Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-06-06
From the Massiilon (Ohio) Gazette.
- EsrITpN OH 'rIlE "a DrIVE


if given by a master hand, will command
the interest, and enliven the sympathy OF
the public, when the mawkish productions
oil fiction, which now cumber our bookstores
aud insult our tas G, shall have become des.
pissed and forgotten. 49,.
In the war Of 1912, John Wood, now fif.
ty years old, was young and industrious
farmer in Bracken county Kentucky. He
was the husband of young and Interests
ing woman, and the father Of two infant
children. He was living in happiness on
farm which he had earned by his industry,
when the gallant Capt. Butler (who AFTER
wards fell at the capture Of the British bat
teries at Fort Meigs) roised his flag, and so.
licitej the hardy Kcntuckians of Bracken
county 10 enrol themselves among the de-
tenders of their country. John Wood was
one of their number. He suffered all the
privalions to which the army of the north
west was exposed during the disastrous
campaign which resulted in the defeat OF
Winchester at the River "a isin. By good
fortune he escaped the tomahawk of the
savage allies of Great Britain, and was Sent
prisoner of war 10 Quebec.
lie was next, with other American pris.
oners, despatched in transport TO Ply
mouth. accompanied by crowd of fellow
prisoners, aud was about to be transferred
70 Dartmoor, when h. found an opportunity
clude his guards and make his escape.
He wandered through the country, steal.
ing through by ways. until he found him.
self at Bristol. Hunger compelled him 10
enter grocery, the head quarters Of
press gang. Here he was pressed, and des.
pite his protestatioas that he was citizen
of the United States, and a fugitive prison.
er Of war, facts which might have been
easily proved by reference to the military
authorities at Plymouth, he was hurried on
board lis Majesty's frigaie Sea Horse, then
the flag ship of the celebrated Sir Peter
Parker, and compelled to bear arms against
his own countrymen.
On board the Sea Horse were several
other Americans, who, like Wood had fall
en- victims 10 the British system of impress
ment. They determined on desertion and
when lying in the port OF st. Johns, they
succeeded in securing boat, in an extreme
i " dark night, and attempted to reach the
eastern coast of the state of Maine. They
we're pursued, and were obliged TO desert
their boat on the shores of New Brunswick
and seek safety in the woods. Afe,
wandering about for two days exhausted
with cold and hunger and fatigue, they
were apprehended by party of Brit.
ish soldiers and again transferred TO the
Sea Horse. The punishment that follow.
ed This act of desertIon, was inflicted with
all that ingenious refinement Of cruel
~ for which the British navy is so cele.
bra,ed.
The Sea Horse, attached TO the squad
ron under Admiral Cockburn, was shortly
afterwards ordered into the Chesapeake
aud took active part in the robbing. burning
aud numbering the defence ess inhablant.
of the coast Mr.. Wood and the imprses
+ | ID Americans were never permitted TO leav,
theirvessel. tlo was Oh board the nigh, wIle,
! Sir Peter Parker met his fate on shore. A
few days subsequent to this event, he, il
company with seven other impressed A
; mcricans, attempted an escape in broa'
, daylight, by boldly jumping into boat alop,
side and pulling rapidly for shore. One o
the number was shot by the sentinel on du
, ~. The others reached the beach, bu
, were apprehended, Immediately on landing
by party Of marauders belonging to tn,
I Sea Horse.
By order Of Admiral Cockburn, the,
were sent in irons to Nova Scotia, wher
after un lergoing trial. they were senten
ced to be- shot. The sentence, however
was commuted TO service for life, in hi
Britannia Maiesty's army in the East In
dies. They were accordingly shipped t
England and thence with regiment o
newly levied recruits, despatched to Cal
. cutta. For 81 years, Mr.. Wood served a
y a private soldier in the East India service
u and eighteen months since, when broker
down in spirit and in constitution, he wa
permitted e sail for England. Destitut
and heart-broken, he reached London
stated his case to the United States con
sui, and by him was furnished with tn
means of reaching New York. He lei
New York in January, and is vending hi
weary pilgrimage toward the home Of hi
> childhood.
\, II is now 90 years since he LEFT his wifi
and children in Kentucky; and not one syl
liable has hc hear,i, relative to their s.tua
, ton, since the moment Of their separation
: The citizens here forced few dollars upol
: him, for, poor and decrepid as he is, he st
. possesses all the pride Of Kentuckian
} and sent him on his way in the stage 4
/, Welsvie, from which town he intends Il
embark in a steamboat for Augusta, in Ken
5 lucky.
Fancy cannot help asking--what is nov
t that home to which the war.broken wan
D derer is refurnngl Will the wife Of hi
/, youth be ready, in the fidelity Of her earl
! love, to hail the return Of her lony lost hus
+ bandi Or will her du and affections hav
: been given 10 ano hcri Or will she be re
posing beneath the clojs Of the valley An,
: his chdren--if living, they must have lon,
since entered upon the busy scenes Of life
) Will they take the weary pilgrim 10 thei
u homes and to their bosornsl A thousan,
. overppwering emotions must rush upon tn,
Old mans heart, rs his weary footsteps ap
. rroach the spot that once was home Fan
I cy cannot fillthe picture. May he who "tem
, pers the wind to the shorn lamb" supper
, the sgod wanderer in that cventful momen
f which is soon TO witness, either the ecs,ac,