The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-01-11
Select Storg.
THE MISSING LINK.
A TALE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY


lThe Baltimore iMd.) Evening World recently
offered prizes for series of Original Stories. The
| following, written by 7. Millard Hanson of 1123
North Fulton Avenue, Baltimore, Nd, was awarded
| the first prize. Read it.-EDIroRs OF ADvocATEl
In the early part of the year 1913, a
feet consisting of four ships and six frig-
ates, under command of that despicable
British officer, Admiral Cockburn, made
its appearance in the lower waters of the
Chesapeake bay, and taken as the vanguard
of the 40 vessels which year later landed
more than 5000 soldiers upon the historic
grounds of North Point, we can readily
form correct opinion of the character of
men whom the British government had
selected to bring again into subsection, a
people who had once wrestled their indie
pendence from its tyrannical hand, and who
had now av0wed their purpose to maintain
that sacred independence by recent de-
claration of war
No act of meanness, or cruelty, or theft
was too mean, or dishonest, to be perpe-
trated by that cowardly band of maraud
ers, proceeding under the guise of legiti-
mate warfare, and under the leadership of
the villainous Cockburn. Truly had the
honest and industrious people of the lower
counties of Maryland, adjacent to the bay,
had their souls tried to the utmost limit of
forbearance, and with ample reason was
the very name of Cockburn held by them
in utter execration, for barns were burned,
and dwellings were luted, and the sanctity
of families invaded, with a brazen effront-
cry which better became emissaries of Sa-
tan than the deputed soldiery of nation
famed for its military prowess.
When there were no longer objects
worthy the despoiling hands of these red
coated usurpers in the lower bay, their
desire for further conquest led them to
ascend almost to the point where Mary
lands master stream throws its arms about
its head like some mighty giant in
peaceful slumber, and when abreast of
ssOld Fairlee'' on the Kenten shore, the
feet was brought to anchor, and here sew
eral days were passed by officers and sold
iery in accommodating and in well directed
efforts to discover fresh objects upon which
to vent their pent up hatred for everything
which bore the name American.
After Cockburn had obtained sufficient
information from the bands of spies, who
returned to the vessel in due time, to give
bin clear idea of the course of the
stream tributary to that section of the
bay. and of the chief towns of importance
adjacent to them, be was not long in plan
ming out the tactics to he pursued.
-Four towns were marked for destruction,
and the forces were divided into two at
tachments. The larger of these was COM
manded by Cockburn himself and proceed
ed up the Elk river to Havre de Grace
and Frenchtown, where, after some show
of resistance upon the part of the inhabi-
tants. who were soon beaten back by force
of superior numbers, the most disgraceful
scenes occurred, and eventually these thirty
ing towns became but mass of shoulder
ing ruins under the blighting hand of
British despotism.
The lesser detachment was placed under
orders of Rear Admiral Stacey, hand
some young officer, and in every respect,
save in years of service, the superior of
Cockburn. He had eyinced strong dis
approval of the contemplate methods pur-
sued by his superior officer ever since he
reached American waters, but being COM
missioned to the unwelcome task of de-
stroying two beautiful villages which re-
posed in fancied security in one Of the
most picturesque spots to be found upon
the whole peninsula, he prepared to do the
work effectively.
These towns were to be reached by sail
ing more southerly course than that taken
by Cockburn. and were located about II
miles from the point of demarcation. The
news of the raid to be made upon these
two peaceful and defenceless hamlets,
spread in every direction, and caused the
utmost CONSERVATION among all classes OF
people thereabouts A militia of about
SO men was hastily organized and stationed
before the towns for the purpose of repul-
sing the invaders ifpossible, or, failing in
that, to protect the rights and interests of
the citizens by whatever means might be
practical to serve that end:
On the morning of the 9th of May,
1913, Rear admiral Stacey, commanding
600 men, in Is barges, entered the mouth
of the s. river, and began to ascend
its circuitous course. Never did the charm
ing scenery of that weird and romantic
waterway appear more beautiful than 1t
did upon that bright May day. Here did
the famous tribe of Tocwogh Indians once
reside, and upon these very moss-covered
banks where shot and shell were being
hurled with such dreadful effect, had many
council of war, or treaty of peace, or,
social function in the ethics of savagery
been held by the warriors of that aborigi-
nal band.
The stock oil ammunition of Stacey's
command must have been enormous, for to
this day pieces of shell and portions of
other singularly shaped projectiles are
picked up along the banks, or plowed to
the surface in the field for the entire length
of the river as far as the besiegers went
But on, on, the detachment moved, for
the objective point lay yet ahead. Mean
while, the deafening yolleys, which were
continuously belching forth from the deep
throated cannon, left no doubt upon the
minds of those deeply-wronged people that
the hour of their doom was at hand. That
their towns were to be destroyed, their
possessions pillaged, and perhaps their very
life's blood made to crimson the limpid
waters, whose placid surface playfully toyed
with the sunlight of that perfect May
morning
Nearer and nearer came the subalterns
of English despotism, until the angry
looking, death dealing feet was athwart
the hapless towns marked for demolition.
The puny seeming militia soon fled be-
fore the heavy firing which Immediately
commenced. What shot and shell could
not accomplish, the torch and the fagot
effectively supplied, and when the village
on the north bank of the stream had yield
ed its last homestead to the unjust fury of
| pr;t;sh r,olavolanca m, tho fnrce of the aftack