Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-06-23
Shepksrdsiosn, June 10.
PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION.


A party of ladies' and gentlemen re
paired on Friday the 10Th june, TO the
spring of Daniel Morgan, ESQ, near this
place, for the purpose Of celebrating
the day, pursuant to an arrangement
] made FIFTY years before.
The circumstances which gave rise
to this interesting celebration have been
communicated to Us by an esteemed
friend who was present On the occasion,
as follows.
In the spring Of rs, Gen. Washing
ton selected, Hugh Stephenson and
Daniel Morgan, laiserwsris Col Ste
phenson and Gen. Morgan TO command
tie two companies Of nen; the
quote Virginia had been required to
furnish.
although at that time, Boston was
invested By a large mii,fasy Jres, and
The prospects oi Americans snveioped
10 impenetrabls gloom; yetso greatAsas
the love OF liberty which animated the
bosoms OF our fathers, that two volussS
teer companies weie instantly raised,
one at Ninshcster, the other at Shep-
hsrdstovn. They turned out Tor ~
| months, furnished their own rifles and
~equipage. and marched to Boston in 81
days. A barDscus was gwen by Col.
Mn. siorgan TO Slephenson's company,
on the ION day OF dune, ATS, the tune
OF his organization, at the spring men,
toned ABOVE; which las ever since
been known by "Stepheascn's Spring"
Ihen it was that q patriotic and pusy
propheuc song, which we hope TO OBJ
.ara Tor our next, was sung, and an en-
gagement made, by those heroes Of 'oi-
den umes," docking forward to the
prosperity aud honors which awaited
their beloved country0 that the sur,i-
yoIs should meet at tsat spring q son
that day THY years ~ cemep-w h.ch
agfsamen; has thus been fulfilled. But
OF the " gallant spssiis, who composed
the conpasy tive only are living, and
OF tins later number but Two were pre-
sent,-nameIy: Major Henry Bsndis-
ger Of Berkeley County, Virginia, and
Niaior u ch4et BeaiaSsr oil kentucky.
lde otl,er three are Judge Rotsrt Nate
Of Winchester, Generai s5emasi Find
Lsy aud W.itam Auiss, bro. OF ONO,
an oi whom, Il Is understood, would have
attended, had they no been prevented
b. old age and n6rmity.-Several also
OF those Who fought in 'J6, and one,
who escaped the slaughter at 81. Clsir's
defeat, we're 81 the parsy.-The train
of reflections produced by the presence
OF those remnaht.yeterans, their anec-
dotes collected IRON real life, in the
course OF three generations, all of which
they saw and part of which they were,'
may be more easily imagined than des-
criOed. Indeed the pen Of the author
Of '1he Spy on neutral ground" or 81
"the life of Patrick Henry" would no,
be disgraced by this subject They re.
called to mind the American colonies
when they presented little more than q
vast uncuaivated wild, their population
declared to be in a state of rebeAion-
advancing, they meet TIE gibbet, retrea-
ting, slavery, turning 10 the right, bayo-
nets, to the lett, cairing-knives-Wlt it'll
out money, without friends, and almost
without hope-But now the commerce
of America whiten every ocean, and hel
sons visit every clime'-In literature
and arts too, she ranks among the mos,
distinguished nationssef the earth--ths
tree OF liberty then planted has spread
its branches until they overshadeu
greater part Of the new world. What
must be the feelings o fthe 1good La.
fayette" in contemplating the two pc
iiods of which WI have been speaking
Or what would be the astonishment and
qualification of one of those martyrs Of
liberty who met a watery grave iron
the deck Of a British prison ship were
he to be suddenly translated from the
| other world to this with the ideaof the
dangers and sutferings he encountered
sill fresh upon his mind.
Soon after the company had partaker
of an elegant dinner, given by Mr.. ID
Morgan, Capt Harper was seen at !
distance, with a detachment of Artillery
advancing with colors flying and music
] pla, ing TO pay suitable honors to the
occasioD-the music and the MARTA
columns, (being UNEXPECTEDLY must have
produced thrilling emotions at the re-
collection of times long past. The
s~alutss were then gone through, and the
very interesting ceremony OF present
ling Major Michael Bsdinger to the son!
and grand IONS of his compeers u
arms, he passing the ranks and shak'
; ling each cordially by the banda mo