Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23
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 running. and after q 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 neighborhOod had
come 10 enlist shortly after Dri 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 q 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
big bail went over the house-tops,
hitting a cupola on a church roof ARD
sending bell and timbers with crash
into somebody's dooryard. Then all
over the village hens began 10 cackle
and children to wall. People came rum
ming out Of doors half dressed. a
woman, gathering chips i'm her door,
yard, dropped them, lifted her dress
above her head. and ran for the house.
Unable to sec her way. she went around
In wide circle for a minute or two,
while the soldiers were laughing.
Another ball hit a big watertank on
top of the lead works. 1t hurled brok
en- slaves aud big STOP of water upon
che hOuse-tops. and rolled a great
iron hoop over roofs into the street be-
low, where it rolled on. chasing grCup
of men, who ran for their lives before
It The attack was an odd sort Of
comedy all through, for nobody was
hurt. and all were frightened save those
OF US who we're 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
off. and that was the end of it.
Next came the fight on the, ice in
February-a thing not highly credit
able to us, albeit We We're then but a
handful and they were many. But
Dri and had no cause for shame OF
our part in it. We wailowed to our
waists in the snow, and it was red
enough il front of us. But the others
gave way there on the edge of the
river, and We had to follow. We knew
when it. was time to run: we we're
never in the rear rank even then. We
made off with the others. although Il
saber's point had raked me in the tem-
pie. and the blood had frozen on me,
and I was sight to scare a trooper
Everybody ran that day, and the Brit
ish took the village. holding it only -
hours. For our part in it Dri got the
rank of a corporal and | was raised
from lieutenant to captain. We made
our way to i,ackett's harbor, where I
went into the hospital for month.
Then came CALLING time of ideeness.
In June we went with Gen. Brown
.-D'r and ! and Thurs Miles and
Seth Alexander and n half dozen
others-down the river to the scene OF
our first fighting at Ogdensburg. camp
ing we'll back in the woods. It was tho
evening of the eth 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-su!t. His dark side-whiskers
and hair were brushed carefully for
ward. His 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 a good scout.
You know the woods. You have cour-
age and skill and tact. l wish you to
start Immediately, go along the river
10 Morristown then cut over into the
Black river country and deliver this
letter to the Comte dc Chaumont, at
the Chateau lie Ray. in Leraysville. II
SOU see any signs of the enemy, send
. report TO 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 harbor as soon as possible"
was on the road with my party in
half an hour. We were all good hOrse-
men. D'ri knew the shortest way out
of the woods in any part Of the north
country. Thurst had travelled the
forest from Albany to Sackett's har-
Dor. and was the best hunter that ever
frod trail in my time. The night was
dark. but we rode at gallop until we
had left the town far behind us. We
were at Morristown before midnight,
pounding on the door of the Red Tav-
ern. The landlord stuck his head out
OF an upper window peerins down at
US by the light OF candle.
Everything quiet?" asked.
Everything quiet said he.
Crossed the river yesterday. Folks gu
back n forth bout the same way as
ever. Wife IS in Elizabethtown now.
visiting"
We asked about the west roads and
went on our way. Long before day
light We were climbing the steep road
at Rosie to the inn of the Travellers
Rest--a tavern famous in its time. that
stood half up the hill. with a store, a
smithy. and few houses grouped about
It. We came up at silent walk on a
road cushioned with sawdust. D'ri
raped on the door until I thought he