The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-11-17

night and give their horses q good rest
with plenty to eat. He likewise gave or.
ders that the niggers should be marched
into the old cotton house. The youthful
warrior listened with interest to all that
was said by the brigand. He kept in his
hiding place until lie saw the tories unsad-
die their horses and turn them loose in the
meadow. He likewise saw the poor me-
groes marched into the old gin house. So
secure did the murderers think the situa-
tion, that they did not set single guard,
but commenced drinking the stolen brandy
from their canteens.
After noting all that he had seen and
heard, the gallant youth emerged from his
hiding place and after riding about one
hundred yards with caution, put spurs to
his steed and was soon flying at full speed.
After riding about three miles the boy ar
rived at Gen. Sumpter's camp. The GEN
raj had come to that locality the night
previous, but it was the opinion of Cooper
that he had fled from the States The
| youthful scout soon stood beside his be-
| loved commander and gave him graphic
| account of what he had seen and heard.
| Snmpter at once resolved to attack the
| brigands, but judging from what the scout
had said, that the enemy would not move
till morning, he decided to defer the at
tack until daylight. He selected fifty of
his best mounted men to 60 on the expe-
dition. The young scout was to be their
guide. The brave boy asked boon from
his general, which was that the giant cap
tain should be left to him to deal with,
which favor was granted. At daylight
next morning fifty armed horsemen, led by
| l,a mfr al in,
in full view of the thieves bivouac. Tie
tories had not seen their enemy. Their
captain was strutting about cursing his
men for having oversight themselves. Some
Of them were still lying on the grass; 9TH
ers were Longing around. Their horses
were quietly feeding about two hundred
yards from the camp. The order was now
given by Sumpter to draw sabres and
charge the foe at double quick. With a
wild shout the Americans went dashlng
into the midst of the doomed tories. The
enemy were wild with alright. A few of
them fired some random shots with their
pistols, but it was no use. The sons of
freedom were upon them and cut them
down without mercy. The young scout
made dash at the captain, shouting his
wild battle cry. Cooper met the boy with
howl Of rage, and swearing the most
dreadful oaths. AS the youth approached
him he made a sweeping cut at the boy
with his sabre, as if he would cleave him
III twain, but his weapon flew from his
grasp and his sword arm fell useless at his
side, broken and nearly cut off by u well-di-
rected blow from the boys sword. The
enraged villain now with howl like a de-
mon made a dash at his antagonist and
endeavored to unhorse him with his left
hand, but he was met with thrust from
the scouts sabre which went though his
heart and he fell to the ground a dead ne
gro stealer. The battle was over and |
forty one murdcrers lay dead on the green
sward. None of Sumpters men received |
a scratch. The victory was complete
The hour of retribution had arrived, and
the murderers had been sent unshrived to |
hotter climate, to stay with the master they |
had so faithfully served.
The re scued negroes were now bought out |
of their prison, their bonds were cut and |
they were set al liberty, the General letting
them go back to their homes, and telling
them that Tom Cooper would trouble them
no more.
The tories'horses were now caught. There
were fifty-three of them, all fine auimals.
There were forty new saddles and brides |
of the best British make. Each tory was
dressed in fine new British uniform, and
each had a sabre and four pistols and
cartridge box we'll filled with ammunition,
together with all the equipments of Brit
ish cavalry. But the property had chang
ed hands, and now belonged to American
patriots