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SERGEANT CHAMPE. |
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)ii rapidly. Ascending the summit of a hill, a few mile.-; north of the village of Bergen, they descried Champe, not more than half a mile in front. He at the same time discovering them, put spurs to his horse, determined they should not overtake him The cornet now put his»horses to the top of their speed, and recollecting a short route through the woods, sent a party off that way, to intercept the road at a bridge below Bergen, while he with the remainder followed Champe. Being so closely pursued, Champe relinquished his intention of going to Paulus Hook, and sought refuge in some British galleys, that had for a long time occupied a station a few miles west of Bergen. On his entering the village he disguised his track by taking the beaten streets, and after passing through it, took the road leading to Elizabethtown. Meanwhile the cornet's party had readied the bridge, and found, with sore disappointment, the sergeant had slipped through their fingers. Returning up the road, they inquired whether a dragoon had been seen in the village, but could get no intelligence as to the road he had taken. The troops soon spread over the village, and in a short time again struck the trail. The chase was renewed with greater vigor, and Champe was soon discovered. He, apprehending the event, had prepared himself for it, as he now had come abreast the galleys. Leaving his horse, and lashing his valise to his shoulders, he threw himself into the river and called out to the galleys for aid. This Avas quickly given. The British fired on the cornet's party, and sent a boat to meet Champe, who was taken on board and conveyed to New York, with a letter from the captain relating the facts of the case. The cornet returned to camp in the afternoon, when the soldiers, seeing the sergeant's horse in his possession, exclaimed, " The scoundrel is killed and the honor of our corps vindicated."
When Champe arrived at New York, he delivered the letter from the captain of the gallsy to the commandant, and was soon sent to
jirivate mark annexed to the fore shoe, and known to the troopers, pointed out the trail of the dragoons to eaeli other, which was often very useful.
Lee's Memoirs. |
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