Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-27
Of mince pie while singing song and
talking to Miss ABBY. = ~. 47,<4,sa..

no attention to this, saying tnaC IL was 3
visitation from heaven, and remarking
that "God moves in q mysterious way"
But if John Ruggles could not bear tosee
Miss Abby, there was no person for whom
he would sooner use his big muscle, eth
er by way Of walking, running, or dig.
lying paths in the snow so that she might
safely venture to church in the winter
season. -
"Tell me, John, what is the meaning
of thisa Why docs my father talk SO
earnestly with Mr.. Dickerman, and Mr..
Peter Davenport, and with the other
young men, as I see Elm now over on the
Westinghouse stepsa'' - X.
''The British have taken away General
Sllliman and the boy" came in reply
from the chimney, and then, to the mol
cdy Of "China," issued forth tho first
lines of the hymn beginning: -
"Broad is the road that leads to DEATH"
"Captured Gen. silimanr' SAID Miss
Abby, interrupting the melody, her eyes
flashing. "Who did, and howa Tell me
now, John Ruggles."
John told her as laconically as he had
announced the abduction of the General
to her father. j
sThen he must be recaptured," said
the tair Miss Abby, stamping her little
feet.
sand he will be- come from the chin
ney.
Back from tho meeting house steps
came John Folsom with q dozen men,
young and old, about him.
"You will recapturo the General and
his son, father" -
"With Gods help" John Folsom an
swered.
"And you will help my father, I ven
ture, Ezekiel Dickermanv she said, to q
young man whose figure was too large
and symmetrical for his clothes
"That we will,'> replied Ezekiel, for
himself and the others.
II pray you, if any of you have the &C.
quaintance of the manner Of capture, tell
me, that we may know how best to act"
said Miss Abby, with tho decision of a
commander.
"Not so, Abby. Go back to the house
and assist your MOTHER John Folsom
answered. ave will bring back the Gen
erals
"And his son." SAID Esek1el, looking
slyly at Miss Abby.
"And his son. said the other young
men.
"But I must know it. I will. You,
Ezekiel, you will not refuse me9''
Ezekiel put his three-cornered hat
under his arm, and with more color in
his face than strong man ought to have,
except while granting favor to one 80
fair as Miss Abby was, told her that
Gen. Sillimen was awakened the previous
night, just after midnight. Fig int men
battered at his door as though they meant
to break it. The General seized his mus
ket, and was about to open FIRE on the
eight men from one of the upper win
dows, and no doubt would have given
one or two the contents of his musket
had 1t not flashed in the pan. Before he
could reprime they had broken in the
windows, and had the old General seized
and bound, and his son with him. Then
they took the prisoners to the boat, by
which they had come from Smithtown
on Long Island, by command of Sir
Henry Clinton, and carried them back to
Smithtown at least, Ezekiel thought
they had taken the General and his son
to Shutdown, beyond peradventure.
| Now this was such an outrage that the
young men of Stratford, when they heard
of 1t, were for going at once with John
Folsom as leader to Long Island, and
they said that they would either bring
the General and his son back or leave
their bodies on the Island
"That is nonsense"
| xI-A ny
asked.
II did," said John Ruggles, who had
come forth much the worse for SCOT, and
who had his continental hat drawn we'll
over his eyes and his back constantly to
Miss Abby.
swell, what would you do, Mr.. John
Ruggles," Eziekel Dlckermau asked.
"What did the British take him fora
What will they give him up for9 You
can't capture him. They will take him
to New York I venture. Can you get
there2 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.
of repute, of theirs. Then exchange"
John is right, venture" said John
Folsom. "Let us make ready at once to
seize such 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 jud ge in New
York State, who was 80 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.
"Shc is right. This Mr.. Jones lives in
Hampstead and fearing no capture can
be captured"
who will go with my father,'' Miss
Abby asked, land show these British
soldiers that there lives in New Haven
colony men as brave and daring as any
in their red uniform. I would I could
go myself"
Not less than ten young men, and one
old man, Josiah Bishop by name, volun-
teered 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"
It 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, buc suggested that
Capt Daniel Hawley Of Newfield, 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 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.
Inthe 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 Ot:tside