Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-10-08

We sometimes obtained this by driving
the women away when milking, knock !
the COW down, cut her in pieces, and di- =
vide it round, one pound to man.
At night we had to lie on the ground,
with nothing but the canopy of heaven T
over us, save our blankets, and they
we're worn almost to strings. Our clothes
we're ragged, and we were as torlorn and :
filthy pack as was ever seen. We had 6
no shoes, at one time we had but seven
pair in all our company.
! In this situation we had to march all
summer, till some time in October. Some
nights we encamped in plain sight of the
enemy's fires, and we could see them at
work, cooking. Some times they would
drive us all night in hopes to entrap US.
AT one time, as we were on our retreat,
we came to a river, and being in great
hurry, for CORVALLIS was near us, we
had to cross instantly. Here we found
a large fat-boat, and it was fixed by
means of plank at the fore end, and
one at the hind end, and there was a
hole through each plank, a rope went
through the holes, and was made fast to
the shore. By taking hold of the rope
5 and pulling, it would carry the boat
: across the river. We were ordered into
= the boat and the officers kept crowding |
: the men in, till it was as full as it could |
be. Then as they showed the boat from
n the shore, it sunk with about one hun
d dred persons in it. 1t turned sideways
S and the men all pulled for life but
o good many were drowned The river
e was deep and the tide running out very
d fast, but we got away from our pursuers
, at last.
IS l said "got away" This we could
d not wholly do, for they could track us
by the blood left by our naked and bleed
er ing feet.
in Our fare was SO poor, that our men
n began to run away and join the army at
West Point, where they could get cloth
K ing and provisions. Our commanding
as officer gave out orders that if any one
ID deserted, he should be shot, and thus we
as were confined to our hard fate.
>. One morning an old man named Ste
phen Coleman, who was butcher, killed
an a beef, and after he had done SO and
ire eaten breakf fast, he ran away. He went
Of to river and finding a skif, crossed ov
~ er to the other side. He then turned hi
g. coat inside out, and this gave the inhab
;nt itants reason to think he was deserter
We and they soon brought him back. Ht
wo was tried and condemned to be shot.
arc Before the sentence was executed, h'
We called his two sons to him, and wished
N, them to tell their mother about the bust
,ak ness, and never desert lest they shoult
On get into like trouble.
wn We were driven about by CORVALLIS
as army, from one place to another, till W
nd were so worn out, we had as lief be tax
Q n en- as not.
At one time we give him the slip, an
sh- he lost us; then he wrote advertisement
was and put them on the trees and other pla
,ers ces, offering one copper reward for tn
n.y. little white-headed boy" meaning Ii
our fayette.
his They soon got information of us, an
then they drove us very hard for a fe
days.
ay- At last, one night they halted yer
IN early, and when we saw their fires bull
tch we kindled our own, and lay in full vie
to of them but in the morning we coul
by see nothing of the enemy.
um- A company of horse was sent to gal
| OF information of them they went out
YES the ground, where the enemy lay, an
AT after examination, learned that they ha
ded turned about and were headed for Y orl
'rse, town.
When the Marquis was informed
lin, this, he said, "now is our turn to cha
able them" So he ordered us to march al
step quick. We followed three or fol
Kept days, and then had information that Il
that French feet had arrived, and shut Cor
title wallis up in his den.
we This information put new life into U
and we would have been willing to mare
ear, all night.
we When we came so near as to see
own fires at night, we would start as early
rest possible so as to pay up old debts. v
J, or pursued in this way nearly 200 mil'
till we came to Yorktown, when to o
ther great joy, we saw the French fleet a
day chored in the bay, waiting for the En-
eees, glish Lord to come up, so they mig
day pay him for his summers work, and
n we answer the advertisement for the " viii
headed boy
nent Some of our men carried few
man these advertisements with them down
and Yorktown, to send to him in case
pitch should have to surrender, for they sa
er US they should claim the reward.
with |
- We have found no gra phic description