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Page 43
"Francisco displayed great courage, daring and presence of mind in that
scrape," observed Kinnison. "But I have heard of several encounters
quite equal to it."
"Yes, Francisco displayed great presence of mind, and that's the most
valuable quality of a soldier--it will save him when courage and
strength are palsied. Francisco performed many singular exploits down
South, and had a high reputation. He had much of the dare-devil in his
nature, and it seemed as if dangerous adventures agreed with him better
than easy success. He fought bravely in several battles, and was known
to many of the enemy as a man to be shunned. There wasn't a man among
the red-coats stout-hearted and strong-limbed enough to dare to meet
him. But you said you had heard of several encounters equal to the one I
just narrated," said Pitts.
"I did," replied Kinnison. "Have you ever seen a painting of the fight
between Colonel Allan M'Lean and some British troops? It used to be a
common thing in Boston."
"I have seen the picture," said Hand, "and I should like to hear the
story of the affair. It must have been a desperate fight."
"It was," replied Kinnison. "A man who was intimately acquainted with
McLean, and heard the account from his own lips, told me of it. You may
boast of Francisco's exploits, but here was a man who united the most
daring courage and strength with a very intelligent and quick-working
mind."
THE EXPLOIT OF COL. ALLAN M'LEAN.
"While the British occupied Philadelphia," said Kinnison, "Col. M'Lean
was constantly scouring the upper end of Bucks and Montgomery counties,
to cut off scouting parties of the enemy and intercept their supplies of
provisions."
"Having agreed, for some purpose, to rendezvous near Shoemakertown, Col.
M'Lean ordered his little band of troopers to follow at some distance,
and commanded two of them to precede the main body, but also to keep in
his rear; and if they discovered an enemy, to ride up to his side and
inform him of it, without speaking aloud. While leisurely approaching
the place of rendezvous in this order, in the early gray of the morning,
the two men directly in his rear, forgetting their orders, suddenly
called out, 'Colonel, the British!' faced about, and putting spurs to
their horses, were soon out of sight. The colonel, looking around,
discovered that he was in the centre of a powerful ambuscade, into
which the enemy had silently allowed him to pass, without his observing
them. They lined both sides of the road, and had been stationed there to
pick up any straggling party of the Americans that might chance to pass.
Immediately on finding they were discovered, a file of soldiers rose
from the side of the highway, and fired at the colonel, but without
effect; and as he put spurs to his horse, and mounted the road-side into
the woods, the other part of the detachment also fired. The colonel
miraculously escaped; but a shot striking his horse upon the flank, he
dashed through the woods, and in a few minutes reached a parallel road
upon the opposite side of the forest. Being familiar with the country,
he feared to turn to the left, as that course led to the city, and he
might be intercepted by another ambuscade. Turning, therefore, to the
right, his frightened horse carried him swiftly beyond the reach of
those who had fired upon him. All at once, however, on emerging from a
piece of woods, he observed several British troopers stationed near the
road-side, and directly in sight ahead, a farm-house, around which he
observed a whole troop of the enemy's cavalry drawn up. He dashed by the
troopers near him without being molested, they believing he was on his
way to the main body to surrender himself. The farm-house was situated
at the intersection of two roads, presenting but a few avenues by which
he could escape Nothing daunted by the formidable array before him, he
galloped up to the cross-roads, on reaching which, he spurred his active
horse, turned suddenly to the right, and was soon fairly out of reach
of their pistols, though as he turned he heard them call loudly to
surrender or die! A dozen were instantly in pursuit; but in a short time
they all gave up the chase except two. Colonel M'Lean's horse, scared by
the first wound he had ever received, and being a chosen animal, kept
ahead for several miles, while his two pursuers followed with unwearied
eagerness. The pursuit at length waxed so hot, as the colonel's horse
stepped out of a small brook which crossed the road, his pursuers
entered it at the opposite margin. In ascending a little hill, the
horses of the three were greatly exhausted, so much so that neither
could be urged faster than a walk. Occasionally, as one of the troopers
pursued on a little in advance of his companion, the colonel slackened
his pace, anxious to be attacked by one of the two; but no sooner was
his willingness discovered, than the other fell back to his station.
They at length approached so near, that a conversation took place
between them; the troopers calling out, 'Surrender, you damn'd rebel, or
we'll cut you in pieces!' Suddenly one of them rode up on the right side
of the colonel, and, without drawing his sword, laid hold of the
colonel's collar. The latter, to use his own words, 'had pistols which
he knew he could depend upon.' Drawing one from the holster, he placed
it to the heart of his antagonist, fired, and tumbled him dead on the
ground. Instantly the other came on his left, with his sword drawn, and
also seized the colonel by the collar of his coat. A fierce and deadly
struggle here ensued, in the course of which Col. M'Lean was
desperately wounded in the back of his left hand, the sword of his
antagonist cutting asunder the veins and tendons. Seizing a favourable
opportunity, he drew his other pistol, and with a steadiness of purpose
which appeared even in his recital of the incident, placed it directly
between the eyes of his adversary, pulled the trigger, and scattered his
brains on every side of the road! Fearing that others were in pursuit,
he abandoned his horse in the highway: and apprehensive, from his
extreme weakness, that he might die from loss of blood, he crawled into
an adjacent mill-pond, entirely naked, and at length succeeded in
stopping the profuse flow of blood occasioned by his wound. Soon after,
his men came to his relief. Now, I think, Mr. Pitts, your hero was at
least equalled in Col. M'Lean."
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