Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-14

1
stand before the powerful armies of the
King" The young man had listened to
these fearful apprehensions and when
finished, he let fall the hand Of hel
who had spoken; the ardour and fire Ol
youth appeared in his face, and with O
deliberate tone Of voice he remarked
"Tbey call us rebels and we will be
rebels, if to protect our property from
plunder and our persons from insult, bc
rebellion. II is true, we are weak, and
our enemies are strong and powerful
but how often have we heard from oui
good minister, that " the battle is not 10
the strong, nor the race to the swift. y
Amelia, he continued pointing to the
sun, +" he who holds this mighty orb in
his hand, is strong; for The justice OF Our
cause we have appealed to Him, who is
Just, we have supplicated the protection
of Him who delivered the Israeiites from
bondage, and will lie not deliverus from
oppression. Did ! not step forward
when called to defend Won from insult,
and protect the dwelling Of my hoory
headed parents from the intruder, to
drive from our doors oppression and
! abuse, that we may sit within our own
dwelling and enjoy its privileges, then
unworthy would your Frederick be OF
your love; he could no longer take his
seat in the church, or look with pleas
ure on the setting sun, but" said he,
"my time is up, must return to the
camp" When this last sentence was
uttered, | watched the countcnance of
the female, and | could perceive in eve
ry feature, the agitation and swelling Of
her soul. She Involuntary rlung to his
neck, and the workings of her feelings
vented themselves in audible sobs.-
Return" said the youth, as he remov-
cd her hands, "to the house, and may
heaven keep you in safety" lie dash
cd from his eye tear that had stolen
upon him, FASTENED from her hold, and
was soon lost in the woods. The now
swollen eye Of the female, followed the
young man until he disappeared, hen
turning from the place, she exclaimed
lie is gomez Her face which depict
cd despair, she buried in her hands and
moved slowly towards the dwelling.
When the objects who were the ac-
tors Of this affecting scene, had disap-
pcared, returned 70 our encamprnent,
resolved to notice the conduct, and if
possible 10 become acquainted with this
noble minded youth. Soon after | re-
turned to the camp, the drum sum aonad
us to duty, and the order to prepare for
marching was passed through the ranks;
the baggage was equipped, and when
the sun had sunk in ihc west, the white
canvas which had decorated the field,
was prostrated, gathered up and placed
in the heavy wagons, the fires which
had been enkindlcd, were not extn-
guishcd, but replenished with fuel, and
under cover of the night VIC prepared
to ford the river, and long before mid
Eight we were landed on the opposite
shore, cautiously proceeding towards
the enemy; and ere the dawn Of day
had gilded the heavens, we had sur
rounded their camp. The muskets of
the centinels sounded the alarm, and the
call to arms from dozen drums rolled
through the field; all was confusion, the
officers sending forth their orders, and
the men scarcely awake in pursuit Of
their arms; our heavy artillery, which
had been kept in the rear, for fear of
alarming by its noise, was now brought
up, which together with the muskets,
made dreadful inroads among the con-
fused enemy, and cnvcloned them in
a cloud Of smoke; and before they could
form line and prepare to NEE; this
unexpected attack, we charged. I'M
able to stand the fury of our arms, the
banner Of his Majesty was no longer
seen floating in the air, and the proud
foe was compelled to yield its arms to
the rebels.
The sun had risen in its splendour,
the drum and fife were again heard ;-l
the enemy's troops were formed into
line, but their muskets' brightness gilt
tered not in the sun, and the star-span-
gled banner Showed them that they
were prisoners. The surprise Of the
vanquished foe, who Tut yesterday |
thought of nought but victory, could
not have equalied that Of the victors,
who dreaded nothing but defeat; the
hopes of our countrymen were cncour-
aged, and the friends Of liberty strength
ened; it was not the joy Of boas,ing that
you perceived, but the heartfelt graft
tudo Of men who saw the hand Of Prov
idence aiding their efforts and crowning
with success the just cause Of their
rights.
"When the confusion occasioned by |
the battle was restored to order, and the |
fatigue following forced march was
relieved, | looked around for the young