Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-12
Romance of American History.

Romance of American History.
There are few adventures more curious
than those of Major Robert Stobo, native
of Glasgow, Scotland, who emigrated to
Virginia il 1747. He soon became a
and when the troubles with the French be-
gan, he was the first to receive a captains
commission in the Virginia regiment.
When Major Washington halted at
Great Meadows to await the French Stobo
acted as engineer, and threw up the en-
trenchments- But Washington was over
powered, and capitulated to De Villiers.
Stobo and Van Braam were given up as
hostage tor the fulfllment of the terms Of
capituation, and they were conveyed to
Fort DuQuesne, the French post, where
Plttsburg now stands. Here he studied
the French works, drew up plan of the
fort, and transmitted it, with details, to
Virginia, by the hands of two Indians.
His letters and plans were in Brad
docks hands when he was so disastrousy
defeated by Beaujeu, the banks of the
Monongaheia. Stobo's conduct was then
revealed to the French, and he was COM
mltted close prisoner at Quebec, and sub
iected to the harshest treatment, as to him
was ascribed all their mlschances on the
Ohio.
The next year, however, he managed to
escape but as a reward Of six thousand
Iiyres was offered for him, dead or alive,
the woods swarmed with the feet and dar-
ing Canadian coureurs deS boiS, familiar
with every path and trail. Stobo was
soon recaptured. and confined in dark
dungeon, with nothing but bag of straw
for his furniture Here he was kept on
bread and water till November %, when
he was tried before court martial, and
condemned to be hung The French King,
however, did not approve the sentence.
| He was then removed to better quarters,
but carefully guarded, two sentinels being
constantly at his door. Iu spite of this
he resolved to escape again.
His window was firmly barred with iron,
so he determined to cut away the stone,
and effect an opening. He had 10 imple
ment but his table-knife, and he had no
provisions for his journey. He, however
dried bread and corn on the stove, and
worked away with MS knife till he had cut
the stone from two Of the bars, filling up
the hole with bread, rubbing it over with
the dust. During violent storm, on the
30th of April, he escaped, reached far
mer's outhouse, and crossing the St.
Charles, made his way to the Falls of
Montmorency, looking out for boat to
cross the river Here be was again dis
covered, and dragged back to his dun
geon.
But ether prisoners were low crowding
the place. With two of these-Lieuten.
ant Stevenson, of Rogers Rangers, and
Clark, Sco;chship carpenter-he again
planned an escape, and was aided by a
young Canadian girl, who had become
greatly attached to him. She supplied
him with Canadian habitant's dress, and
attired in this over his own clothes, be
escaped at midnight, and reached a mill
which was the appointed rendezvous. Al
met, including Clark's wife and children
and two provinclals.
This time he found birch canoe, and
although unused to the ticklish kind o
vessel, started boldly out in the dark
ness, and reached the woods on the south
ern shore Here they lay hid, and sool
saw the morning bring its excitement anC
parties in hot pursuit At night, the,
launched their canoe, and padding witt
the current, made all the progress the.
could. till the gray dawn warned them t.
take to the woods again. This they KEEP
: up fer ten days, till their canoe was near
ly sinking from injuries it had received.
They were then met by two Indians
, whom they overpowered, and thus sec ure
!, a store of provisions. Soon after, descry
= ing good French sloop, they attacked it
l and compelled it to surrender. Takin
possession, they sailed down till they fel
in with French frigate, which the
; eluded with great difficulty.
. They next ran on a rock, and had
j lay up for repairs. Fortunately the shl
t carpenter succeeded in getting her afos
: again, Keeping on, they surprised
y French schooner. In this, which was we
e armed and provisioned, they kept on, an
e at last, Just thirty-elght days alter leavin
u Quebec, ended the welcome ports of Lo1
t isburg with their prize.
/ No one could believe the commando
% was the long detained Major Stobo, b'
e were soon convinced He offered his Sc
E. vices to Wolfe, and accompanied him
r Quebec. After the capture of that cit
=, he took vessel for Boston, but fell in
a. n the hands of French privateer, WI
to without recognizing him, put him al
he others in boat, near Halifax, to ii
he their way to an English port as tn
rs rs might.
en- He arrived at Halifax safely, made
nd nd way to Virginia, and on his return voya
nv to England, was again taken; but t
ng privateer this time put them to ranso
ng He subsequently returned to Americ
ne but of his last years nothing is known.
lin