Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-03-16
ODD INCIDENTS IN AS1ERIcAS
HISTORY
ArrEMfrnp ABDUCTION OF GEN.
SCHUYLER

During the Revolutionary war the
scouting parties Of the British, ennbolden-
ed by the feeble state Of the country, and
encouraged by the high rewards offered
them, we're exceedingly active in the Sc
curing of influential Americans and con-
veying them to Canada as prisoners BY
strategen, and sometimes by force, they
fell upon those persons, marked as their
victims and by rapid marches would
manage to escape beyond pursuit almost
before their outrages would be known.
Many Of these attempts were successful,
while others signally failed. The latter
was the case with one of the most au-
daeious attempts in the securing Of Gen.
Schuyler They also failed in their OBJ
ject with Gen. Gansevoort.
Gen. schuyler's residence was in the
suburbs Of Albany. He had retired from
the, army, but still was of vast conse-
quence and influence to the American
| cause The Importance that he assumed
in the control of affairs made 1t an es-
pecial object with Maldimand, the Brit
ish commander in Canada. to. secure his
person. A desperate plot. therefore. was
set on foot John Walterneyer a no.
tofious Tory partisan, was entrusted with
the execution Of the design. and with
company Of whites and Indians he
proceeded to Albany and prepared to en-
trap Ills anticipated VlCll1n.
The general had been often cautioned
Of the danger to which he was exposed
by such attempts and the frequency with
which influential citizens were entrapped
and captured, was sufficient cause for him
to exercise every vigilance and caution.
He had, therefore, added to his usual
household a guard of six men, who were,
by turns on duty day and night.
The evening Of a sultry day in August
was selected as the occasion to make the
attempt The general and his fam
lily were all gathered in the front hall
of his house, and the doors were all
thrown wide open, in order to admit all
the cool air possible, when a servant an
neunced that stranger at the back gate
| requested the presence of the general or
| matter of business
A message SO singular at once excited
suspicion. Unfortunately, the evening wa
| 50 warm that the servants had dispers
| ed The three sentries just relieved
| from duty had retired. ana the others
who should have been at their post vert
stretched on the grass in the garden.
| The doors were hastily closed and fast
ened, while the family hurried to the up
| per rooms. the general to arm himself
| and the others for security. They pres
| emily discovered the house surrounded b.
armed men, apd almost Immediately wal
| heard TIE crash Of heavy blows agains
| the doors below. The. general threw vi
| window to alarm the ruard A vioIen
| struggle was now heard below The thre
guards who were within the house hat
been aroused and were endeavoring 4
drive the assailants back
Finally the guards were overoowere.
and the assailants rushed into the house
While this struggle was going on tn
| = a ar5
agony Of. fear at the remembrance tina
in their hustle of escaping an infant ha.
been left in the nursery. AS Margaret.
| the third daughter. went for the child sh
was confronted Ivy Wa1termeyer, the
leader of the gang, who exclaimed
Where is your fnaster?'
} With admirable presence Of mind. Mar
garetta replied: Gone to arouse tn
town. Alarmed at this, he hurried b
permitting her-to escape to the roof
, where the family was gathered who. 1
, dreaded apprehension, were awaiting til
issue of the daring and heroic exploit
Waltermeyer hastily summoned his f6
lowers from the drawing room. wher
they were engaged in plundering tn
place, and who reluctantly desisted froi
. their work to listen to the orders Of the
Header. At this moment the general thtel
: up the window and called out:
Come on, my brave fellows, sufroun
| the house. and secure the villains, WI
are plundering." The party, terrified {
this, and supposing that they were SUI
: | rounded, made precipitous retreat fro
+. the house carrying with them the tht,
! men who had, as sentinels. 50 heroica1
d defended the place, one Of whom W.
wounded.
Walterfneyer himself had received
i bullet from one Of the generals pist6l
/ bit was only Slightly wounded. BY tn
e time the city was alarmed ana the cit
zens came hurrying to the spot. but n
before the entire body Of Assailants h.
: ned.
The three guards were conveyed
: Canada and were restored after the va
e To each the general bequeathed a far
in reward for his services.
Il (Tomorrow: Pulaski's Service to
a Amefica.)