Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-09-12

cUk CUPo AHu ~ puuSbs Sn'S
the field on which the famous battles OF
Still water and Bemus Heights we're
fought, four and forty years agoi!
these fields, | it. were not quite so
still aud quiet then. as they are nosr.
How did those groutds swarm with With
armed menp' There Morgan was
posted. ? said the old man, interrppting
nv meditations-ss here was gadrnotd,
then patriot and an excellent soldier"
Andso the old gentleman arranged the
field and conjured up before my eyes
the zohole host then he painted the bait
ties with great spirit--shewed by what
accidents they bad commenced on both
occasions, and how they became gener-
al; depicted the struggles IN pdrticu-
lar parts of the feld-and enabled me
to imagine. at times, that l saw and
heard al the tumult, agitation, shout
ing, thunder an fury of q long and
we'll contested field. Good Heavens
what warming lMorgan's eye
of fire cnd; 6ugle ooice!!!-Arnold 8
irresistible impetuosity the rafting
of musketry, the sharp cracking of the
rifles, the deafening roar Of artillery,
the animating shout Of the soldiery, the
war-whoop of the Indians, the. encour-
aging and applauding cries of the Off
cers-the charge-the retreat ra-
pid and regular emotion at one point
the disorderly movements at another
the headlong confusion--the groans OF
the dying-the cry for quarter, quar-
ter;-ghastly and bleeding wounds-se-
vered limbs-men and horses mingled
on the plain in one wide scene of indis-
criminate blood and carnage-O ! what
an uproar, then - ow stiU and quiet
moD Where are they allP-What
is it that yonder plough is turning upp
"Only SKELETON" "What. yet! to
this day Pc Eveu get our ploughs
are constantly striking against cannon
balls or dead mems bones, or turning
up grape shot or bullets" Then Iguess
the people were not idle on that day.,
/" You may depend, friend, they were
busy" "l believe it; but ] have a
friend in Virginia who would be glad
to have some of the bullets that were
fired in those great battles--battles that
gave the first great and decided turn to
the American Revolution" ITO be
sure, there is ball which has been roll
ling about the yard for some time-you
shall have the bullets etoo--and you,
John, 60 up in the loft and bring down
that skull" ri trust you will excuse
me from the skull, it will not be conve.
nient to carry it; but the ball and bull
lets l will gladly take;" and SO did.
We went to several other houses which
have been all built since-for it was
then entirely wood, except Freeman's
farm, which you will see mentioned in
the books--and at all those houses, bull
lets and bones were offered even the
little children handling and offering the
human bones with as total an absence
from all emotion as if they were chic.
ken's bones or drysticks. Having ex-
amined the battle grounds of both days
and walked, listening to my guide
and sighed till my heart was full and
heavy, returned to my quarters and
slept, very little to my honor without
dreaming: for l was too much fatigued
to sleep Jamcyully.
The next morning took another
ride with old Ezra, to see the American
encampment, and above all Gates head
quarters. The house is still standing
it is small, red hip rooted. one story
old house that has quite ReDotutio,,a-
~ look" and here" the old man said,
"the General remained during both
the battles; which were fought at
least mile from this house, and GER
tainly out of sight--this the old guide
said he was told, rdsright--as it was
tho generals business to be at one place
always, to receive information and give
orders. But what do you think ofthese
armies resting here in their opposite en-
campments, their sentinels within hale
Of each other, for seven days without
striking blow, and at last, the first
action, that Of the 10Th Sept. TT being
brought on by an accident. Gates had
a good motive for the delay, for his ar
my was continually gathering strength;
but that Burgoyne, in the spirit of proud
and contemptuous invasion, with such
an army and soappointed, should have
set down SO quietly and So foolishly,
while his enemies were hourly increa-
sing in strength, satisfies me that he
was no Bonaparte. He ought to have
pushed undauntedly forward, or, to
have retired while yet he could; his re-