The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-08-09

bones. by tnlb Jlm6 WAS loaVoui ""e
saw that i was a rebel captain, Jeremiah
Post by name, an old sChoolmate and
and a cousin of my wiie;
Though his bayonet was in my BODY,
felt regret at being Obliged to destroy
him. The report of the defeat OF the
royal troops at Bennington reached Mon
treal. Gen. Mclean, colonel OF the o4th
regiment, went to Mrs Peters and told
her that news had come from Gen. Bur,
goyne's camp, and that she must expect
to hear of many being killed and wound
ed: but if Col. Peters or her son were
among them, she must hold up with cour-
age, and not despond, as he would see to
care being taken of her and her family,
that they should never want. After
some conversation in like manner, Gen.
Mclean thought proper to let her know
that there was report that Col. Peters
and his son were wounded and since
died. Mrs. Peters said: "My Calamltles
are very great, but, thank God, they died
doing their duty to their king and count
nv. / have six sons left, who, as soon as
they are able to bear arms, | Will send
against the rebels, while / and my daugh'
ter will mourn for the dead and pray ior.
the living" 4 4 On the l4th OF
October, in the morning, when it was ex-
peoted the capitulation was nearly. coal
cluded, as was in great anxiety and dis
tress of mind, knowing how Impossible
it was that my capitulation could provide
for nv security. met Gen. Philips, who
asked me why remained there, as | had
told him before that no articles would
protect me. answered, that whatever
might be the event, / would not go with
out orders in writing, for that no one
should be able to say that had deserted
them in the hour of distress. He said
he would get me orders. In the after
noon he met me agoin, and seemed eur
prised at my being still there. re-
minded him of what he had said, on
which he carried me with him to the
Generals tent, and he brought me out a
written permission to take as many OF
nv officers and men as | thought could
not be protected and were willing to go.
accordingly got together as many as
could meet with in that condition who
chose to make the attempt. While pre-
pairing for the departure, a person who
had left the rebel colonies for having
counterfeited their paper money, came to
me and begged to be Of the party. did
not much like his company, but | saw
the poor creature in such trembling
situation from the certainty of being
hanged if he were taken, that | could not
but consent As soon as everit was dark
enough we set out, being thirty five in
number, and each carrying two days ra'
tions. | ordered Lieut. Holiburt, OF my
regiment, to lead, as he knew the woods
in the dark better than l did. follow
ed next, and ordered all the rest to fol-
low in single file and in perfect silence.
We steered at first southwestward. We
had not got far when the money'maker
became very troublesome with his ars
l ordered him to be placed between Ma,
ior Wright and my son, and l ordered
the Major, if he made any noise, to put
his bayonet into him and leave him dead
but Notwithstanding this he was very
troublesome to us. When we had travel.
ed two or three miles from the royal
camp, we we're challenged by party oi
rebels. replied, "From Gen. Gates-in
pursuit of some Tories who have fled
from Burgoyne's camp" The rebels de-
manded the countersign, and who com
manded. The answer was, Colonel Pc
ters, with eighteen hundred men, anC
they might FIRE as soon as they pleased
was the countersign. Tie darkness anC
surprise caused the rebels to take pru
dent care of themselves. On the 10Th
at the beginning of the night, we founC
ourselves on the western bank of Hud
son river. The moon had just risen, anC
close under us, on the same side, at the
mouth of brook, was a man in canoe
going to fish. We called to him, and by
the fear of our firearms obliged him tC
come to us, but as three only could 60 al
once in the canoe, and one was obliged
always to return to fetch two more; anc
as we were obliged to paddle as gently as
possible for fear of Icing heard in case o.
any iebel scouts, it was midnight before
we all got over. Whist this was trans
acting, such of us as first went over KEEP
the man, which we told him was only tc
prevent his discovering us. He seemed
surprised at this, having taken us for reb
els; and, to our equal surprise, told us he
and his father were sincere Loyalists
and on his giving his name one of oul
party recognized him. After we had al
got over, be carried us to his father, who
received us very kindly, and offered ui
all he had-some hears meat, some dried
moose, and Indian corn. The 18th, ir
the woods, we heard the firing o.
cannon at Saratoga, which knew tc
be in consequence of the surrender of the
British army to the rebels. It went tC
my heart to hear it, though I knew it tC
be the case. On Oct. l9th, near sunset
when almost famished, we struck Lake
George, where Major Irwin, Of the 47th
commanded. He received us very un
civilly until produced my written order
We returned to Montreal, and soon aftel
to Quebec, where General Castleman re
ceived me with appreciation, but woulC
not pay me until he had official accounts
from Gen. Burgoyne. Hitherto l had re
ceived no pay from the King for my ser
vices. Gen. Carleton had put me on thC
subsistence list at $50 per muster, anC
had behaved with great attention anC
humanity to my family. In 1779
again requested Gen. Haldimand to pay
me for my services under Gen. Burgoynt
in 1777. His Excelency said that haC
been transacted before he took command
and he could do nothing in it till he haC
official returns; but he continued me OF
the subsistence list, where Gen. Carleton
had placed me. 1 wrote to Rev. Mr.. Pc
ters, in London, who applied to Lore
George Germaine in my behalf, and hi
Lordship wrote to Gen. Haldimand II
settle my accounts, and others in lik
situation. | lost what was due me oi
British pay from August lst to Decembe
oath, 1888, when we were disbanded
Nov IL, 1881, Gen. Haldimand drafte,
the Provincial corps, and out of them b
formed what he named "Loyal Rangers,
and appointed Edward Jessop as major
and at the same time gave general order
that he appointed "Lieut.Col. John Pc
ters, of the Queens Loyal Rangers, a
Captain of Invalides." This cruel degra
ding change was worked while l was q
Skeensborough. On my return to Que