The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-12
nEVoLUT1oNARY EVENTS.
Rattle at the EishANM Ford
Immortal may their m mory be,
Who fought and bled for liberty"


occupied the Little village Of Columbia, that
Gen. Wayne, Colonel Middleton, and Capt.
TAYLOR, with their several corps, under com
mand of Gen. Sumpter, lay on the Broad
river at a place called Fish Dam Ford, wait
ing for recruits. Early on the fourth day OF
their encampment, Capt. Taylor repaired to
general Sumpter, and told him OF strong
presentment on his mind that they were to
be attacked by the British on the following
night. Gen. Sumpter treated the admoni-
tion with smile. The truth was, It the otfl-
Ger had weakness, it was but an excess OF
physical strength which never telt fear
The lion all over, he could not bear any thing
that smelt of the fox; and always fond OF
fair play himself he was slow to suspect o.
theirs of treachery. Hence, even the Brit
ish, though not much given to compliment
rebels. used to call him the "Game Cock" !"
and Door Marion the ''Swamp Fox, ,"-mean-
ing that while Marion would never show
himself but when he had the advantage,
Sumpter was always ready to give them a
fair fight. ;,
Happily however, the impression on lay
lor's mind, of an impending attack that
night, had in it too much OF a call from the
invisible world to be annoyed in that way.
He returned to his little squad, about forty
in number, whom he thus addresscd;-
.sBoys we have been here now four days;
the British are no doubt informed of it by
their good friends the tories; and this night
something on my mind assures me, they will
give us a "hurra.' The charge will COM
inence on Sumpter, as the first in their way;
next they will ovcrwhelm Wayne; after
wards, they will scout Middleton; and after
all, they will come down like five hundred
upon US. Now this be our plan: soon as our
sentinels give the alarm, let our fires be well
replenished with light wood; then forming
our line here ON the edge of this swamp,
with we'll loaded guns i'll our hands, We will
wait their approach; and when they shall
have gathered in crowds round our fires, and
laughing at the cowardly rebels, we shall
give them a spanger, that will surprizc the
surprisers, and put the laugh on the other
side of their mouths-and as to you my brave
little fellow (turning to one Nat White, a
little Baptist man about FIVE feet high who
had come into camp the evening before to
help fight without either sling or stone in his
hand,) you may as well so home again, for
YOU can do us no good without gun. -"
Never mind that" said the little Baptist,
"let us only ccme to fighting and I'll be
bound gun will soon be put into my hands"
every we'll" said Taylor, and Immediately
turned in. he and his men, to put their guns
in prime fire. and collect heaps of fat light
wood to be in readiness for the British.
Well, sure enough, exactly as Ia! lor had
predicted, Just about the solemn hour OF two
in the morning, the enemy IN great torcc,
Major Wevmiss at their head, came dash
ipg up--shang! Shans' Shang' went the
Colonel Midff,Gt Mi dffG t@jnels @ instantly answered ~
voice oui as trumpet, roaring out, "pa.
rale, parade, the enemy are upon you, " at
the same time running on, both he and the
sentinels as hard as they could, the British
close at their heels. But IS Washington
said of the British regulars at the slaughter
of Braddock. he might as well have atteinp-
ted to stop the floods OF the Niagara with his
feet The militiamen startled from their
sleen in the dark, and under circumstances
so alarming behaved as mIitiamen, surpri.
sed, always did and always will behave j. G.
they took to their scrapers and made them
selves scarce, as paddy would say, in no time
and less Still Middleton was heard roar
ing along the camping ground parade, pa
rade.l' Enraged that he should thus extend
the alarm, stout British sergeant of tlra-
goons, named Johnson mounted Oh a rapid
charger d>shed Oil ahead OF his troops in
pursuit of Middleton and coming up with
him hand over hard close on Taylor's fire,
would have quickly cut him down, when
Tavor said to one of his men, whom he knew
ODE prime marksman, "rom, can't yoa
stop that bold soldier'" "I'll try sir" said
the rifcman, and grasping his hrelock, but
at the same time heaved sigh, as sorrow
ing to Kill so brave a foe.--But what could
he dos The brave foe or Colonel Middleton
must die In a moment he had his rifle on
poise; then glancing quick eye along the
Shining tube till he had brought the fatal
bead to bear, he gave fire. The gallant
Johnson only saw the flash. Heaven in mer
cy threw the sleep of death over all that
followed; pierced at once poor lump of life
less clay, and tossed from his horse with all
his useless arms, he reeled over almost into
one of Taylor's fires. Swift as Thought, out
of his lurking place ran little Nat White and
snatched up the dead mans carbinc and
cartouch box few back to his comrades with
"hurrai nv brave fellows All ha, cap
tain Tavlor, didn't tell you so this morning,
that if we got to fighting, should soon have
a gun in my hands," Presently, just as Tay
lor had forcto!d, the British having fairly
chased our riilitiamen across Broad River to
the amazemeHt Of the mud-eels and cats,
came swarminc along the stacks OF rice, and
as noisy too, cursing the damned rebels as a
pack of cowardly rascalS for running of SC
soon, without stopping to give them little
bit of fun. In that awful pause, their regi-
mentals shining in the light wood blaize like
asea of blood with metal buttons and cross