The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-12-18

and Moncll's Corner.
Not far from the latter point there was
notorious rumshop, kept by Il man named
Peigler, and within a short distance of it
lived his six brothers and about a dozen
others all of them bitter Tories and bad
characters. The neighborhood was known
as ''Scuftietown,' from the frequent fights
which took place about Dave Peigler's
grogoery, and was a terror to the country
around. The seven brothers especially
were regarded as desperate men and pro
tossed horse and thieves. Every
Sunday they would gather at Dawes shop,
aud spend the day and most of the nigh:
in drinking, fighting, horso-raciug, dog
batting and other similar amusements.-
(. During the period of general demoraliza-
ton when the British held Charleston aud
had oyefruu Che State, the partisan leaders
were compelled to retreat to the swamrs
and virtually disbaud their commands
The officers ard men would leave the rem
dezvous whenever the country was quiet,
and return s,ealthily TO ther homes their
faithful negroes would appvise sthcm Of
the approach of danger, and they would
retreat to sGamPs il haste, either TO lie
concealed for a time OF 10 organize some
sharp and sudden blow 1T the !u%rouding
parties. The PeigIefs we're very trouble
some and dangerous to the gentlemen of
the neighbolhood during these ciandestine
visi' S to their plantation homes, acting as
! spies and informeIs and sometimes form
iag parties for their cap5nfe. Dave, tue
! tavern keeper. was particularly active IN
! these attempts. lie had oien a great
/ number of horses, and was suspected oi
/ several MURDERS, though these could never
be positively proved against him. Ny
father and his friend and neisLbor, Cap
tain Theus, had been frequently subjected
to his pIundeying attentions, and he had
loudly threatened to have the Later caught
and hung on account Of some faucicd in
I jury. 1t happened some time n 1|i6 that
a pal ty of foIagers brought news 10 Ma
! liOn's camp on the Santee that body Of
British horse was moving through the
! country, aud Captain Theus and my faith
! er were detailed to command a scouting
expedition to hang upon the enemy flank
ard watch his movements. The captains
plantation lay in their way, ard upon Wis
ting it they found that Dave pciglcr and
lis brother Dan had made raid on it but
a few hours before, and driven of several
horses and head of boci-catile, boasting
that they had frightened the rebels out Of
the country, and promised to return in a
few days and burn the house and settle
ment The men had been left in thick
piece Of woods about q mile OFF, and the
two gentlemen, having secured their horses
behind thc garden and placed " t:usiy ne
pro 70 watch The approaches, We're just
about to sit down to dinner wten their
lookout came rushing iii with the intelli-
genco that peigioc was gallGp'ng up the
avenue alone. They had scaI cely time to
ran to the window and prime their pistols
before the Tory was at the horse rack,
mounted on a fine bloody stallion which
had been stolen from my fathers place six
months before. The fci low evidently be
lieved himself master Of the situation, and
had 10 idea of any enemy being near, for
he was cursing aud swearing that hc left
cue of his pistols in the dining-room /;
that if Ec failed TO find it lie would cut the
throat OF every negro on the pace ana
shat, a''yhow' he meant to pay himsel' 'os
Tie trouble oi returning oy 'SN!Og any
hing valuable he could ma ana oul''ns
the cllsod rebels nest ut once. 1t would
have been easy 10 shoot lin as lie stood
fastening his horse, aud my father had
raised his pistol TO "NeJ ihe nlP"!se' o"I
Gheus caught his hand' ana win c'enI'eu
teeth and ie&tateS CAIN Win oe.e!ih,ne'i u !
l'ge DIRE" ms sword "h" S,efpeu oN','''
the hall open PIAZZA "oof, Dave was 'i'e
most powerful ol the bfojHeiS' ana Iie
smallest OF the seven STOOD SIX ieoI TWO
and weighed one huadred and e'Shty
younoS' h"' Do'h tno "'ii0clS "S'e S''',
wart men, an" cons l'c"oEs Io' 'i'e,' '00,
courage. pave seen my '.''"ei i'' D'S "'u