The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-05-19

| liberty or give me death" was also
/ among the legislators; and on the
hill above the town was Governor
Jefferson, who as the most learned
was the most hated of the advocates
of the triumphins new Democracy
All of these the British were eager
to lay hands upon.
Lieutenant-Coion Tarleton wa:
delighted when this order came from
! CORVALLIS and no doubt was pleas
ed, on his road 10 Charlottesville, tt
think what fine thing it would be
| to bring back, tied, the author Of the
! Declaration of Independence, and tC
have him transported to Great Brit.
ain and tried for high, treason. Col
/ Tarleton came near succeeding. In
his troop were enc hundred and
eighty of his own trusted dragons
and seventy mounted infantry. They
were all splendidly mounted on the
| best horses procured from the Viz
| ginia plantations on the way.
So Tarleton came swiftly with his
| legion and reached Cuckoo Tavern in
| Louisa County, about fifty miles from
! Charlottesville one June day.
There happened to be at Cuckoo
Tavern that June day. Jack Jouett,
citizen. of Charlottesville, a jolly
! inkeeper fond Of fine horses. :, 1t :; is
k.thought' that Jack Jouett had gone
I to sattand; to. property he owned III
kLouisa County, as the record books
H..show he had property there. One
lsthing is known however, and that is,
;ssne had captured a British dragon
and stripped him of his uniform.
himself Jack heard Tar
Teton and his troopers, and divining
their purpose, he leaped upon his
horse, 'said to have been the best
bred and f1eetest of foot of any nag
nseven counties he began a race
that makes the midnight ride of Paul
Revere seem trif1ing.
On his ride that night to Char
lottesvilfe, Colonel Tarleton secured
several prisoners of Importance;
some at 'Castle HILL" Doctor Walk
er's comfortable estate in Albermarle
where he decided to take breakfast.
He ordered it, accordingly. but by
the quick wit of Mrs. Walker, who
it is thought, and believed, was warn
ed by Jack Jouett that Tarleton was
on his way to Charlottesville the
promptly as he had hoped.l~ His
troopers were encouraged to raid
the kitchen. The first breakfast was
devoured by them, then the second.
and when Colonel Tarleton complain
ed he was told that his men had al
ready taken two breakfasts and that
if he wanted one for himself the
kitchen would have to be placed un-
der guard This was done but he
had been fatally detained. Of course
this was a happy delay for Captain
Jouett, who was on his way to Char
lottesville and Monticello.
knowing the road that Tarleton
had taken Jack Jouett knew that for
himself he would have to take diff
ferent way, if he made his mission
certain. AS he was familiar with
every section of Albemarle and
Louisa counties, he had but little
trouble-in coming through, over by
ways and foot paths. He rode most
all of the night, having left Cuckoo
Tavern before midnight. We must
remember those forty-five or fifty
miles were over an unused road that
wound in and out among the hills
and was obstructed by rocks and
trees and interlacing vines.
AT dawn the next morning, the
fourth OF June, he rode through
Milton, the little village at the ford,
just below Monticello, where Mr.. ]
Jefferson in after years received
the marble capitals, from Italy, for
his University, that were brought by
boat up the James to the Rivanna !
River. He spread the alarm at Mil !
ton. as he had Gone all along the