Roger saw a soldier deliberately raise his gun, take aim, and send a bullet through the heart of Jason Russel, an old gray-haired man, standing in his own door. Again, at closer range, he took aim at the retreating column.
His indignation was aroused as he listened to the story told by Hannah Adams, a few minutes later. She was in bed in her chamber, with a new-born babe at her breast, when two redcoats entered the room. One pointed his musket at her.
“For the Lord’s sake, do not kill me,” she said.
“I am going to shoot you,” the soldier replied, with an oath.
“No, you mustn’t shoot a woman,” said the other, pushing aside the gun, “but we are going to set the house on fire, and you must get out.”
With the babe in her arms, she crawled downstairs and into the yard.
The soldiers scattered the coals from the fireplace around the room, and left, but the older children ran in and put out the flames.
MUNROE TAVERN