The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-26

rapidly into the woods that they might
have time to reload. Finding that they
were not followed, they cautiously return
ed and soon discovered the British troops
: IN rapid retreat. The wagon containing
/, most OF the household articles was aban-
, doned, for the horses attached to it had
been shot. Detailing Angus, Burton and
two or three Others to look after the house
} and family, George and the rest we're
soon mounted and following the foraging
: party.
The singing bees had caused much
disorder In the British force; and when its
commander, two of his subordinates and
some of the men were slain, feeling of
alarm, approaching to panic, ensued.
There had been an uneasy sense of danger
In the air, and George, by his tactics had
unconsciously enhanced it, Moreover,
the vicinity of the dwelling had become
uncomfortable. Honey-bees are capable of
becoming as mad" as the "hornets" with
which the region became so famously as
ISOLATED, and in this instance they GENDER
ed most valuable assistance. In fact, they
bundled the British troops out of that
yard more quickly than position was
ever evacuated before. The officer on
whom the command devolved gave direc-
tions for rapid retreat to Charlotte, and
never were orders obeyed with more alac'
rity. After starting he remembered that
the house had not been burned, and he
sent back few men to perform this act
of vengeance. The squad returned very
reluctantly. As they approached the
dwelling, the bees assailed them with such
concentrated fury, that they fled without
accomplishing their purpose.
Meanwhile the news of the maraud had
spread, and the men and older boys of the
region as usual were focking to the line
of march. George eventually had re-
spectacle force in hand, and, following on
flank and rear, he bounded the British
party almost to the superbs Of Char
lotte.
1t was very evident that nothing more
was to be feared from the invaders that
day, and Angus and Burton soon posted
off to reassure Mrs. McIntire and Ella, and
to conduct them with the children, back to
their home. They were so thankful to
find it unburned, and its defenders I'M
harmed, that no time was spent in regret
over its wild disorder. The abandoned
wagon contained most of the articles of
which it had been despoiled, and after the
bees quoted down, Angus and Burton re-
stored them to their places. That which
had been carried off was trlhing loss
compared with the safety of the dwelling
ITSELF or its inmates.
Many of the chickens had escaped and so
had large proportion of the pigs which
at that season, ran almost wild in the
woods. The horses and cattle about the
barn had been taken, but there we're others
in distant fields, and the steed which An
gus rode was picketed with others belong
ing to the band we'll back in the forest.
Therefore, while Mrs. McIntire had suffer-
ed serious loss, and a severe shock from
anxiety and alarm, she had Jared, thanks
to the bees and her partisan friends, far
better than many of her neighbors. With
the aid of Angus and Burton Ella prepar-
ed another and famous BREAKFAST, and
when George and his party returned they
were Toasted to their hearts content.
First as rumor, then as glad certainty,
the news of the battle of Kings Mountain,
the death of Ferguson, and the capture Of
his threatening force, spread rapidly.
There was general and heartfelt rejoicing
among the people and gloom and dismay
in the British army. CORVALLIS found
that the country would no longer support
his troops, and that such provisions as
were obtained must be paid for in an ever
increasing price of blood. His communi-
cation with the south we're threatened, and
only the largest conveys of dispatches
and supplies came through in safety.
Seven days after the battle, which turned
the whole tide of southern warfare, he be-
gan in the night his confused and hurried
retreat. The people we're hoping, expect
ing, praying for this event. They did all
in their power to hasten it by their bitter
and unrelenting hostility, and when it took
place they acted.
George and his followers had determin
ed to take such nnal leave of their foes
as would not be for gotten. He and other
partisan leaders in the vicinity were in
secret communication with Charlotte, i'm
patiently awaiting their opportunity. On
the evening of October IA, one of his
scouts came galloping in with the joyful
tidings that the British were evidently
preparing to decamp that night. Angus
and Burton instantly darted off to an en-
inence not far from the house, and soon
two separate and distinct bonfires we're
|
numerous other beacons as far as the eye
could reach, until they appeared no larger
than stars on the horizon. By these fires
the hopes of the people of the region were
kindled. Possibly on the morrow, those now
hiding in forests might return to such
homes as were left to them, and Others be-
gin to rebuild from blackened ruins new
shelter from wintry storms already near.
But the blazing beacons had a more i'm
mediate significance. Every man and boy
who had a weapon and could use it was
expected to turn out now with the stern
purpose of giving the invaders one more
proof that the Hornets Nest" was no
place for marauding foreign soldiery. The
moonlight revealed groups at every farm
house door; men were saddling, mounting
and saying farewell in hot haste.
Lonely roads echoed to the swift tread of
horses feet Singly, in twos, threes and
dozens the hard riders concentrated to-
wards Charlotte. Slung across the back
of each CLEANED the long deadly rifle bar
rel. Those who had no mount pursued
short cuts through fields and paths IN for
rests to the same objective point.
CORVALLIS saw the ominiOus signs of
coming trouble and hastened his depar-
ture. The movement was not quiet and
orderly retirement, but retreat begun
and conducted in dire confusion. 1t
might have been disastrous rout had the