Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-04-15
ALlrrLE HEROINE.

: IOTdSinS party from the BrltISl
. camp in Philadelphia, made de
scent upon the farm of Major Ru
dolph, south of the city, at Darby
Having supplied themselves wei
] with provender, they were about to
begin their return march, when one
} OF the soldiers happened to espy a
valuable cow, which at that moment
unfortunately made her appearance
In the lane leading to the barnyard,
and poor Sukey WAS immediately
contscated for the use of the COM
pany.
\ Now, this unfortunate COW hap
pened to be the pride of the farm,
and was claimed as the exclusive
property of Miss Anne Rudolph
the daughter of the house, aged
twelve years. OF course no other
animal on the estate was so impor-
tant as this particular COW, and her
confscation by the soldiers could
not be tolerated for q moment. So
Miss Anne made an impetuous
dash for her recovery, bat finding
the men deaf to her entreaties, and
the sergeant proof against the storms
of her indignation, the high-spirited
child rushed over to the stables,
saddled her pony, and was soon gal
looping off towards the city, deter
mined to appeal to the commander
in-chief of the British army, if moth.
ing less would save the life of her
! favorite.
Meanwhile, poor Sukey trudged
on, her reluctant steps quickened
now and then by gentle prick with
the point of a bayonet in her we'll
rounded side.
TO reach the city before the for
aging party was the one thought of
the child, as her pony went bound
ing along the old Chester road at
pace that soon brought her within
the British lines. She was halted at
the first outpost by the guard, and
the occasion of her hot haste was
demanded. The child replied:
L must see the general immedi-
atelyp
But the general cannot be dis
turbed for every trifie. Tell me your
business, and if important, - will be
reported to him.
1T is of great importance, and
cannot stop to talk to you. Please
let go my pony, and tell me where
to lind the generalp
but, my little girl cannot let
you pass until you tell me whence
you come and what your business is
within these lines
Il come from Darby, and my bus
mess is to see the general immedi-
ately. No one else can tell him
what have to saw
The excitement of the child, to-
gether with her persistence, had its
influence upon the officer. General
Washington was in the neighbor-
hood with his ragged regiments,
patiently watching his opportunity
to strike another blow for the liberty
of the colonies. The officer well
knew that valuable information of
the movements of the rebels fire.
quently reached the British COM
mander through families residing
in the country and still in secret,
friendly to the Crown. Here might
be such case, and this consider
alton determined the soldier to send
the child forward to headquarters.
So, summoning an orderly, he
directed him to escort the girl to the
general.
1t was late in the afterooon by
this time, and CORVALLIS was at
dinner with u number of the British
officers, when "a little girl from the
country with a message for the gen.
eral, was announced.
Let her come in at once said the
general and few moments later
Miss Anne Rudolph entered the
great tent.
For moment the girl hesitated,
overcome, perhaps, by the unex-
pected brilliancy of the scene. Then
the spirit of her 'RedwOlf ancestors
reasserted itself, and to her, Corn !
wallis in full dinner costume, sur
rounded by his brilliant companions,
represented only the power that |
butchers knife.
well, my little girl, am Gener-
al Corvallis said that gentleman,
kindly, what have you to say to
me?'
Il want my cown
Profound silence reigned for mo-
ment, then came a simultaneous
burst of uprorious laughter from all
the gentlemen around the table.
The girls face Redeemed, but she
held her ground, and her set feat
ures and her flashing eyes convinced
the general that the child before
him was one of no ordinary spirit.
A few words of encouragement,
spoken, quickly restored
the equanimity Of the girl. Then,
with ready tact, the general soon
drew from her concise narration OF
her grievance.
why did not your father attend
to this for you?'
MY father is not at home, now
'And have you no brothers for
such an errand, instead of coming
yourself into a British camp%
Both of my brothers are away.
But, General Corvallis cried she,
impatiently, while you keep me
here talking, they will kill my
cowr
'So-your brothers also are away
from home. Now, tell me, child,
where they can be found p
My oldest brother, Captain John
Rudolph, is with General Gates
And your other brother, where
is hep
Captain Michael Rudolph is with
Harry Lee" The girls eyes fairly
blazed as she spoke the name of
gallant Light Harry Lee
Then she exclaimed: But General,
my cowp
'Ah, ha one brother with Gates
and one with Lee. Now, said the
general, severely, where is your
father p
'He was with Gen. Washington,
answered the little maiden (;
but he is a prisoner
So, so, father and brothers all in
the Continental army! l think you
must be little rebel"
'Yes, sir, If you please-I am
little rebel. But / want my COW y
well, you are a brave, straight
forward little girl, and you shall
have your COW and something more,
Ioo.' Then stopping forward, he
detached from his gariers a pair Of
brilliant knee buckles, which he {
laid in the child's hands. take
these, he said, 'and keep them as
of this interview, and be-
Iieve that Lord CORVALLIS can ap-
preciate courage and truth, even in
4 little rebel Then, calling an or