Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-03-28
The, Surprise at KcIntire's.

baggage WagOus, WeIe on lHclf mdfCh
Ito procure stores for the English troops
under the command of Lord Cornwall
lis. who had his headquarters In the
leounrry town of MechleDburg, n. c.
As the boy passed the farm houses he
lgave the alarm and galloped on. The
lwomen were sOon seen struggling af.
tier him, some loaded with the rifles
land accoutrements of the men who
lwere at work in the fields, while 9TH
lers, assisted by the negroes, led forth
horses from the stables and hastily sad
ldled them for service.
The men were promptly armed, the
women and children, with such neces-
lsaries as could be snatched up, were
mounted by twos and threeS upon the
lhorses, and accompanied by the ser
wants, directed their course through
1.-THE woods, to such neighbors as were
lmost retired from the main road.
| Although the boy who gave the
alarm had used every exertion, and
mounted upon a jaded colt just taken
from the plow, had dashed through
THE most direct by-paths, the men had
scarcely time to conceal themselves in
Ia deep thicket and swamp, which bOr-
ldered on one extremity of the planta'
tions, before the British videttes were
in sight.
They halted upon the brow of a hill,
labove the branch of creek, for the
Iapproach of the main body, and then,
lin complete order, advanced to the
plantation.
After recOnnOitering the premises
Finding no one present, but all appear
ances OF hasty flight of the inhabitants,
the dragons dismounted, the horses
were tethered, and guard detailed
ISome sumpter horses were harnessed
Ito the farm wsgons, and parties began
Ito load them with the various pro-
lducts Of the fields; while military bag
lgage wagons, under the charge of g
lrear guard, gradually arrived, and
were employed in gathering the new
corn, and carrying off stacks OF oats
the freshly pulled corn fodder.
In full view of this active scene
stood the commander of the British
fOrce-a portly, horid, cheerful En-
Iglishman -one hand on each side oi
the doorway of the farm house, where
the officers were enjoying the abundant
provisions prepared for the owners OF
the plantation and their friends.
The seldiery, assisted by dogs, in
eager chase of the poultry, had struck
down some bee-hives, formed of some
hollow gum logs, ranged Gear the ger
den fence. The irritable insects dash.
ed after the men, and at once j the
scene became one of uproar and confu-
sion and lively excitement. The Off.
Ger laughed heartily at the gestures
and outcries of the routed soldiers
the attention of the guard was drawn
to this single point, while at distance
in the fields the wagons were seen ap.
preaching with their cumbrOas loads.
The owner of the plantation had
cautiously approached, under cover,
within gunshOt of his house; the rest Oi
the party, his neighbors, with equal
care, advanced sufficiently near for the
action of their rifles. The distress and
anger of these men were raised to the
highest pitch by the reckless merri-
ment of their enemies, and, in the
midst of the tumult, their feelings over
came all the bounds of preconcerted
prudence.
'Boysv cried one of the sturdy farm
ers, Il can't stand this-I take fhe cap
tain. Every one take bis man and
look TO yourselves
These words were scarcely uttered in
a suppressed tone, but with apprOpri-
ate decision of action, when the sight
of the rifle was thrown upon the full
breast of the laughing Englishman,
who suddenly fell PROSTATE from the
door posts.
As the smoke from the rifles rose,
after their sharp and quickly repeated
reports, the commander, nine men, land
two horses lay dead or wounded upon
the ground.
The trumpets Immediately sounded
recall. But by the time the scattered
dragons had collected. mounted and
formed, struggling fire from differ
erent direction, into which the con-
cealed scouts had extended, showed
the unerring aim OF each American
marksman, and increased the confu-
sion of the surprise.
Perfectly acquainted with every foot
of the ground, the Americans constant
ly changed their position, giving in
their fire as they loaded, SO that it ap.
peared to the British they were sur
rounded by a large force.
Every preparation for defense ATTACK
and retreat was made with the disci'
pline Of soldiers, hut the alternate hills
and swampy grounds and thickets, with
woods on both sides of the road lead.
ing to Charlotte, did not allow efficient
action to the horses of the dragons
Some dismounted; others called out to
''set On the hOunds!' against a foe
hardly visible, except from the dead
ly effects.
The dogs at first seemed to take the
track, and were followed by the sol
diers.
The foremost hound ran close upon
the heels of one of the scouts, who had
Just discharged his rifle, and was in
full retreat after his companion. But
as the dog closed with open mouth, he
was shot dead with pistol drawn from
the rif1eman's breast.
The next hound stopped at the dead
dog, smelt at the body, gave whining
howl and the whole pack returned
from the contest.
A large number OF the dragons
were shot down. The leading horses
in the wagons were killed before they
could ascend the hill. The road was
blocked up. The soldiers in charge of
the wagons cutloose some of the sur
viving animals and galloped alter re-
treating comrades.
The country people, early advised of
the advance of the furaging party,
from every directions; and occupying
well protected positions along the
main road, precipitated the retreat OF
the British into Charlotte-the survi
vors swearing "there was not bush
on the road thlt did not conceal a
rebel"
THE temperance men have got a
majority in the Connecticut Legisla-
ture, and instead of adopting a pro
hibitery law they have a new plan of
| llegislating the interests of temperance.