Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-20

W. now returp 70 our unfortunate captive
The wise and the brave had set III Judgment up
on him. His case hid been the subject oil hlgh
and deliberate and affecting consideration. l ne
Giro ums,ssces of his capture-his unQuaiified
conf, ,sious.-his earne ST, tho dignifed requests,
had besn malurely but sternly weighed. he
poblenes. of his nature, the lofty disinterested.
ness of his demeanor, he winning ameni'y OF
his manners, the importance Of his rank were
all apprrciated as they should be by soldiers
tried soldiers-when sitting under the severe
sanctions Of a war-council. When they issued
from that council, the desolate doom oil Inc
prisoner was irrevocably fixed. tie was to DE.
Before another sun should go down, his ties ON
earth were to he severed. Meanwhile me SUD-
irct of This melancholy decision was awaiting
the resul, with all The calm and elevated iee'>
ines OF a generous and undaun,ed soldier. He
was Ignorant of what might be the issue: but
his Knowledge Of the rules of war led him so far
to anticipate il, that he had in some degree be-
Ssu.. -ccnn-t.-l - klsprobable doom, from the
yery hopeiessness Of escaping from II. The
agitation consequent upon the suddenness oil his
arrest. had subsidized; and though his saddened
mind reverted again and again 10 the scenes x
associations we have seen him cling to from
the beginning, yet there was less poienanoy IN
his rrcolleclians, and less acuteness IN the ti-
ais of his high and masculine senslblhties. l he
thouph, of death was a vain thought TO him.
He was prepared 10 meet 1t, IN every honorable
shape, in which a soldier expects and hopes
sometime TO NEE; il. IL was he stlgms upon
his fame; The memory he should leave with man,
that proved upon his soul. II was this thai
nal.d his cheek. and dewed his brow-it was
this made his heart beat till he could hear 1t, IN
his solitude. If sometimes his sad, slisteniDg
eve rested again on thut precious gem, which
before had absorbed, as il seemed, his very lille,
the kindest and bravest heart would spare him
there. il a tear vas sren 10 drop pponit; and the
thought, possibly, OF sacred and devoted pas.
sion-of long and holy love, with all Its blessed
hopes, and all its desolale bereavements, would
IL as it fell, and hallow 1t forever.
There was YET one consolation that bore up
the prisoner, even when he thought upon the
memory he should bequeath to The world and
10 posteri,y, He hoped and trusted that ne
should meet an honorable death, and that his
country would never blush =, his epiiaph. He
had asked-he had besought, with a bursting
hear. that if he must die, he might die like a
nan Of honor. He had addressed the Ameri,
can chisftain, 10 proud petition, for this last, lit
tie boon of,he condemned soldier. de had ad-
dressed him IN all the beautiful eloqnence OF his
lofty mind urgeo oy . pea'' '.."Si"s ~
the Intensity Of its emotions. Need y oe said
,hs, he reused ali ,b- sympa,hies Of a bosom,
kindline with godEke purposes, and alive to
every heavenly charity that can sancu'y our na,
t,reS Can it be- said. that the heart he appeal
Oh 20 would no, have bid him God speed, even
with a fathers blessing, 10 the arms OF his
country and his home, did that heart beat alone
6or himself, or did the fate Of the victim involve
o.ly the single destiny Of that great and devo'-
ed b.ins, Blu, there were stern duties arrayed