The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-29

took one of his slaves, named Hetty, with
them, and offered to pay her well if she
would pilot them to the town. She took
them to Cedar Point, opposite Fort Hol-
lingsworth, and the Americans there opened
fire upon them, when they retreated &c
FrenChtown, which the others had fired in
the meantime Two of the barges came up
the river, near to Fort Hollingsworth, but
upon being fired upon, retreated down the
river. Captain Bennett and the men from
Fort Hollingsworth tried to intercept and
cut them off, but failed to DO so.
The Americans had compnny of cavalry
stationed on the summit of Bulls Noun
tain, to watch for the enemy and give
notice of their approach. There was also
line of posts between Elkton and Bulls
Mountain, and riders that kept up COM
munication between the two places.
The British that came up the Elk had
sixteen barges, and are said to have pre-
sented a beautiful appearance as they rowed
up the quiet river in the early morn. The
late Mrs. Foard, of Elk Neck, spoke of
them in way to lead people to think that
their appearance was grand and imposing,
and had left a lasting impression CD her
mind.
However well disposed and honorable
they may have been when they first landed
at Turkey Point, they seem to have got rid
Of these traits in a very short time, for they
are said to have stolen sitting geese from
off their nests and shot the COWS of some
of The citizens that lived further up Elk
Neck
Captain Joseph Lort. the grandfather of
l. b. Lort, of Elkton, owned and COM
manded the schooner -tnn0n Ruth, and
Just previous to the entrance of the British
into Elk river, had returned from Balti-
more in his schooner. He found a vessel
loaded with flour aground near the mouth
of Back Creek, the captain of which be-
/ sought him to lead his schooner with the
-four and take it up the river, he being
apprehensive that the British would de-
stroy it. Captain Lort did SO, and on his
return he found the British in possession
| Oh the vessel. III oider 10 save ais schooner
he ran her aground; he would have scut.
tied and sunk her, but he had lost his AK.
! He took off her sails and carried them to
place of safety and repaired to his home.
! The British afterwards, on their return
| from Frenchtown, burned both the vessel
and the -iHRon Ruth. The latter was
| burned at Cazier's shore, which is the
shore now owned by Mr. Herf of New
Jersey. They also captured the sloop
| .K0rHihg Star, which at that time is said
to have been owned by the grandmother
of Captain McCracken, of North East, and
took her away with them. The Norning
before, and some years after the war was
seen in Baltimore. She had been con-
verified into schooner and then hailed
from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
On their return, after burning French
town, they stopped at the fishery of Jacob
! Hylard on Elk river, and carried away
about a hundred barrels of shad and her
ring that were stored in the fish house.
They also went up the Bohemia river and
plundered the fish houses along its banks.
Isaac Lort, the brother of Capt. Joseph
| Lort, was one of the men that helped to
defend Frenchtown. The stage drivers and
Others, spoken of i'll the account taken
from Niles Register, are said to have found
the cannon dismounted, and Isaac Lort is
said to have died soon afterwards from over
exeftionwhie assisting in remouuting them.
One Of the defenders Of Frenchtown is said
to have forgotten bottle Of whisky in the
hurry and excitement of the movement,
| and, though the enemy were close at hand
and the shot were flying thickly across his
path, he returned and got his bottle of
whisky and made good his retreat.
The late DR.. Evans, who was surgeon
ii the navy during the war, was at home
on leave of absence, while the frigate Con-
stitUti0n, on which he served, was being
retitted after the engagement with the lara.
The Doctor and the late Henry d. Miller
were near Frenchtown and narrowly
escaped being struck by ball fired by the
British.
Just before the burning of Frechtown 10y
the British, the citizens of Elkton and the
surrounding country were much frightened
by false alarm. Somehow the story got
in circulation that the British had taken
Frenchtown, and the people as far north as
the State of Pennsylvania were very much
| excited and alarmed. The story originated
81. al, {, r
Esq, of Elkton, who, at that time, lived
on Turner creek, which is the outlet for
| the country lying between Still Pond ard
Galena, and who had two vessels engaged
in carrying wheat from there to Elkton,
which then was one Of the largest wheat
markets in the United States, became
anxious TO know where his vessels were,
and thinking they might be found in Elk
river, came up in a large row boat after
night to look for them. Some persons at
Frenchtown heard the noise of the oars in
the stiffness of the night and thought it
was the noise Of the British barges and
raised the alarm. An Irishman, who lived
at Turkeytowp, heard the story which had
not lost any thing when it reached that
place, and started out to give the alarm,
or as the old lady, who told the writer of
the occurrence, said, {" to alarm the women
and children" He came to the old lady'S
house lher husband was absent on military
duty and told her there were fifteen hun
bred British aud Indians at Frenchtown and
they spared neither women nor children"
He appeared TO be frightened nearly to
death, and asked her if she had 'the color
of whisky about her house" Whisky was
considered one of the necessares of life in
those days and the old lady gave him some,
which revived his droopings spirits, and he
rode away to spread the alarm and terrify
others.
This same man was in partnership with
an Erglishman in a wooden factory at Dub
lin, now Strahorn's mill, on Big Elk creek,
near the State of Pennsy ivania, and, in
| I, tI,, tb, g.,