Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-05-29
SKETCHES OF CHARACTER.

We copy the sui joined notices Of t~o d,stin-
g'iished officers, under the belief tina, NOR. Than
ordinary in,ercst has ALWAYS been felt in their
history. Sir JOHN Moore Eil nj Cor,i,n,- and
his death has beet beautifully eom,n-uorate,l in
the lines Of the Rev. Charles Wolf, beginning
MOT drum ~ashcard, nor funeral note. 4" Ne
lie died The death Of soldier, and Mas Lid in
his narrow bed. a, the deal Cd night, ..~ah his
'aaEtid cloak srounI him." Poor Ney iii.
fate, though different. left his name un,srn, .h-I
u Was not his destiny To pour out his hfr-blood
on the field OF battle, but his fa,uc ~ nobl, and
gallant warrior is not les, renowned sympathy
Tor hts tate, and honor To Lis .ncmory, have
place ia every heart.
SIR JOHN MOORE.
From a life Of Sir John Moore, by his brother,
recently Published ia London. the foilo~in, eS-
tract descriptive Of the close Of the battle oI To-
r"HHfi, and tho death OF Moore. Is made.
Moore then turned to where the
50th regiment, commanded by Msiors
Charles Napier. and Stanhope, WAS
warmly engaged. They lesped over
an enclosure, and charged the enemy,
Moore exclaiming, "Well done, the
fftieth. well done, my majors" The
French were driven out Of the village
Of ElviDa with great slaughter: but
Major Stanhope was killed, and Major
Napier, advancing too far, was wo. nd.
ell and made prisoner. The contiyu.
Gus regiment was the 42d, TO whom
Moore called loudly, IIighlandcrs.
remember Egypt" They heard his
voice, and rushed forward, bearing down
every thing before them, until stopped
by wall, over which they poured their
shot. lie accompanied them in this
charge. and told the soldiers he was
pleased with their conduct. Then he
sent Captain fiardinge to order up the
guards to the left Of the lIighlanders.
This order was misunderst0od by the
captain Of the Highland light CON pany,
whose ammunition, from being early
engaged, was expended. lie eoueeiv-
cd that the guards were to relieve his
men, aud was Withdrawing them, when
the general, apprized Of the mistake,
rectitied It, by saying, My brave AID,
JOIN your comrades, ammunition is
coming, and you still have your bayo-
nets" They Instantly sbeyed.
The French having brought up re-
serves. the battle ragged fercely-lire
Hashing amidst the smoke. and shot
dying from the adverse guns, when
tiardinge rode up and reported that
the guards were coming quickly. As
he spoke, Sir John Moore was struck
to the ground by cannon ball, which
laeerated his left shoulder and chest.
lie had half raised himself, when Har-
dinge, having dismounted, caught his
hand, and the general Srasped his
strongly, and gszed with anxiety at
the Highlanders, who were fighting
courageOusly; and when HsTdinge said,
" they are advancing, " his eountenance
lightened. Colonel Graham now came
up, and imagined. from the eomposure
of the Generals features, that ne had
only fallen accidentally, until he saw
blood swelling from his wound. Shock
ed at the sight. he rode of for surgeons.
Hardinge tried in vain to stop the eifIu-
sion Of blood with his sash; then, by
the help Of some Iiighlanders and
guardsmen, he placed the General on
4 blanket In lifting him, his sword
became entangled, and lIsrdinge en-
deavorcd TO unbucklc the belt, to take
Il 90, when he said with soldierly feel
Ings, i" 1t as we'll as il is: had rather
q should go out of the field with me. -
Ills serenity was so striking, that IIar-
dinge began tn hope the wound was
not mortal. lie expressed this opin-
ion, and said, that he trusted the sur
geOns would confirm IL, and that he
would still be spared IN them. Sir
John turned his head, and cast his eyes
steadily on the wounded part, and
then replied, No, IIArdinge, feel
that to be impossible. You need not
20 with me; report TO General Hope
that am wounded and carried 10 the
rear. lie was then raised from the
ground BY Highland sergeant and
three soldiers, and slowly conveyed
towards Corunna.
The soldiers had not carried Sir
John Moore FAR, when two surgeons
came running 10 his aid. They had
been employed in dressing the shatter- /
ed arm Of Sir David Baird, who, hear. /
ing Of the disaster which bad occurred
10 the commander. generously ordered
them 10 desisi, and hasten To give him .
help. But Moore, vino was bleeding
last. said 90 them, You can be Of no
service 10 me. go 20 the wounded sol. 4
Hers, to whom you may be useful; and .
he ordered the bearers 10 move On. ~
But a. they proceeded, he repeatedly I
made them torn round ~ view the bat. .
lie, and to listen tO the firing; the .
sound Of which, becoming gradually 4
Iain,sr. indicated that the French were
-etreating. Before he reached Corun
la It was almost dark, and Col. An.
lerson me, him, who. seeing his gene
raj borne from the field Of baltie for
.he third and last time, and STEPPED
10 blood. became speeches. with en-
suish. Moore pressed HE hand. and
'aid m low tone, Anderson, 10 not
cave me- ~ be was carried into
he house. bis faithful servant. Fran