The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER VI.

burg, waiting Yainly 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 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 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
a 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
gunboats. Capnonading began before
the town was fairly awake. First a
big ball went over the hOuse-tops.
hitting a cupola on a church roof and
sending bell and timbers with crash
into somebody's dooryard. Then all
over the village hens began to caclle
and children to wall. People came run
ming out of doors half dressed. a
woman, gathering chips in her door
yard, dropped them, lifted her dress
above her head, and ran for the house,
Unable to see her way, she went around
in a wide circle for a minute or two,
while the soldiers were laughing.
Another ball hit a big water-tank on
top of the lead works. 1t hurled brok-
en- slaves and a big slop of water upon
the hOuse-tops, and rolled great
iron hoop over roofs into the street be-
low, where it rolled on, chasing group
of men, who ran for their lives before
il. The attack was an odd sort OF
comedy all through, for nobody was
hurt 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
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 were then but
handful and they were many. But
D'ri and l had no cause for shame Of
our part in If. We walloWed to our
waists i'm the snow, and it was red
enough i'm 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 were
never in the rear rank even then. Wa
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 a sight TO scare a trooper.
Everybody ran that day. and the Brit
ish took the village, holding il only p
hours. For our part in it D'ri got the
rank Of a corporal and / was raised
from lieutenant to captain We made
our way TO Sackett's harbor, where I
went into the hospital fer month.
Then came calling time of idleness.
In June we went with Gen. Brown
/
Seth Alexander and a half dozen
others-down the river to the scene of
our first fighting at Ogdensburg. camp
ing well back in the woods. 1t was the
evening of the 9th of June that the
general sent for me. lie was at the
mansion of Mr.. Parish where he had
been dining. He was sitting in his
= 90 L. !. I'll
and hair were brushed carefully for
ward. His handsome face turned to-
ward me with a kindly look
Bell" said he, 81 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. wish you TO
start Immediately, 90 along the river
10 Morristown. then cut over into the
Black river country and deliver this
letter TO the Comte de Chaumont, at
the Chateau lie Ray, in Leraysville. If
YOU see any signs Of the enemy, send
sepOrt to me at once. I 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 We're 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, and was the best hunter that ever
trod trail in my time. The night was
dark, but we rode at a 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 peering down at
us by the light of candle.
Everything quiet?" l asked.
Everything quiet" said he
Crossed the river yesterday. Folks go
back m forth bout the same way az
ever. Wife s in Elizabethtown now,
visiting"
We asked about the west roads and
went on our way. Long before day