The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
"We lingered long in the cool shade at the spring before departing for
the village burial-ground where the remains of Jenny rest. As we emerged
from the woods we saw two or
* The following is the inscription: Here Lyes The Body of Duncan-
Campbell, of Inversaw. Esqr., Major to the Old Highland Regt., Aged 55
Years, Who Died The 17th July, 1758. of The Wounds He Received in the
Attack of The Retrenchments of Ticonderoga or Carillon the 8th July,
1758.
Young Girl struck by Lightning.--Village Burial-ground.--Colonel Cochran
and his Adventures.--Rogers's Island.
102
three persons with a horse and wagon, slowly ascending the hill from the
village. In the wagon, upon a mattress, was a young girl who had been
struck by lightning, two days before while drawing water from a well. *
Although alive, her senses were all paralyzed by the shock, and her
sorrowing father was carrying her home, perhaps to die. With brief words
of consoling hope, we stepped up and looked upon the stricken one. Her
breathing was soft and slow-a hectic glow was upon each cheek; but all
else of her fair young face was pale as alabaster except her lips. It
was grievous, even to a stranger, to look upon a young life so suddenly
prostrated, and we turned sadly away to go to the grave of another, who
in the bloom of young womanhood was also smitten to the earth, not by
the lightning from Heaven, but by the arm of warring man.
The village burial-ground is near the site of the fort, and was thickly
strewn with wild flowers. We gathered a bouquet from the grave of Jenny,
and preserved it for the eye of the curious in an impromptu herbarium
made of a city newspaper. A few feet from her "narrow house" is the
grave of Colonel Robert Cochran, whom I have already mentioned as
commanding a detachment of militia at Fort Edward at the time of
Burgoyne's surrender. He was a brave officer, and was warmly attached to
the American cause. In 1778 he was sent to Canada as a spy. His errand
being suspected, a large bounty was offered for his head. He was obliged
to conceal himself, and while doing so at one time in a brush-heap, he
was taken dangerously ill. Hunger and disease made him venture to a log
cabin in sight. As he approached he heard three men and a woman
conversing on the subject of the reward for his head, and discovered
that they were actually forming plans for his capture. The men soon left
the cabin in pursuit of him, and he immediately crept into the presence
of the woman, who was the wife of one of the men, frankly told her his
name, and. asked her protection. That she kindly promised him, and gave
him some nourishing food and a bed to rest upon. The men returned in the
course of a few hours, and she concealed Cochran in a cupboard, where he
overheard expressions of their confident anticipations that before
another sun they would have the rebel spy, and claim the reward. They
refreshed themselves, and set off again in search of him. The kind woman
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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