Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-06-09
RETURN OF TIE CAPTIVE.

man whose tale Of sorrow could not fail Of in
|teresting The heart, however calous. or howe
yer prone to creduli,y. A meagre sketch car
only be given now. The ample history of hi.
misfortunes may hereafter be presented to the
world; and. if given by master hand vii
command the interest, and enlist the sympa
thy Of the public. when the nawkish produc
Itions Of fic.ion, which now cumber our book
Is,orcs and Insult cur taste, shall have become
Idespised aud forgotten.
In the war of 1912, John Wood, now fifty
years old, was young and industrious firm.
er in Bracken county, Kentucky. He was the
Husband of young and interesting woman
and the father Of two infant children. lie was
living in happiness on farm which he had
earned by his industry, when the gall,ni Cap
tain Butler, (who afterwards fell at the cap
|ture Of the British batteries at For, Meius,
raised his flag, and solicited the hardy Ken.
'uckians Of Bracken county to enroll them.
selves among the defenders Of their country.
John Wood was one Of the number. He suf
'ered all the privaiions 10 which the army OF
the Northwest was exposed. during the disas.
trous campaign which resulted in the defeat OF
Winchester at the river Raisin. By good for.
tune he escaped the iomahawk Of the savage
allies Of Great Britain, and was sent prison.
er OF war to Qnebec.
| lie was next. with other American prison.
ers. despatched 10 a transport to Plymouth.
~ England. From Plymouth, accompanied
by crowd Of fellow prisoners, he was abou.
to he transferred to Darimoor. when he found
an opportunity TO elude his guards. and make
his esrape lie wa ldered through thd conn-
try, stealing ,hngh bv-ways. until he found
himself at Bristol. Hunger compelled him 10
enter grocery, the headquarters Of press
gang. Here he was pressed: and despite his
pro'cstaions that he was citizen Of The United
State. and . fugitive prisoner Of war-.-fac,s
which might have been easily proven by re-
terence To the military authorities a, Plymouth,
he was hurried on board His VI "s'y's rriga,p
Sea Horse. then the flag ship Of the re'ebra,od
Sir Peter Parker, and compelled 10 bear arms
against his own countrymen.
On board the Sea Horse were several other
Americans. who. like Wood. had fallen vic.
'lms To the British system rf impressment.- 90
They determined on deserlion; and when w.
ing in the port of st. Johns. they snrc edcd in
securing boat. In an extremely dark night
md attempted to reach the eastern coast II
Maine. They were instantly pursued. and
were Obliged TO desert their boat on the shore
ef New brunswick. and seek safety in the
woods. After wandering about for two DAYS.
exhausted with cold ard Hunger and r1iignp.
they were arpnhcnded by party Of Bniisl,
soldiers. and againtransE rred 10 The Sea lnrsa.
The punishment that followed his art of de-
sertion, was inflicted with all that ingenious
'efnement rf cruelty for which the British ma
w is SO celebrated.
The Sea Horse attached to the sruadron M
Ter Admiral Cockburn, was shortly after or-
1ered INTO the chesapeake. and took an active
pan ~ the rnbbng, burning and numbering Of
The defenceless inhabitants Of the coast. Mr..
Wood and the impressed Americans were new
er permitted TO leave their vessel. Vie was on
board on the night when Sir Peter Parker met
his fate on shore. A few davs subsequent 10
this event. hr. in company with seven other
impressed Americans. attempted an escape IN
broad daylight. by boldly jumping inio boat
along side. and pulling rapidly for The shore.
one Of the number was shot by sentinel on
dnfy. The others reached the beach. bat were
'pprehended Immediately on landing Nv par.
~ Of maranders belonging 10 the Sea Horse,
Bv order Of Admiral Cockbnrn. they were
cent IN irons To Nova Sonia. where. after mn.
iergoIng trial. they were setien ed 10 he
'ho:. The sentence. however. was cn,nmu,ed
o service for life in his Britannia Majes,y.s
lrmy in the East Indies. They were accord. |
ng'y shipped to England. and thence. win a |
egiment Of newly levied recruits. despatched
o Ca'cnita For twenty-one year, Hr. Wood |
erved as private soldier IN the East Tndi, |
ervlre: and eighteen months since. when bro.
zen down in spirit and in constitution. he was |
erml,fed 10 sail for England. Destitute and
he reached London. stated his I
ase 10 the United States consul, and by him !
vas furnished with the means of reaching N.
York. lie left New York in Janna,y. and
v.nded his weary pilgrimage toward The home
fhis childhood.
1t is now twenty-si. years since he left his
ri e and children in Kentucky. and moi one
yllable has he heard relative to their situation
'nce the moment Of their separation. The ci-
zens here forced a few dollars upon him..lor, Il
cor and decrrpid as he is. he still possesses /
u the pride Of a kentnt kia0.--and sent hin, I.
n his way in the stage ~ WeIlsvill. from !
'hich town he intends to Embark in steam. I,
oat for Augusta. in Kentucky.
Fancy cannot help asking. What is now :
rat home to which the war-brokpn wanderer +
, re.urnipg1 VIII the ~ile Of his youth be h
sady, in the fidelity Of her early love. to hail !,
he return Of her long-'ost busbandl or will 9
n duty and affections have been given to ano-
bAf or will she be repnsing beneath the cIods s
{ the valley! And his children! II living. "a
iey must have long since entered upon the y
nsy scenes Of life. viii they take the weary y
iIgrim 10 their homes and TO their bosoD.s1 4 fc
'onsand oye,poweriog emotions must rush up d
the old mans hear. as his weary f,o'sicp v
the spot that once WIS home! Fan n
cannot I'll tie prlore. May Hr who '.,em- h
p!s the wind 10 the si,orn lamb snppor lie Il.
yed wanderes n ihs, escntfaI !ocg,et whirh II
soob 10 wifnf IS .ifhof @..e fc*facf Of his Il
apIinese, or the uttt.y desois:cn q his hopes. Il
Mcssi'Ion >rIi, Gazelte II
Easily .sc0scILlr.--.It wa. III ntIoprd one h