Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-04-23
The Last Battle OF The Revolution.

II was not at Yorktown, nor was II any
of the many small skirmiShes that occur
red after the surrender OF Cornwallis and
before the formal declaration of peace in
1888. The last battle was OF the nature
of duel, and it happened on the day the
British evacuated New York.
The great day that was to see the last
of King George llI's regiments leave
these shores finally arrived. The British
army was TO board the ships that lay in
the harbor. Washington and his troops
were waiting at Kingsbridge and Nc
Gowan'S Pass TO take possession Of the
city immediately on their departure.
Mai. William Cunningham, the British
provost marshal and commander 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 cruelty thathe had hesitated 10 practice
on the luckleSS Continental prisoners in
his charge. Among the mildest was 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 victims
were flocking back TO the city triumphant,
and it behooved Major Cunningham not
linger. SO he left the prison, turned into
the Common, and crossed it 10 gain
Broadway. He strobe along, muttering
curses under his breath At the corner
OF Broadway and Murray Street some
thing caught his eye. He stopped, hesi-
tated, then turned aside and FASTENED
down Murray Street.
"What audacity What monstrous
audacity I" he thought. But it was like
that rebel spitfire, Mistress Day. He
would teach her one final lesson.
He reached the Day house, which was
a tavern near Greenwich Street, opened
the gate, and shook his fist at the Stars
and Stripes that fluttered from tall flag
pole, as if waving 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 ruifled feelings. He
would at least take back TO England with
him one captured rebel banner. But he
had reckoned without Mistress Day!
From her kitchen that patriotic woman
heard the creaking Of the pulley on her
flagstaff. She tiptoed to her front win
dowS and peeped out. She knew the
major only too well, and she determined
to prevent this final outrage. She flew
back to the kitchen and seized her broom.
In the meantime, with his back TO the
house, the major was hauling away vig-
orously A few more jerks, and the flag
would be within his grasp. Rang! His
hat suddenly flew off, and went scuttling
down the yard. In his astonishment he
continued to pull mechanically on the
halyardS. Bang Whack! The major
saw many times more than thirteen stars,
and the powder flew from his wig in all
directions He dropped the rope and
turned about, purple with indignation.
"Woman Do you realize what you're
doing ?" he roared. The broomstick
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 ensanguined.
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 irreparable dent, his wig
was in the ewildest disorder, his regiment
ais were stained with marks ofthe bloody
afiray, 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. He
turned about and strobe off. picking up
his damaged headgear on the way. Mis-
ress Day, smiling contentedly. returned
to her kitchen TO continue her baking and
brewing for the evening festival.
II took the major some time TO remove
the evidences Of conflict before he ap-
peared at the Battery. He must have
been hard put to explain his lateness and
his disheveled state TO his superior Off
Ger. His career after his return TO Eng
land continued TO be disreputable. He
was executed for forgery eight years af-
ter he left New York. AS for Mistress
Day. the woman who flew the first Amer
ican flag in the evacuated city, and who
fought and won the last conflict Of the
Revolution, she deserves wider fame
than she has enjoyed.