Category: Historical Novels
It was near the close of the year 1780 that a solitary traveller was seen pursuing his way through one of the numerous little valleys of Westchester. The county of Westchester, after the British had obtained possession of the island of New York, became common ground, in which...
It was thirty-three years after the interview which we have just related that an American army was once more arrayed against the troops of England; but the scene was transferred...
17. CHAPTER XVII.The following morning the cavalcade[99] dispersed. The wounded diverged towards the river, with the intention of taking water at Peekskill, in order to be transported to the hos...
21. CHAPTER XXI.Frances could no longer doubt that the figure she had seen on the hill was Birch, and she felt certain that, instead of flying to the friendly forces below, her brother would be...
19. CHAPTER XIX."Here is a reverend gentleman below, come to soothe the parting soul, in place of our own divine, who is engaged with an appointment that could not be put aside."
2. CHAPTER II.A storm below the highlands of the Hudson, if it be introduced with an easterly wind, seldom lasts less than two days. Accordingly, the inmates of the Locusts assembled on the f...
22. CHAPTER XXII.On joining Miss Peyton, Frances learnt that Dunwoodie was not yet returned; although, with a view to relieve Henry from the importunities of the supposed fanatic, he had desired...
12. CHAPTER XII.A cluster of some half-dozen small and dilapidated[79] buildings formed what, from the circumstances of two roads intersecting each other at right angles, was called the Four Co...
9. CHAPTER IX.The house of Birch had been watched at different times by the Americans with a view to his arrest, but never with success, the reputed spy possessing a secret means of intellige...
6. CHAPTER VI.The videttes and patrols now came pouring in, each making in succession his hasty report to the commanding officer, who gave his orders coolly and with a promptitude that made o...
18. CHAPTER XVIII.The sentence of the court was communicated with proper tenderness to the prisoner, and after giving a few necessary instructions to the officer in command, and despatching a cou...
23. CHAPTER XXIII.It was at the close of a stormy day in September that a large assemblage of officers was collected near the door of a building that was situated in the heart of the American tro...
20. CHAPTER XX.The soldier was standing at the open door of the apartment, looking in with a suspicious eye on the supposed British officer. On observing his lieutenant, he fell back with habi...
4. CHAPTER IV.At the distance of more than a mile about fifty dragoons were to be seen, winding down one of the lateral[40] entrances of the valley. In advance, with an officer, was a man att...
16. CHAPTER XVI."Hark! What is that?" said Hollister, pricking up his ears. "I'll swear that was a human pistol, and one from our regiment. Rear rank, close to the front!" A volley of musketry...
14. CHAPTER XIV.While his comrades were sleeping in perfect forgetfulness of their hardships and dangers, the slumbers of Dunwoodie were broken and unquiet. After spending a night of restlessne...
5. CHAPTER V.After sufficient time had passed to make a very comfortable meal, a trumpet suddenly broke on the ears of the party, sending its martial tones up the valley, in startling melody...
11. CHAPTER XI.In the confusion and agitation produced by the events we have recorded, the death of the elder Birch had occurred unnoticed; but a sufficient number of the immediate neighbors w...
3. CHAPTER III.On the afternoon of the succeeding day, the party were assembled in the parlor around the tea-table of Miss Peyton, when a change in the weather occurred. The rushing winds had...
1. CHAPTER I.It was near the close of the year 1780 that a solitary traveller was seen pursuing his way through one of the numerous little valleys of Westchester. The county of Westchester,...
7. CHAPTER VII.During this conversation, which was held at a small distance in advance of the British column, and in full view of the Americans, Dunwoodie had been collecting his scattered tro...
13. CHAPTER XIII.The Skinners followed Captain Lawton with alacrity towards the quarters occupied by the troop of that gentleman. They soon arrived at a better sort of farm-house, the very exten...
8. CHAPTER VIII.The gathering mists of the evening had begun to darken the valley, as the detachment of Lawton made its reappearance at its southern extremity. The march of the troops was slow...
15. CHAPTER XV.They were met by Miss Peyton, who acquainted them of the approaching marriage of her eldest niece and Colonel Wellmere, and invited them to be present. The gentlemen bowed; and...
10. CHAPTER X.The family at the Locusts had slept, or watched, through all the disturbances at the cottage of Birch, in perfect ignorance of their occurrence. Additional duties had drawn the...