The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-12

IT PICTURES AN INCIDENT or
THE EVOLUTION.
nov Two Young womsa wayisid Brit-
Nh Omeers saa Captured Import
sat Dispatshss 90 Send 70
General Gresns.

In pretty. cory sitting room in shis
city. says writer In the Washington
Post hangs picture-a French litho-
graph of . few feet in Dimensions
that tells tho story Of an act Of hero
ism performed by two young women
In the days of the revolution. Tie
picture 10 colored engraving made
by Rigniel from the largo original
painting that was composed and exc
clted by barley. and is now In tho
Llovre. Paris The foreground Is filed
with animated figures, over which are
the branches Of trees and over the
foliage Is seen the partially obscured
moon sailing serenely across the rug
0ed edges OF the wind-driven clouds.
Three horsemen have been surprised
by an ambush OF two persons on foot,
and the suddenness OF the attack has
confused and perplexed them into q
state OF utter inaction that puts the
mounted party completely in the
power OF their foes. The attacked
are two British officers in full uniform
OF red coats and cooked plumed hats,
mounted upon superb white horses.
and courier. in plain dress upon o
black charger. One Of the two young
waylayers has caught the brides Of
the officers horses in the center OF the
road, while the other is receiving from
the courier, by tae persuasion OF Il
pointed pistol. package Of documents
that he Is drawing from the breast
pocket OF his coat The capturers are
sturdy youths with well-rounded
limbs that the Continental costumes
of the day bring into strong relief.
The hat Of one falling of. takes down
with 1t a mass Of dark tresses that are
blowing in the gale. The time is In
the early days Of the American revo-
luton. and the place is a country road
near Edgefeld. s. c.. in the settle
ment called Ninety-six. and about 100
miles west OF Charleston.
The story OF this stirring occur
renee is most interesting. Among the
women OF District Ninety-six who
were famed for their intrepid spirit
and daring exploits during the war,
lived Elizabeth Marshall Martin. wife
Of Abram Martin and member OF the
Marshall family OF Virginia. Mrs
Martin had seven OF her eight sons in
the service OF the country. The eld-
est. who served with distinction as q
captain of artillery at the seiges of
Savannah and Charleston. was killed
in the action before Augusta. The
other sons were spared.
Mrs Martin had two daughters-in-
law. the wives OF her two elder sons.
with her in the home, and 1t can DO
we'll understood that these ladies had
many q skirmish with the British Off
GERS in which wits were the
only firearms. Col. Cruger com
manded the invaders at Cam
bridge and Col Brown was in
charge Of a squad Of British at Angus
Ia Gen. Greene who commanded the
American forces most earnestly fos-
tered the spirit OF patriotic ENTHUSIASM
that prevailed among the people and
prompted them to many acts OF per-
sonNl risks and sacrifices
One evening intelligence was brought
to the house OF Mrs. Martin that q
British courier guarded by two officers,
conveying important dispatches to one
OF the upper stations. was to pass
along the road that night III were
as young as you two are" said Eliza
beth Martin to her daughters-in-law,
1.-The dispatches would not pass here
tonight" Thus exhorted, the young
women attired themselves in the cloth
ing Of their absent husbands and await
ed the august party. with the result
portrayed In the picture described.
One OF the French allies took the story
to Paris on his return after the war
was over and had the picture painted.
After receiving the precious packet
from the courier. the seeming soldiers
put their prisoners on parole and hast
ened home by q short cut through the
woods, well pleased with their nights
adventure No time was lost in send
ing the important documents by a
trusty messenger to Gen. Greene, who
expressed his thanks and appreciation
in person to the young heroines with
all due courtesy. The nights exploits
were not over. however. for our hero
ines when they had cleared the gates
OF the messenger.
The paroled officers thwarted In
their mission, returned by the road TO
Mrs. Martins house and asked for ac-
commodations a. weary travellers for
the night The hostess inquired the
reason for their return SO soon after
they had passed. and they replied by
showing their paroles. saying they had
been taken prisoners by two rebel
lads. Had you no armsP" was asked
by the ladies. The officers answered
that they had arms but that they were
90 suddenly taken on their guard that
they had no time to use their weapons
They departed next morning. having
no suspioion that they owed their
capture to the very women whose hos
pitality they had claimed. How bet
ter could the women OF the Revolution
be exempli6ed than In this heroic way !
The house In tho absence OF It's sons
was frequently exposed 70 the depre-
dations OF the Tories.
On one occasion they cut open the
feather beds and scattered the con-
tonts. Another time several British