Elsie's Vacation and After Events

ned and the eastern sky was bright with purple, orange, and gold, heralding the near approach of the sun which, just a

ith his back toward her, and apparently absorbed in gazing upon the sunrise, she hastened to his s

returned, bending down to press a

h her hand fast clasped in his, but turning her eyes again upon

s, with a hand on each of her shoulders, he turned her about

e exclaimed. "Why, we're

h our anchorage wi

p to see the old fort, p

d in it a relic of the Revolution, do you?" he asked laughingly, pinching

nking there must have been a fi

fortress was not

war of 1812-1

, there was a small fort built on Point Comfort in 1630; also, shortly before the siege of Yorktown, Count

r of their party and the exchange of morning greetings; then followed the intere

n, the talk at the table turned upon the building of the fort, its history and

o them all as they stood upo

int Comfort, pap

two forming the mouth of the James River; and these are the Rip Raps between the two. You see that there the ocean tides and the currents of th

r which is called Hampton Roads. It is so larg

ere in our wars with England?" r

ptain; "that happened in both the Rev

lier by fleeing on board a man-of-war, the Fowey,-driven by his fears, and his desire for revenge, to destroy

er men, had been sent to protect the people of Hampton-and sent armed men in boats t

lent marksmen those Virginians were, and picked off so many of the advancing foe that they compelled them to take ignominious fli

asked Grace, as her fath

nvey intelligence and supply stores," he replied;

off so many from every part of the vessels that the seamen were soon seized with a great terror. The cannons were silenced,-the men who worked them being shot down,-and their commander presently ordered a retreat; but that was difficult to accomplish, for an

e the fleet could escape, the Hampton people, with

!" exclaimed Rosie,

n said, smiling a

on the very ones that are

ich was built probably about 1700. Before the Revolution it bore the royal arms carved upon its steeple; but soon after the Decl

yoke they represented," laughed Rosie.

n the light of after events

isit Hampton?" as

reply, in an indulgent tone and with an inqui

the way to the town; but first they must visit the fortress. They did not, however, set out thither immediately,

g in a southerly direction,

ile distant, and with Fortress Monroe defends Ha

ldiers in them?" s

arsenal, a United States school of artillery, chapel, and, besides the barracks fo

hed, papa? How long di

million dollars. It is an irregular hexagon-that is has six sides and si

flower gardens, p

ters. Now, if you will make yourselves ready for the trip, ladies, Mr. Dinsmore, and any of you younger ones who care to go,

the invitation and they were s

returned to their vessel, weighed anchor, and passed through the nar

n deck, enjoying the breeze and th

told us yet what happened here

ve hundred men under General Beckwith landing at Old Point Comfort, and marching from th

ed and fifty militiamen. Feeling themselves too weak to repel an attack by

of regret and mortification. "I know Americans often did fight wh

pite of the odds against them. That thing had happened only a few days previously at Craney Island, and the Br

" asked Evelyn Leland. "I have forgotten, tho

was assisted by the flotilla of Admiral Cockburn, consisting of armed boats and barges, which appeared suddenly off Blackbeard's Point at th

gainst them was Cockburn's object, in which he was partly successful

haste to tell them of the large land force coming against the town from the rear, and presently in the wo

own must have been!" exclaimed Grace. "

nd trust to the supposed humanity of the British; a vain reliance it proved, at least so far as Admiral Cockburn was concerned.

ifty men would do what they could to defend the town. They were encamped on an estate called 'Little England,' a s

t with his rifle company to ambush on the road by which Beckwith's troops were approaching, ordering him to attack and check the enemy. Then when Cockburn came round Blackbeard's Point and opened fire on the American ca

discovered them. When that happened Sergeant Parker, with a field-piece and a few picked me

position and plant his cannon when th

ieutenant Hope and two other men-had stationed themselves, and just as the British crossed the creek-the French column in front, led by t

heir fire, killing the brave Lieutenant-Colonel Williams of the British army. But the others presently recover

ehind to defend the Little England estate from the attack of the barges. But while he was moving on along the lane that led

yed, behaving like veterans, and the enemy fell back; but presently rallied, and, showing themselves directly in fron

ew minutes, then fell back, broke rank

enant Jones, of the Hampton artillery, perceiving that to be the case, hurried to his assistance; but s

out, and rushing to a house near by he snatched a burning brand fro

ly filled the lane; then Jones rose and discharged his piece with terrible effect, many of the British were prostrated by the unexpecte

but on drawing near his camp saw that it

ir way through the enemy's ranks with their guns, swam the west branch of Hampton Cre

spiking his gun followed P

hose who still remained with him, on the flank of S

was in danger of being out off from his line of retreat. He then withdr

fallen. Then presently followed the disgraceful scenes in Hampton of which I have alr

se than a savage!"

than some of the Indian chiefs-Brant, f

e was any better than a pirate,

e his atrocities that even the most violent of his