The Hartford republican., 1914-03-13
F0|LED THE MAJOR
lie Had to Flee at the Last Battle
Of the Revolution.
A FIGHT WON WITH A BROOM.
The Engagement Was Short, Sharp
and Decisive, and In II the Patriot
spitfire, Mistress Day, Earned the
Right to Her Title and to Fame.


Right to Her Title and to Fame.
The last battle Of the Revolution was
not at Yorktown, nor was 1t any of the
many small skirmishes that occurred
after the surrender of CORVALLIS and
before the formal declaration of peace
in 1888. The last battle was of the ma
ture Of duel. and 1t happened on the
day the British evacuated New York.
The great day that was to see the
last of King George Ills regiment,
leave these shores finally arrived. Tho
British army was to board the ships
that lay In the harbor. Washington
and his troops were waiting ut Kings
bridge and McGowan's pass to take
possession of the city Immediately Oh
their departure.
Major William Cunningham. the
British provost marshal and command
er of the prison on the common. gave
one last look about his office, tossed
the key on the table and went out
into the sunlight. slamming the door
behind him with much unnecessary
violence. His Infamous reign was
over. There were few forms of cruel
ty that he had hesitated to practice on
the luckless Continental prisoners In
his charge. Among the mildest were
the contamination of their drinking
water by throwing rubbish into the
well and the appropriation and sale OF
their rations for his own profit.
The friends and relatives Of his vic
Tins were flocking back to the city tri
umphant. aud it behooved Major Gun.
ningham not to linger. So he left
the prison, turned into the common.
and crossed 1t to gain Broadway. He
strobe along muttering curses under
his breath. At the corner Of Broad
way and Murray street something
caught his eye. He stopped. hesitated.
then turned aside and hastened down
Murray street.
what audacity. What monstrous
audacity"' he thought But 1t was like
that rebel spitfire. Mistress Day. He
would teach her one final lesson.
He reached the Day house. whicl,
was tavern near Greenwich street.
opened the gate and shook his fist at
the Stars and Stripes that futtered
from tall fagpole. as IL waving n
triumphant welcome to the Continental
troops
Wrathfully he seized the halyards
and began to pull the flag down the
pole. There was something about the
action that sOothed his ruffled feelings
He would at least take back to Eng
ner. But he had reckOned without
Mistress Day.
From her kitchen that patriotic wo.
man heard the creaking Of the pulley
ON her Flagstaff. She tiptOed to her
front windows and peeped out. She
knew the major only too well. and she
determined to prevent this final out
rage. She few back to the kitchen and
seized her broom.
In the meantime. with his back to
the house. the major was hauling away
vigorously. A few more jerks and the
flag would be within lis grasp. Bang.
His hat suddenly few of and went
scuttling down the yard. In his as
constituent he continued to pull me.
chanically on the halyards. Bang,
whack! The major saw many times
more than thirteen stars, and the pow
der few from his wig In all directions,
He dropped the rope and turned about,
purple with indignation.
woman, do you realize what you
are doing?" he roared. The broom.
stick was In the air again, and the
major lodged. Whack! 1t struck him
squarely across the bridge Of his nose,
and the field at once became ensan.
guined.
The bleeding officer now began to
take hasty counsel with himself. He
was late for the embarkation. the
American troops would soon be upon
the ground. his hat had received an ir-
reparable dent, his wig was In the
widest disorder, his regimentals were
stained with marks OF the bloody af-
fray, his head was yet spinning from
contact with Mistress Days weapon,
and there were unmistakable signs
that Mistress Days arm was by no
means weary. Some warning bugle
notes from the Battery decided the
matter. lie turned about and strobe
Off. picking up his damaged headgear
on the way. Mistress Day. smiling
contentedly. returned to her Kitchen TO
continue the baking and brewing for
the evening festival.
Il took the major some time TO re-
move the evidences OF conflict before
he appeared mt the Battery. lie must
lave been hard put 10 it 10 explain his
lateness ANA his disheveled state 10 his
superior officer, His career after his
return to England continued to he dis
reputable. lie Was executed for for
gerry eight years after he left New
York. As for Mistress Day. the wo-
man who few the first American dag
in the evacuated city and who fought
ana won the hast conflict OF the RevO'
luton. she deserves n wider fame than
she has enjoyed YOUTHS Companion.