Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-05-14
I From hc lIasition lOlioJ Ga.cut. ]
RETURN OF TIE CAPTIVE.


RETURN OF TIE CAPTIVE.
WI has long been reckoned a glorious trade
There Is pride and lomp. and circumstance"
about II, extremely captivating TO the Young and ar
dent who have only had the opportunity Of seeing II
IN holiday dress. Could II always exhibit itself in
rageautfy aud parade itwonl be- indeed, glorious
II not useful art; but there is an under current Of
misery IN ITS acion aud results, never seen by the
romantic, that sttps from tits adyenious tiusel and
presents 1t naked, the fruitful parent of pun and
degradation. The victorious general, surrounded
by his gaiIy decorated stall, with a highly dlscipn
ed and ascfully uniformed line OF soldiers in his
front presents different aspect from that which must
have met the eye when surveying the Carnage on
The eve of the battle of Waterloo.
Our QUEENS yesterday morning. were introduced
10 the acquaintance Of John Wood a man whose
tale OF sorrow could not il of interesting the heat
however calons, or however prone 10 iucredulity.-
4 meagre sketch only be given now. The am
pie history of his misfortune may hereafter be pre-
scented to the world-and If given by master hand
Will command the interest, and enlist the sympathy
OF the public, when the mlwkish productions Of
fiction, which now cumber our bookstores aud in
suit taste shall have become despiscd aud for
gotten.
In the wsroflsl2 John Wood. now GGy years
old, was Young aud industrious farmer in Brarken
county, kentucky, lie "ss the husband Of asopng
aud interesting woman, and the father of two infant
children. lie WIS living IN happiness on a farm.
which lac had earned By his ndustty-whcn the gal
LIANT Captain Rnllef, (who afterwards fell at the cap.
ture oi the Brush batteries at Fort Meipsl raised
his AZ, aud solicited the hardy kcntuckians Of
Bnoken county, To enroll themselves among the
defenders OF ther country. John Wood was one Of
the number. He suffered all the pryatlons TO which
tie ehlsarc army of the northwest WAS exposed,
DUNG the disastrous campaign which resulted IN he
defeat Of Manchester At the RIVER Ralsiu. By GOOD
fortune he escaped the tomahawk oil the savage al
lies oi Great Biitan-and mas scul prisoner of war
TO Quebec.
lie was next, with other American prisoners de
spatched IN transport 10 Plymouth, IN England
/ ION plymouth, accompanied by crowd Of fellow
prisoners, lie was about to be transferred TO Dut-
moot-that well remembered scene of British cru
ely md Brush cowardlce-when he found an on
porlunlly TO clude his guard. and make his ESCAPE
lie wandered through the country. stealing through
byWaSs, nn'il he found himself At BrsioI. Hunger
compelled hIm 10 enter grocery, the head quarters
of BRUSH press gang. Here he was pressed and
despite his protesations that he was citizen of the
United STATES, and fugitive prisoner of war facts
when might have been easily proven by reference
TO the military authorizes at Plymouth, he was
hurried on board His Malcsty's ltgate Sea Horse
thenthe ilAg ship OF the celebrated SIR Peter Parker
and compelled 10 bear against his own country
men.
On board the Sea Horse were several other Amer
lcans who like Wood had fallen victims 10 the
British system of imprcssment. They determined
[.
Johns, succeeded IN securing boat, during an cx-
trcmcN dark nlehi,und attempted To reach the east
cru coast OF the state of Name. They were Instantly
pursued, and obliged 10 desert their boats on
the shore Of New brunswick aud seek safety in the
woods After wandering about for two DAYS OK
hausted with cold, and hunger, and fatigue they
we're apprehended by party of Brush soldiers, and
again transferred TO the Sea Horse, The punish
ment that followed this act of deseron was nnc
ted with all that ingenious refinement of cruelty for
winch the Biltlsh navy IS so celebrated.
The Sea Horse, attached to the squadron under
Admiral Cochbutn, was shortly afterwards ordered
INTO the Chesapeake, and took an active part in the
robbing, burning and numbering OF the defcnc eless
inhabitants of the coast Mr.. Wood and the i'm
pressed Americans were never permitted TO leave
the vessel lie was board ON the night when
Sir Peter Parker met hls death on shore. few DAYS
subsequent to this event, he in company with seven
other impressed Americans, attempted an escape
IN broad day light. by boldly jumping into a boat
along side, and pulling rapidly for the shore One
OF the number was shot by the sentinel on duty
The others reached the beach, but apptehen-
ded, Immediately on landing, by a party of inaraud-
crs belonging 10 the Sea Horse.
By order OF Admiral Cockburn, they were sent in
IRONS to Nova Scotia where, after undt going the fo
nalliy ot a mock trial, they were sentenced to be
shot. The sentence, however, commucd To ser
rice for tJc, IN HIS Britannia Maiesiys Army IN the
East Indies. They were accordingly shipped to
England, and thence with regiment of newly levied
recruits, despatched to Calcutta For 81 years. MI.
Wood served as private soldier in the East India
service; and, eighteen months since, when broken
down IN spirit aud IN constitution. he was pennltted
To SAL Tor England. Destitute and heart broken he
reached London, stated his the United States
Consul, and by him furnished with The means of
reaching New \ ork. Helelt New York in January
ana wended his weary pilgrimage towards the home
OF his childhood.
II Is now twentysix years since he left his wife and
Children III Kentucky; and not syllable has he
heafd, relative 10 their situation the moment of
their separation. The citizens here forced a few
dollars upon him. for, poor and decrepid as he u.s. he
stu possesses all the ptlde o. kentuckau and SEM
HIM on his way in the stage to Well,ville from
which town he intends to embark on a steamboat
Tor Augusta in kentucky.
Fancy cannot help asking-whai now is that home
TO which the war-broken wanderer is returning ,
VIII the wife of his youth be ready in the fidelity of
her early love. 10 hail the OF her long lost
husband! Or will her duty and aie ctons have been
gwen to another! Or, will she be opposing, beneath
the clods OF the valley! And his children III llv-
ing, they must have long since entered upon The hu
sy scenes of lite. VIII they take the weary pilgrim
to iher homes and to their bosoms A thousand
oVerpoweflnG emotions must rush upon he old mans
heaf' "s ms weary footsteps approach the spot that
was once his home, Fancy cannot fill the picture
May lie who "tempers the wind to the shorn la lb"
support the aged wanderer, in that eventful moment
winch is soon TO witness, either the ecstacy OF his