Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-10
MADAME REIDEsEL's NARRATIVE.

| tive of Baroness de Reidesel, published in the
! German language, at Berlin, in 1900, which,
while it presents frightfuI picture Of the hor.
| rors of war, is most honorable testimonial 10
the American character, for bravery, quick SEN
sibility 10 the snferings Of vanquished foe, and
| promptness to alleviate their sorrows We think
it cannot but be interesting to all---but, as it
| would occupy too large portion of our paper,
we will only give such parts of the narrative, as
we have endeayoured to conneet together, with
| the affecting description the lady has given OF
| her reception in the Americas camp. Before
! we proceed to do this, request the attention
| OF our female readers to the following pertinent
remarks. with With Gen. Wilkinson introduces
! the extract. IN. II Sentinel
trust it may warn my charming coun
try-womeu, against the miseries to which
the highly accomplished authoress, aud
her interesting fellow-suffersr, Lady Har-
riet Ackland, were so inminently exposed.
Would to heaven that il might produce
another effect, which consider vitality
essential to the permanent tranquility OF
these states-were my beloved country
women to consult their patriot duty aud
personal happiness, they woald avert their
eyes from, and shut their ears to
"The neighing steed and the loud trump,
| The spirit-stirrng drum, and the shrill fife,
| The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war p
and then no more wonld exterior trappiags
and flippant air seduce The heart from
the contemplation Of the social virtues, O.
improved understanding and refined seusi.
bility. Robbed of their praise and theil
patronage, the overwhelming thirst fol
military glory would be allayed, aud ex-
celleDce in the more solid and useful pur.
suits of civil life would excite the rivalry
of the rising generation; and the great
cause Of morality and religion would be
promoted to support the constitution Of
our country; and TO the honor of the
American fair it might be said, that they
tanned
" ------ the spirit of wild war,
That, like lion, fostered up 1T hand,
1t may lie gently at the foot ofpeace."
Madame Reidesel, with three infant
children, accompanied her husband, Ma
jor- G eneral, the Baron Reidesel, from
Germany to England, and from England
to Canada, and from the lat place TO the
termination Of Gen. Burgoyhe's campaign
in which she suffered ua0sc, says Gen
Wilkinson, Z" than the horrors of the grave
in their most frightful aspect" In ca
lash, capable of holding herself, her three
children, aud two female servants, she
travelled through almost impossible
woods, and a most picturesque and beau.
tiful country, abandonedby its inhabitants,
who had repaired TO the standard of Gen.
Gates; they were all good marksmen, and
the love of their country inspired them
with more than ordinary courage" She
generally remained about an hours march
in the rear, where she received the daily
visits of her husband. When the army
made permanent stand, small building,
which they called a block-house, was
erected for her convenience, but this she
never occupied; it was burnt by the
Americans.
On the 10th Sept. an action took place
at Freeman's farm: +" l was, says Madame
Reidesel, "an eye witness 10 the whole
affair, and as my husband was engaged
in it, was full of anxiety, and trembled
at every shot heard" 10 this state Of
anxiety and the most trying suspense,
three wounded officers were brought into
the house in which this lady had taken
shelter; Major Harnage, Lieutenant
aud an officer by the name Of Young.
The groans of the latter, who lay writing
in his wounds ia an adjoining room, were
constantly sounding in her ears. He was
young man 10 years OF age, the only son
of his parents, who were the friends Of
Madame Reidesel; she yielded him every
assistance in her power, and all the con-
ISOLATION she was capable Of imparting; he
would not consent to have his leg ampu-
tated till after mortifc cation took place,
when it was done, but it was too late.
He lay" says the baroness " in the next
room to me, and the partition was very
thin; / distinctly heard his last sigh, when
his immortal part quilted its frail tene-
ment, and | trust, winged its way TO the
mansions Of eternal bliss.
Severer trials awaited our fair author.
On the 7th Oct. she expected Generals
Burgoyne, Philips, and Fraser to dine
with her and her husband; early in the
forenoon a great movement among the
troops excited her fears--her husband as
sured her it was merely reconnaissance ;
still alarmed, she walked out of her house
and met several Indians with their war
dresses and guns in their hands. When
asked where they were going, they cried
out warl war! The reports of cannon
and musketry soon commenced. growing
louder and louder till it became excessive
At 4 O'Clock 10 the afternoon, instead o
me expected guests, Gen. Fraser, NOR
tally wounded, was brought in upon