Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-01

~'3sAASJ WChC SSo lAdLy au0 TIC
Americans SO few and ill-trained, that
the ODDS were heavy against us. Many
people had been driven into the town
by Dunmore's men, who were plumber
ing the granaries and lighthouses and
spelling the dwellings OF the family
treasures left behind.
Patty,' my soldier said, IL we are
beaten at the Great Bridge, Dunmore
VIII plumber Norfolk Town.
No. Paul, he shall not
why will be not. my sweet7'
1 will not allow it..
What can you do. carry away the
town?
I'm destroy 1t, rather than let them
sack it,
Little firebrand!'
That's what mean to be If you
fail at the Great Bridge
VIII you p
~ will. Paul, if must
After other conversation, which I
am sure you could not understand,
Paul rowed away. 1 could not know
Tor at least three days whether he got
safely into camp. 1 cannot tell you how
long those days were. at shutdown of
the third day no one had come; sun
rise of the fourth came and no word
from the Great Bridge. I was sick
with anxiety. At O'Clock the old
butler knocked at my chamber door.
Miss Patty, he said when opened it,
dem redcohts comm in firm Great
Bridge way, laks Bad Men after EN-
Have any of our men come, John?
Dunno. Miss Patty so fin out and he
went away,
L had seen four of my frlends-glrls
who loved Virglnia-and we had agreed
that II the British took Norfolk Town
1t would be but a field of ashes. sent
a black boy to tell them the news.
The British soldiers were struggling
rnl, GU
reached the county wharf
Ihey came back in spirits much lower
than those in which they went out.
All the next day they kept coming in.
Many had been killed, also some of the
patriots. knew not il Paul was yet
alive; the fight had been short and
desperate, and he would be ever at the
front. We heard that the country was
rallying to Col. Woodford at Kemps
wharf. Lord Dunmore and his men
had gone. on board ship, and many
loyalist families with them, taking
what clothing and valuables they could
hastily get together. Some feared fam
Inc worse than n patriot victory, and
staid ashore. Five days after the bat
tie OF the Great Bridge the patriots in
vested the town. 1t was evening.
stood here looking over toward the
British fleet and wishing knew some
thing of Paul. Some one close to me
said: Patty" 1t was my beloved
soldier, weary and hungry, but sound
and well. 1 took him home and or
dered water and fresh clothing for him.
prepare ed him q hearty meal from my
mothers pantry. When he came down,
clean and refreshed, I served him my
self and heard as much of his story as
his exceeding modesty would allow him
to tell. A prisoner the patriots had
taken said that Lord Dunmore was en-
ragged at his defeat aud threatened TO
hang the boy who brought the news
He had expected an easy victory. The
patriots now proposed to guard the
shore so no redcoats might land to spy
or forage. My Paul went away in an
hour, ready for nights work
Our men succeeded in keeping the
British confined to their ships. They
began IN few days to get hungry.
The patriots served the loyalists as the
loyalsts had threatened to serve them.
Loyalists ashore and anoat found the
patriots n most uncomfortable parti-
ton between them.
On the last day OF the year Dunmore
sent word for the women and children
to leave the town, as he meant to bom-
bard it on the morrow. Church street
was crowded with refugees. My four
girls and myself went to the home of
my aunt, near town. We wore dark
clothing, and took with us plenty of
torches of fat pine. On the afternoon
of the next day the cannonade began
We divided our work as wisely as we
knew. took our torches and came In
along the churchyard wall. We met a
black boy running away, who told us
that the rcdcoats had landed and meant
to sack the town. Now, girls" said,
''be brave; only the ashes of Norfolk is
to be left for the redcoats. I'VE light
ed our torches and went the ways we
had agreed upon. I kept on down the
street to get as near as possible to the
wharves. Just as turned the first cor
ner-"
The rustic of n silk-lined skirt was
In the air; perceived the fragrance of
violets; services were over: I raised
my hat TO the first fair devotee who
passed the wishing oak" When I
turned again to my lady OF the brocade
petticoat and plumed hat she was gone.
and the earth showed no marks of her
little buckled shoes. do not know.
any more than the historian, who it
was burned Norfolk town that New
Year of 1776.
NJ. C. FAVILLE.