Our people had become proportionably disheartened, and a gloom had settled over the whole country. Even the courage of Washington seemed to be giving away before the tardiness of Congress, the small number of ablebodied men upon whom he could rely, and his severe reverses in the field. The army, very much reduced in number, and dejected in spirits, had gone into winter quarters,-- but a small detachment, ordered on special duty had temporarily encamped not far from our house.

My husband was serving in the American army as Captain, and having been a long time away from 11s, die obtained permission from his commanding officer to accompany this detachment on its secret mission, that he might make a brief visit home. He reached the house one day just before sunset. I remember, when he entered, his coming was so unexpected, yet we were so happy, that we gathered around him laughing and crying by turns. Very thankfully and joyfully that day, we

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HISTORICAL, SKETCHES.

sat down to our evening meal, feeling that once more we were all together. When he left us, the uncertainties of the war were so great that we did not know whether we should ever see him again. Besides, some of the tories, with whom he had previously been acquainted, were determined to kill him, if by any means they could get the opportunity. Our meal was ended, but we were still seated talking around the table, when night fairly set in. The sky, however, being cloudless, the moon at its full, and the ground covered with snow, it was sufficiently light to see objects at a great distance. We were about rising from the table, when our attention was suddenly attracted by one of the children who was standing at the window, as she said, ' Oh father, yonder are some soldiers coming this way.' A single glance in the direction in which she was pointing, showed that they were Tories.