Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-09

NO. 243.
Gales ano Sktttbes.
THE SECRET OF PRUDENCE STRONG.
A TRADITION OF THE OLD WAR OFFICE AT
LEBANON, COM.

The old war Office in Lebanon, Conn,
of Gov. Trumbull-Washingt 9th er
Jonathan-has lately received new roof.
This means that the little building which
sheltered Washington, Rochambeau and
LAFAYETTE, which was the meeting place Of
the Council of Safety" and the halting
place of the messengers who bore impor-
tant dispatches between Philadelphia anu
Boston, is not yet to be torn down. Itaso
means that the mysterious document wnicn
Mistress Prudence StrOug once hid mere.
in defiance of Gov. Trumbull and the COUNT
de Rochambeau, will still longer remain
in its hiding place-for years ago, even
before Gov. Trumbull was gathered to MS
fathers, the villagers said that the papers
would never be found until the buidihg
was taken down and every rafter anu
every crevice between the stones OF uno
large chimney was examined. From tne
papers and letters that Judge Hebard col
iected, many of them coming into MS
hands when settling an estate OF the nus
band of one of Gov. Trumbulls daughters;
from the information that Judge Heoaru
gained from members of the Trumbuii
family whom he knew, and from various
other sources, the story OF the secret Oh
Prudence Strong-a secret which it is hrm-
ly believed would have been exposed had
the office been torn down-is gathered.
The Count de Rochambeau with his pat
talon of allies, in the winter Of 1880 rested
in Lebanon. The soldiers pitched their
tents and built their huts on the slope OF
a hill, at the bottom of which ran a stream
of water to the mill pond. Stream and
pond and sloping hillside have not been
changed since then by either nature or
art.
The Count de Rochambeau sat eating
his dinner of succotash and a juicy piece
of beef one stormy afternoon. He hadjust
received dispatch from Washington
which pleased him greatly, and had sent
Il messenger to notify Gov Trumbull that
the Count de Rochambeau would do him.
self the honor Of passing an hour or so OF
the evening with the Governor at the war
office
An unusual hustle in the camp attracted
ROchambeau's attention. What does
this meane Those fellows are unusually
noisy tonight" he said to an aide-de-
camp who dined with him.
.'If mistake not, the sentry has cap
tured deserter," said the aid, rising and
going tO the window. He stood there
peering through the glass, which was so
imperfect as to make big men look very
little and small men seem very large, be-
sides frequently gracing one body with
four or even six pairs Oflegs.
1T is as mistrusted. sire. They have
caught deserter, and, if my eyes do not
deceive me, it is Francois Duplan."
"No, not he," the count said, rising,
'Why, he is a gentleman. He cannot
conceal that even from you, if he is a COM
mon soldier He has the air of grand
mystery, and he is withal exceeding SER
viceable at the oven"
.'It is he, nevertheless, sire, and you
will pardon me if recall to your memory
the order that was issued by the Count de
Rochambeau when the deserter was cap
tured the other day and forgiven"
''Death ut the next SUNRISE" said the
count, sinking into his chair.
Death at the next SUNRISE" said the
aid quietly. 81.
"Methinks, had known that this fellow
would be the next | would have waited
until the next after he, for there is some
thing about him which passes my compre-
hension greatly"
"You will"
mo, | will not The order was given,
it must be followed. See that am not
awakened until after the sentence is exc
cuted."
A court martial was speedily convened,
and Francois Duplan stood before it
charged with having been captured by the
pickets far beyond bounds, and making as
if it were his intention to pass through the
north woods, out upon the Hartford turn
pike.
IL cannot deny this" he said, "but
affirm that it was my intention to return
before roll-call and at once admit that l
had disobeyed the rules"
THAT is an apology easily framed after
capture" suggested the judge advocate;
..bnt if YOU can say what your purpose
was in thus going beyond the lines, if it
seems to us good and consistent with your
return, it may make the difference between
life and death with you, Francois Dup
Ian"
ALAS, cannot tell my purpose. / can
say that it was good one; that had 1t
been accomplished, results of much con-
Germ to me and to another-yes, many
others-might have come Of it. As it is
unaccomplished. my purpose would be
laughed at and another made an object OF
ridicule."
THAT must be singular purpose. in
deed, which you wot,ld prefer to lose your
life rather than part with
"If it must be so, then it must. l hoped
to lose my life when came to America,
but not thus. However, what difference
is it ?"
They found him guilty. and sentenced
him to death. lie was to be shot by six
of his comrades, at the next sunrise. Yet
they pitied him. He was by all accounts
tall, handsome. brave fellow, a soldier
whose ease of manner and whose habits
indicated that his early life was passed IN
circles with which none OF his compan-
ions were familiar He was stranger to
them all when he joined them. and it had
not escaped notice that the Count de Koch
ambeau, with his ever Observant eye. had
marked this common soldier. Francois.
and had even once said, in the hearing Of
the sentry who paced in front Of the door,
IL mean to find out why this gentleman
serves as common soldier and who he
is"
With all his reserve and hours OF medi-
tation, Francois was a favorite with his
comrades. for Il while they felt that he was