The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-09-21
A GIRLS STRATAGEM.

90 battles, the great
events, bu. touches
npon them briefly. leaving the details
all that made up the real life OF the
actors. almost wholly unrecorded. Ana
vet it is only by these details OF per-
sonal adventures-the trials, suffer-
ings, sacrifices, perils and heroic ex-
plots of individual men and women
that we can form anything like a cor
rect idea of those troublous times,
which developed all the noblest emo
tions and basest passions of the human
heart.
After the British army became es-
tablished in the south, the states OF
Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina were literally overrun with
organized bands of foragers, marauders
and plunderers, composed in many IN
stances of desperadoes of the vilest de-
scription. Tories and British soldiers
united in preying upon the weak ana
defenseless, and crimes of every enor-
mity marked their desolating progress.
Houses were seized and plundered, ana
frequently burned afterwards; cattle
were killed or driven away; old ana
Young were tortured to make them re-
veal some hidden treasure; females
were kidnapped and treated in the most
outrageous manner; slaves were cap
tured or armed against their masters,
and all classes were shamefully abused
and even murdered with impunity.
Opposed to these merciless marauders
were a few badly-clothed, lifted
militia and rowing bands of wings,
who fell upon them wherever they
could. and often inflicted the most ter
rible retribution, SO that the whole
country literally became field OF
ravage, plumber, skirmish, battle and
desolation.
About fifty miles north OF Charles
ton. in the state of South Carolina, on
n branch of the Santee, lived family
bv the name of Crofts. Isaac Crofts,
the senior, with his two sons, John
and James, lads yet in their teens, had
ioincd the brigade of Marion In de-
Tense of their country, leaving the
plantation in charge of Mrs. Crofts
her two daughters, and few negroes
of both sexes. Two months had passed
away without any unusual alarm te
the household, when one dark, CLOUDY
evening, as the matron and her 1--WE
daughters were seated at supper, the,
were startled by the heavy trampini
of a body of horse, which shortly drew
ND in front of the dwelling. The mex
moment there were several heav.
knocks upon the door, as if struck witt
n sword or musket, and hoarse voic
Numbered out:
"Open. YOU Internal rebels, in tn
kings name, or we'll stave our way IN!
.sHeavens! We are lost-we are lost!
exclaimed the mother, clasping he
hands with all mothers anguish a
she thought what might be the fate
her beautiful daughters, of sixteen an
fourteen-the elder dark-eyed br'
nette. and the younger blue-eye
blonde. ',Oh! what shall we do? VIVA
shall we do?" she pursued, iookin
from one pale face to the other of tn
two girls who sat at the table wit
her.
Let them in at once, since they wi
break in if we delay" said Mary, I'll
elder of the sisters, with that calmnes
firmness and dignity which bespoke HI
no ordinary girl. open the doc
Hector, and do not stand there shive
ing. Surely the weather is not
cold" she continued, addressing
stout negro who stood trembling
the fireplace, with two wenches elm
ing to him, the eyes and faces of t
whole three expressing the most a
iect and paralyzing terror.
As the negro paid no heed to
command of his young mistress, I
girl started up and ran to the door n
self, reaching il just as it was on I
point of being forced open by I
angry men outside.
81 beg your pardon. gentlemel
said Mary, as she hastily drew ba
the bolts and threw the door open,
vealing her graceful and SYMMETRY
figure to the rude gaze of some twer
dissipated, cutthroat-looking fello'
in the undress uniform of British S
diers. II have kept you waiting
was not intentional; it was all
fault of my stupid servant. Walk