A history of the United States of America, on a plan adapted to the capacity of youth .. . cion, Lee delivers his orders—in which he directed theparty to take Champe if possible. ^ Bring him alive, said he that he may suffer in the presence of the army; but kill him ifhe resists, or if he escapes after being taken. A shower of rain fell soon after Champes departure, whichenabled the pursuing dragoons to take the trail of his horse, hisshoes, in common with those of the horses of the army, beingmade in a peculiar form, and each having a private mark, Avhichwas to be seen in the path. Middleton,
A history of the United States of America, on a plan adapted to the capacity of youth .. . cion, Lee delivers his orders—in which he directed theparty to take Champe if possible. ^ Bring him alive, said he that he may suffer in the presence of the army; but kill him ifhe resists, or if he escapes after being taken. A shower of rain fell soon after Champes departure, whichenabled the pursuing dragoons to take the trail of his horse, hisshoes, in common with those of the horses of the army, beingmade in a peculiar form, and each having a private mark, Avhichwas to be seen in the path. Middleton, the leader of the pursuing party, left the camp a fewminutes past twelve, so that Champe had the start of but littlemore than an hour—a period by far shorter than had been con-templated. During the night, the dragoons were often delayed inthe necessary halts to examine the road; but, on the comingof morning, the impression of the horses shoes was so apparent,that they pressed on with rapidity. Some miles above Bergen,a village three miles north of New York, on the opposite side of. the Hudson, on ascending a hill, Champe was descried, not moretlian half a mile distant. Fortunately, Champe descried his 208 PERIOD V.—1775 TO 1783. pursuers at the same moment, and. conjecturing their object, putspurs to his horse, with the hope of escape. By taking a different road, Champe was, for a time, lost siglrtof; but, on approaching the river, he was again descried. Awareof his danger, he now lashed his valise, containing his clothes andorderly-book, to his shoulders, and prepared himself to plungeinto the river, if necessa,ry. Swift was his flight, and swift the pursuit. Middleton andhis party were within a few hundred yards, when Champe threwhimself from his horse, and plunged into the river, calling aloudupon some British galleys, at no great distance, for help. Aboat vras instantly despatched to the sergeants assistance, and afire commenced upon the pursuers. Champe was taken on
Size: 1733px × 1442px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidhistoryofuniteds10good
