Year: 1879

Mrs. Leach assisted her daughter, and
dragging the redcoat TO the top OF the
stairs, tumbled him headlong below.
Then closing the door, they fastened to
toss the still smoking fragments from
the floor to the yard.


Scarcely had they accomplished this,
than another party Of soldiers, who had
deserted their command still endeavorine
to prevent the debarkation of the Amer
leans, retreated past the house, and see
ing that it had not been fired, two OF
them attempted to fire it from without.
But the brick foundation which was car
ried several feet above the surface of the
ground, made this difficult.


''Inside with you - shouted some of
their fellows; you couldn't start the
fire there in an hour"


Upon this hint they made for the door,
which having been broken from its hing
es by the first burning party, could not
be fastened against them.


But no sooner had the foremost Of the
two entered the room where the two
women were, than the heroic Margaret
Leach, who had armed herself with the
musket of the soldier she had disabled,
ran him through the bowels with its fix
ed bayonet.


The man uttered a cry of agony, fell
forward on his weapon, and forced it
from the hands of the courageous young
lady. But quick as thought, she snatch
ed it from uLder him, and spTinging to
the entrance like a tigress prepared to
defend her young, she would have dealt
a death blow upon the other, had not
her mother, reassured by the fearless
conduct Of her daughter, armed herself
with heavy fire shovel, and buried the
corner of it in the soldiers forehead,
causing him to fall outside the door.


With presence of mind, the women
first entinguished the brands the wound
ed men had dropped upon the floor, and
then dragged the dying soldier into the
room, less the sight of him might attract
his passing comrades.


"Now, MOTHER" said Margaret, s'let
us to the cellar with these fellows too,
before another set of them arrive, for
they seem determined that our house at
least, shall not escape. II those Yankees
were in the town, al would be we'll"


And dragging the soldiers, still bleed
ing profusely, across the floor, they also
were fcssaad tn the rallar


This done, they set to work clearing
up the blood stains, before others should
arrive.


But while the brave women were en-
gagged in this, they were alarmed by
sounds upon the cellar stairs. Steps
were heard cautiously ascending. The
truth at once flashed upon them. The
first soldier, whom Margaret had fioored
with the fire iron, had been only stunned;
but revived by the cool ar Of the cellar,
he was now returning to the upper room
to revenge himself upon them, for the
rough handling they had given him.


In another instant he would have been
upon them. But now the brave girl,
who seemed equal to any emergency,
sprung to the door, and grasping the
bow of the latch, and throwing all her
strength upon it, held it with such firm
ness that the fellow could make no i'm
preston against her.


Let me help you, Margaret" said
her mother, running to her assistance.


No! 10 :" exclaimed this brave heart
ed maiden, I'm sure I can hold it,
mother. But do you run to aunt Iydia's
room and see if the Yankees are ia the
town-I'm certain they'll save us. And
oh. 'twould be so nice to make these
house burning rascals prisoners to them"


Mrs. Leach ran, as directed, to the
upper room, occupied by the sick lady,
from the window of which she could
overlook the town. To her great Joy,
she could see tbs red-coats retreating in
confusion in the direction of the woods,
while the Americans were in hot pursuit.
The latter, however, soon gave up the
chase, and attempted to save some OF
the burning houses, and assisted the
townspeople to rescue their goods.


Mrs. Leach looked just long enough
to see this, and reassuring the trembling
invalid with the news, fastened to i'm
part it to her daughter.


"Thank God, thank God" was Mar
garet's earnest ejaculation, as she still
tugged at the cellar door, while the pris-
oner, now entirely recovered from the
effects of the blow, was alternately beg
ging to be released, and cursing in i'm
potent rage at his heroic young captor.


''Now, mother" cried the girl, run
to the street. and bring some of those
brave Americans here. Run I can
keep this fellow safe till you come back. ="


In 2 few moments Mrs. Leach return
ed, accompanied by two young men, one
OF whom was an officer. The whole
affair was briefly related to them, and
the prisoners-for there were two of
them, one only having died in the cellar
(the man struck by 2Irs. L.)-were taken
in charge by them.


No sooner was Margaret Leach. who.
throughout the whole struggle with the
incendiaries, had behaved with such he
roic courage and coolness, relieved from
ber guard over the cellar door, than she
fell fainting into the arms of her mother:
and it was some weeks before she reeov-
cred from the sudden reaction OF tie
terrible excitement of that hour.


But perhaps the most singular, and at