Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-05

letter To the governor, VINO soon
returned with the orders Of the
executive to secure the prisoners
Col. Smith again repeated that "if
they would pledge themselves not
to abscoud, he would not cause
them to be confined Upon which
one Of the bcItons spoke and
observed to Fisher, "that his pro-
test was unavailing, and that they
must patiently submit to their
fate Then addressing himself to
Col. Smith, he observed, "they
would not enter into any pledges,
and he must dispose Of them as no
thought proper" The colonel then
ordered them to lie placed unChr
guard.
Shortly be fore this, three hun
drcd lIeSSian prisoners had been
sent TO Winchester there was
consequently a guard ready pro
pared to receive these exiles, and
they remained in custody about
eight or nine months: during which
time Two Of them died, and the
whole of them became much defect
ed and it is probable more ofthem
would have died of broker hearts,
had they not been permitted to re-
turn.
Some time after the British left
Philadelphia. these cxilcs employ
cd the late Alexander White, Esq,
a lawyer near Winchester, for which
they paid him one hundred pcunds
Virginia currency in gold coin, to
20 to Philadelphia, and negotiate
with the executive authority Of the
State to permit them to return
to their families and friends in
which negotiation White succeed
cd and to the great JOY and heart.
felt satisfaction of these captives,
they returned to thcirn native homes.
In the absence Of tho cxilcs, Sir
William Howe, the British gencr-
al, had taken mp his head quarters
in John Pcmbcrtor's dwelling house
1t was splendid building, and had
been much abused by the British,
who also occupied several other
houses belonging TO Pemberton,
which were much injured. Penn
berton owned an elegant carriage,
which Sir William had taken the
liberty Of using in his parties Of
pleasure. When pcmberton saw
the situation ofh;s property, he
obtained PERMISSION from the prop
er authority, and waited on Sir
William Howe, and dcmandel in
Identification for the injury done
to his building and carriage. The
plain and independent language
he used to Oh, British general on
this subject, uas as remarkable for
its bluntntss. as 10 was for its fear
less character. "Thce has said
he) done great Gamagc to my
buildings, and thee suffered thy
Wits to ride in my carriage, and
my wife Will not use it since thee
must pas me for the injury, or
will go to thy master (meaning the
king Of England,) and lay my com
plant before him Sir William
could but smile at the;honest blunt
ness of the man, and thought it
best 90 compromise, and pay him a
sum ot money, with which the old
Quakor was satisicd.lD
IN l710 there was considerable
Increase Of British prisoners at Win
chester, and in 1850 barracks were
erected abou; four miles west OF
the town, 10 which the prisoners
were removed, and regular guard
kent ovcrthcm. In l7Sl the num-
her of prisoners increased to about
1900.
1t was this year, in the month OF
January, that Gen. Morgan, at the
battle Of The Cowpens, in South
Carolina, gave the British Col
Tarlton a most signal defeat. In
this action Morgan displayed the
most c0nsummatc military skill and
bravery. Whilst the two armies
were closely engaged, Morgan, dis
covering the enemy were thrown
into some confusion, called ont in
| his usual stpntorian voice, "Hurra,
my brave boys! another close fire,
aud the day is ours. Remember,
NOrgan mas never bean beaten "
The author cannot now recOllccl
his authority fOr this statement
but has repeatedly heard it assert
ed by different individuals who
were acquainted with the fact.
In the year 1913 the author trav
clled through South Carolina, anC
called to see Mr.. William Gaines
with whom he had al intimate ac
Quaintance when quite a youth,
having been school-fcllows in this
county Frederick) Mr.. Calmc'
was well acquainted with Gen
Morgan, and related the following
anecdotc, in relation to Morgan
and Tarlton.
There were two brothers, by the
name Of, citizens Of Soutl
Carolina, men ofconsiderable wealth
and respectability, who joined The
British standard, and both obtain
ed cOlonel's commissions. One oI
them was at Corvallis head-quar
ters the day Tarlton set out deter
mined to take Morgan at all haz.