The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-04-03
THE HERO OF DEEP RIVER.
A True Story Of the American Revolution.
BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON.

.'Where are the rest Of cur men?'

what! Do you mean to tell me that
these few are all that are left?"
Every man was taken last night
except these twelve"
''How did 1t happen"
when you left us, colonel, we kept
right on toward Deep River, just as
you ordered; but we hadn't gone more
than two miles before the Tories
caught US in their trap. They must
have had word that we were coming,
for they had divided their force ana
let us come right in between the TWO
bands. The first thing we knew they
were right in front Of us, there IN
Dunlap's Woods, and at the same time
they began to push on from the rear.
They were yelling and shouting, and
1t seemed as IL they had us surround
ed So we made break Of 1t, ana
few OF us managed somehow to get
away. They got all the others"
II never would have believed that
John Hall could have been caught by
any such foolish trick as that! left
him in charge because ! believed MIN
to be the best man of the lot"
$50 he is"
1--WE must get him out Of the Tor
les clutches!" said Colonel John Gil
lespie, excitedly. "He is a good man;
too good to leave in their hands. We
must do it right away, too, or 1T may
be too late! John Hall isn't man that
the Carolina Tories will be easy with
1t may be too late even now" added
the young colonel, as, in the early light
of the July morning, 1878, he gazed
eagerly into the faces Of the little
group of men--all that now remained
Of the partisan" band, Of which he
was the leader. "Have you any idea
where the Tories camped?" he de-
manded, quickly.
Yes, sir. Sam Forbis followed EN-,
and he came back here about half an
hour before you did, colonel
Where are they, Sam?" demanded
the colonel, turning to the young pa
triot as he spoke.
"They're down near Smiths Cove
camped right on the bank there in the
piled young Forbis,
That's not more than three miles
from here" said the colonel, quickly.
eve can make dash at the spot and
get our men out before the Tories are
fairly awake. We can do it! / know
we can do it! You're sure, are you,
that John Hall and our men are
there?" he added.
Eyes, colonel, l saw them. | crept
up within forty yards of the camp,
and could see John Hall as plainly
as see you" Young Forbis spoke
slowly, and there was none of the en-
thusiasm manifest in his bearing which
the young colonel betrayed.
"Then Wen get 'em! Well free CIV
cry man! All we need to do is to creep
up and make rush on the camp! The
Tories won't"
Colonel, do you know how many
Tories are in that camp?" interrupted
Forbis.
mo, / don't know, and don't care,
We can"
There are more than hundred of
them" again interrupted Forbis. "They
are ten to one against us, and we'd
stand no more chance than we would
to charge the whole army Of Clinton"
"That doesn't make any difference!"
asserted the young partisan" colonel,
quickly. 1--WE can make as much noise
as a thousand men, and if we come at
the Tories with rush they won't
know whether we're dozen or five
hundred We must take them off their
guard, and"
"Do you think you can do that,
colonel?" inquired Thomas McAdoo,
with the freedom which the little band
of Wings was accustomed to speak to
its leaders.
"We can try 1t, can't we?" retorted
the colonel, quickly. "Ah, / see you
men don't believe it can be DONE" he
added, as he glanced at the group
about him, not one of whom betrayed
by word or look any confidence in the
project. That's all right. wont ask
one Of you to so with me. I'll go
alone, for don't Intend that one of
my men shall ever have the chance to
say that he fell into the hands of
these rascals, and his colonel never
lifted finger to help him."
I'VE know just how you feel, col
ionel," said young Forbis, slowly, land
1--WE know you wouldn't leave one Of lis
in trouble If you could help it. But
Just look at i" he pleaded. There