and thus yoked together man and beast, the crest fallen thirteen were marched ahead of their captor to the British camp. A sorry enough spectacle, truly!
A fiery, passionate man, Col. Shepperd's rage and mortification were indescribable. His desire to capture Patton became a perfect frenzy, and he bent all his energy to its accomplishment.
If a man will, he can, generally; and Col. Sheppard's hour came at last.
Not very long after the disgraceful capture of his men, there was to be a sale in the neighborhood. People had submitted, if they were not subdued, Patton rode or walked through the land a very Lord Paramount, and none dared gainsay or resist. He was going to attend the sale, not as a bidder, but to take vi et armiswhatever he saw fit. Shepperd stationed some of his men below, and above the point of attack that he had selected, early on the day of the sale, and then dressed like a common farmer, as he always did, and with a loose halter over his arm, he mounted his horse and took a bridle path through the woods that would bring him out into the road that Patton must take to reach the sale. A house occupied by a man named Smith was on the left of the road, above the lower ambuscade of Shepperd's men.
Down the road came Patton
riding a superb black mare, dressed in full British uniform, and presenting a
very
"Oh, yes," said Patton
carelessly, raising his right arm and pointing across the road, "he lives across
the road yonder." He had turned his face as he spoke, and in that instant a pair
of wiry arms were clasped around him like a vice, and a small piping voice cried
out, "Col. Patton, you are my prisoner, sir." Patton was a stammerer in his
speech, and he stuttered out, angrily. "It is a damned lie, sir. I am no man's
prisoner;" struggling desperately to loose himself. He had not reckoned on the
immense strength hidden away in the small body of his captor, and his efforts
availing nothing. Drawing his sword with his left hand he essayed to cut himself
loose, but Shepperd was so small, and so close to him that the slashes did not
touch him. Patton shortened his
The arrival of reinforcements made the contest hopeless for Patton, who had been badly hurt by his heavy fall, and he said: "I surrender, and claim the usage of a soldier and a gentleman." Shepperd at once relieved him, and when Patton was helped to his feet, he held out his sword and said: "To whom do I surrender?" "Col. William Shepperd, sir," answered
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