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Here, then, is the hero and the wanderer combined in one person, and that person fighting for the holiest cause in which man can take up arms, the rights and liberties of the people. What more could be asked? Curious as we may be to know something of the personal history of Robert Sallette, it is not to be found chronicled in the books.
The plan that Sallette and his companions adopted to capture the men was very simple. Andrew Walthour, who was riding in front, was to pass the first and second men, Robert Sallette to pass the first. As Walthour came to the third man when Sallette had come to the second, and their companion to the first, the Liberty Boys seized the guns of the three simultaneously.
"I hear that you have offered a reward of one hundred guineas for it." "Where is it?" asked the Tory. "I have it with me," replied Sallette, shaking the loose end of the bag. "Count me out the money and take the head." The Tory, neither doubting nor suspecting, counted out the money, and placed it on the table. "Now show me the head," said he.
Sallette removed his hat, tapped himself on the forehead, and said, "Here is the head of Robert Sallette!" The Tory was so frightened that he jumped from the room, and Sallette pocketed the money and departed. On one occasion Robert Sallette is known to have spared the lives of two Tories, at least for a little while.
While he was pulling them off in the midst of a furious fire from the enemy, his companions called out to him to come away or he would surely be killed. "I must have the boots!" cried Sallette to his companions. "I want them for little John Way!" Here was fun in the midst of tragedy; for it is said that little John Way could have put both his feet and his fists into one of the boots.
When Sallette heard of the reward, he disguised himself as a farmer, and provided himself with a pumpkin, which he placed in a bag. With the bag swinging across his shoulder, he made his way to the house of the Tory. He was invited in, and deposited the bag on the floor beside him, the pumpkin striking the boards with a thump. "I have brought you the head of Robert Sallette," said he.
One of them, a man of considerable means, offered a reward of one hundred guineas to any person who would bring him the head of Robert Sallette. The Tory had never seen Sallette, but his alarm was such that he offered a reward large enough to tempt some one to assassinate the daring partisan.
The man persisted, and Sallette was as good as his word. The others begged for their lives, and declared that they would guide Sallette straight to their camp. This they did; and Sallette, aided by his prisoners, captured a large party of Tories.
The men had no opportunity either to fight or escape. "Dismount, gentlemen!" said Sallette. Then he addressed himself to the leader. "What is your name?" In reply to this, a fictitious name was given, as Sallette and his companions afterwards found out. "Where is your camp?" asked Sallette. "We are from over the river," answered the man, meaning the Altamaha. "Where did you cross?"
Another fact that leads to the belief that Robert Sallette was a descendant of the unfortunate Acadians was the ferocity with which he pursued the British and the Tories. The little that is told about him makes it certain that he never gave quarter to the enemies of his country. His name was a terror to the Tories.
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