The Rangers; or, The Tory's Daughter: A Tale Illustrative of the Revolutionary History of Vermont and the Northern Campaign of 1777Thompson, Daniel P. (Daniel Pierce)
History
The Rangers; or, The Tory's Daughter: A Tale Illustrative of the Revolutionary History of Vermont and the Northern Campaign of 1777
Thompson, Daniel P. (Daniel Pierce)
Vermont -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Fiction
While those little incidents were occurring in the streets, about one
hundred sturdy and determined men had collected within the walls of the
Court House. As the construction of this building was somewhat peculiar,
for one designed for such purposes, it may be necessary, for a clear
understanding of the descriptions which follow, to say a few words
respecting its interior arrangements. The court-room was in the upper
story, which was all occupied as such, except the east and south
corners, that had been partitioned off for sleeping apartments. In the
lower story, there was a wide passage running through the middle of the
building, with doors at both ends; while the stairs leading up into the
court room faced the principal entrance, on the north-east side of the
house. After passing by the stairs, there was a small passage
leading from the large one, at right angles, and running back between
prison-rooms, whose doors opened into it. The part of this lower story,
on the opposite side of the main passage, consisted also of two rooms,
with doors opening into it, and an entry, or short passage, leading out
into the street. One of these rooms was used as a common, or bar-room,
and the other as a sort of parlor, being both occupied by the jailer and
his family.
Although there had been, for many weeks, a growing disposition among the
party here assembled to prevent the session of a court avowedly acting
under royal authority, and spurning all the recommendations of Congress,
yet there had been no settled intention among them to resort to any
other than the peaceful measures of petition and remonstrance, which
they believed would be sufficient to effect the desired result. It had
been decided, therefore, that the court should be permitted to come
together; when such representations and arguments were to be laid before
them, as could not fail, it was supposed, to convince any reasonable men
of the wisdom of listening to the voice of the people. But when, or,
the preceding evening, it was discovered, in the way before related, and
from other sources, that the people had been duped by the duplicity of
Chandler, and that it was the secret purpose of the court, in defiance
of all pledges to the contrary, to hold a full session, under the
protection of an armed force, the hitherto modest and quiet spirit
of patriotism was at once aroused among this resolute little band of
revolutionists, and they came to the bold determination, as we have
before seen, of seizing the Court House in advance of their opponents,
and holding it till their remonstrances should be heard and heeded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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