The Oregon daily journal., September 27, 1908, Page 54, Image 54

(TOT OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 27
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ouett 6
" ' . ' ' ' ' - -
THE Judge was fitting.. In Mi library, one after
noon,, by the' window ithat', opened out
toward Monticello Thomas Jefferson's old
M ' home. The beautiful landscape wa bathed
in the soft light of June, and the valley
stretching away, to the foot of the 'Little
Mountain presented as fair a landscape as
I one often sees, clear upland lawns, bits of forest, long
(reaches of hillside, laughing rivulets, all lay between
'the house and the mountain. Everything was quiet
j save for the bum of bees or the occasional rattle of a
passing train, until suddenly a troop of youngsters
dashed in with a whoop and hurrah that aroused the
ljudge from his day-dream.
"Oh, papa, papal" shouted one at the' top of his
lungs. "Father, father!" called another.
The judge held up his hand for silence
' "Welt children, what Is the matter?"
i "We have been, playing Paul Reverc's ride, and
Morris that's the donkey, you' knowhas thrown
(jack, and now Jack won't be Paul any more, 'and I
!want to be one of the citizens, and the others wdnl ,
ride!" This from a freckle-faced youngster of tea'
summers.
The judge checked the speaker.
"Paul Revere'a ride? Why don't you play Jack
Jouett's ride? That performed as great a service as
Paul Revere'i ride, and took, .place right here in your
lown county." V I I ...
"Why, we never heard of HI" said Jack
"So much for the historians," replied the judge.
"Now sit down, all of you,' and; i quiet, and 111 tell
you all about It" v
Silence reigned atjonce, and the group of Interested
(listener f gathered abbuHHe' Judge, '
i "Your histories tell you of Tarleton, the brave, cruel
'dashing colonel; you have lieard of bis fiery Black
charger, of his superb horsemanship, of his ruthless
legion. Did any of you know that Tarleton once
came to Charlottesville with his regiment? Well, he
did, riding right along that road you see crossing the
hill in front of the house. He came up here to capture
Mr. Jefferson, then jthe governor of the State, and the
legislature then in session right here in the old town.
I remember the Eagle Tavern, where the law-makers
met, and, stranger still, I can remember a person who
saw that raid. She was my black nurse' mother, and
she died In 1863, when I was ten years old. She was
fourteen years old when Tarleton made his raid. Now,
how old was she when she died?"
une ot tne listeners looked at tne judge and smiled:
"I know," said she, .
"Well?" said the judge.
"Comwallis came to Virginia first la X781, so the
Id woman was ninety-six years old when she died."
"Correct," said the judge. "Her name was Mourning,
Aunty Mournin', We always caljed her, and my
mammy used to take me to he cafcin, and she'd tell
me abojjt the 'redcoats' and 'GinT Tarleton and his
big black horse, and the breakfast he had at Castle
Hill. .
"In the spring of 1781' the traitor Arnold was at
Portsmouth, Virginia, and Sir Jienrv Clinton sent two
thousand men, under General Phillips, to aid him, -.
Soon he and Arnold were at Manchester, a little city
just across the James River from Richmond. Corn
wall's later on invaded Virginia, and met Phillips's
command which had left Manchester without taking
Richmond at Petersburg. They had laid waste the
State be'o them, burning houses, tobacco, and crops,
and killing the cattle.
' "It looked as If these combined forces would take
Richmond this time, so the .legislature adjourned on
the 10th of May, to meet at Charlottesville on the
24th. The governor," Mr. Jefferson, came back to his
home yonder on the mountain, just two miles from us
here in Charlottesville, and for a week this town was
the capital of the State. There were only forty mem
bers of the legislature who came to Charlottesville
but among them were men the British would have
delighted to take ; for there were three signers of the
Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee,
Thomas Nelson. Jr. and Beniamin Harrison fwho was
to be ancestor of two Presidents) ; aid there also was
Patrick Henry, a former governor of Virginia, the
man whose clarion voice first in the colonies pro
claimed resistance to tyrants, in that sentence you aO
have learned? "Give me liberty or give me death T
"Everything looked very gloomy for the Continentals
in old Virginia at this time. Lafayette, who was in
command, had : been compelled to fall. back. Baron
.Steuben, who was camped where the Rivanna. our
muddy river just over the hill yonder, empties into the
James, had been completely outwitted by General Sim-
-coe, tne imu&n general, ana caa maae man tn
rlorious retreat. Cornwallit bad la the meantime
rand hanged, or transported to Great Britain.
"And Colonel Tarleton came very near succeeding.
But for Jack Jouett there might have been no such
President as Thomas Jefferson, and yonder mountain,
now the Mecca of all lovers of liberty, would not have
had upon it that plain shaft with the great but simple
inscription: 'Here was - buried Thomas Jefferson,
Author of the Declaration of American Independence,
of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and
Father of the University of Virginia.' There, would
.not have been the great University of Virginia.
"For nobody knew of or suspected Tarleton's raid.
Charlottesville, shut In by the mountains, a quiet, re
tired, dull little village, who would care to despatch '
a force against it? So Tarleton came swiftly with his
legion, and reached Cuckoo Tavern, in Louisa County,
not a day's ride away, early one morning in-June.
"Now there happened to be at Cuckoo Tavern, that
then to Charlottesville not I pleasant road to ride or
drivet through as picturesque a route as one often sees
for one either side' grew great pine-trees here, and
massivt oaks there, while dogwood and sassafras and
sumac filled in spaces. The road had once been a
buffalo track and then an Indian trail, then a wagon
road for: a while; but as no one 'ever worked it or
changed the grade, It rapidly washed into a succession
of red gullies and became well-nigh impassable. So
k had been abandoned many years, and nature had
covered, up the scars made by the animals' and man,
and only in a few places could one have known that
it. had ever' been used as a highway. Broom-sedge
grew wherever there was an open space; ferns of a
hundred varieties clustered in every hollow where
water ran; and the wild bramble ran riot everywhere
in the shade. Into this old road Jack pushed his horse,
and soon was dashing at full speed over hill and dale.
it
Jlo ttme of Dap-
11 uirc ever icawic me iui ui i vie is uw u v( v- - J . - . , ,
he turns. The time of day is also a puzzling matter, for the pole is the meeting-place of every meridian
and the time of all holds' good."
"What will they do?" said the midshiptntte,
"With the North Pole, if they find it?"
"Run up the flag!" quoth old Jack Tar,
"And set the watch to mind it.
"Every man Jack who rounds his back
Against the pole to shore it
Will find, when he attempts to tack,
South only south before it :
No north, no east, no western way;
In fact, no proper time of day."
"No time of day I" said the midshipmite. v.
"What could be more complete?
All times of day must be all right
Where all meridians meet.
So there will be, beyond a doubt.
No proper time for "turning out," ' '
Or knocking midshipmitcs about.
And, in that blest retreat,
No time the galley sweets to lock,
But 'plum-duff' all around the clock!" . .
Adele M, Hay ward,'
tit $arftfr.
Belinda was the smallest cat
That ever you did see.
One day Belinda met a rat
Quite twice as big as she.
Now, what are you to do
When. a rat's as big as you?
Belinda said: "I'm not afraid
Of any rat alive.
I'd swallow any rat that's made.
Or two, or four, or five."
Now, how could she do that
Such a very little cat?;
The rat replied: "I never knew
A cat as brave as I.
But as for such a cat as you,
I'll make you Into pie."
Did you ever see a rat
Dine off a pussy-cat?.
Belinda said: "Superior cata v ; ,
Think fighting only fun.
Just call a lot of other rata;
I'll eat them, every one."
Now, don't you think that that
Was a most courageous cat?
Then other rats joined in the fight.
Big, little, short, and tall, 4 k
Gray, brown, and brindled, black and white-
Belinda ate them allt
jy you wonder how I know I
Belinda told me sol
UCJC JOUETT WAKNS GOVIRNOK THOMAS JEFFESSOM OF THE COMING OF TARLETON'S MEW
day, Jack Jouett, a citizen of Charlottesville, a young,
gay, and jolly innkeeper, fond of good living and fine
horses. - ,
"Why he was at Cuckoo that day no one knows;
but I think it was because Jack owned a farm near
there, as his will in our musty old. record-book Iiere
shows, and he had ridden down to visit it But cne
thing we do know : Jack had captured a British
dragoon the day before, and had deliberately stripped
him of his uniform, which happened to be light blue,
and had donned it; coat, trousers, boots, helmet with
long horsehair plume, all these be had on, having
clothed, his prisoner in his own homespun jeans, ana
then paroled him. Jack was in the garden when he
heard the tramp of the swiftly movirfg enemy. Con
cealing himself in the shrubbery, he saw the redcoats
sweep by, for they made no pause at Cuckoo, and Jack
recognized the handsome, dashing colonel at the head
of the troop. Along the road went the dreaded legion, .
tramp, tramp, tramp of horseshoe, clingle, dangle,
clash of sabers and bridle-bits. 'Mischief in the windT
said Jack. 'Where are they bound?' and his heart
It was a dangerous ride, even at a ..ow salt Deep
gullies lay concealed under treacherously smiling wild
flowers. Ground-hog holes offered pitfalls liable to
break the leg of his steed; overhanging limbs swept
him in the face, and the wild brier ever and anon
caught him in a painful and harassing embrace. His
face bore for many years the scars left on his face by
this brier, which, 'as you know, climbs up trees and
seems to throw itself from one to another. But Jack
had no time to consider these things. He knew that
in a few hours the enemy would be in Charlottesville,
and make the governor and legislature prisoners, unless
he could give them timely warning. His mare was
sure of foot, sound of wind, and no other fox-hunter
ever got the brush when Jack and she were in the
hunt
"So away he went, touching her lightly with the spur
now and then, but oftener cheering her in the race
with a merry whistle or encouraging word. He had
thirty miles to make. He could have as easily made
fifty on a good road as thirty through this wilderness.
At one point the disused road entered a field in sight
of the highway along which Tarleton's leeion was
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and there tfmea the iaa ci TKi.ng .aneion to - r" V Y,
rushed to the stable, saddled his bonny bay mare,
capture Mr. Jefferson and the legislature at Charlottes-
vj.le. - ..,,
"So, as I tell yon, in this very month of June, Just
on hundred and seventeen years am, Tarleton came
V9 into this section of the eotmrry- rio jkmH be
chockVd to VrmM.f. as he rod onward to caariottes-
viTle. thinkmc wht a dfhcioos thiM n wooia re w
im iWt .!. the atiihor cf the Declaration of In-, Jack knew a'shortrr ronXe, an old diued road that
'CXttdence," and to hart tia tried fot fciga treason, wotJd kad him to the rarer, thence to. Monticello, and
gave a great leap. They are after the governor and'
tne legisi jrore 1 v nee-oon : rot a minuie nayea n, .nf . f, .,r,ur. ... t,v -v.. w. ..v.
he then. When the last trooper was out of sight. Jack, J... th. nn,n tw 4ana-t k.-, 14
and a pistol-shot or two, but when he dashed into the
woods they abandoned the pursuit Once his bav
mare fell, her foot having caught in a mass of brush
and brier and half-rotten logs; but up she scrambled,
and away she went, as if she knew that the fate of a
commonwealth depended upon her. In two hoors Jvk
rode his-thirty nvJee, and paned in the ford just op
posite tjie little hamlet of ML'tontwo miles from
Montieello. Only a mouthful of water did be sDow
his gallant bay to sip. and then be dahed fc the river
bank 'and on through the streets of the village, stop-
foot ot any nag in seven counties, and was off at full
gallop.
"Jade Imew every road ird path in lower Albemarle
and Louisa coonties. He shrewdly guessed that Tarle
ton would follow the highway into the main road that
Jrd ty the coenrry-eeatt, the homes of the gentry.
eonrstioHT by the entrust r comnnt
ping not at anxious hails of men and women, hut
merely shouting: 'The British are coming I The
British are coming 1' In ten minutes he drew rein in
front of a quaint brick house on top of the now
famous mountain. 'He was a sight, too,' the darkies
said. His face was torn and bleeding from the wild
brier thorns, his gay blue suit covered with mud and
dirt, his mare covered with sweat and foam and pant
ing as if her heart would burst through her sides.
Down from the porcn in front of which Jack had
halted came a tall, thin man, dressed in a suit of nan
keen, lace at his wrists and shirt-front, and with a
little sword-cane in his hand. This man had clear,
sparkling blue eyes ; a thin skin under which the blood
almost seemed starting. His hair was thin and curly,
and covered with white powder. For a moment he
did not recognize the rider. Then, as he drew nearer,
'Why, Mr. Jouett," he said, 'what brings you here, and
with your good horse so well-nigh spent ?'
"Jack could only gasp, 'The British. governor!
Tarleton and his men passed Cuckoo Tavern at six
o'clock this morning, and I've ridden ' He stopped
and his voice sank.
"'Martin, Martin!' called Mr. Jefferson, for it was
he, 'hurry! A glass of wine for Mr. Jouett.'
"A large, sullen-looking negro man came to the
door, then hurwed off. returning In a moment with a
decanter and glass. Jack drained the glass, and cried:
""Get vou, gone at one, governor; there's no time
to lose, ill ride to Charlottesville and tell Mr. Patrick
Henry and the other legislators.'
" 'But, Mr. Jouett,' said Mr. Jefferson, "have you
riddert -from Cuckoo since six o clock? Why, it is
scarcely eight yet!"
"'Indeed, but I have, governor; and Tarleton and
his men have ridden fast too, and will be here ere
noon ay, and sooner, too.'
"'What a debt of gratitude we all owe you, Mr.
Jouett ! said the goventor. 'One we shall not soon ;
forget. But alight sir; let your gallant bay be rubbed
down and fed. and come you to breakfast. We shall
have time to despatch later on.'
""Not so, governor,' replied Jack. 7 must warn the
olfierv
True quite true, said Mr. Jefferson.
"Jack, "in a mrmrrt more, arain pjt rpor to hit
steed. He reached Oarkxrerririe a quarter of an h"nr
later, and- $orn from bouse to bouse ran the new that
the dreaded Tarleton war on tVe way TY legislature
met and pad a hsty reo!utvn a-'n to S"-
'on, ferty milea awav. arrnts ttie Fh Ridee: 4 the
Ink wa hardly drr on the mrn?e-Wk before Ts'W
ton's adrtfce-tTiard was seen en the crest cf the hCl
not more than a win away.
".Vrm tardr lerMume were ttrrrrA. he. r'V
rt to Jack, one f he most prwmnt r-f tki
evaped Gereri Stcver. rad Wi lac -'
wounded at the fcarJe.cf .Gunford Court Hots, wis
then boarding at Jouett's Tavern. He was a member
of the legislature. After eating a hasty breakfast, and
seeing his mare well cared for, Jack mounted another
steed, and, in company with General Stevens, who rode
a very shabby horse, started off up the Staunton road.
They were but a few miles -out of town when behind
them came rapid horsemen, and they soon saw the red
coats of the British troopers. :jr'-
" 'Jog on slowly, general,' said Jack ; Til lead them
a dance, and off he dashed. He wore his captured
uniform, and the horsehair plume of his , helmet
streamed out behind him. ...- ; i ?
"The troopers thought Jack a general at least, and
dashed by the plain old Virginia farmer (as they
thought) on the poor, shabby horse. Jack coquetted
with his pursuers awhile, now reining, up as if
about to surrender, now dashing off " in a gallop,
At last, when he had them well away from General
Stevens, who turned Into a by-path, he gave spur to
hi. fleet horse, and was very soon beyond the reach of
his pursuers. He always said that he never grew tired
until he reached the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
about dark of that eventful day.
"Taek .lived anA AA in rharlottesville. Hil name
is but a shadowy memory there now,-as all of his
children moved away. One son, John, went to Ken
tucky, and was, I believe, the ancestor of a gallant
admiral in the United States navy, but there are no
Jouetts left in Charlottesville or Albemarle '
"Hi tavern stood on the, exact spot-where ttan!i
the school-house to which you children now go. " D1
you know that somewhere in your playground J.ir'
sleeps now in an unmarked grave? He was buried 11
Us garden, and that garden, is now your playgrourl
The legislature gave Jsck a handsome sword, wh : '1
young John took to Kentucky with him; but J'i
never seemed to think much of his ride, and used -
laugh when hi neighbors in bis old ae would f
about it Td do h again for another glass of Je.T'
on's maderia. be was wont to say, and I verily I
liere he spoke truly.. , -
"When be died, in iPo. there was talk of a r -vent
to r-e -ced ovee hi erave. and in an oM yr :'
r,fwotT I have m the library there it ment f
public meeting as late a ISA called for the r -of
rsismr a fond to Wk.the rrave rf t
Jouett and tnt sirs it frwi ehn. Put r.
ever m cf it. M iw the very spot u v,
' But ! believe, if old Jack cooM he contih-1. !. -r
ht H feet of merrv rii im Wf-;
bead, and the tweet mniic cf tbe hn tr. !
as pWsart to "s toint at a t.hed ' rf 1
or f marKte; far he Wed rv1i rn a- ! f - -and
largV-ter. ri ear! I.fl f r f
brr. r'- . . . ...
"Pere be til ,!
t.?l and "tvw is r: emery, ! r ! : ;
tad drxrvf 1 it vtl