he kept them till morning, and then suffered them to depart on their parole."*

COLONEL WILLETT.

COLONEL WILLETT, possesses an enviable reputation for the skill and courage he manifested in the border wars of New York, during the revolution. He was engaged in many successful enterprises, two of which won for him especial honor. During the siege of Fort Stanwix, General Herkimer made an attempt to relieve it. He was approaching with a large body of militia, when it was resolved to make a diversion in his favor. Two hundred men were placed on parade for the purpose, and Col. Willett entrusted with the command. But meanwhile, Gen. Herkimer fell into an ambuscade of the enemy, when ensued the fearful battle of Oriskany. The sally, however, was made by Col. Willett, which was most successful. The camp of the enemy was attacked, they were routed, and large quantities of stores fell into the hands of the conqueror. With so much skill was this attack made, that although two camps, one of the British, the other of the Indians, fell successively into the hands of Willett, and in returning to the fort with the conquered stores, he encountered some opposition by Colonel St. Leger, yet the enterprise was accomplished without the loss of a single man.

But the relief of the fort still being an object of the utmost importance, and the failure of General Herkimer, to come to their aid, convincing them that he had met with some misfortune, it

* "Women of the Revolution."

stead of proceeding in a direct line to reach the settlement, they took nearly a northern direction, which after a few miles brought them again to the river. With the intention of concealing their route, in case their tracks should be discovered, they stepped in and out of the river several times, crossing occasionally to the opposite side, until reaching a spot where they could completely conceal their track by stepping on stones, they left the river, took a north course for a few hours, and then travelled east until night, without making a single stop. As it was necessary for them to be encumbered as little as possible, they had left the fort with no other weapon, but a spear for each, eight feet in length, which was intended to serve as a staff as well as a weapon of defence. They had taken no baggage nor blanket; and all the provision they had with them, consisted of a few crackers and cheese, which they had put in their pockets, together with a quart of canteen spirits. Having halted for the night, they refreshed themselves with such provision as they had; after which, their situation being too perilous to think of kindling a fire, they lay down to sleep wrapped in each other's arms. Though it was then the height of summer, yet the night was so cold, as, together with hard travelling the day before, and sleeping on the ground without any covering, made them feel very stiff when they arose the next morning. Colonel Willett had so severe a rheumatic attack in one of his knees, as to cause a limp in his walk for several hours. Setting out once more, they directed their course farther to the south, and about 9 o'clock came to an opening in the woods, occasioned by a windfall. In this opening, among the fallen trees, they found a forest of raspberries and blackberries, quite ripe, which afforded them a most delicious and refreshing repast. Though the day was very warm, yet, deriving new vigor from their banquet of

berries, they proceeded expiditously towards the settlement, where they arrived at three o'clock, having travelled in this time about fifty miles. On arriving at Fort Dayton, a small stockade fort at the German Flats, they received a hearty welcome from Colonel Weston, who was stationed there with his regiment."

Proceeding from Fort Dayton, Colonel Willett soon joined a detachment of troops under Gen. Leamand, marching to the relief of the fort. The British General Register for 1777, speaking of this enterprise, says :-"They passed by night through the besieger's works, and in contempt of the danger and cruelty of the savages, made their way fifty miles through pathless and unexplored morasses, in order to raise the country and bring relief to the fort. Such an action demands the praise even of an enemy."

r

INTREPID CONDUCT OF MAJOR JAMES.

AFTER the fall of Charleston, the British commander in South Carolina issued a proclamation, granting protection to all those of the rebels, who would lay down their arms, and refrain from the further levying of war on his majesty. The apparently hopeless condition of the cause and the entire want of an organized force for resistance, induced many worthy citizens to avail themselves of England's offered protection. But scarcely had they done so, when another proclamation appeared, to the effect that they were not only to submit to English authority, but be compelled to take up arms in support of the royal cause. This pro-. ceeding, looked upon, by the people, as an infamous trap, aroused

their indignation. The residents of one district when about to avail themselves of the offers in the first proclamation, had the second placed before them. At a loss to understand such conflicting offers, they despatched a delegate to the nearest British authority in order that the matter should be explained, and their doubts satisfied. Major John James was chosen as this delegate. "Under this appointment, Major James repaired to Georgetown, the nearest British post, which was then under the command of one Captain Ardesoif. Attired as a plain backwoodsman, James obtained an interview with Ardesoif, and, in prompt and plain terms, entered at once upon the business for which he came. But when he demanded the meaning of the British protection, and asked upon what terms the submission of the citizens was to be made, he was peremptorily informed that the submission must be unconditional.' To an inquiry, whether the inhabitants were to be allowed to remain upon their plantations, he was answered in the negative. 'His Majesty,' said Ardesoif, 'offers you a free pardon, of which you are undeserving, for you all ought to be hanged; but it is only on condition that you take up arms in his cause.' James, whom we may suppose to have been very far from relishing the tone and language in which he was addressed, very coolly replied, that the people whom he came to represent, would scarcely submit on such conditions.' The republican language of the worthy Major provoked the representative of royalty. The word 'represent,' in particular, smote harshly on his ears; something, too, in the cool, contemptuous manner of the Major, may have contributed to his vexation. 'Represent!' he exclaimed in a fury-You d-d rebel, if you dare speak in such language, I will have you hung up at the yard arm! Ardesoif, it must be known was a sea-captain. The ship which he command