The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-12
Tho Journal Of a Hessian Baro-
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

corner near the door. My children lay
on the GROUND, with their heads In my
Ian. We remained thus through the
whole night. The horrible smells, my
cb;ldren's cries, and more than all my
own anxiety prevented me from closing
my eyes. c.c
1.-The next morning the frightful can
nopade began again, but from the other
side. Eleven cannon balls crashed into
the house, and we could hear them roll
ing over our heads. \ poor soldier, who
had been laid out on a table to have his
leg taken of, had his other leg shot away
in the mean time by a cannon ball. Ills
comrades all ran away and when they
came to him again they found that be
had rolled himself into a corner, IN his
terror. and was scarcely breathing. L
was more dead than alive, not SO much
at the thought OF our v danger as at
that of my husband, who, however, often
sent to ask how we we're, and to let Us
know that he was weii....
I'VE passed this night ike the pre-
| vious one. NV husband came once to
visit me. which lessened my anxiety and
gave NE courage again. In the morn
ing We began to arrange our quarters a
little better. Major Hamish and his wife
and Mrs. Reynolds made a little room
| for themselves IN a corner, with curtains
| before it. They offered to arrange
another for me in the same way. but |
nreferred to stay near the door, SO L
could get u easily In case of fire. l
had some straw piled up and laid my
beds On it, where | slept with my chill
dren not very far away were my women.
Opposite we've three English officers,
who, though wounded, were determined
not to stay behind In case OF retreat.
They all three swore solemniy that II we
we're obliged to retreat suddenly they
would not leave me behind, and each OF
them would take one of my children OF
his horse. My husbands horse was
always kept ready saddled for me. lie
often thought of sending me to the
Americans, to remove me from danger
but | represented to him that it woulc
be far harder than anything L had ye.
endured to be with people to whom
must be under obligations, while my hus
baud was lighting against them so h'
promised that I should keep on with the
army. Sometimes, in the night, III
fear lest he might have marched away
without Inc became so strong that l Woult
creep out of my cellar to reassure myself
When | had seen the troops lying abou
before the fire, IN the already rather coli
nights, | could s.eep more quietly.
Our cook kept Us supplied with food
but we found it hard to get water and
was often obliged to quench my thirs
with wine, and to give it to the chll
dren....At last we found a soldier wit
who had the courage to bring water tror
the rivera task which no one had bee
; willing to undertake, because the eDem
|, shot all the men who went to the river
, They did not harm this woman out OF re
spect to her sex, as they afterwards toll
us themselves.
eve we're six DAYS in this dreadfu
, condition. At last there began to
F, talk of capitulating, as we had hesitate
too long, and retreat was now lmpOssl
Bile. An armistice was proclaimed, an
!, nv husband, VINO was quite exhausted
[ was abe for the first time for weeks
! 90 to bed within four walls. In ordt
: that he might not be disturbed, | had
5 good bed made for him in a small roou
d and l slept with my children and my. W.
5 men in the adjoining parlor. But abo'
one o'clock in the morning, some or
e came and asked to speak with hin
5 Sorely against NY will, was obliged
e waken him. | could see that the me
sepe was not an agreeable one, as be d.
d patched the man at once to headqua
:. tiers. and grumbling lay down agal
e Soon after General Burgoyne summont
all the other generals and staff officers
d a council Of war, to take place early
e the morning; at which he proposed,
Y the strength Of a false report which
e. had received, to break the c%apitulatic
ID which he had already concluded with t
Is enemy. But it was at length decid
le that this was neither advisable nor pra
f ticable a fortunate circumstance for U
for the Americans told us afterwards tn
# we had broken the capltulation th
h would have massacrea US all, which tn
could the more easily have done as
had not more than four or five thousal
! men, and we had allowed them time
>, collect more than twenty thousand.
- ION the morning of the 10th of Oct
= Der my husband had to return to his pc
and [ to my cellar ...On the 18th t
p terms of capituIation were complete
The general surrendered to Gates, t
American commander in chief, and
=, troops laid down their arms and GA
themselves up DIS IIleOucio % Wal.
nc .At length my husband sent a messe
u. ger to me to say that | was to come
as him with the children. So | seated N
y self in my caleche, and in driving throu
the American camp | made the comic
ting observation that no one looked
no us with insulting chances; that they
greeted me, and even showed compassi
~ in their faces at seeing a woman vi
- little children. [ confess that | had t
afraid of going among the enemy, VIII
:, was quite a new experience for me.
= | apI reached the tent, a very fine look
- man came towards me, took the chlldl
~ out of the carriage. kissed and cares
=: them, and then, with tears In his ey
= helped me to descend. You are treu
w. ling he said to me. Don't be afrai'
nc mo replied for you look
!. kind, and you have been SO tender "
my children, that you give me courag
HE then led me to General Gate
~ tent, where | found Generals Burgoy
y and Phillips, who seemed to be on a VI
d. friendly footing with the former. b
goyne said to me, Have DO furtI
anxiety, for your troubles are all O
now,
Gle 4 answered that [ certainly need
o. feel anxiety, since our commander
use chief had none, and | saw him on ST
ca good terms with General Gates.
oil IL uo,nr,lu ctavcI 70 dippor xui,b q