The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-10

tinued volleys of small arms, and in a few
minutes the air was filled with the tumult
of a warm and well-contested battle
The two soldiers fastened with precipi-
tation toward the camp, accompanied by
their new acquaintance. Captain Dun
woodie threw several friendly glances at
the old man, who moved over the ground
with astonishing energy for his years.
In short time they joined the regiment
to which the officers belonged. when the
captain, squeezing the strangers hand,
earnestly begged that he would make in
quiries after him on the following morn
ing, and that he might see him in his a ,yn
tent. Here they separated.
Everything in the American camp an
nourced an approaching struggle. At
distance of few miles the sound of can
non and musketry was heard above the
roar of the cataract. The troops were
soon in motion. Night had set in before
the reserve and irregulars reached the
foot of Lundy's Lane, road that diverg-
ed from the river and crossed conical
eminence, at no greater distance from the
Niagara highway. The summit of this
hill was crowned with the cannon of the
British, and in the fiat beneath was the
remnant of Scots gallant brigade, which
for long time had held an unequal con-
test with distinguished bravery. A new
line was interposed, and one column of
the Americans directed to charge up the
hill, parallel to the road. This column
took the English in flank, and, bayoneting
their artillerists. gained possession of
the cannon. They were Immediately join
ed by their comrades, and the enemy was
swept from the hill. Repeated and bloody
charges were made to recover the guns,
but in all they were repulsed with slaugh-
ter. During the last of these struggles
the ardor of the youthful captain urged
him to lead his men some distance in adj
vance, to scatter a daring party of the
enemy. He succeeded, but in returning
to the line missed his lieutenant from
the station that he ought to have occu-
pied. Soon after this repulse, which was
the last, orders were given to the shat
tered troops to return to the camp. The
British were nowhere to be seen, and
preparations were made to take in such
of the wounded as could be moved. At
this moment Wharton Dunwoodie, impell-
lighted fusee, and taking two of his men,
went himself in quest of his body, where
he was supposed to have fallen. Mason
was found on the side of the hill, but
unable to walk from fractured leg. Dun
woodie saw and few to the side of his
comrade, exclaiming:
"Ah dear Tom, l knew I should find
you the nearest man to the enemy"
Softly, softly; handle me tenderly,"
replied the lieutenant; there is brave
fellow still nearer than myself. He rush
ed out of our smoke, near my platoon, to
make prisoner or some such thing, but,
poor fellow, he never came back; there
he lies just over the hllock. have
spoken to him several times, but l fancy
he is past answering"
Dunwoodie went to the spot and to his
establishment beheld the aged stranger.
1T is the old man." cried the youth !;
''lift him, and let him be carried in; his
bones shall rest on native SOIL"
The men approached to obey. he was
lying on his back, with his face exposed
to the glaring light of the fusee; his eyes
were closed, as if in slumber; his lips.
sunken with years, were slightly moved
from their natural position, but it seemed
more like 4 smile than a CONFUSION which
had caused the change. A soldiers mus
ket lay near him; his hands were pressed
upon his breast, and one of them con-
tanned a substance that glstened like
silver. Dunwoodie stopped. and removing
the limbs. perceived the place where the
bullet had found a passage to his heart.
The subject of his last care was a tin
box, through which the fatal lead had
gone; and the dying moments of the old
man must have passed in drawing it from
his bosom. Dunwoodie opened it, and
found paper in which. to his astonish-
ment. he read the following:
Circumstances of political Importance.
which involve the lives and fortunes of
many. have hitherto kept secret what this
paper now reveals. Harvey Birch has
for years been a faithful and unrequited
servant of his country. Though a man
does not, may God reward him for his con-
duct GEO. WASHINGTON"
1t was the Spy of the Neutral Ground,
who died as he had lived, devoted to his
country, and martyr to her liberties.
(The End