The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-08
THE LOT OF DEATH.
BY CLINTON ROSS.

Colonel Blair, the commandant, told
US this many times at the New York
meetings of the Cincinnati, when we
all were inclined to gossip, and to tell
of this battle and that, and the dare
devil things We had done, or would
have done if we had had the chances of
other men.
"But by Caesar ~ cried Timothy
Blair, his well weathered face turning
even redder, '.Tve faced shot many,
many times-without running; you
know that, so / can say il without
boasting. Yet this time | wanted to
give 'em my heels. Here was | with
the Generals order to deliver, and such
an order, too! And here waiting me
were these gentlemen-some mere boys
like my own, with mothers and fathers
at home. And they were Englishmen,
too. They were gay lot, and you
some way respect man who can laugh
when he is defeated. Well, I'll wit
ness that his Lordship of Corvallis
officers were as nice and companiona-
ble lot as ever were born. Now, they
were assembled before me, by my or
der, which was that of the General-in
Chief.r
"Well, it took me a long time to
clear my throat
Gentlemen | managed to say at
last, gentlemen, a lot has to be drawn
ga lot, Colonel Blair Come,
whist is better game, said Captain
Ludlow, Lord Ludlow's second son,
who always was joking me but now |
looked at him sternly.
"It's, gentlemen, no game. | wish
to Heaven it was. It's the lot of
DEATH
MY manner sobered them a bit,
think, they only stared now in won
der"
" Gentlemen | went on, my voice
firmer [ think now that | heard it "A
murder has been committed by the
eonnivance of British officer. An
American citizen, held a prisoner of
war i'm New York, brave mani
knew him myself-Major Huddy, was
taken from Jail in New York, carried
over into Jersey, and hung on Middle
town Heights, a placard over his body:
"Here hangs Huddy for Philip White"
"'But very well, Colonel Captain
Asgill, little boyish chap, interrupted,
what is White, or your interesting
Huddy to us?'
ats this, gentlemen said |, see
ing | could evade il no longer. Sir
Henry Clinton has refused to punish
the offender who caused Major Hud-
dy's murder. Gentlemen, the military
court of the Army of the United States
presided over by General Washington
has decreed that British officer of the
army of the Earl of CORVALLIS, held
here as a prisoner of war, shall be exc
cuted in retaliation-if Sir Henry Clin-
ton does not punish the real offender,
gentlemen, lots are to be drawn among
you.
AGO on with your damnable farce |"
'sThe lots were drawn, and rs one by
one they fell out, those that were left
became paler, until two were left
only two. One of these was boy of
nineteen, Captain Asgill, Sir Charles
Asgills son. He took it almost light
ly; but my heart went out to him. He
was no older than my own boy. How
finely he looked, how bravely he laugh
ed. Gentlemen of the Cincinnati, that
little captain of CORVALLIS had the
stuff in him."
"Well, my friends, Captain Asgili
had the lot of death, and his comrades
looked at him pityingly, and then grew
angry, and swore at Us Americans,
and at Washington. But | couldn't
blame them much that day; for in their
places | might have been bit profane
myself.