Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-01-15

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commanders of regiments dine with
his excellency ic-1sy. WFat has that
to do with me, prisoner and. No
no, exclaimed Hamilton, no prisoner,
a once offending, but now forgiven
soldier my orders are TO invite you TO
dine with his excelleney to-day at three
o'clock precisely; yes my brave and
good friend, Col. Morgan, you still
are, and likely long 10 be the valued
and famed commander, of the Rife
Regiment.
Morgan Spraug from the camp bed
on which he was setting, and seized
the hand Of the little great man 10 his
giant grasp, wrung and wrung till the
aid de.camp literally struggled to get
free, then exclaimed, Am in my sen
Ses. but | know you Hamilton, you
are too noble fellow 10 sport with the
feelings of an old brohsr soldier.
Hamilton assured his friend that all
was true, and gaily kissing his hand
as he mounted his horse, bid The now
delighted Colonel remember three
o'clock, and be careful not to disobey
a second time, galIOPed to the head
quarters.
Morgan entered The pavilion Of the
commapder.in. chief as II was fast I'll
ling with officers, all Of whom, after
paying their respects 10 the general,
filed Otto give a cordial squeeze Of
Ihe hand of the Colonel, and TO whis-
per into his ear words of congratua
ton. The cloth removed, Washing.
ton bid his guests fill their glasses, and
gavehis only, his unvaryiag toast Of
The days of trial, the toast Of evening
of his time honored life amid the
shades of Mount Vernon-.M our
Fr1eads.' Then with his usual old
fashioned politeness, he drank to each
guest by name. When he came to,
Colonel Morgan, your good health sir,
thrill ran through the manly frame
Of the gratided and again tavorite sol
dier, while every eye in the pavilion
was turned upon him. Al an early
hour the company broke up, and Nor
gan had perfect esccrte of officers
accompanying him 10 his quarters, all
anxious to congratulate him upon his
happy restoration to rank and favor,
and pleased TO assure him of their es-
teem for his person and service.
And often in his after life did Nor.
gan reason upon the events which we
have transmitted TO the Americans and
their pos,eri'y, and he would say,
What could the unusual clemency Of
the commander-in chief tow ard so in.
subordinate soldier as was, mean?
Was it that my attacking my enemy
wherever could find him, and the
attack being crowned with success,
should plead in bar Of the dlsobedi
ence Of a positive order! Certainly
not. Was it that Washington we'll
knew loved, nay adored him above
all human bengsl That knowledge
would not have weighed a feather 10
the scale of his military justice. Ia
short, the whole affair is explained in
five words, i, was my first offence!
The clemency of Washington 10 the
first ofsnce preserved to the army Of
The revolution one of its most valued
and effective soldiers aud had its re.
ward in little more than two years
| from the date of our narrative. when
Brigadier General Morgan consuma.
led his own fame, and shed an indy
ing Iuslre on the arms of his country
by the glorious and ever memorable
victory of the Cowpens.
Nearly twenty years more had roll
ed away and our hero, like most Of
his compairiols, had beaten his sword
into pIoughshare, and was enjoying,
in midst OF q domestic circle, the even
iog ofavaried and eventlu! life. When
advanced in years, end infrm, Major
General Morgan was called to the Su
preme Legislature Ofhis country as a
Representative from the State of Vlr.
ginia. 1t was at This period that the
author of these Memoirs had the hon
or and happiness of an interview with
the old General, which lasted fer sev
eral days. And The veteran was
most kind and communicative 10 one
who haiIing from the Immediate lami
ly of his veneraled Chief, found rea
dy and warm welcome to the heart
of Morgan. And many, and most
touching "reminiscences ofthe Days of
Trial were related by the once famed
Leader Of the Woodsmen, which were