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march m a peaceable manner not above fifty rods beyond the 

 bridge, and then return, -without molesting any person or 

 property. That his orders were to pass the bridge, and he 

 could not disobey them. Intercession was now made with the 

 people by Mason and others, that they should accept these 

 terms, the word and honor of Col. Leslie, which were unim- 

 peachable, being considered sufficient guaranty for their ful- 

 filment. Felt, however, was not yet ready to yield to any 

 conditions, and when the inhabitants on the north side were 

 requested by the Rev. Mr. Barnard to lower the leaf, they 

 replied, "We dont know you in the business; — when Felt 

 orders it, it will be time enough." There was now however, 

 scarcely any danger in allowing the troops a passage free from 

 any pledge, as " the geese were flown ;" — the guns having been 

 all secured and placed beyond their reach. The preliminaries 

 however, being at length settled, the consent of Felt obtained, 

 and the distance which the regiment was to march beyond the 

 bridge accurately ascertained, the leaf was lowered, and the 

 troops quietly passed over ; marched the stipulated distance, 

 then wheeled and set out with all haste on their homeward 

 march, having been completely foiled in the object of their 

 expedition. On this march, while they were leaving town, 

 their music is said to haye played " the world's turned upside 

 down."* 



The feelings of the inhabitants, not even excepting those of 

 the gentler sex, were highly excited by this unceremonious 

 appearance of British troops in our streets on the Sabbath, 

 and while they were in the act of wheeling, a nurse named 

 Sarah Tarrant, f in one of the houses near the termination of 

 their route in North Salem, placed herself at the open window, 

 notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, and assailed 

 them in the following language : — " Go home and tell your 

 master he has sent you on a fool's errand, and broken the peace 

 of our Sabbath, — what ! do you think we were born in the 

 w^oods to be frightened by owls .^" One of the soldiers pointed 

 his musket as if to fire at her, when she exclaimed, " fire if 

 you have the courage, but I doubt it." 



* After the troops had left town many of the inhabitants still linger- 

 ed about the bridge, and among them the Rev. Mr Barnard, who is said 

 by some old people now living, to have remarked, " this is a season for 

 the exercise of prayer," and immediately made a very appropriate one 

 upon the occasion. 



t This woman died in Salem, May, 1828, aged 85. 



