New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-07-16

the opposite shore had fled. APP
preaching the fort from the rear,
Lieut.. Col. Eyre captured an advanced
battery, and sent flag, demanding
the surrender Of the garrison: This
was peremptorily refused, and the
assault began. The Americans were
poorly armed and equipped, yet ex-
cited to the utmost height of phrenzy
at the sight of their homes in flames,
and their families driven forth as
houseless wanderers, they fought
with the most determined bravery,
and Lieut.. Col. Eyre, as-welf as Ma.
ior Montgomery, his successor, to-
gether with fifty -four non-comnis-
stoned officers and privates, were
killed or mortally wounded ere the
fort was captured. Maddened at this
loss, and rendered terocious at the
long continued resistance of the gar
rison, the Hessians and Tories con
tinued the work of death long after
all resistance had ceased. Col. Led
yard, the commander Of the fort,
was run through the body by the
inhuman wretch who succeeded to
the command upon the fall of Major
Montgomery, and, as though not
stated with the blod which had al
ready been shed, the savage troops
gathered the wounded, placed them
in cart, and rolled them down the
hill toward the river, expecting to
see them engnlphed in the river. Then
laying train to the magazine, they
departed, taking with them every
thing they could conveniently carry.
The cart was providcntially stopped
in it's downward career by an apple
tree, and after the departure of the
enemy, the women of the vicinity,
headed by Fanny Ledyard, (the neice
of the colonel, )came to their relief,
with water, wine, and chocolate, to
assuage their burning thirst, and
with bandages for their wounds.
Some had died from the effect of the
brutal treatment they had received,
but most of them recovered through
the kindness and efficient nursing of
their friends.
Mrs. Bailey-then a maiden of
seventeen summers-Was one of that
noble group who aided in binding
up the wounds and relieving the
distress Of the poor soldiers. Her
future husband-then lad of about
her own age-was one of the gar
rison Of the fort, and had been de-
tailed, in company with a man named
Williams, to man the advanced bat
terry Of one gun, and we'll did they per-
form their part, until the near ap.
proach of the enemythreatened to cut
them off, and they retired. Williams
fled at once to the fort, but young
Bailey stopped to spike the gun, that
it might not be turned against his
countrymen, and in doing so, lost so
much time that when he knocked at
the gate he found it barred against
him. Finding all his efforts unav:lil.
ing to gain admittance, and having
but moment in which to decide and
act, heleaped a fence, and hid him
self in ;l'neighboring corn field, from
whence he had a full view of the
battle, and all the incidents connect
ed with the subsequent massacre of
his brave commander and fellow
soldiers.
AS soon as the enemy had taken
to their boats he started in search of
assistance for those who still lived
if haply he might find it. He was
paying his addresses at the the time
to his future wife, and her fathers
house was the first to which he d.
rected his steps. Finding no one at
home but the women, he informed
them Of the condition of his unfort-
innate countrymen, and fastened on
to collect those who might aid him
in the burial Of the dead. The wo.
men responded to the call of the dis.
tressed and wounded soldiers, and,
after their removal to the neighbor-
ing houses, nursed them assidnously
until many recovered.
After the war, young Bailey mar
ried our heroine, and settled in his
native place. He was appointed Post
master during the administration of
jefferson, and held that office for a
period Of forty years, until his death
in 1913.
In 1918, when the British feet
drove Decatur into the harbor Of
New London, and threatened to
lombard the town, and preparations
were made to defend it, it was found
that there was a deficiency in the ar
ticle flannel for cartridges. This
fact was mentioned to a Mr.. Latham,
a neighbor Of Mrs. Bailey, who gen.
erously undertook to procure it. All
that could be found in New London
was sent to the fort, but there was
stillnot enough to supplythe de6cien-
cy. Bethinking him Of his neigh.
Dor, and calling to mind her. patrio-
tism and desire to serve her country
men, he crossed the river, and took
his way 10 her house. Mrs. Bal.
ley said he, on entering, 81 have
come to see if yon have any spare
flannel in the house. The people at
the fort are short of material for
cartridges, | have sent them all /
could find in town, and still it is not
enough, if you have any to spare I'd
like to get It Of YOU
Well, don't know, " replied the
lady, $ have none in the house, but.
l guess | can find some for YOU, If.
you will wait till | come back.
He readily aeqniesced in her wish.
and she went arnllnl To .l,o,. I, =; e.h.s