others, arrived safely at Mecklenburg-a distance of over two hundred miles, through a country overrun by British troops."*

ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN PLUNKETT.

"CAPTAIN PLUNKETT, a high-spirited Irishman, whose attachment to the cause of liberty had led him to seek a commission in the continental army, had, by the chances of war, been compelled. to give up his sword, and to surrender himself a prisoner to the enemy. Previously to this untoward event, by the suavity of his manners, and uniformly correct conduct, he had rendered himself an acceptable guest in many families in Philadelphia, and particularly so, to one of the society of Friends, who, however averse to warfare, were not insensible of the claims of those to their regard, who, by the exercise of manly and generous feelings, delighted to soften its asperities. There was among them, a female, mild and gentle as a dove, yet, in firmness of mind, a heroine, in personal charms, an angel. She saw the sufferings of the captive soldier, and under the influences of pity, or perhaps a more powerful passion, resolved, at all hazards, to relieve him. It accidentally happened that the uniform of Captain Plunkett's regiment, bore a striking resemblance to that of a British corps, which was frequently set as a guard over the prison in which he was confined. A new suit of regimentals was, in consequence, procured and conveyed, without suspicion of sinister design, to the captain. On the judicious use of them rested the hopes of his fair friend to give

"Women of the Revolution."

him freedom. It frequently happened that officers of inferior grade, while their superiors affected to shun all intercourse with the rebels, would enter the apartments of the prisoners, and converse with them with kindness and familiarity, and then at their pleasure, retire. Two sentinels constantly walked the rounds without, and the practice of seeing their officers walking in and out of the interior prison, became so familiar, as scarcely to attract notice, and constantly caused them to give way without hesitation, as often as an officer showed a disposition to retire. Captain Plunkett took the advantage of this circumstance, and putting on his new coat, at the moment that the relief of the guard was taking place, sallied forth, twitching a switch carelessly about, and ordering the exterior door of the prison to be opened, walked without opposition into the street. Repairing without delay, to the habitation of his fair friend, he was received with kindness, and for some days secreted and cherished with every manifestation of affectionate regard.

"To elude the vigilance of the British Guards, if he attempted to pass into the country in his present dress, was deemed impossible. Woman's wit, however, is never at a loss for contrivances, while swayed by the influence of love or benevolence. Both, in this instance may have aided invention. Plunkett had three strong claims in his favor; he was a handsome man—a soldier—and an Irishman. The general conduct of the Quakers, exempted the sect in a great measure from suspicion, in so great a degree, indeed, that the barriers of the city were generally entrusted to the care of their members, as the best judges of the characters of those persons who might be allowed to pass them. A female Friend, from a farm near the city, was in the family, on a visit to a relative. A pretext was formed to present her with a new suit of

clothes, in order to possess that which she wore when she entered the city. Captain Plunkett was immediately disguised as a woman, and appeared at the barrier, accompanied by his anxious deliverer.

"Friend Roberts,' said the enterprising enthusiast, may this damsel and myself pass to visit a friend at a neighboring farm?'

66 6

'Certainly,' said Roberts, 'go forward.' The city was speedily left behind, and Captain Plunkett found himself safe, under the protection of Colonel Allen M'Lane, his particular friend.”

ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF GEN. SCHUYLER.

THE Scouting parties of the enemy, emboldened by the feeble state of the country, and encouraged by the high rewards offered them, were exceedingly active in the securing of influential Americans, and conveying them to Canada as prisoners. By stratagems, 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, but others signally failed. The latter was the case with one of their most audacious attempts, in the securing of Gen. Schuyler; they, also, failed in their object with Gen. Gansevoort.

Gen. Schuyler's residence was in the suburbs of Albany. He had retired from the army, but still was of vast consequence and influence to the American cause. The importance that he assu med in the control of affairs, made it an especial object with Haldimand, the British commander in Canada, to secure his person.

A desperate plot was, therefore, set on foot. John Waltermeyer, a notorious Tory partizan, was entrusted with the execution of the design, and with a company of whites and Indians, he proceeded to Albany, and prepared to entrap his anticipated victim. The General had been cautioned often of the danger to which he was subjected 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 family were all gathered in the front hall of his house, and the doors were all thrown wide open, in order to admit all the cooling air possible, when a servant announced that a stranger at the back gate required the presence of the general, on a matter of business. A message so singular, at once excited suspicion. Unfortunately, the evening was so very warm, that the servants had dispersed. The three sentinels just relieved from duty, had retired, and the others, who should have been at their post, were stretched on the grass in the garden. The doors were hastily closed and fastened, while the family hurried to the upper rooms, the general to arm himself, and the others for security. They presently discovered the house surrounded by a body of armed men, and almost immediately was heard the crash of heavy blows against the doors below. The general threw up a window to arouse the guard, and with the hope that it might alarm the town, or bring assistance from some quarter. A violent struggle was now heard below. The three guards who were within the house, had been aroused, and were endeavoring to drive the assailants back. But by an

unfortunate incident, they were without their weapons, and had only the weight of their persons to oppose in resistance. Mrs. Church, a daughter of the general, had perceived, some hours before, her little son playing with the muskets, and not supposing they would be wanted, while she feared the consequences of their being within reach of the child, had caused them to be removed, while she neglected to inform the guard of the circumstance. But the brave fellows, nothing daunted, opposed, themselves, unarmed, to the besieging troop, and by dealing blows as soundly as they could with their fists, they managed for a few moments to keep them at bay, but their overwhelming force soon overcome the resistance, and they rushed into the house. While this struggle was going on, the alarmed and terrified ladies above, were in an agony of fear at the remembrance that in their bustle of escaping, an infant had been left in the nursery, which was situated on the first floor. Mrs. Schuyler was about flying to its rescue, but the general prevented her, when Margaret, the third daughter, rushed forth, and hastily descending a private stairway, reached the room, and snatched the babe from the cradle, where it was lying in undisturbed repose. But as she was hurrying from the room with her valued burthen, a tomahawk, hurled by an unseen hand, glanced by her side, and buried itself in the wall, carrying with it a remnant of her dress. Undismayed by this circumstance, or by the violent commotion in the hall, she hastened to the same private way by which she had descended, when in rapid flight to the rooms above, to her terror, she was confronted by Waltermeyer, the leader of the gang, who exclaimed-" Wench, where is your master?" With admirable presence of mind, she replied"Gone to arouse the town." Alarmed at this, he hurried by, permitting her to escape to the room where the family was gathered,