The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-11
A HIDDEN CONTINENTAL

A HIDDEN CONTINENTAL.
The eventful year of ITS was draw.
ing to close when Colonel Campbell,
Of the British army, landed near Sa-
vannah, and fell furiously on the Amer
leans under General Howe. Howe's
troops were in no condition to face
the enemy; an unsuccessful campaign
in the FlOridas had enfeebled his men
by disease, and, deeming "discretion
the better part of valor," he retreated
up the river.
Of course the then capital of Georgia
fell into the hands of the enemy, who
abused his triumph, and consigned his
name to an unenviable fame.
There was a strong Tory element in
Savannah, which had been kept in
check by the presence of the CONT
nentals ; but when the British marched
into the city, it rose and asserted it's
strength. Houses we're plundered,
and a number of patriots bayoneted in
the streets. Neighbor rose against
neighbor, and Tories led a plundering
soldiery to the homes of the patriots.
The Holly family, that dwelt in Sa-
vannah at the time of it's capture and
sack, consisted of three persons
the mother and two children. The
father a man of wealth and influence
In Georgia, had died during the year
that preceded the outbreaking of the
war. and the home of the family was
one of the very finest residences in the
city.
Miriam Holly, the oldest child, was a
beautiful girl of nineteen, while her
brother was five years her Junior. If
the father had lived, he might have
proven a Tory, for he was devotedly
attached to the mother country, and
when the Kings troops took posses.
sion of the capital, Colonel Campbell
commanded that the Holly's home
should not be ransacked.
Thus the house escaped pillage, and
Miriam fastened to thank the soldier
for his kindness.
Colonel Campbell was struck by the
girls glance and remarkable lovliness,
and detained her at his headquarters
until he had learned her family his
tory by many adroit questions.
':There goes the handsomest woman
in Georgia, cried Campbell, as the
girl left the house.
His companion, who happened to be
his chief of staff, looked after Miriam,
and remarked:
Il quite agree with the colonel.
These American rebels are all beauti-
full
Campbell was silent for a moment.
owe will not occupy this building
qffQT + ~ no coiI
81 am going to take up my abode be-
meath the same roof that shelters Mi
riam Holly
''Love at first sight, colonel p said
the chief staff, with a merry twinkle
in his eyes. sis Lady Bonn so soon
forgotten, my dear colonel?' -
''Lady Bonn be hanged! - cried
Campbell. ga soldier loves when and
whom he pleases and besides, major,
one is not obliged to marry these Amer
can girls because he loves them.''
The conversation was interrupted by
the arrival of an orderly, and was not
resumed.
On the following day Colonel Camp.
bell made Miriam Holly's home his
headquarters.
The girl grew deathly pale when she
learned OF the sudden change, and
said in a whisper to her mother -
"This terrible event. He is not
fit to depart yet, nor will he be for a
week to Gomez
Miriam, [ have been thinking that
it might be policy for us to give him
up to the army replied Mrs. Holly.
''Give him up now - cried the girl.
SS(,ivo him
in Savannah cry for his blood?'' No!
Unless discovered, he shall remain
where he is until he is able to escape
Miriam Holly spoke with much firm.
ness, and tears stood in the mother
eyes as she opened her arms and re.
ceived the daughter in her embrace.
''Forgive me, Miriam,'' she cried.
s'We must keep our secret from Colo.
mel Campbell. He must not know who
lies to-day beneath our roof
So Miriam fastened from her moth.
er's presence, and, by touching con.
cealed spring in the wall of an unfin.
ished room, revealed narrow stair
way. She at once mounted the steps,
and entered a very small apartment,
into which light streamed from skv
window.
The room was tenanted. On a low
cot lay man in his twenties. His
dark hair contrasted wildly with the
deathly pallor of his face, and the suit
of faded Continental uniform, with a
sword, that hung against the wall over
the bed, told that he was an American