The Newtown bee., 1897-08-20

ed between submission and resistance it was his influence that made 8 majority on the side of freedom and right. This zeal for American independence rendered the venerable patriot very obnoxious to the British. At one time, having disre- garded warning sent by some unknown hand, Mrs Fitzhugh was surprised during of British soldiers. Being like her hus- band, of heroic mold, she instantly de. cided on her course in this emergency. Collecting the slaves, she furnished them with euch arms as she could find; then filling her apron with cartridges she placed herself at the head of her little band and marched out to meet the enemy, resolved to give them at least one good round of shots by way of welcome. Find
 ing resistance where they had expected none, the soldiers retired without doing any damage.
 At another time they received informs tion of the enemy's design to attack the house by night, take Col Fitzhugh pris- oner, lay waste the premises and carry off all the plunder they could get. The coloneps friends dissuaded him from making any resistance, arguing that if the enemy met with no opposition they would perhaps be content with plunder- ing the house. They counseled him to leave the place, and this he reluctantly did. The next morning nothing remain ed of the mansion but heap of smoking ruins. The family then removed to Up- per Marlboro, 50 miles farther up the riv- CT.
 Even here he was not safe. In the fall before peace was declared, he was again attacked by the British. It was midnight when he and his wife were reused from sleep by loud knocking at the door.
 Col Fitzhugh raised window and asked ''Who is there?''
 ''Friends," was the reply.
 "Friends to whom," he again asked.
 ''Friends to King George!" was shout
 ed back. "Open to us at oncen'
 Knowing that resistance and remon
 strance were alike useless, the colone
 told them that he being blind, his wif'
 would immediately descend and admi
 them. Parting the curtains, Mrs Fitz
 hugh looked out and discovered tn
 courtyard to be full of armed men
 The night was cloudy and drizzlin! rain was falling, but by the faint moon . light the gleam of their bayonets coul be distinctly seen. The interpid woma did not hesitate. Lighting 8 candle Ban putting on her slippers she went sdowr
 stairs, stopping on the way to wake ' her sons, give them their pistols and e1 ] hort them to instant flight. They lei l. by the back door as their mother turne D the ponderous key of the front entrance D The soldiers rushed in, touched her nigh t dress with their bayonets as she turne - to leave the door. She walked calml T before them into the parlor, and, at D dressing the officer, said she hoped he il 8 tended doinggthe inmates of the hous - no harm.
 'sNo, Madam" he replied, 'but l nut r see Col Fitzhugh at once." Then seein [ some articles of military dress in th g room, he demanded :-
 t "What officers have you in the hous' madamP"
 "There is no one here but my ow
 family" she answered.
 ' The men spoke together for few mil e utes in 8 low voice, and then the que r tion was repeated. The same reply ws s given with perfect calmness. Mrs Fit D hugh then went upstairs to assist u n colonel in dressing forgetting in h. anxiety for him to dress herself. Whe . they entered the parlor the British Q : ficer said -
 "Your are my prisoner, sir, and mu
 go with me to New York; al ''so be it, was the colonel's repl. r "but it seems to me that my age ar