Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-07
gzlvmspAE uoaNn1a, TaBavAa7 Q, 1855.

WHOM ne Or0ereO 10 buTTcnueTs obC ptSouS'i
however, was not enough for the sailor, and III
rode on rapidly. in order to arrest the hight o.
some others This he soon saw was hopeless,
and the reply Of the British sergeant having
been by no means satisfactory to Wise, ut was
to this efect-that he would never surrender "a
a Yankee,) Wise was induced to rein up his
horse and return upon the man. The sergeant
seeing this. immediatelyhquatted upon the ground
and tnking deliberate Aim, fired at Wise when
within about fifteen steps Of him: the fire took
effect. the ball striking Wise near the heart,
carried with it one of the buttons Of his coat
It appears to me at this moment, that Wise
ieapt from his saddle full twelve or eighteen in.
ches above it., and without touching 1t again, fell
upon the ground He instantly threw himself on
his back, crossed his arms over his breast, placed
bis feet together, and expired without struggle
or croan marked his action, snd have nc
doubt that he was fully sensible that his wouha
was mortal, and, under this conviction. proceed
ed to Lay himself out, {if may be allowed the
term,) for had his friends wished, they certainly
could not have laid him out with more nicely
II was a remarkable thing, and look upon it as
evinciug more cool deliberate tirmness in the mo-
ment Of death than is often met with.
The instan, the sergeant had fired, and seen
the effect Of his FIRE, he attempted again to make
his escape by retreatng to the swamp; he was,
however, pursued by the remainder OF the squad
and finally taken prisoner; but not until he
had parted with every drop Of blood, further than
what was necessary to sustain life-and that but
for short tme-for he died in about thirty mi
nutes after being carried to the American camp
And here cannot refrain from paying a tribute
of respect to this hero, If may so call him-and
think may do so justly. This man defended
himself against some sixty or seventy men. Tor
some time, and when finally he dropped his mus
ket. not being able longer to carry 1t from the
loss of blood. he placed himself against large
tree, and attempted to defend himself with
stick. This delay in either killing or capturing
him, vas. Of course, owing entirely TO the Tor.
bearance OF the American troops, who loath to
kill one who had fought so bravely, insisted on
his surrender, whilst he, as obsilnately determln'
ed on the contrary, nor was uH! las before stat.
ed) he had LOST so much blood, as to render II
vain TO offer further resistance, that he was taken
prisoner; and even after this, when he was lying
across the horse, on which he was placed, Tor The
purpose of being taken TO ',he camp, tthe Only
mode Of conveyance,) lie made desperate efforts
at resistance. As soon as the tate OF WISE was
(thc squadron being within l4o or
$50 yards Captain Thornton immediately form,
ed his troop into line. and inquired who would
volunteer TO bring Mr.. Wise OF the field. l
Immediately step, forward, followed by Mr. Con
wav, Mr.. Vaudeville. and MIR. Reuben WI.
theirs We proceeded TO the spot where the 30
DIV Law, under the command Ul our orderly SER
geant, Mr.. Benjamin G. Thornton, brother of
our captain. The sad task vas accomplished by
laying the body of poor Frank across the harse
had loaned To Mr. Conway, myself supporting
his head IN my arms, Mr.. Conway his feet. whilst
Mr.. Withers carried his cap, sword &c. and Mr..
Vaudeville led the horse.
In this manner we proceeded to the house OF
Mr.. ] SntIer"n. about mile distant, On the
hill. There we remained about an hour. until
the arrival of Mr.. Griffith, the Commissary) who
had come I'D that cay irom Alexandria IN small
sulkev. Mr. Grfiith's servant was placed in 1t,
and the corpse IN the foot of it was supported by
the servant. and two Of the troop walking on each
side. In this manner we proceeded to the house
of Mr.. H.. So,heron, where the corpse was laid
ont, and on the following day we carried him TO
a small church in the neighborhood. called /" VI.
Ie,tes." where we inferred him with the honors
of war.
On this day Hag Of truce came on shore tor
the purpose of effacting the release OF the prison.
ers we had taken; and the lieutenant OF the yes.
sel of war, upon being informed of the death OF
the sergeant, observed that they would ratber
have lost any ten men IN the ship than HIM 1t
anpears that he was a Frenchman by birth, but
had served in the British army in Holland, On
der the Duke of York, and had been instrument
tai in saving the Dukes Ute there; Tor which ne
was raised 10 the rank Of sergeant Of Marines
with the understanding that lie should never be
broken. After this little reucontre, we remain
ed in the ne,shborhood for about three weeks
when we we're finally ordered home. W.
AT this moment the enemy opened heavy
fire Of cannon from their ship, but although seys.
raj shot passed very near us, We escaped un'n'