Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-10-15
3fiscellanp.
A Soldiers Story.
OR JOURNAL OF SOLDIER DURING
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
LcogoLUsIoH.l
CHAPTER VII.
A Soldiers Story.


[coNoLUsIoN.l
CHAPTER VII.
When CORVALLIS left Yorktown to
come out after us, his invalids and some
of his troops were left, the latter to for
tify the town and make it strong against
his return. He ordered them to cut a
trench back of the town across to the
river again, for the town lay in point
of land in the form Of an OK bow. This
trench was built in such way as to
make good breastwork or fortifcation
to keep us from the town. When he
came back he marched his army into
town for the purpose of resting from his
labors. his works followed him, and
he found there was no peace to the wick
ed, for to his great sorrow and our joy,
in few wdays there came on to the ground
the hero, Gen. Washington, and all his
army.
1t must have been doleful sight to
WALL" for as soon as we were ready
the French began to land their troops
from the fleet.
When this was done, we hoisted very
high Liberty pole at the right of our
army on the bank of the river. 1t was
no sooner up, than the British all turned
their guns towards it to cut it down
but Liberty must not fall while Wash
ington was at the helm. The firing con-
tinued all day till roll call at night,
when the orders were read for the NOR
row." At nine o'clock ,oe qViU open up
on the toaon"
In the morning there were two flag;
hoisted, American and French, the latter
little below the American.
The orders were, that soon as the Am.
erican flag struck the ball at the top OF
the pole, every gunner was to stand with
his match ready and touch off his piece
They were to aim at large brick house
which stood on a rise of land, in plain
view of us. 1t was supposed that Corn
wallis had taken up his residence in it
Every man fired at the moment. TIC
our great joy, near night, we saw the
roof of this house come to the ground.
For nine days and nights there was nc
cessation of firing, but one continual
roar. CORVALLIS built himself place
Of refuge under the bank Of the river
with some timber that lay on the bank
After day or two our officers began
to dislike two redoubts which the British
had built within about one fourth of a
mile from our entrenchments. Wash
ington was determined to take possession
of them.
He said to Lafayette, :" l wish you to
take the right one with your infantry
your men fear nothing, and l wish you
to take it by storm without firing a gun. .
| will do the best to obey your or
ders, said Lafayette. In the afternoon
we all paraded to see if our bayonets
were on strong and tight. When the
sun was about one hour high, we drew
one gill of New England rum apiece,
and at sunset or roll call, the order was
given to our brigade to storm the re-
doubt. If any man fired gun he was
to be put to death.
We were to stack our arms and be
ready in silence when called for. When
we were dismissed there was handed to
each man one fourth of a sheet of white
paper. This was to be made fast to the
top of the cap so as to distinguish our
men from the British.
Just as it began to be dark our allow
ance of rum was renewed, and we were
marched off in silence.
Our orders were when the British sen.
try fired upon us to-the word march, y
march," This we all understood meant
to step quick. When the picket guard
fired we were to run right ahead, every
man halloe as loud as he could, and
scream so as to make as frightful noise
as possible, and then rush right into the
redoubt and stop for nothing; for we
were determined to die, or have it.
So when the picket guard fred we
all obeyed orders, yelling and running
with all possible speed till we came into
the trench. When we rushed down among
them and over the breast work, it was
one continual fame of fire, but we soon
stopped their fire with our bayonets, and
it was not long before they cried guar.
ter"
We took about eight hundred prison.
ers and several pieces of artillery. La.
fayette ordered three men to load three