Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-21

got lot of cattle, and were going to
put them all on board the sloop at the
shipyard tonight, and sail out down
the river to that old Britisher in the
Sound. I'd just like to blow her up
with q cannon ~
There was no disputing the boys
word. He was q young Continental
to the core, and his imaginary pitched
battles with the enemy showed the
intensity of his feelings. Never did
he leave one to tell the tale. No
quarter-no prisoners for him: he
slaughtered all. Circumstances kept
his patriotism alive perhaps more
than that of other boys. There were
Tories in Connecticut as everywhere
else during the Revolution, and a nest
OF them was known to exist not far
from Joshua Rock, on the Connecticut
River, where Liffy Trumbull lived.
The report came so direct IT, at it
could not be pooh-poohed. Those
Mud Hook fellows were ready for
such an adventure any moment they
thought it was safe. So "uncle" reused
himself at once, started over to John
Ely's, and after bringing him to his
legs ran off through the woods and
gave the alaIm to three or four staunch
"whigs," as the true blue Americans
were Ycalled in those days. At nine
o'clock that night, they all reported at
Trumbulls house.
owe must stop those CATTLE" said
Liffy's father, "if we have to fight"
Jed Spencer declared he would fight
as he had seen Lift fight; he wouldn't
leave an inch of q tory standing. They
were all in dead earnest, and off they
went-half q dozen men to secure the
sloop, and as many boys to drive off
the cattle to Joshua Rock. Jumping
into three skiffs they foated down
quietly to the ship-yard and boarded
the sloop. The cattle were all on board
ed the sloop. The cattle were all on
board, but not tory around Where
were the traitorous crowd?
Losing no time, the Wings drove the
COWS and oxen off the vessel, headed
them across lots-not ON the road-and
told the boys to push home with them
as fast as possible. Liffy, you may be
sure, was there, working like man
and a soldier. Not one "critter F."
should get back to those Tories if he
could help it They shall go to Wash
ington's army! Meanwhile the men
towed the sloop up stream.
"Oh here they come-they are
coming-I hear the cattle in the
meadow and the boys driving them
this way !"
Who shouted this out in such ecstacy
from the highest window in the Trum-
bull farmhouse? Lifts sister Judith,
none other, and by her side were Min
ME and Sue all eyes and no voice, such
delight had paralyzed their tongues
when their elder sister announced the
victory. What must now be done?
Judy, quick, my girl, get me fathers
regim entail coat in the spare room;"
and Judy's mother, true and brave as
the rest, took down a rusty old musket
which father hadn't dared to shoot off
since the French war fifteen years be-
fore, then put on coat and three
cOrnered hat and darted out into the
dark. AS she shut the door she turned
her motherly eyes On the baby in
the crib and told the girl to take care
of it till she came back. [ must help
those boys" Sue heard her say.
"This way, Lifty, John and the rest,
drive them into the barn-yard, and then
go into the house and stay with the
girls" The youngsters gave shout.
That mothers voice meant safety and
victory.
Mrs. Trumbull then climed up the lad
der to the top of tho barn, and stood
guard over those cattle till nearly dawn,
when the men appeared.
Those tories never dared to claim
their cattle, and they had been too
late to take them down the river to
the British man-of-war. Whether
Washington's men ever got the beef, I
don't know. It wasn't Iify's fault if
they didn't.
Do you ask how [ know all this {?
Well, I will tell you. Judith's daughter
still lives-a fine old lady-and she told
me the story as her mother often told
1t to her.