The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-25
ssThat is nonsense Il
"Who said that'' John Folsom

"That is nonsense
"Who said .that!'' John Folsom
asked. a
II did," said John Ruggles, who had
come forth much the worse for SCOT, and
who had his continental hat drawn well
over his eyes and his back constantly to
Miss Abby.
"Well, what would you do, Mr.. John
Ruggles,'' Eziekel Dlckerman asked.
''What did the British take him FORE
What will they give him up fort You
can't capture him. They will take him
to New York I venture. Can you get
there's? So it is nonsense.
'Tell us now John, what cen we do,'
said Miss Abby, who was the first to see
the force of Johns suggestion.
''Go and get another man. Some man
of repute, Of theirs. Then exchange"
John is right, venture said John
Folsom. "Let us make ready at once to
seize such a man. What say you to sir
Henry Clinton"
'That effort would be of no avail
said Miss Abby. But methinks have it.
Did not hear that the honorable Mr..
Jones, who was great judge in New
| York State, who was so staunch loyal
ist that he now lives with the kings
army in Hampstead, somewhere across
the sound from here2 Go and take him,
and see then how long they will keep
our General and his son from u.s.
"That is WISDOM" said John Ruggles.
| "She is right. This Mr.. Jones lives in
Hampstead and fearing no capture can
be captured"
"Who will go with my father Miss
Abby asked, "and show these British
soldiers that there lives in New Haven
colony men as brave and daring as any
in their red uniform. I would could
go myself"
Not less than ten young men, and one
old man, Josiah Bishop BY name, volun-
tered at once, but John Folsom object
ed to Mr.. Bishop, ''You are too old. The
exposure and fatigue will be, peradven-
ture, the death of you"
"No," said John Ruggles. "He who
has the Grace of God and the asthma
lives many years. Mr.. Bishop has these. y
1t was agreed that Mr.. Bishop should 20
to take charge of the little sloop in which
they purposed crossing the sound.
When they came to start a few days
after, it having been deemed best to wait
awhile and allay all suspicion. Gov.
Trumbull, hearing of the expedition,
gave it his sanction, but suggested that
Capt. Daniel Hawley of Newfeld, which
town is now Bridgeport, be put in COM
, mand, as one who was better acquainted
with the towns and highways of Long
Island than John Folsom was. To this
the blacksmith and his daughter agreed,
and the girl with her mates saw to it
that the expedition started with no lack
OF provision or cartridges.
They set sail from Stratford one night
before the moon was up, and by dawn
came to anchor in a bay that must have
been what is now known as Little Neck
bay. This was not less than thirty miles
from the Hon. Mr.. jones' house on
Hampstead plains, but the Stratford men
made their way to that house without
| discovery. 0I
In the evening they silently approached
it: Capt. Hawley, John Folsom, Ezekiel
Dickerman, and another young man were
to enter suddenly and seize Mr.. Jones
| The others promised to remain outside
| and prevent a rescue. They found the
house lighted, and could see through the
windows the moving forms of men and
women as they went through the figures
OF cotilllon. They heard music, too,
and were satisfied that 1t was mig ht OF
merry-making at the Hon. Judge Jones'
Capt. Hawley knocked at the door.
| There was no response, and so he, with
John FOLSOM burst it open, and the first
man their eyes fell upon was Mr.. Jones.
They made short work Of getting him
out doors, albeit they were courteous to
him. Meanwhile Eziekcl Dickerman,
having the remembrance of young Still
man in his mind, made young gentle
man who was richly dressed a prisoner
for the space of five minutes, and then
lost him. At this Ezekiel was exceed
ingly grieved, for he believed he had a
man Of rank and title, and was so angry
that he went back to the house and
seized the first man he put his eyes upon,
and a weak inoffensive youth he was.
| But Ezekiel got fair view of his first
prisoner. and he said that the young man
was as handsome in face and elegant in
manner as he was in dress.
Capt. Hawley and John Folsom got
| back to Slratford with their prisoners in
| full time to take their accustomed places
In the high-backed pews on Sunday
morning. Gen. Sillimnn's wife would
not hear of the Hon. Mr.. Jones' confne-
ment IN jail, and begged that she might
receive him at her house and treat him
as her guest. Now, this Mr.. Benjamin
Beach, the senior, always claimed was a
great courtesy and honor, for in all the
length and breadth of Connecticut there
was no lady who was her superior as a
hostess. But Mr.. Jones was disposed to
be sullen and distant until he met Miss
Abbey Folsom, and this young lady s
beauty, and her disposition kindly to
tease him about the trek by which he
was made prisoner, brought his spirits
back; and when the exchange was effect
ed, by which Mr.. Jones went back to
| New York and Gen. Silliman was re-
turned to his family, the dignifed judge
is said to have been very decided in his
praise OF little village beauty whom he
met in Strattord. The report came back
to Stratford that Mr.. Jones had proposed
the health of the fairest American rebel
at the dinner party that he gave to cele-