Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-18

about ths fort They wais1ed mp cau-
durssy and SLOWLY frun tho shme to-
ward the guarded gnfewaE.
The day was Just beginning to
DAWN ,and whRn Within thirty PAGES Of
the entrance they discovered the ssane-
incl pacing TO and fro with shoulder
ed r1usket- He saw them ali the
sazne moment and in an instznt his
challenge rang out:
who goes there, Halt and give
the oounterMgn."
eca, Hbat we are Americans, and we
want to see the commander"
A pariey now ensued between the
picket aud the visitors.
What have You got there!" asked
the sentry.
Chicken and egs for the soldiers.
and a jar OF preserves for the gen.
eral" replied Tony.
"A likely story. Who sent you?"
Mrs Uriah Leavitt, and I have
been here before. Sergeant Brown
knows me-" said Tony.
"Lai If faint little Tony Leavitt
himself. Come right along. l am
Sergeant Brown myself" cried the
sentinel, lowering his frelock.
At that moment there was a stir
and a commotion at the gate, and as
Seneca and Tony advanced up under
the frowning walls the strong, huge
portal swung open and a squad Of
officers appeared. One of them, a
man of more than average height,
with keen, piercing eyes and an air OF
command, gravely, inquired. What
have we here?"
Sergeant Brown respectfully lifted
his hat and gave a military salute.
cts all right, general; these boys
have brought US something to eat, and
I believe they have also q little pres
ent for you. What other errand they
may have l have not heard"
General st. Clair, for he it was who
was visiting the lines at this early
hour in company with his staff, turned
to the two awe-struck boys, took them
each in turn by the hand, as In a
gracious voice that sunk into their
hearts he said:
L am glad to see, my lads, that you
love your country. What are your
names?"
Seneca bowed and simply answered:
Seneca Goodyear. SIR"
MY name is Anthony Leavitt, and
I do love my country, SIR" said Tony,
with boyish fervor. my father is in
Schuyler's army, and mother says that
I may be a soldier, too, just as soon
as l am old enough. I am fourteen
now"
"Let us hope that the war will be
over before your services will be
needed" said st. Clair, with a grave
smile. "But you have risked your
lives tonight. Bursoyne's patrols are
everywhere; I hardly see how you
escaped them. Come with me, for I
see by your countenances that you
have business with ME"
General st. Clair conducted them to
his private room, when, on being in
terrogated, Tony related the object Of
their visit.
1.-THE British on Sugarloaf Hill?
Impossible!" declared st. Clair, his
bold c~ountenance paling.
TT must certainly be So" insisted
Tony, "for we heard an officer OF
dragons say so, and the amor will
be ready to play this afternoon"
Then are we indeed lost" said the
American general. "You have brought
us important information, young men,
and it may be the 9 of saving
not only u lives but the independ-
ence of our country-that is, unless
those batteries should be got into po-
sition to play upon us before twenty
four hours. 1t will not be safe for
you to leave the fort today, and to-
night, with Gods help, we shall all
seek safety elsewhere"
AS soon as there was Night sufficient,
a dozen spy-glasses were leveled at
the summit Of Sugarloaf Hill, but
day anxious chances we're cast at the
overlooking e%minence; but Providence
was fighting for the Americans
against the British, unknown to either
side, and no cannonade burst from the
mountain top. The British had work
ed less rapidly than they expected, SO
1t was late when a path was cleared
for the ordinance to be transported
to the summit. Then when all was
ready for the transportation, several
OF the horses refused to work, and in
one or two instances the wheels of
the cannon broke. It was not until
the morning Of the fifth that the Brit
ish batteries were in working order.
BY that time the fort was tenantless,
the Americans having deserted the
fortress during the night.
The fourth had been a busy day with
the garrison; General st. Clair had
held a council of war, and, with tho
unanimous appreciation of his officers,
had determined to avoid a surrender
by e%vacuating the place. According
ly the cannon were spiked in their
places, and the stores were loaded
upon several bateaux and sent up the
lake Of skenesborough, under convoy
of five armed galleys. The protecting
vessels were chased, by the enemy's
gunboats. and all Of them Taken; but
most Of the bateanx escaped during
the engagement.
So secretly and silently had the
American army retired that Burgoyne
did not mistrust the fact until his
scouts brought in word that the whole
army was in retreat five miles away.
General Frazer with one thousand
regulars was Immediately sent in pur.
suit, and coming up with the rearguard