The Old Bell of Independence; Or, Philadelphia in 1776 by Henry C. Watson
page 60 of 154 (38%)
page 60 of 154 (38%)
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whole set, and he had no mercy on any of them. Joe Bates was a clever
fellow--as warm a friend and as quiet a companion as you would wish to meet in time of peace; but he hated like he loved--with all his heart, and would go through fire and death to get at a foe." "I believe Joe Bates' conduct was a fair specimen of that of the whole people of those parts, at that time," said Wilson. "I've been told that the whigs and tories had no mercy on each other." "Not a bit," added old Harmar. "It seems to me that the fighting up here in the North was child's play in comparison with that in the South. Every man on the American side that went into the battle of Eutaw Springs, was so full of courage and the desire of revenge that he was equal to two common men. Greene had difficulty in restraining their ardor within the limits of prudence. I heard of Colonel Henry Lee and his legion coming up with a body of tories who were assembled to march to the British camp, and his men would slaughter them without mercy, in spite of his efforts to restrain them." "It was a bloody time," remarked Smith. "God grant that we may never see its like again," added Morton. "Up this way," said Wilson, "the tories were quite peaceable and respectable; and some of them were badly treated without any reason for it. They were honest men, and differed in opinion with those who judged the Declaration of Independence and the assumption of arms, necessary measures." "Yes," replied Higgins; "its all very well for men to differ in |
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