Evening journal., 1914-06-02

comply would be followed by the de-
struction Of the town.
"This letter was sent by Colonel
Davis to George Haslet. who wrote TO
the commodore, fatty refusing, saying
that compliance with his demands
would be AN eternal stigma on the
nation besides being violation OF
the law, subjecting a person breaking
this law to punishment by death, or
such punishment as a court martial
should Judge fitting. Beresford an
swered that since they refused his re-
quest, and as It was In his power TO
burn the town, any suffering that
might fall on the citizens would be
the fault Of those In control OF the
situation. This had no effect on the
altitude of the people whom Colonel
Davis voiced when he said, we will
give them no bullocks, but plenty OF
bullets.
"On Apri G, the bombardment be-
can and lasted twenty-five hours. The
smaller ships fired too low and about
five hundred shot we're picked up and
fred back at the British. The shots
from the frigates, as well as the rock
cts intended TO set fire TO the town,
we're aimed too high and fell some
distance beyond the town. Several
balls have been found in BlOckhouso
Pond. and only a few weeks ago, one
was found IN excayating for the new
Rohoboth connection of the NJ. d. &
, V. railway, about one mile west OF
'On the eighth, one attempt was
ruado 10 land armed men from the
squadron. but before the small boats
reached the shore, they were signalled
70 return 90 the ships. Col. Davis had
marched his militia aud volunteers,
some armed only with sticks and corn
stalks. along the water front to a
place unseen by the enemy, where they
could enter back street and thence
march along the water front again, thus
doceiving the British into believing that
an advancing army was hooding the
town with soldiers.
"The casualties we're few. a door in
the store occupied al that time by the
late Caleb Rodney and now by George
p. Tunnel was shattered, and house
on the site of the new Federal Building
was damaged, but no lives wore lost.
As the rhyme has IL, 'Berestord and all
his men crippled a goose and killed a
men, But though n bloodless victory,
| lie consequences were far reaching, FOR
the defense Of Lewes saved the rest OF
the Delaware Valley from invasion and
forced the British ships to 60 to Ber-
muda for supplies.
"True il is, as far as the battle OF
Lewes goes, it was bloodless conflict,
but only 80 because OF the prompt re.
sponse Of the citizens Of the State. and
especially those of Sussex, TO the call
of the defense, in number sufficient to
deceive the British into the belief that
formidable army was waiting to give
them a warm reception.
"In the conflict there were j76,022
men in the field, of whom 1887 were
killed in battle and 3739 wounded. How
many of the latter suocumbed to their
! injuries / do not know, but the prompt
action here probably saved a thousand
! lives which would have been sacrificed
/ had the enemy affected a landing. But
/ the fact must not be lost sight of that
I this war Of 1912 was really one of the
most important OF the worlds history
/ II was the climax of the American
revolution. Not until after the war OF
1912 did the United states take heI
place among the nations as world
power, and not till then began the inn
monse growth which has placed her II
the rank Of the great powers Of thu
world
"And we, the descendants Of thos
brave men find nething in history tina
Is not highly 10 their credit, no weak
ness nor incapacity detracts from thi
perfect example of bravery and patriot
ism. As one has said;
No white feather shone in the air
The day that the British ships were
there.
"The people Of this town should b
very much interested in the Society o
the Daughters of the War of 1912, TO