The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-24
CHAPTER VI.

We had been four months in Ogdens.
burg, waiting vainly for some provo.
cation to fight. Our own drilling was
the only sign of war we could see on
either side OF the river. AT first many
moved out of the village but the mill
was kept stunning, and after a little
while they began to come back. The
farms on each side of the river looked
as peaceful as they ever looked. The
command had grown rapidly. Thurst
Miles OF my own neighbour God had
come to enlist shortly after D'ri and |
enlisted. and was now in my company.
In September, Gen. Brown was
ordered to the western frontier, and
capt. Forsyth came to command us.
Early In the morning OF October 2, a
man came galloping up the shore with
warning, saying that the river was
black with boats a little way down.
Some of us climbed to the barracks
roof, from which we could see and
count them. There were 40, with two
eunboats. Cannonading began before
The town was fairly awake First a
tiG ball went over the house tops,
hitting cupola on church roof and
sending bel, and timbers with a crash
into somebody's dooryard. Then all
over the village hens began to cackle
and children fp wall. People came run.
ming out Of doors hail dressed. A
woman, gathering chips in her door
yard, dropped them. lifted her dress
aDoVe her head. and ran for life house.
nabie 10 see her way, she went around
Ia wide circle for a minute on two,
While he soldiers were laughing
Another aall hit big water-tanll on
TOP Of the lead works. Ii hurled brok-
On slaves and 4 big slop OF water upon
the hoRse-tops, and rolled a great
iron hoop over roofs into the street be-
low, where II rolled On, chasing a group
Of men. who ran for their lives before
Il. The attack was an odd sort of a
comedy all through, for nobody was
burt, and all were frightened save those
Of us who were amused. Our cannon
gave quick reply, and soon the British
stopped firing and drew near. We
knew that they would try to force a
landing, and were ready for them.
We drove them back, when they PUT
OF. and that was the end of it.
Next came the fight on the ice in
February-a thing not highly credit
able 10 us. albeit we were then but a
handful and they were many. But
Dri and | had no cause for shame of
Our part in il. We wallowed TO our
waists in the snow, and II was red
enough in front Of us But the others
gave way there on the edge of the
river, aud we had to follow We knew
when IL was time to run. we were
never in the rear rank even then. We
made off with the others, although a
saber's point had raked me In the tenn
pie, and the blood had frozen on me. |
and | was sight TO scare trooper |
Every body ran that day and the Brit |
ish took the village, holding it only ~ |
hours For our part in II D'ri got the |
rank of corporal and | was raised /
from lieutenant to captain. We made
our way to Sackett's harbor. where |
went into the hospital for month.
Then came a CALLING time of idleness.
In June we went with Gen. Brown
-D'ri and | and ThlSst Miles and I
Seth Alexander and a half dozen
others-down the river TO the scene of
our first fighting at Ogdensburg, campo
ing well back in the woods 1t was the
evening of the 9th of June that the
general sent for me- He was at the
mansion of Mr. Parish, where he had
been dining. He was sitting in his
dress.sult. His dark side-whiskers
and hair were brushed carefully for
ward Ills handsome face turned to-
ward me with kindly look.
Bell" said he. II wish to send you
on very important business. You
have all the qualities of good scout
You know the woods YOn have cour-
age and skill and tact. wish you 10
start Immediately, so along the river
to Morflstown, then cut over into the
Black river country ard deliver this
letter TO the Comte de Chaunont, at
the Chateau lie Rag. in Leraysville. If
you see any signs of the enemy, send
a report 10 me at once. shall be here
three days. Take Alexander, Olin, and
Miles with YOU they are all good men.
When your letter is delivered, report
at the harhor as soon as possible"
I was on the road with my party in
half an hour We were all good horse
men. Dri knew the shortest way out
of the woods in any part OF the north
country. Thurst had travelled the
forest from Albany to Sacketts har-
Dor. aud was the best hunter that ever
irod a trail in my time. The night was
dark. but We rode at a gallon until we
had left the town far behind us. We
We're at Morristown before midnight,
pounding on the door of the Red Tav-
srn. The landlord stuck his head out
of an upper window peering down at
us BY the light of candle
Everything quiet?"I asked.
Everything quiet said he s
Crossed the river yesterday. Folks go
back n forth bout the same way as
ever. Wife s in Elizabethtown now, 7
visiting"
We asked about the west roads and E
went on our way. Long before day