CARRYING DISPATCHES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 165, 27 May 1862, Page 5

CARRYING DISPATCHES.

(Chambers' Journal.") During the hottest, part of the last American war, I was stationed at Dunn's Fort, one of the long line of military posts scattered at distant intervals near the southern shores of Lake Eric. Our fort was unusually strong in position, occupying the summit of a conical hill, surrounded by a table-land; and though many a fierce ussault had been made against it; though our outer stockade had been a ring of flames; though thousands' of Indians had leaped and yelled, arid raged against our ramparts, and American sharpshooters sent a bullet through each head which showed above its shelter, our walls were still intact, nay; stronger than at the first; for after each attack we were sure to perceive some weak point, which even our limited means enabled us to strengthen, until at length Dunn's Fort stood upon its,,hill as.complete a fortification in its way. as it_was possible_to sec. ■ Gradually all the neighbouring posts fell beneath the overwhelming numbers tlic'enemy were able to bring against them; the remnants of their, ■little garrison's either fighting their way through "their assailants, or departing under the terais of a capitulation, all found a refuge w;ith us', until our garrison- was tolerably numerous;- and the brave .old bunting above our heads, the only British flag that floated on the breeze for more than, hundred miles. However, this latter circumstance brought on us an evil we had not foreseen. The enemy, no longer engaged in harassing a dozen.posts, gradually concentrated round Dunn's Fort, until we found ourselves within a complete cordon of foes, who watched us so. closely, night and day, that it seemed scarce a pigeon could fly through the air, or a mole make its underground way, without their knowledge. • It soon appeared their intention was rather to cut off our supplies, and so reduce us, than to hazard another assault, though we were almost nightly disturbed by feigned attacks', which the least disregard might have converted into real ones, and which compelled us to burn our powder in a way we : could little', afford. Fortunately, a deep well within our defences furnished us with water of which our enemies could not deprive us, but we soon began to feel the loss of the supplies they so rigorously intercepted. There was plenty of jesting on the subject at first, for hunger and hardship are evils the British soldier bears with a light heart. But soon we had a more serious anxiety—our powder was getting low, and we began to, fear a time might come when there would be "nothing but bayonets wherewith to repulse an assault. Tidings of bur condition had twice been sent to head-quarters by the only two friendly Indians we had, who undertook separately to run the blockade established around us. Anxiously we looked for the aid we had requested, but it never came ; and fl\e persistence of the enemy in endeavouring to draw our fire, convinced us that our messengers with their dispatches had fallen into their hands. It was evident some one else must carry the news,, or try to do so, and I was^ delighted when, out of the six young subalterns who volunteered, the dot fell to me.

It was a little past midnight when I shook hands with my friends, and stole out of the fort to commence what all knew to be a hazardous undertaking. The night was intensity, dark : there was no moon, and a cloudy veil shrouded the stars as I commenced my enterprise. My first difficulty was how to descend the hill, for a human form showing against even .that dark sky would have culled forth a dozen shots: - However, I safely effected it by creeping Indian-like nt full length down a hollow, until at the foot I paused in the lee of a huge pudding-stone to recover breath, and decide how I had best proceed.

Another moment, and I heard the tread of an approaching patrol. I lay still as death, while they passed within a yard of me, jesting coarsely in their nasal tones on the straits to which they were reducing the '.' Britishers," who, as they truly observed, haj-ing no Indians left, must run their errands themselves if they wanted them carried.

After the patrol had passed, I spent a full hour in dodging along from one tree or stump to another, still advancing on my way, though slowly, while I watched intently for some gap in the living girdle through which I plight glide unperccived ; but«very thicket; was in possession'of the enemy, while the open spaces between could be scanned at a. glance by the ring of sentinels, who held their posts with a vigilance not a little stimulated by their hatred of the British foe. , A furlong off'was a second armed circle, and beyond, a third, so that we were shut within a triple belt of enemies.

Meanwhile, the clouds had vanished from the sky, giving place to-ten thousand stars, which flashed down through the summer night, rendering it scarce darker than twilight, and doubling the risk of discovery,. At length the nearest sentinel began to whistle " Yankee Doodle" as he steadily trod his, beat; I took1 it for a good omen, and when he turned the tune and his back, I darted on to the shelter of a stump, and thence to that of a knot of prairie-grass, and so was past him. The second row of guards next engaged niy attention; the individual among them it was my aim to pass, was staring earnestly enough about him with his great lacklustre eyes; but suddenly a screaching and a fierce flutter of feathers broke the silence; two nighthawks had attacked the same titmouse, and they were doing battle in the air over their prey. The American looked overhead to watch the com? batauts, and, quick as thought, I crept along the ground to a neighboring gqlly, in whose depths I sped down safely to the precincts of the third and la,st military Argus I expected to encounter. But here the shelter of the hollow failed me, and I was glad to crouch beside an adjoining busb to await tho next opportunity.

This did not seem likely to arrive very speedily. My new opponent neither whistled, nor noticed anything in licavtn or earth save his own duty, and about that he appeared very wide awake indeed, looking belligerently under every stone; and almost into every stump, as if her thought Britishers were ho bigger than tree-frogs. On he came, treading heavily on the parched grass, and' turning right and left to inspect every object in his progress. ; ; There wns little hope that he would omit my refuge, but, in my desire to keep a watch on him, I slightly shook a spray; the sharp eye of the American at once perceived the vibration, and ho bounded towards the bush; but at- the same irioment' I-'.started :'>to /my feet, and .closed with him, seizing his: musket ;before he was prepared for such an encounter.; for a moment there was a fierce struggle, and then I succeeded in wresting the weapon from him; a victoiy lie avenged by a loud cry, which was in fact the alarm. In my turn, I avenged the cry by a blow with the butt-end of his musket, which laid him stunned and harmless on the ground; then throwing the gun beside him, I started off at full speed across tho plain. ~-■

As I fled, T could hear the alarm pass like a long reverberating echo round the outposts of the enemy, followed by the rapid tread of the men who were already hurrying in pursuit. -It needed but the remembrance of the importance of my mission, to add wings to my steps,: and I made an arrowy flight of it towards the Rashadi River, whoso wooded banks promised me a shelter.» But my pursuers had almost as Jrgent a motive as 'myself,'.since on my capture might depend the possession of.the fort; and with swift and untiring footsteps they hastened after me. ■■■■?■■ It was a breathless chase, over hills,:s,;across valleys, and past patches of bush, where! dared not seek, shelter ; every now and then ah eager shout o» the sharp crack of a musket breaking the silence, while the succeeding whiz of a bullet near me showed my enemies were straight upon my track. Day at length broke, and still that fearful race continued, though each mouneht> I thought it must end, and that I must creep beneath some bush and die. But the thought of my suffering comrades upheld me, and I still pressed on, and the fleet-footed men behind me pressed on also. At last, crossing a rising ground, fiiey sighted me. ' r 'a shqutpjf'savage triumph they sent echoing through the wilds \ It was like the howl of a wild beast, and gave fresh impetus to my flagging footsteps. A dozen muskets sent their leaden, messengers after me, but, almost] by "a ihiraelp, I escaped unhurt, and, the next moment, reaching the Rashadi bush, I plunged into its cover.

The foe still folio wed. I could hear them divide, and beat the bush in every direction, in

quest of the human game they had almost- driven to bay. Closer and closer they came, until I had but one resource left, and that a desperate one— to dash to tho nearest bend of the river, arid en? tieavour to swim across. At the spot I gained, the bank was high and bare, and as I leaped from it, I felt there was little hope for one so breathless and exhausted as I was. But my plunge into the water—which was unusually deep in-shore-r----suggested nn expedient, and wading rapidly along close under the bank, I dived beneath the fringing hemlock boughs which dipped into tho river a little forthcr down, and standing there up to my neck In water, with the clustering foliage sheltering my head from hostile eyes, I awaited the result.

Scarcely was I posted, when ray. pursuers were at the river's side in eager quest of. me, wonder^ ing whether I lay like a stone at, the bottom.of the stream, or was darting like a fish, through its ;waters'; .and muskets were levelled at every .unfortunate duck which,showed dark.on its glancing surface. They searched, too, along the bank, beating the bush right and. left, and lightened the dabour by jocular, allusions to* the reward I should iiave for the trouble I had given them. ... •For three mortal hours I stood there, listening to the movements of my foes, and to their -fierce repinings over their disappointment. At length, they slowly '.and regretfully returned, and I was again free to move. . The day was intensely-hot, but I was cool enough ; and when, I emerged from the water, I was so stiff I could scarcely crawl. There was one comfort, however —my despatches were not injured, since they were.but verbal ones, that the enemy might learn no moie secrets by killing or capturing me. * The exertion of walking rendered my legs more usable, and following the course of the river, I went on diligently. But, after a time, the wind rose, and rushing through my saturated clothes, made me sliiver as if in an ague fit. .1 was really ill, and so utterly wearied and exhausted, that I could go no further. I must find some hook to rest in, though the prospect of lying down in my wet clothes was far from pleasant. Looking round, I caught sight of a little cottage under the trees—one of the smallest of backwoods shanties, built of the still round trunks of trees plastered with clay, and with a short claychimney like a stork's nest perched at one end. I at'once resolved on seeking admittance; but ere I could reach the door, it opened, and an old woman-in a short gowri and sun-bonnet appeared at it: she started at sight of me. " Eh, lad, but yo? frighted me!" she exclaimed, iv the north-country dialect of my own land. " Arid how bad thee look'st, as if thee'd been swimming t'river. But coom in, lad, cobm in, and dry thee; for t'sake o't'oud land at hoam thee'll be kindly welcome," she added, looking at my British uniform. She led the way into the hut, where a bright fire was blazing on the hearth, and summoned her "oudman" from his work in some unseen garden, to find me a change of clothes, while.mine should be' dried. Never were people more delighted than the simple couple, who, so far away from then- own land, and dwelling in another which, since their settlement, had changed its allegiance, had rarely a chance of seeing a native of their still unforgottcn country. ; Every kindness in their power was eagerly lavished on me, and when I was dryly clad in a suit of Adam Burdon's grey homespun, and had eaten and drunk, the wooden settle was drawn at one side the fire, that I might sleep, and the good dame ranged my wet garments on the other. Meanwhile, Adam himself dried and burnished my dripping sword, and replaced it in the scabbard, put it carefully in a corner. The restoration of my pistols to usefulness would be a more tedious process, aud it was for the present deferred. How long I had slept, I know not, when I was awakened by a loud voice exclaiming with a Yankee drawl: " Mother, mother, where are you?" " Why, here, to be sure—where else should'st be?"answered the old dame cheerily, as she. came from the inner room. "But we had no thought to see thee, Jem." " Then it's an unexpected pleasure," was somewhat gruffly replied ; and I opened my sleepy eyqs to see a tall powerful young man attired in some dark uniform, and with a bugle slung over one shoulder. To my-infinite astouishment, he held my sword in his hand, and I at once started up to repossess myself of it. " But who have you here, mother ?" he added abruptly, and glancing from me to my uniform. " A lad fra' t'oud country ; he was wet and weary, and I asked un in. He's an officer •' King George, but that's naught to thee." "No," he said roughly; "but he is a spy of King George, and that is." I indignantly denied the accusation, pointing out to the new-comer (whose-last words had, to my surprise, announced him a partisan of -the United States) the scarlet coat which had only been' removed to be dried, at the same time striving to regain .my sword. ■ " Let it alone," he cried in a voice of thunder; then wresting it from me with herculean strength, ha dashed it through the window, scarce a foot square. " i sprang forward to go in quest of it, while the tones ofthe-bugle rang deafeningly through the room; arid when I opened the door, a band of armed men, similarly attired to my hostfs son, rushed in,. "Stophim 1" cried young Burdon; "he is a Bpy I" ■ , The next moment 20 arms were thrown round me, and I stood as if shackled within, their iron pressure. Never shall I forget the scene that followed—how earnestly I disclaimed the character they thrust upon me, pointing again to the uniform I had so lately doffiid. Young Burdon and his fellow Rifle-rnngers would listen to no explanation ; loudly and blusteringly, they exclaimed that they had found me, a British officer, in colored clothes, and that I must abide the result ; aud without delay my arms were bound across my .breast, arid I was held in close ward between two guards. With tears his mother entreated my release, or that my blood would rest upon her head. Sadly aud solemnly the father begged his son not to dishonor his humble roof; but the patriotic zeal of the young American soared high above all such filial weaknesses, and ho laughed the suppliants to scorn.

■= "It was bad enough to have traitorous parents," he said, "without their making their house a nest for other traitors ; and if he heard of more of this, he would fire the roof above their heads." •And there was a frown on his brow, and a fiendish flash in his eye, which convinced us his words were meant.

He then gave orders to his men to close round the prisoner, and march to head-quarters. Thus I was again in motion, but -turning my back on my forriacr route, with a sad and: heavy heart, for my ' mission had utterly failed, and I was a prisoner under a fearful though false charge. IS I met with no more scrupulous men than my present captors, I was sure of a horrible arid ignominious deathi .It was a sad end to all the high hopes and lofty aspirations with which I had entered on my country's service; arid almost unconciously my thoughts wandered back to the home of my youth and to those I loved, and I fervently prayed that they might never hear by how terrible a path! the one so dear to them had passed .out of the world. ;-.■.'.'"-"-

Night at length fell on our dreary march; soon after the red glow of a fire flashed above the trees, and we immediately made towards the spot. It proved to be the bivouac of a considerable body of Rifle-rangers, with whom my captors joined company. :■••■' With a shout of mingled execration and delight the party heard the tidings that a British spy had been taken, and during the wild carousal which followed, Innumerable were the insults and coarse sarcasms showered on me, as I' sat powerless near the fire, between the guards, who never-left me. - 4s thp night wore on, higher and louder grew the enthusiasm of, the raugers^in their country's cause;-they drank to her in fiercely worded toasts, and sang in her : honor long•snuffling, ballads; brimful of rancour towards her foes.;'-',

--' At length their exultation rose to.the pitch of resolving, amid deafening cheers, that, as there could be no doubt of their prisoner's guilt, they should execute him without delay; and, dark as was the night, a dozen ready volunteers ranged round the camp seeking two fitting trees, between

which to erect the gibbet on which I should expiate, tho crime of British lineage and loyalty. It was horrible to sit there and watch their gleo over their self-set task, horrible to think that probably within 'the hour if must know that my dying agonies would rejoice my executioners. , At last all was completed ; a stout sapling was laid between the branches of two neighboring trees,' and even the fatal noose was dangling in my view, when, by a sudden whim, my captors resolved to delay "my doom.amtil morning. Again song, and1 toast, and gibe,was resumed ; but gradually tho tumult settled down, until all were sleeping soundly on the grass—all save me and my wardens, who sat watching mo with staring eyes. T affected to1 sleep also. As I lay, I* could hear them discussing, in low tones,'the particulars of the coming event;,but, after a time, that interesting, subject failed,-and; no other, succeeded it. Gradually, the silence, the .hour, and the fatigue they hadluhdergOne; did their work,, and. despite their best intentions, 'my guards began.to nod and doze. ,■?.■->',■;'. * 11 watched them ; : through my half-closed eyes, arid a throb of hope bounded -through, my heart. ,As I lay, I had' not been idle,' but with patient teeth had gnawed in two the rope which bound my arms';' arid'l now paused only to consider whether I had best wa,it until my. jailers slept. But the remembrance that I knew not how soon they might be changed, brought me to my feet in a moment." ■: The next; with long leaps like, a parithcr,; I was, bounding over the slumbering soldiers ; arid by the,fame the shouts of my startled warders had aroused tliem, I had gained the shelter of the bush.-' ''':■'■■'

. With a roar like a sudden tempest, the Bangers rushed into.the forest after me.: But in the darkness of night, they could not trace me ; moreover, fleeing from such a death, my. speed exceeded theirs ; and though formore"than an hour I could distinguish their -voices, and hear them breaking the branches on my track, the sounds gradually died away, and before dawn, I was in the solitary wilderni ss. ; , Never before had rising; suh and all he looked on appeared so lovely in my eyes, and with a glad and grateful heart, I resumed my interrupted journey. Without further accident, I arrived at Fort George ; and within a week, I had the happiness of returning to Dunn's Fort with the relief it so greatly, needed, by which we were enabled to hold the post until tho end of the' war, when it was ceded to the Americans. '