The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-06-05
The GREAT VERMONT STORY
THE RANGERS
OR,
THE TORY'S DAUGHTER.
by JUDGE d. p, THOMPSON.
VOLUME III.
CHAPTER XIII, Continued
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER XIII, Continued. ,

Inree nearly cheers, bursting snor
.aneously from the listening ranks he
,ore MIN, told the gratified leader IN n
ne mad not overrated the spirit AM
enthusiasm of the men to whom a.;
PREF but effective appeal had been nd
dressed. "~' 'oen a''
The British forces, in the meantime
awaited the approach of their opno
menus In silence. Baum even forebor
10 open upon them with his cannon. i,
the delnsive hope that they woulf
prove to be one of the large bodies q
friendly inhabitants, who, he had beer
assured would rise up in arms 70 ioi,
ms standard as he advanced into IN,
interior. His suspense, however. wa,
soon ended. A scattering volley 81
musketry, followed by distant shout.
rose from the woods in rear of the sta
ZION occupied by the Indians And
suddenly the whole body of the saw.
ages, contrary to their usual custom.
quilted the woods, and came RUSHING
INTO the camp of their allies with man
ilestatlons OF the greatest surprise and
dismay. The next moment. Herrick at
the head of his long files of Rangers.
emerged into the open field, rapidly
formed them into columns, and adj
vanced towards the rear of the en-
emies' Entertainments while, at the
same time, Nichols and his corps were
seen approaching from the forest in
an opposite direction, to form the con
templated junction, and move on with
the former to the combined assault,
The moment the Indians obtained a
view of both these forces, and per-
ceived they were converging together
so as to form continuous line of bat
Ile along the rear, they began to mani
fest the greatest uneasiness and alarm.
And their innate dread of being sur
rounded soon be coming too strong for
the restraints of discipline, they broke
from their position, and. like a flock of
wild horses, commenced tumultuous
flight across the field towards the
Gods in open space between the two
approaching forces of their opponents,
who, quickly changing fronts. pour ed
in upon them rapid succession of de
structlve volleys. A fierce shout row
burst from the ranks of the assailants
and, when the smoke rose, line of
dark, lifeless forms marked the green
field nearly to the woods: others were
see J, crawling, like wounded reptiles, to
the nearest coverts while all the rest
of the savage foe had disappeared for
ever from the field Herrick and Mich
OILS having now resumed their march,
and Stark put his corps ia motion, the
three divisions. with two small thanking
detachments, dispatched along the
woods to the right and left of the main
body, all moved steadily on to the
different points of attack. They were
not permitted, however, TO advance far
upmoested for suddenly every part OF
the royal lines became wrapped in
clouds of mingling smoke and flame
while the heavens and earth seemed
rent by the deafening crash of ex-
ploding muskets, and the iarring con
cussions of cannon, which instantly
followed Unmovcd, however, by the
outbreak, the American
forces all moved steadily and rapidly |
forward till the forms of their oppo- |
nents could be dlscerned beneath the
lifting smoke. when they poured IN a |
storm of fire and lead which told with |
dreadful effect on the shrinking lines
before them. The general fire thus
fatally delivered was speedily re-
turned land the battle now commencing
in fear full earnest in every part OF the
ieId. both armies became so deeply
concealed in the whirling clouds of
smoke, which enveloped them, that the
opposing forces could be distinguished
,niy in the fierce CLEANS OF musketry
md the broader blade of cannon that
,urst necessarily long the lines, filling,
With the mingled uproar OF Thousand
thunders. the rocking valley and rever-
baratino mountains around. In the
our heroine and her com
nanion who, at the first shock OF this
err;hle onset had shrunk back IL con
from view of the scene, sat
staining on their humble couch to the
on rfuI din that assailed their recoll-
no scene in every direction around
hem from without, with feeling when
an be far more easily imagined than
escribed. For more than an hour
lille the battle continued to rage
,;tb increasing violence and showers
= bnllets we're heard every moment
tr;king and burying themselves III
he loos composing the walls OF thelr
namlnplN utNOltO oit'tS'
nd trembling girls renamed 10 .ne
anne nositon dreading to look OUT up
n the field lest their eyes shoulu 20
reeted with the sight OF the uean.
nd carnage which they full well knew
INST be there going on to fearful p eS
ant among both friends ana ioes p na
ahrev,s Increasing anxiety for the re
nIt at length, mastering an o;ne
ons,derations she arose and agains.
he remonstrances of her companion
dyanced towards the window. .,o
e "HoW awful! p she exclaimed as she
,,n need out on the terrific confiicI.
,ora some use in SO doing, 'respondeu {
Inc "If we we're permitted 10 MN tnr
Il, ,n in the fight with our friends Il !; 10, Ioa
ne ne ~ would be willing to brave an 'hG
o r, of the battle for the goou
;abt do shut, as this cannot De WHY
no rsele @ Now, l do entreat YOU
use,e to venture no farther, she con