Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-04-22
ATALE OF THE TIMES or OLD.
The defeat of Major WEyMlss, at Fish Dam
Ford.
"fmnor;al may tier Memoryde,

Ford.
"fmn1or;ai may their Memory6e,
"Hho. toaght and bIcdt for LIBERTY"
Twas in the days when Lord Rawdon
occupied the little village 0: Columbia,
and when Gen. Winnie and Col. Middle
ton and captain TIL. Tayiyr, with their
several corps under The command OF Gen.
Sumter, lay ON the Broad River, at a
place called Fish Dam Ford, waiting for
recruits Early on he fourth day Of their
eucampment, cap Tay Tor repaired to
Gen. Sumter. and told bin OF strong pre-
sentiment on bis mind that they were 10 be
attacked by The British IN the following
night. Gen Sumter treated the admon'-
ton with smie-the truth Is. If this "ffi
Ger had a weakness, II was bu the excess
OF physical strength, which nerer tell
fear. The Lion all over, he could not
bear any thing which smelt OF the Fox;
and alw lays fond OF far play himself. he
was slow to suspect others OF lreaCheTy
Hence, even the British, tho not much
given to compliment rebels, used 10 call
him the game cock " when for poor
Marion the "suamp For''-meaning, that
while Marion would never show hut when
he had the advantage, Sumter was always
ready 10 give 'en lair hight.
Happily, how ever, The impression on
Taylor's mind OF an Impending attack that
night, had IN it TOO much OF call from
the invisible world 10 be annoyed in that
way. He returned TO his little squad. a.
bout 40 in number whom he thus address.
ed Boys, we have been here now four
days-the British are, no doubt, informed
OF il by their good friends the tories; and
tins night something on MY mind assures
me, they will give us hurra. The
charge will commence on gen Sumter,
as the first in their way; lex they will o.
verwhelm Whine; afterwards they will
scout Middletoo--and, last of all they'll!
come down like 500 upon Us Now thu
be our play: Soon as our cen'inels give The
alarm, let our fires be we'll Iepienishel
with lightwood then, forming our lin"
here, in the edge OF this swamp, with well
loaded guns in our hands, we will wait
their approach; and, when they shall be
gathered la crowds around our li'es, and
laughing at The cowsrdly rebels, we will
give them spanker that may surprise tue
surprisers, and put tbe laugh on Inc other
side OF their puutbs--and as 10 you my
brave little fellow said he, turning 10 one
Nat White; little baptist man about hve
feet high, who had come into camp the
night before to helr to fight, but without
even sling OF stone in his hand. you may
as well GO home again, tor you Can co US
no goood as you have no gun" Never
mind thai" replied me little ba pit st, ''on
ly let US come to fighting and III be bound
a gun will soon be Put into my hands,
-"Very we'll" said Taylor, and imme-
diattly turned in, he and his men. 10 put
their guns in prime fix, and collect heaps
OF tat light wood, to be all in readiness tor
the British. Well, sure enough, exactly
as Taylor lad predicted, just about the
dark and solemn hour OF two in the morn
ing, the enemy in great force, Major Wey-
miss at their head. came dashng up
Spang spang! spdng went the guns OF
the centinels, instantly answered by Col.
Middleton. officer of The day, With voice
loud as trumpet, roaring out Parade,
parade, the enemy are Upon YOU, and at
the same time running III, both be and the
centiuels, as hard as they could, the Bri
fish close at their heels Raging like a
reused Lion Sumter rushed out to form
his troops and meet the enemy out, as
Washington said OF The British regulars at
the slaughter of Brsddock, he might as
well have attempted to stop the Hoods
OF Niagara with bis feet. The militia,
started from their sleep in the dark, and