New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-01-21

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section, and towards the close Of the
war he was engaged in a contest.
which exhibited, III striking man
ner, his remarkable self.confdence
and courage.
One day while accommodating, he
stopped at the house Of a man by.
the name Of w to refresh him.
self. While at the table he was
surprised by nine British troopers,
who rode up to the house and told
him that he was their prisoner. See
ing that he was so greatly outnum.
bered, he pretended to surrender, and
the dragons seing he was apparent
" peaceful inclined, after disarming
him, allowed him considerable free.
dom, while they sat down to par.
take of the food which he had left
when disturbed. Wandering out in.
to the dooryard, he was accosted by
the paymaster, who demanded Of
him everything of value about him,
at the risk of his life in case of refu-
sal. 81 have nothing to give said
Francisco, $50 use your pleasure. -
.'Give up those massy silver buckles
in your Shoes said tho dragon.
''They were the gift Of friend, re-
piled Francisco and give them to
you I never shall; take them
if you will, you have the power,
but I never will give them to
any one.'' Putting his sabre under
his arm, the soldier stopped down
to take them. Francisco, seeing the
opportunity, which was too good to
be lost, seized the sword, and draw
ing it with force from under the arm
Of the soldier, dealt him a severe
blow across the skull. Although
severely wounded, yet being brave
man, the dragoon drew pistol and
aimed it at his antagonist, who was
too quick for him, however, and as
he pulled the trigger, blow from the
sword nearly severed his wrist, and
placed him hors du combat. The re-
port of the pistol drew the other dra-
goons into the yard, as well as W,
who very ungenerously brought out
musket, which he handed to one
of the soldiers and told him to
make use of it. Mounting the only
horse they could get at, he present.
ed the muzzle at the breast Of Fran
cisco and pulled the trigger. For
tunately it missed fire, and Francis
co closed in upon him. A short
struggle ensued, which ended in his
disarming and wounding the soldier.
Tareleton's troop of four hundred
men were now in sight, and the 9th
er dragons were about to attack
him. Seeing his case was desper.
ate, he turned toward an adjoining
thicket, and as if cheeringon a par:
ty Of men, he cried out, "Come on,
my brave boys; now's your time
we will soon dispatch these few and
then attack the main body!' at the
same time rushing at the dragons
with the fury of an enraged tiger.
They did not wait to engage him,
but fled precipitately to The troop,
panic-struck and dismayed. Selling
upon the traitorous william W,
Francisco was about to dispatch him
but he begged and plead so hard fol
his life that he forgave him, ant
told him to secrete for him the eigh1
horses which the soldiers had left
behind them. Perceiving that Tarle
ton had dispatched ten other dra
goons in search Of him, he made of
into the adjoining wood, and while
they stopped at the house, helix,
an old fox-doubled upon their rear
and SUCCESSFULLY evaded their vigil
ence. The next day he went t.
W--for his horses; he demanded
two of them for his services and in
tentions. Finding his situation
dangerous, and surrounded by enc
mics where he ought to have fount
friends, Francisco was compelled t,
the best Of it, and left with his 81,
horses, intending to revenge himsel
upon Wat a future time, 'sbut, >
as he said, providence ordaine,
that | should not be his execution
er, for he broke his neck by a fal
from one of the very horses
Many other anecdotes are told O
Francisco, illustra tive of his i'm
mense strength and personal Prov
ess. At Camden, where Gates wa
defeated, he retreated, and after run
ming along road some distance, h,
sat down to rest himself. He wa
) suddenly accosted by British dra
COON, who presented a pistol AM
demanded his immediate surrender
: His gun being empty, he feignet
submission, and 8 i'd he would sur
render, at the same time remarkins
that his gun was Of no further ust
to him, he presented it sideways t
the trooper, who in reaching for i
threw himself off his guard, wher
Francisco-quick as thought-ra1
him through with the bayonet, anc
as he fell from his horse, he mount
ed him and continued his retreat
Overtaking his commanding officer
Col. Mayo Of Powhatan, he gave
him up the animal, for which act o.
generosity the Colonel afterwards
presented him with q +ho,.,,