The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-04-06


J. 81 miles away. and realizing that h
a had a wary Zoe IN Lafayette he use'
+ every precauuOn IN laying and eXecu
ting his plans. lie had to penetrat'
= the lines OF the Marquis which was n'
small risk if he did have 10 meet only
raw militia.
He selected a small force OF pickeC
veterans. with the best mounts at hi:
command and only one hundred strong
He knew that this was enough men tc
carry out his plans, and that they could
be moved with celebrity and dispatch
although he did not know what opposi
ton he might encounter 1t was bold
scheme, we'll planned and executed,
With a fair promise Of success.
Forced March Successful.
Accompanied by sufficient guides,
he set forth from Richmond on Il
balmy autumnal evening with every
propitious omen. No one, with the ex-
ception OF himself and his Ieutenants,
knew aught of his plans or destination.
He had planned a forced night march
Of so miles to Charlottesville, so timed
as to reach there about sunrise the
next morning and surprise and cap
ture the governor and the legislature
while at their morning meal. He made
no halt on his night march and avoid
ed the vigilance of the Virginia militia
pickets.
BY five o'clock the next morning
Monticello and his objective, Char
lottesville. Weary. faded and hungry,
he came to a farmhouse by the road
side. Elated at his wonderful success
so far and feeling sure of his position
he ordered a halt for ar hours rest
and breakfast before his final dash.
An orderly aroused the household
and ordered a hot meal prepared for
the commander and his officers. The
house was occupied by Mrs. Henry
Bibb (nee Miss Sonic Edwards), sister
of Ambrose Edwards and the great
aunt of the author of this sketch
Mrs. Bibb perceiving the purpose of
the men, instinctively realized that she
was in the hands of Tarleton and the
English, and at once OWNED their OBJ
iect
She knew the character of the man
with whom she must deal and re-
solved that any hazard, she must deal
with him successfully. Accusing her
young son. a lad of y, and in a few
words explaining the situation to him. |
she told him to steal quietly from the !
back of the house to the paddock. |
mount the best horse and ride for his
life to Monticello and notify Mr.. JEFF |
ferson. the governor that Tarleton and |
che ''red coats" were near and for him
to flee for his life. She instructed the
child then to ride to Charlottesville |
four miles farther and arouse the |
town and tell them that the British |
army was nearing them.
Furious at Delay.
The boy faithfully executed his
mothers command at the risk of his |
young life. In the meantime Mrs.
Bibb leisurely dressed. went into the
kitchen to direct the preparation of
the meal for the men. She cautiously
the cook to take her time
IN cooking the food in order to give
ler son sufficient time to complete his
srrand.
Tarleton, in the meantime becoming |.
suspicious and impatient at the delay
'rdered the lady to hasten the meal
md threatened to plunge his sword
through her body She knew by in
uition that it was Tarleton and she
new the man with whom she had to
eal. Fully realizing that she must not
Exhibit any signs of fear she boldly :
rdered him to prepare it himself if he :
esired to hurry matters.
Her finesse and holiness accom-
lished her object and secured the bow
mple time to perform his important
rrand. At last the meal was finished .
nd Tarleton, elated at his success so
ar ordered remOunt and a t the S
reak of day the troops were off for \
lonticello, whore they arrived about \
nrise.
Everything was quiet about the 9
lace. The nest was there, but the \
rd had flown. He aroused the ser \
ants. but they could not or would not ,
I've any clue to the whereabouts of
he governor. The first grand act
lded in dismal failure. But here J!
arleton exhibited the first great deed y
magnanimity. He did not burn the s
'autiful home of jefferson. nor did he s
'stroy anything in the house, except n
remove the beautiful Italian PLAQUES =
at ornamented the fire places and 81
Ike them away.
Monument to Kind Deed.
Monticello stands today. a monu-
ent to the one kind deed OF tyrant. ca
all its grandeur and beauty. the
uncil room of the great statesman. CT
e mansion Of great social functions. in
Mr. jefferson. who was an early of
ser, was somewhat startled on that ao
entful morning at the spectacle of a an
ung lad dashing into his yard ~
ounted on a foaming and exhausted in
rise without hat an. co15fa al 90, ..-f.. q,