The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-09-22
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin

mC OouHty again, 10 the Gays WneI
Jonathan Hager's town was called
Elizabeth Town, in honor of hi!
wife. Among the names often me-
in the history of those days, anc
often referred to in these columns
is the name of Fitzhugh. Many OF
these have had some connection with
the Army, as had the first Fitzhugh
who came to this country.
The first Fitzhugh in America was
a Col. William Fitzhugh, who had
previously distinguished himself by
service in the British Army He was
much interested in the New World,
and had come to Maryland and was
living on an estate on the Patuxent
River on half pay, retaining his
commission, until war activities de-
stFoyed that home and he moved to
our valley, to the home later known
as 1.-THE Hive"
Thus the retired British Colonel
was living in Maryland when the
hostilities between England and the
Colonies broke out, and he lost no
time in declaring his sympathies on
the side of Colonies. At once the
British sent him word that if he
would remain neutral his status of
half pay would continue. But the
Colonies answer was to give up his
commission and openly declare his
intentions of helping the Colonies
any way he could.
BY this time the Colonel had reach |
ed a good age and his eyesight was
Just about gone, besides his general
health He nevertheless showed a
great zeal for the cause of freedom. |
He appeared in many places, speak
ing for the cause, trying to persuade /
people to fight for their rights. And
his sons became officers in the Con
tlnental Army, and the ex-Colonel
took a seat on the Executive Coun-
Gil of Maryland
Many times Colonel Fitzhugh was
warned that his life was in danger
because of his support of the Col
onists, but he never paid any at
tentlon to those warnings. Nor were
these warnings idle threats At one
time a warning was hurriedlv
brought to the house that a group
OF British soldiers was approaching
with the intentions of capturing the (
Colonel. 1t so happened that the
colonel was away, but his brave !
WIFE rounded up all the servants.
armed them, and with an apron full o
OF ammunition set out to meet the i
attackers before they should arrive i
at the house. This action proved to l
De indeed wise, for when the group v
OF soldiers faced gunfire and flying v
outlets where they least expected h
them, they retreated to their boat a
IN the river and departed. b
Near the close of the war, the
family was awakened one midnight p
BY Knocking at the door. The Col
onel was home this time. and he O.
jailed out to know who was there C,
The reply was Friends" but the m
|olonel was not to be tricked so c.
simply. He, asked again. Friends O
u whom?" This time the answer w
vas Friends of King George" and CT
vas followed by sharp command
o open the door. AS the Colonel 81
vas so nearly blind that he had to
'e helped about, his wife started for in
ne door. First she stole glance a
hrough the window, and was al dc
most dlsmayed to see the yard full tr
armed soldiers. She next saw that tn
eF sons, who were officers in the th
continental Army, had their guns. fe
nd hurried them out the back door. N,
nen she applied her strength to
I'm the huge key in the front door. Co
the first soldiers rushed
J, grazing her with their bayonets. on
ne walked calmly before them in st,
the parlor, and expressed her 10
ope that they intended to harm or
one. The officers assured her CO.
lat they came only to talk to Col ay
1el Fitzhugh. But at that NOM du
1t, they spied some of the military hi,
'ncles of her sons and quickly de- WE
anded to know what officers were 0ol
the house.
Mrs. Fitzhugh told them that only Lii,
e family was home. The British
en- went into huddle, and after pic
peating the question and receiv- ha,
g the same answer, they confis- 500
ted the articles in sight and asked val
r the Colonel. for
When they told the aged Colonel a.
at he was their prisoner and that Cal
must accompany them to New
'rk, he suggested that that would GeI
improbable, since he could not 4