The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-09


| With four file, conducting t. ptrsons Gof
The ranks, 10 knoll on their icn. coul
refeeige one in lsncl. II wos NY fiepi
king, the Chaploin of lord Cardfoss, ssht
had been taken prisoner By Claycrs at ua
milton. " Let them be shot THROUGH ib
head, said Gleycrs with his usual dry way
"lfthey should offer 10 run away We coul,
see him view OR position with great care
His officers come urOuad hin.--IYe soot
learned That he wished TO treat with rs
lie never betrayed symptoms OF mercy OF
OF justice nor offered ternls of rccuncilia
ton, unless when he dreaded tina, lac hat
met bis match, And even then il WAS on
~ man1mre 10 gain time, OF TO deceive
Ills ilag approached the edge of the bog
Sir Robert held flag sacred had il beer
borne By ClaFers himself, lac had honoret
1t. lie demanded the purpose for which
he came. eame,' said he, " in Nc
name of his sacred majesty, and Of Col
Grahame, to offer you u pardon on condi.
tlon that yon lay down your arms and de.
liver up Your ring-leaders. -" Tell yom
officer" said Sir Robert, that we are fhl-
ly aware Of The deception lie practices
He Is moi clothed with any powers to treat
nor was he sent on 10 trcnt with us and
attempt reconciliation. The government
against whom we have risen refuses to re.
dress our grievances, or to restore ~ Our
liberties. Had the tyrant wished TO rem
der us justice be had no, sent by the hands
OF such lerocious assassin as C!ayerhouse.
Let him however, show his powers, aud
We refuse not to treat -~AAd we shall lay
down our arms 10 treat, prel lG,d that la
also lay down bis. l'han hast my an
s'ser. - II is II hopeless case" said Bur
ley, while be called after the Nag, F" lie,
me add one word, by your leave, gnencral,
-" Gel thee up to that bloody dragoup,
Clavcrs, and tell him that we VIII spare his
life, and the lives of his troops, on condi
ton that he, your Clayo,s, lay down his
arms x the arms of these troops. Wcwil
do more, as we have no prisoners on these
wild mountains, We win even lei him go on
his parole on condition that he swear neyc
Ilit arms against the religion and the H.
b7sFtes OF his country."--A lnlid burst u
applause re-echocd from the ranks.--AnI
after long pause in deep silence the army
sang the psalm set sung in the Scottish
churches.
There arrows Of thc bow he brcnk
The shield, the sword, the war;
More glorious those Than hills Of prey
More excellent art far
Those that are stout of heart are spoiled
They slept their sleep outright,
Aud none 81 them their hands did ind
That we're the men OF might Sc
When the report was made 10 Clayer-
house, hc gave ihe word with savage fc-
rocity. "Thcr blood he on their own
heads. Il. no quarters the word this day.
His fierce Dragons raised yell. And
no qaafi6f8 re-echoPd from rank to rank,
while they galoped down the mountain
side. II is stated that Burlcy was hcurd
10 say, "Tllen hc il so---cNcn Irt there be-
no quarters Mt lcaBt IN my wing Of the
host. So God send me a inccling," cried
he aloud, with that chief under the white
plume. My country would bless my memo
~, could nay sword give his 'iIlainous car
case to the crows"
Our raw troops behcld, with Grmncss
the approach of the formrn. hnd nj thp
moment when the enemy halted tn fire, ia,
whole of orr foot dropt on the heath
NOT man was seen foreman down when
the orderWa given 10 rise & return the fire.
The first rank fired, then kncclcd down
While the second fred. They made each but
let tell. IS often As The lazy rollidg smoke
was carried over ihe enemy's heads show
CT Of bullets fen on his ranks. Many gal
liant MAI tnnbled on the heath. The fire
was inceasant. II resemblcd one blazing
sheet If iame, for several minutes along the
line of the coXcn4ntcT6. tlaycrs attempt
ed 10 cross the m0rass and break oar cen
TIE. . Spcarmcn 10 the 'front.' could
hear Ihe deep toned voice OF Hamilton say
-" Knrel aud place your spears 10 receive
thee nemy's cavalry. And you my gallant
follows, fire GOD and oar COHairU, is our
word.o Our officers flew from rank to
rank. MOI peasant gave way thai day.
As the sufOkc rolled oil, we could see Cla-
yefs urging ON his men with the violence Of
despair. His troops fell in heaps around
him. And atill the gaps were filed up. A
CALLED trooper would occasionally finch.
But ere he could tlIrn 81 Nee, the sNosd of
ClaYers was waving over his head. lc0uld
see him in his fury strike both man and
horse. In the fearful carnage he himself
sometimes reeled. He would stop short
in The midst Of movement then contra
diet lis own orders, and strike the man be
eause ie could not comprehend his mean
ing.
He ordered Ranking parties to take us
on orr right and left Ia The name OF
God cried he, " cross the bog and charge
them ON the TANKS, tn we get over this
morass. If this fad we are lost"
II now fell TO my lot to come into action.
Ilitler to We had fired only some distant
shot. A gallant officer led his band down
on the borders Of the swamp, in search Of a
proper place to cross. We threw ourselves
before bun. severe firing commenced.
My gallant men fred with great stcadlncss.
We could see many tumbling from then
saddles. Not content with repellinS the