Lexington, and all, as might be well supposed, was in sad confusion—­some were boiling with rage and full of fight, some with fear and confusion, some hiding their treasures, and others flying for life.  In this wild moment, when most people in some way or other, were frightened from their propriety, our heroine, who had two sons, one about nineteen years of age, and the other about sixteen, was seen preparing them to discharge their duty.  The eldest she was able to equip in fine style—­she took her husband’s fowling-piece, ’made for duck or plover,’ (the good man being absent on a coasting voyage to Virginia) and with it the powder-horn and shot-bag; but the lad thinking the duck and goose shot not quite the size to kill regulars, his mother took a chisel, cut up her pewter spoons, and hammered them into slugs, and put them into his bag, and he set off in great earnest, but thought he would call one moment and see the parson, who said, well done, my brave boy—­God preserve you—­and on he went in the way of his duty.  The youngest was importunate for his equipments, but his mother could find nothing to arm him with but an old rusty sword; the boy seemed rather unwilling to risk himself with this alone, but lingered in the street, in a state of hesitation, when his mother thus upbraided him.  ’You John Haines, what will your father say if he hears that a child of his is afraid to meet the British:  go along; beg or borrow a gun, or you will find one, child—­some coward, I dare say, will be running away, then take his gun and march forward, and if you come back and I hear you have not behaved like a man, I shall carry the blush of shame on my face to the grave.’  She then shut the door, wiped the tear from her eye, and waited the issue; the boy joined the march.  Such a woman could not have cowards for her sons.”

“I heard of many such instances,” said Kinnison; “such a spirit was common at the time, not only in New England, but throughout the States.  Look at the noble conduct of some of the people of New Jersey, during Washington’s retreat, and afterwards.  The women did all they could to lessen the sufferings of the men, and many an old man wanted to join the army, knowing how much he would have to endure.”

THE CAPTURE OF GENERAL SULLIVAN.

“The women were all right during the Revolution,” said Pitts.  “I can tell you of an instance in which a woman displayed both patriotism and wisdom, though it may be rather a long story.”

“Oh! the longer the better,” said Hand.

“Very well,” said Pitts, “I’ll tell you about it, as near as I can recollect.  One night, while the British army was encamped on Long Island, a party of the redcoats, galled by the death of Major Andre, formed a plan to cross over to the Connecticut side and capture General Sullivan, who commanded some of the Americans stationed there, and hold him in revenge for Andre’s death.