Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-11-19
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10, 1881.

SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 10, 1881.
Anna Bailey, the Heroine of Groton
Heights.
Ever so many nears ago, when was a
little girl, Miss Hampstead kept private
school in the old family house in New
London, Connecticut. The house still
stands and is 80 old that strangers some
times make pilgrimages there to see it.
The upper windows, half covered with
clinging vines, belong to what long ago
was the schOOl-rOOm. There we children
sat at our desks and learned our lessons,
and sometimes behind the lifted desk
lids, read fairy-bOOks. A great heavy
beam ran through the middle of the
ceiling overhead, which with its cross
beams supported the garnet floor, and
we used to like to look up and trace
queer shapes and figures in the spots
where the yellow wash had faxed off
from the hard dark wood.
NV desk was by window, and near
me sat the Colt girl and Fanny Howard.
There were eighteen or twenty of us in
all, and merry times we had at recess,
running around the yard, or lowering
about the currant bushes and under the
plum trees. When it was stormy and
we could not play in the yard, Miss
Hampstead told us stories, or put up q
swing on the big beam, and let US
amuse ourselves with that. N'
One bright morning, as l entered the
gate, the girls came running to meet
me, full OF excitement.
"oh oh r. they exclaimed, miss
Hempstead's going to take rs to walk I"
"Wherep' / asked eagerly. As 4
'She won't tell US. Obi isn't 1t splen-
didp Don't you wish she would tell?"
When we were all in the sch0ol-rOOm,
instead of beginning the usual lessons,
Miss Hampstead gave us an extra lesson
in history, and 1t was all about the Bat
tie Of Gr0ton Heights, which was fought
on the 9Th Of September. 1881.
We had all seen the tall gray mOnu-
ment on the heights across the river but
we had never realized before how many
brave men had laid down their lives
there fol-, their country. Now we learn
Cd how this handful of men had again
and again driven back the enemy who
came swarming up the hill from their
boats, how they were at last overcome
by numbers and through lack of ammu-
milton, and how, when they surrendered,
brave Col. Ledyard was run through by
the brutal British officer to whom, when
asked who commanded the fort, he re-
piled:
II did, sir. but you do now"
Then we learned about the cruel at
ter-scene, when the wounded prisoners
were piled in rude wagons and pushed,
jOlting over the stones, down the steep,
rocky hill to the water-side.
The whole story thrilled our young
hearts and made little patriots Of us at
once. 1t was recital to kindle glow
on our cheeks and bring tears to our
eyes. We were all so young that think
it was relief to us, in our intense state
of feeling. that at one point of the mar.
rative we could break into an exultant,
excited laugh. r-,.
That was when we heard how, as the
fight progressed, Anna Baily, Groton
girl, made her way to the fort to see
to those of her own family. There was
firing, for the soldiers had nothing left
dismay reached Anna Bailey where she
stood.
"Nothing for waddingr'
nOW COulu ouO HoiP Vsioulg MI III
slant she thought; an instant she hesi-
tated, and then with bright blush and
flash in her eye, she unfastened her
full, long. homemade flannel petticoat
and held it forth.
~"Will this do, men?"
The soldiers were in an enthusiasm.
Cheer after cheer went up for Anna
Bailey, and they waved the petticOat
oJoft Iila N bopnar of spopiro baf
they tore it up for use.
"(iirls, we'll hurrah for her too, when
we go out for recess p whispered one of
our number.
"Would you like to see Anna Bailey"
asked Miss Hampstead quietly.
ooh, is she alive?" we exclaimed.
"Where does she live? Oh, may we go
to see herr' 5. t-l.
'::That is where mean to take YOU"
said Miss Hampstead. "We will visit
the fort and monument first, and then
make our call on the good old lady who
lives on Groton Bank. You may get
your bOnnetS."
Oh how glad and excited we were
In very few minutes we were making
our way along the street to the ferry
boat. 1t does not take much more than
five minutes to cross the beautiful blue
Thames at that point, so before long we
were climbing up the steep, grass-grown
hill to the monument. There we read
upon marble slab the names of all who
had persisted in the fierce fight, so many
years ago. After resting in the broad
shade of the monument, we visited the
ruined fort, running up and down its
green entertainments, and threading one
bv one the passage through which it
was said the soldiers used to go out for
water.
But we had not forgotten that we were
to see Ann Bailey, and after we had ex-
plored the fort to our satisfaction, we