On the first alarm he had risen from his seat at the fire and taking hold of the man's musket who guarded him, said to him: "Give up your gun to me - You are our prisoner now!" The sentinel re- -fused to surrender, and they were struggling both having hold of the musket (for Champenois although his arms were tied could use his hands) when the fatal shot passed through the window, and Champenois pierced through the heart, dropped dead into the fire. One of the Williams's men told me that when the alarm was given he
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was sitting by the fire fiscing the flint of his gun which he instantly dropped, ran to the door, threw himself over the fence into the snow and made his escape with some others, although a volley was fired at them and the Refugee sold- -iers were around the house. Bearmore then set fire to one of Young's barns, re-took the prisoners and cattle Williams had captured the night before, assembled the American prisoners he had made, and all the cattle he could find about the house and retreated. The family of Champenois was French and lived near Robbin's Mills, where some of the family yet reside. There were several brothers, all of whom belonged to the upper party, except John who had joined Bearmore's corps. Both Nathaniel Purdy and his brother Joseph belonged to Captain
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Kipp's company of Refugee horse. They were my near neighbors. When Tarle- -ton's Legion lay near Abraham Davis's they were on McCord's hill encamped for several days at one time. While there a party of Sheldon's came down the road from towards Bedford. Tar- -leton's troops were at breakfast or dinner but left their repast and mount- -ed instantly and endeavored by crossing the fields to cut off the American horse.