The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-07-10
How the Message
Was Carried
A Story For independence
Day
BY EUNICE BLAKE

"Grandpapa. tell us a story" said one
of group of children.
| what kind of story?'
why, Fourth Of July story, OF
course We'd like that best"
But. my dears. the Fourth of July
is made a holiday to celebrate the is
suing of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. The only story appropriate to
such day would be a story of the
times In which it was passed, involv-
ing some episode connected with the
efforts of our ancestors to maintain
the stand they had taken. Now, |
wasn't born till nearly three-quarters
Of century after July 4. 1776. the
day on which our nation was born.
"But my grandfather was still living
when was little boy, just about the
age Of Sammy there. and he had lived
when the war Of the Revolution was
being fought and had taken part in it
himself. He often told me stories of
what happened in those days, and one
of them especially impressed me.
of the American colonies were grouped
along the Atlantic coast. Most of the
territory extending to the Pacific
ocean was wilderness, and much Of
1t had never been explored. The ter
ritory of the colonies may be compar-
The northern wing was the New Eng
land colonies; the body was New York,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania; the
southern wing was the colonies of the
south. Through the body Of the bird
ran the Hudson river. which, with
Lake Champlain, formed the only prac-
ticable route to Canada.
after the battle Of Bunker Hill at
Boston the struggle between the Amer
leans and British was principally for
the possession of the Hudson river.
Washington. after the battles about
New York city, went to New Jersey,
where he was between the two wings
of the bird
IL have taken pains to explain this
to you that you may understand why
he was commander in chief of the
American forces in New Jersey and
why so much Of the fighting was done
in that state. Besides, the story ] am
going to tell you took place there.
when Washington first went to
New Jersey he took position at Hack
ensack with half the army, leaving the
other half on the other side of the
Hudson north of New York city un-
der command of General Charles Lee.
Washington, being convinced that Gen
eral Howe. commanding the British
forces in New York, was intending to
march southwark through New Jer-
Hudson and join him that he might
oppose Howe's move with a united
force.
my grandfather was a sergeant in
the ranks of Washington's army. He
had done some successful scouting for
the commander during the fighting on
Long Island and afterward on Manhat-
tan Island and by his daring and
adroitness had gained the generals
confidence as a good person to carry
message. He sent for Abner-my
grandfather's name was Abner Jones
and told him he wished him to carry
a message to General Lee.
II have no doubt that Abner was a
very daring oungster-youngsters are
usually fearless-but the sequel prov
ed that his daring was akin to reck-
lessness. The message he was to car
ry was a very important one. and it
was very important that he confine his
attention to it alone. He had but ten
miles to 60 to reach the river and no
great distance to reach General Lee
on the other side. but it was over de-
batable ground, and he was liable to
meet small lots Of British as well as
American soldiers.
Washington gave Abner the order
for General Lee written on tissue pa
per and rolled into a little ball about
the size Of pea. In case he was cap
tured with it on him he was to swat
low it, for If the British general should
know that Washington was intending
to have Lee join him he would doubt
less take measures to prevent the juno
ton.
"Abner concluded to walk to the Hud-
son dressed as q farmer. With pitch
fork on his shoulder, he trudged along,
meeting an occasional British or Amer
lean trooper, all of whom passed him
without especially noticing him. AS he
proceeded he thought how he should
cross the Hudson when he once reach
ed it, and here is where his reckless
ness came In. though that recklessness
had spur, which was love for pref
ty girl. On the west bank Of the Hud-
son lived Deborah Goodwin, the daugh-
ter of prominent British sympathizer.
Abner could trust Deborah, but II her
father should know that he carried
from the commander in chief
and Mr.. Goodwin could get 1t he would
send It at once to General Howe at
New York. On the other hand, Abner
thought that Deborah might find a way
for him to cross the river.
"Abner persuaded himself that he had |
better go to the Goodwin house, being |
Influenced by a desire to see his sweet |
heart. In truth. he should have avoid |
ed any Tory house as he would poison. |