The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-06-05


: them-the complimentary greetings q
! the gallant hero of the day, and othe
distinguished persons soon gatherin
. around her and her fair companion, a
J they stood shrinking from the admira
of one, and the position OF both, hat
called forth from the lips OF all-thei
welcome escape from the embarrassing
scene, in carriage, under the guidance
of Bart, to whom they we're given II
charge by WOODBURY. as he hastily de
parted at the head OF chosen banG
OF followers, in pursuit Of Peters, nd r
body of tories that were discovered to
have escaped-the passage Of the vehi-
Gle through the contested field,
ploughed up by artillery, blackened by
the fire and smoke Of battle and
strewed with the dying and the dead
among whom the busy groups of the
dismissed soldiery were everywhere
scattered in pursuit of their different
obiects-here to collect plumber from
their slain enemies and there to min
lister to the wounded. or search amang
the fallen for missing comrades-all
these followed so rapidly upon a vic
tory the sudden announcement of
which had nearly overpowered her
with joyful surprise that it was not
till she and her companion had passed
beyond the confines Of the battlefield
and entered upon the comparatively
solitary read leading towards the vii
lage of Bennington to which they were
now directing their course that she
could realize her happy deliverance.
Then for the first time during that ter
rible day the woman in her prevailed
and she melted into tears. But they
we're the tears of Joy and gratitude
that she and her native land whose
immediate fate had so singulary bt
come interviewer with her own had
alike been permitted to triumph. We
must, however, leave her and her
friend to indulge their overlooking
feelings, and listen to the recitals of
the no less happy Bart, who had tesn
in the hottest of the fight,
while they pursue their unmolested
way to their present destination-we
must now leave them, and return
once more to the field of battle: where
the dismissed troops were sti busil y
engaged in gathering up the trophies
of war, preparing refreshments and ex
ulting over the glorious result of the
conflict little dreaming OF any further
appearance of the enemy after SO signal
a defeat.
But bark! What means that heavy
firing which suddenly comes echoing |
purtend only some skirmish Oh the line |
Of the retreat where portion of the
foe have come to stand to shield the |
rest or favor their escape? No; it is the
booming of the deep mouthed cannon
and not those of the defeated forces
for they have left all theirs behind |
them. While every eye and ear
through the hushed field were turned
in anxious perplexity towards the
sounds horseman came dash
ing at full speed along the wood begirt
'oad from that direction, loudly pro-
claiming as he drew near, the startling
u Intelligence. that the broken and fly
ng bands of the enemy had been met
md rallied by re enforcement of 5000
resh veteran troops, well supplied with
and the whole, making
more formidable army than the first
md evidently resolved to retrieve the
ost credit of the day and revenge
themselves on the vlctors, were rapid
y approaching, and within two miles
4 the place!
The next moment the loud and quick
y repeated cry of ITO arms! To
rms!" rang far ard wide over the
ED Then followed the rapid roll of
he alarm drums, the rafting Of hastily
rasped muskets, the trampling of hur
wing feet, and the confused clamor of
oices while the scattered and com
1ingling bands of the surprised troops
'ere seen throwing down their plum
er, or leaving the half -partaken meal,
nd flying. in all directions, to their re-
pecctve raliying points, to be ready to
leet the menaced onset. and die or
eep the field they had so gloriously
ION. But Notwithstanding the spiIit
nd alacrity with which the troops re-
pended to the call, SO rapid was the ,
dvance of the enemy, that, before with I
II his energy, could collect much more
han half his former forces, refit them
18th ammunition and bring them into
ne the British, led on by the cool and
xpeI fenced Breyman. and driving be
lre them the detachment of Amer
.ans sent in pursusit of the fugitives, h
anne pouring into the field land, imme a
lately throwing themselves into bat a
e array, opened tremendous fire, /
nth cannon and small arms, upon the
af formed lines of their opponents
altering to dispute their passage in Il
ont. The Americans returned the fire, o
hich, though partial and irregular,
as yet 80 well directed as to put
check upon the advance of
he foe. But the latter, seeing the
npreparcd condition of the former,
I'D becoming confiden. of an easy vic
Try, we're soon again upon the ad
ance; with Stark. destroying the
that had sheltered the foe
the first action, as far as the time
ould permit, and dragging the cap
lred cannon along with him, slowly
ii back, { ontinuing to make his dis
1sitions and pour from time to time
he went, his we'll aimed volleys upon
e thinning ranks of his pursuers. At
lived, in despite of all his disadvan
ges, to make final and desperate
fort to regain the lost mastery OF: the
ED. But closer apd closer pre- ssed
e exulitng and determined foe; and,
though we'll and bravely did his
,akened and exhausted men repel the
cree charges of their assailants, yet
soon became evident that they could
IT long Withstand the repeated as
ults of those heavy and disciplined
lumns upon their unequal lines.
9TH the men and their officers began
exchange doubtful and despairing
ances land even their bold and IN
Gliding chief was seen to look uneas
, around him. But at that critical
ncture, when the fate of the free
en- ed trembling doubtfully in the
lance, an inspiring shout rose from
g copse wood bordering the road in