The Washington herald., 1912-06-02


Upon the morning after the fight, a:
lhe was busy with his daily paper, his
daughter came rdnning into his room
with an expression of much excitement
upon her face.
Come. father, quickly to the win
dow she said, for the Virginiau
/ troops are marching through the
] streets, and know that there viii be
| fighting even in our quiet town"
! well, well, daughter, we are indeed
in some jeopardy, so / think that per-
haps we had better leave the house fer
place which offers less danger to our
selves"
As he spoke, the patriot army came
down the street and the ragged fellows
soon disappeared to positions in the
rear of the houses, near the wharves,
where they could get good aim on the
war ships, which were drawn up be-
| fore the town with their broadsides
covering the wharf frontage.
There will be fighting, soon" cried
Priscilla, as she saw some of the rife
men take deliberate aim at the seamen
on the vessels, and, no sooner had she
spoken, than the sharp ping" of the
rifles of the Virginians, showed that
they were not going to wait for the
first attack to be from the British ranks.
by George" shouted Mr.. Dodd-
ridge, these fellows will be driven
away with one broadside. and our
house, too, will come tumbling about
our ears. Come, daughter, let US reach
place of safety in the rear of the
town"
As the came out upon the street, the
Virginia rihemen were firing with great
regularity, and so good was their aim,
that the British feet weighed anchor
and dropped down the river to a posi-
ton opposite the new town distillery.
A large brig loaded with salt, which
had been captured by Lord Dunmore,
was ordered to fall down the river
along with the squadron, but, in at
tempting to execute these orders, she
was brought to by the American rife
men, and a barge dispatched from the
men-of-war to take her off from
her dangerous position, was compelled
to return, after FIVE of the crew had
either been killed or wounded Just as
the brig was brought ashore, amid the
cheers of the Rangers, a boat in which
was a white flag of truce was seen ap-
preaching, and the officer in command
demanded the return of the vessel as
his own prize, but he was answered
that she was now an American posses
sion, and that she could not be restored.
by Jove," said Col. Woodford, when
this answer was sent to the British
Governor, this IS now where the bonn
bardment commences.
But he was disappointed, for only a
few cannot shot were fired into the
town, which did no injury and were
apparently intended to impress the
Americans of conviction of the Brit
ish means of destruction, wherever they
thought necessary to exert them.
Hostilities now ceased for near
week. during which time large frigate
called the Liverpool, and a store ship,
arrived. both of which were filed with
men. The whole feet now weighed
anchor, and moved in line of battle be-
fore the town, with springs on their
cables. They were a formidable array,
consisting Of the Otter. the Mercury,
the King Fisher-with her tender-two
schooners, four sloops, and the Tlbeck
and William, Lord Dunmore's newest
acquisitions.
"WaIl," said Old FlintIock to Jack,
as they looked, from the rear of 4
house, upon this strong array of Brit
ish might Don't look as If we had
er chance tew fight EN- even, does it!'
mo, indeed" replied Jack, "and l
feel that there will be trouble for these
honest townspeople before long, which
l much regret"
As he spoke, Mr.. Doddridge ap-
preached, with his daughter, and sa-
luted the two soldiers with a military
gesture.
well. my boys, we're in a tight
hole" he remarked, and | trust that
the British ships will not open FIRE, but,
if they do, trust that you will keep an
eye upon my house, over there, and If
it catches fire that you will throw a
few buckets of water upon the flames"
That we will do right willingly"
Jack replied, as he gazed with some ad-
miration upon the pretty features OF
Miss Priscilla. And you, l trust, will
both get out of harms way"
Yes, indeed" the girl answered. 1--WE
will retire beyond range if there is any
danger to ourselves"
As she spoke a loud roar came from
the war ships, and white vapor foated
above their decks, as bar, chain, and
grape shot swept through the streets
of the town. That morning a requisi-
ton for a supply of provisions had
been made by Capt. Bellew, of the Liv-
erpool, but the commander of the
American forces had declared himself
unauthorized to grant this indulgence
without special instructions from the
Virginia Assembly, whose opinion he
would have as soon as a messenger
could come and 60 to them. This
answer was not considered satisfactory,
so, at 3 o'clock the ships and tenders
opened a tremendous cannonade. The
shot and shell rained through the
streets like hail Houses were blown
from their foundations, chimneys fell
into the narrow streets, and, under COW
er of the confusion and thick smoke
from burning debris, the British troops
landed and set FIRE to several mansions
in different quarters of the town, near
the river. The flames spread rapidly,
as a breeze of some strength was blow
ing, and soon the whole lower portions
of the seaport was a mass of flames,
smoke, and flying cinders, behind which |
the Colonial troops fired with little sue
cess at the parties Of British scamen
and regulars
See, F1intloclx," cried Jack, as he
spied more boats coming from the |
feet, "they are sending more of the |
men ashore and ! feel certain that we |
will soon have a chance to pull trig-