been shown all the defences of the
place, and Pierce had noted with keen
I eyes the small garrison, and showing
\ the credentials given him 10y Col. War
ner, gained all the knowledge of the
\ place he desired, and, after having
! lulled the Captain into security, by
1 telling him that there was no enemy in
the country, and that Burgoyne was
still in Montreal, and that "a large sup
ply Of stores were coming mp the lake
in charge of Ethan Allen, the Captain
made him bearer of dispatches to Gen.
Schuyler, at Fort Edward, and he de-
parted ostensibly on that mission, but
in reality to inform Frazer of the al
most defenceless condition of Skeenes-
borough.
At Fairhaven, Pierce meeting with
Red Deer a Chief of the Mohawks,
a band of Tories under one Remington,
he reconsidered his motion, as the pol
iticians say, and unfold to them his
plan for the sacking of Skeensborough.
For his share in the spoils all he asked
was what he should take from the bod
les of those whom he should Stay with
his own hand, and that the girl Lucy
Morgan should be given him as his