New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-08-20
Historical "reminiscences.

Historical "reminiscences.
" Col. Scammell M urd red by
Haessians.
On the banks of York River, in
the State of Virginia, and few
hundred yards to the northwest Of
the village of Yorktown, the re.
mains of a small redoubt may yet
be seen, although the earth which
was raised to protect the British
troops from the fire of the Ameri.
cans has been washed down by the
rains of seventy-five years, and tall
pine and fir trees are growing on
the spot where contended the Hes
sian hirelings, the French and
American troops, in the ebb and
flow of the tide of battle. The road
from Williamsburgh to Yorktown
passes near, and crossing a little
stream which empties its crystal
waters into the river short distance
to the left, takes slight turn to
the right, and enters the west end
of the village. This work. was
called the ''Fusileer's Redoubt,'
and was one Of the outworks Of the
British, when the lordly CORVALLIS
was besieged by the allied armies of
France and America, under our be.
loved and venerated Washington.
On the approach Of the Allies, the
British commander had drawn the
main body of his army into the
works Immediately surrounding the
town, and left the greater portion of
his tieldworks to be occupied by the
besiegers, who were not slow in tax
ing possession of them. The one
under notice, however, being nearer
to his lines, was retained and occu.
pied by small garrison Of Hessians.
Late on the afternoon of the 28th
of September-the day on which the
allied forces arrived in the vicinity
Of Yorktown-an officer, mounted
on a dark bay horse, struck into the
old road and took: his way toward
the town. He was tall, fine look
ing man, and the ease and grace
with which he rode the beautiful
animal on which he was mounted,
gave token of long service and skill.
full training. His uniform, although
partaking Of the general character
istics Of the Continentals, would
have been recognized by practised
eye as belonging to the New Hamp-
shire line 1.-THE epaulettes he wore
pointed out his rank, which was
that of Colonel. His name was
Alexander St;ammell, Colonel of the
New Hampshire troops, and Adju.
tant- General Of the American army.
As officer of the day, he had an i'm
portant and hazardous duty to per-
form in accommodating the position
Of the enemy, and had been engaged
in that task from the earliest mo.
ment of the arrival of the allied
troops up to the time when he is
presented to my readers. Moving
cautiously along the road, he kept
his bride hand ready for an emer.
gency, and his sword loose in the
scabbard, for he knew. not but he
might have use for it with but a
moments warning. His eye roamed
over the ground in his front as he
advanced, and his mind was busy in
jotting down the various peculiar
tiles Of it's conformation which
might be of service in the approach
ing siege. In this way he had
passed over mile or two Of the road.
and was approaching the little stream
which crossed it, as before described,
when his quick eye detected the
glistening of steel on the brow Of a
slight elevation on his left, and he
became aware that he was in the
presence Of the enemy. The natur-.
al impulse Of a tinid or considerable
mind would have been to withdraw;
but then, his work would not be
finished unless he could report as to
the details of this advanced position
to the COMMANDMENTS Chief, and.
Scanned was not the man to leave
the field when danger threatened.
Moving on cautiously, he made care
full observations of the work and its
location, as we'll as of the peculiari-.
ties Of the adjacent groand, noting
the available approaches to it, and
its facilities Of defence and resistance,
until he reached the little stream
which crossed the road, where he
drew rein and prepared to return.
No thought Of fear could have
crossed his mind, for he was sappar-5
emily in no hurry TO depart, but, OH
the contrary, seemed to linger. AS:
an advanced work on the extreme
left Of the enemy $ line, the redoubt
was an important post and worthy,
therefore, Of the utmost attention.
Once in the hands of the Ameri.
cans, it would prove the key TO the
position assumed by Corn wallis. and
open the way to an entrance within
his works. These facts struck Scam.
NELL at first glance and it was with
more than ordinary scrutiny that. ne
viewed the eminences which was ;al
crowned BY 50 important an out.
post. His presence had been OBJ