The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-04-29


bugler, mere boy, who carried no sword,
but who had drawn pistol from his hol-
ster and kept close to the colors all through
the day.
Tarlcton was not deficient 10 personal
courage, and turned to meet his old enc
my in hand-to-hand encounter. The
officer nearest him struck at Washington
as he passed, but missed his blow and re-
ceived bullet in his side from the young
bugler's pistol.
Carter" cried Tarleton to the other
aide, who rode near him, "a captains
brevet if you take that woman's petticoat,
pointing with his sword to the saucy little
flag, the story of which had reached the
British camps.
But it was no woman's hand which was
there to defend it, and as the Englishman
wheeled his horse for the attack Peyton's
pistol flashed almost in his face, and he
fell forward ON his chargers neck, con-
vulsively clasping it as the animal ran
wildly forward unguided toward the Amer
lean lines Meanwhile, the two comman-
ders had crossed swords, and as both were
good fencers, duel Poutrance seemed
imminent But Tarleton had NO time for
chivalrous encounters. His opponent beat
down his guard, and with sudden thrust
wounded the British colonel in the hand.
The latter drew pistol, and as he wheel
ed to follow his flying squadrons discharged
it at his adversary, the ball taking effect
near the knee. The battle was now really
at an end, and the pursuit was abandoned
at this point.
As Walter Peyton lay down beside his
campfire that night it was with body
worn down by excitement and fatigue, but
with heart beating high with pride as
he looked at the flag he had so CALAMITY
defended, and remembered his colonel's
words of commendation, which he more
than hoped meant promotion to captains
commission.
In the city Of Charleston all was gloom
and sorrow except in the little circle Of
society which boasted of its loyalty to the
Crown. Scarcely family but had some
representative in the Continental ranks,
and as all intelligence reached the city
through British channels, the darkest side
of every encounter between the armies
was the first which the imprisoned patriots
saw. The non-combatant members of all
the planters families had moved into the
city before its capitulation, and while the
ladies permitted the visits and acquain-
tance of the English officers, they never
lost an opportunity to show them how
hateful they esteemed the royal cause.
1t was nearly month after the victory
at the Cowpens that Miss Elliott was sit
thug with her mother one evening in the
parlor Of their city residence Conspic-
uous among the furniture was large and
comfortable armchair upholstered in heavy
crimson silk damask, but while everything
else in the room was neat and even ele.
CANT, this chair appeared to be more fit
for the lumber closet, the entire square of
silk having been cut from the back, leav-
ing the underlining of coaYe striped cot
ton exposed to view. tn tones of the
curfew or "frst bell" which may still be
heard nightly in the seagirt old city, had
just died away when loud rap came from
the heavy brass knocker on the street.
door, and in few moments old Billy ap-
peared to announce "Captain Fraser"
A look Of slight annoyance passed over
the face of the elder lady as she arranged
the snowy ruffles Of her cap, while the
deepened color and sparkling eyes Of the
younger, with the almost imperceptible
sarcasm Of her smile, seemed to indicate
mingled pleasure, defiance and contempt.
The visitorwho entered was resplendent in
the gay scarlet and glittering lace of the
British uniform, and his redundancy of
ruffies, powder and sword-knot betokened
the military exquisite, his bearing pre-
senting singular mixture of high BREED
ing and naughty insolencc. With his
right hand laid upon the spot where his
heart was supposed to be, while his left
daintily supported the leathern scabbard
Of his sword, he bowed until the stiff little
queue of his curled wig pointed straight
at the heavy cornice. The ladies' swept
the floor with their graceful courtesies,
that Of the younger presenting the least
touch Of exaggeration as with folded arms
and downcast eyes she sank backward be-
fore her guest. Another knock was heard,
and when the names Of three more Of the
garrison officers were announced, Miss
Elliott whispered to Billy hasty message
to some of her fair friends in the neigh.
borhood to come in and help her entertain
them. These impromptu parties were
quite common, and in little while the
room was sparkling with beauty, gallantry
and wit. 1t may seem strange that the
patriotic bellies Of the day, the fair Brew
tons and Pinckneys and Rutledges, the
Ravenels and Mazycks, should have cult.
yated such pleasant associations with the
enemies of their country. But among the
officers they had many old friends and ac-
quaintances Of aate-5eilam days, and not
a few marriages had established even closer
ties. Thus, Lord Campbell, the last royal
governor, was husband to Sarah lizard, the
sister of General Ralph lizard, wbo was
brother-in.law to our former acquaintance.