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Show .. 2~6 ROEB 'UCK. within a 1nilo of the n1n.n. ion of Roebuck, Captain Dakin infonned Jnba of his destin[l.tion and design, requiring the involnntm·y guide to lead a squad to tl:·e rear of the house, and to point out every path, gate and outlet by \vhich Fitzhugh n1ight c. capo. To quicken his intclljgence, he \Vns told that, if tho rd>cl oflicer \Vas not cn.pturcd, he shonld be hnng. Arriving near the 1nansion, Captain Dakin qnietly poBted his n1en so as to shut up every loop-hole of retreat, and .then rode up to the front of the hon ·e. Awaking the inn1ates by beating on a door, he called for Colonel Fairfax. That p;entlemn.n soon appeared ut an upper \Vindow, and inq nired. \Yho \Vas there. "Captain ])akin detiircs to ::;ee Colonel Fitzhugh." "IIe is not here." "I know boLter. I have direct infonnation. You can't deceive me." ''There is no attempt to deceive you, I assure you he is not in the house." "You 'vant to parley 'vhile he escapes. I understand your ga1ne. It \VOn't do. Your house IS surrounded \Vith 1ny troops." "Captain Dakin, upon n1y honor he is not here." " "tT }' -1. ou 1e, you old rebel. Send Fitzhugh to me, or I \Vill set fire to your house in five 1ninutes. It ought to have boon burnt long ago." "It is i1npossible for 1ne to send a man who is not near 1ne." '• Then tho house shall burn." ':Surely, you are not in earnest?" "You 'v.ill see." Captain D.1kin called two of his men and ordered thcn1 to bring fire from a negro cabin, a'n d apply it to the house in f1·out and rear. Colon ei Fail-fax remon-- llORBU C K. 2~7 strntecl, anrl invited hitn to Hearch the hon~e. The captain rcpliccl that he ' v::ts not to be taken in by that trick. Jie 1vas then req ne~Lccl to give the ladies time to pnt on their clothe~, and leave the bonsc before it · waR })red. IIc a.nsw'-rccl, 1vith an oath, that they rmcl Colonel Fairf:1x should remnin in the h om~e, an<l be burnt with it, nn]ross he (le1iverccl up Colonel Fitz~ hngh. ''Give hi1n np," he added, "or his sweetheart shall an~'ver for it." Thi~ brntal threat was hearcl by Jnlia, 1vbo stood at a winclow of l1cr chamber listening to the dinlogne. l\[rs. Fair:fi1x stood near her hnsband. IIe rcque~tecl her to go to Jnli:l's room, and dircetecl that they should both prepare to fly fr01n the h ou e. IIe then \vent for a gun which he kept concealed, bccansc tho inhabitants were generally disarmed by the Fec1ern1s. l{etnrning to the window, he saw the two soldiers appronching with fire. lie called out to Captain Dakin, and said- " if you atten1pt to burn the houRe with my £<tmily in it, I will certainly shoot the n1an who applies the torch," The captnin ordered the Tnen to fire the house. One of them, con1ing to the front, applied the fire, and stooped down to kindle it. Colonel Fair.fitx discharged a load of buck- shot from one barrel of the to--m1 ' ancl one or two shots entered the soldier's leg. IIc ran awny, 1naking a great outcry of pnin. The colonel pn "'se<l over to a back window, ancl saw the other soldier putting fire to the hou .. e. l-Ie discharged the other barrel, and the man then ran, alarmeil, bnt not hurt. Colonel Fairfax re-loaded his g un, and resumed his place at the front. In the 1neantime, a neo-ro n1an ,vho slept in the house, ·was awakened by theb report o' f fire-anus, and ran to the a "'istance o f h. IS ma!:iter. lie can1e to the window ju~t m; some of the |
