Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-12

sexton informed us, he had long since
given away, one by one. to various visitors
who were deslrous Of having them to show
as mementoes of the battle OF Brandywine.
The CHASTITY relies of the three British
officers were all reinterrcd by our inform
ant in the same place in which he had first
discovered them, and he showed us the
spot. No tombstones being permitted
IN q Quaker cemetery, the quiet farmers
and their wives and children here mingle
their dust with those Of the fierce war
rors whose graves are unknown to their
friends across the ocean, and OF whose
names no record has been made.
THERE Is TEAR FOR ALL THAT DIE.
And could not look at thus green and
lowlv mount, to which had extended the
fragrant thyme planted by the hand OF
affection on some of the adjacent graves.
without thinking of the grief and desola-
ton that the fate of these men must have
carried to their homes beyond the At
lantc. Perhaps, indeed, no positive It'd
ings of the time and manner OF their
deaths ever arrived there: 1t being only
certain that they returned no more.
Alasi how much domestic suffering has
been caused by war. even by that most
noble, rational, and unfortunate OF all,
iflt WHI Oh tnt AtlFtlttn lNtIit W 'hh'ib
their independence. And how horrible
10 think OF the far more bloody contests
that have desolated Europe.
''roR THE GLORY or HEROES, TIE sPLENpoR
OF THRONES"
After n division Of the British Army had
commenced the fight at Chadd's Ford,
the man body under Corvallis crossed
the Brandywine at Jcfierles four mlics
above. As soon as this was rumored,
Washington immediately pressed Tor
ward To meet them, and beng IN advance,
accompanied only 10y one OF his aids, he
met on the road, oountryman whom he
stopped and questioned. The man
acknowledged having seen the enemy, but
evaded telling where. and his pacific
principles would not allow him To give
anv information that might lead to blood
shed Washington, supposlng that no
thing satisfactory could be obtained from
hun. spurred his horse and rode on. But
the more i,npetuous and less tolerant aid
de-csmp sprung from his steed, and swing
ing hrs sword round the head Of the poor
Quaker. seized htm by the collar and lung
him up on The saddle. Then mounting
behind. he threatened hum with certain
death unless he faithfully guided thim to
the enemy. And this with much rcluct-
ance the captive accordingly performed
The family of Samuel Jones (whose
house was on the battle-ground took
shelter IN the cellar; the father being alb
sent. A Dutch woman, their faithful
servant, declaring that she had no tear,
persisted in remaining above, 20 take care
Of The house. She holted the doors, and
fastened up the window shutters, and
continued through all the surrounding mp
roar and slaughter, exposed to imminent
danger from the cannon balls, one on
which penetrated the barn. ~ the close
Of the fight. however. the house was lorci-
bly, entered by some of the enemy, who
RECALLED themselves with the dalntics pre-
| pared for the ea-tahle, the family having
that afternoon expected visit from some
Of their female nelghhors. An English
| sold,er-woman, having got into the house
began 20 lay her hands on various articles
by way Of plunder The Dutch woman
had hard struggle with her for teapot.
resculng IT finally from her grasp At the
expense Of the handle This mutilstcd
teapot Is still IN possession ot the family
among other relies OF that day.
WAS told Of a voung glrl who had spun
piece Of sllk for her wedding gown, and
Il had just come home from the weaver g.
After the battle. seeing that a maraudine
party OF the British were approaching the
house. her first thought was Of her bridal
sllk winch she instantly caught mp, and
fivIng out the back WAY she ran with Il to
a corn6eld where she concealed It.. and
bv that means saved II from their clutch
es. as they stripped the house Of every
thing they could conveniently carry awav.
During l.aFayctte'S tour through the
United States. in 1924, he visited the
battle ground Of Brandvwlnc, and the cN-
act place where he had shed his blood IN
the cause OF our country was pointed out
! TO his recollection. In the house ot Mr.
Jones he partOok of a collation.. surround
ed by the children and grandchildren Of
the farmers over whose fields tho storm
Of war had passed so roughly on the 18th
of September, to them the most remark
able day OF the year 1777.
In the story of Russcl and Sydney
which concludes my little book OF AT
lantic Tales, ! have endcavorcd To en-
body some local anecdotes collected from
persons who lived IN the Deighborhood at
the tune Of the battle Of Brandywnc
THIS story, my Young readers may per
haps find worthy OF perusal, chiefly as .
picture of the effect Of war on domest G
and rural hfe and on the youth of thai
penod.
*There is Tradition that the Brandy
wine river or creek was 50 named by some
Of the early German settlers, who. de
lighted with the clearness and excellence
of its water, declared that IT was as good
as Branntwein, and therefore deserved
the same appellatIon. Brauntwein is the
Germau for brandy, or distilled WINE
brannt signifying burnt or affected by
fire. and wen meaning wine.
The new frigate fitted out to convey
IaFavette back TO France, after his last
visit TO America, was IN compliment to
him called the Brandywine.