Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-22

snatched up every one they could get
hold of in those days, both man and
beast.
The man l lived with, George Davis,
had brother, Elijah, who was pressed
into the service, he and his wagon both
by the Continental officers. / knew the
old man very we'll.
During the Brandywine campaign
the men used to take the poor wounded
fellows into the first house met. The
soldiers would tear up the sheets and
bedding and anything they could lay
their hands upon to bind up the wounds.
BRANDYwINE LIGHT HORSE.
Two of my uncles, George Thatcher
and his brother, were pressed into the
service us Light Horsemen and were at
the battle of Brandywine. The Ameri-
can army was ordered to rendezvous at
Chester The English army was en- route
for Philadelphia. One Of my uucles
bled to death from the effects of ex-
posure during the campaign. He COM
menced bleeding internally and it could
not be stopped.
l don't remember hearing the old men
saying anything about the British off,
GERS or soldiers abusing or maltreating
the Brandywine farmers. As | say,
they always offered payment for the
cattle or grain they took, but took it
anyhow.
BELLE M'cLosKEY.
l want to say something about Belle
McCloskey. She is renowned for
having nursed General Lafayette after
his wound in the battle OF Brandywine.
often saw her. How | liked her
ginger cakes. l wish could have some
OF her coffee and cakes now. They
seem to me at this long gone day the
finest | ever tasted. She was hearty,
medium.sized woman. She always fol-
lowed the patriot army, at least when it
was around here. The generals wound
was In the ankle. Belle was at the
fight and first found him lying under a
tree when she Immediately gave all her
attention to him. He was afterwards
taken to place of safety. 1t was al
ways a wonder that he was not captured
by the British after the battle. Good
luck seemed to attend him always.
When the war was over Belle
McCloskey lived in Wilmington. She
used TO carry a basket laden full up
with ginger cakes, around the streets
from house to house. She had plenty Of
custom, for her cakes were as great a
favorite as she herself was.
BELLE M'CLosKEY's GINGER CAKES.
As country. boy, coming into market,
and who probably had had his bite of
breakfast at o'clock in the morning,
would like little more afterwards. !
got couple of pennies from old Aunt
Happy, good old lady, well.known all
over Brandywine hundred and in vii.
mington too, in those early times, and
then as Belle came around bought a
ginger cake, which was of good clever
Size in those days. Then i would go
across and buy a cup of coffee at the
stand in the market place on Fourth
street.
COUNTRY LIFE IN 1S20-THE WEAVER.
The country people always had looms
OF their own in the old days years ago.
Very few things were bought in the
stores. The members of the family did
the weaving. Near my home a man
lived whose regular business was that
OF weaver. | well recollecC how he
boarded around at the different farm
houses. Many is the time l went home
ut night with this weaver. He was a
very companionable sort of man and l
stayed at his house over night. He was
able. to weave both wooden and linen
goods.
THEN THE TAILOR CAME.
Then when the wooden and linen
goods were all woven the tailor would
be sent for to look at the material. The
bargain was made with him to make
pants, coats and vests for the men and
boys. The bargain was always for his
work and his board.
The wooden goods were dyed. think
logwood was chiefly used. 1t was all
done by the people Of the house. The
men who wore these goods considered
them as good as anything they could get
at the store. In fact every mans wife who
had charge of house Of any account
was herself mantua maker an6 tailor,
and would make the boys and mems
clothing and especially the clothes fol
summer. | don't remember but one
young woman who was what may be
called professional mantua maker
The best farmers wives did their OWL
tailoring and were proud of the styl,
they put in the duds.
HAD THEIR OWN LEATHER.
E,or,, fo.,,,,, -, H., ~
in his bonse He bonsbt !, ~ ~, AS .eas ons
from the tanner Thsra n.as ni $50" vos
closa hv ne T, ,ooi, -, ""s 'anh g.
montbs ~ tan soIa or 49, yn yesiS VI il
TIav wore rnoro na..;, upp ieathel
times and ;rstcaJ ps Ssus ~ 'nus'
now thaH mi, Saors 80 We 'a IN
isather ''A 'e"'' " piePAfe 'n'
-.-
THEN THE SHOEMAKER APPEARED.
In the fall OF the year the shoemake
! would come around hunting n ioh Fl,