Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-08-30

/ he memory ot Joys that are past like the
music Of carol, - pleasant, but mournful TO The
soul"
Virginia ranks among her distir guishcd
sons ROBERT WHITE, late Judge OF the
general Court, who vas gathered 10 his IA.
theirs IN March 1881. lie was born in
the neighborhood Of Winchester, March
-, 1903, and received but an imperfect
education al grammar school, near
Marsh creek, Pennsylvania, under the
direction OF the Rev. Mr. Craighead, a
Presbyterian minister. In his seventeenth
year, he volunteered as 4 private in a
company commanded by Capt. Hugh
Stevenson, and marched On the -2O,h Of
June, lTo. from Morgan's spring, in
! Berkeley county. TO Boston, where the
British army was now closely besieged by
Washington. Engaging with youthful
ardor and zeal in the various and event.
ful scenes OF that we'll conducted enter
PRISE. he soon arrested the attention of
The commander-in-ch chief. by his chivalric
bearing. His discerning eye saw in the
boy the germ OF that remarkable decision
OF character, which in after years, sus-
famed hum IN numberless appalling trials.
lie once told me that but Tor the pious
impressions made on his heart, by the
study Of the scriptures, when at school.
he would then have been borne down and
carried away in the vortex of dissipation
and vice IN which he was now involved.
The light Of the Star Of Bethlehem beam
ed on his path and be reached the haven
IN safety.
On the 18th of March, l716. the city
was evacuated the enemy spread their
canvass for a more fortunate station aud
White saw his beloved chief iriumphantly
occupying the position Of cruel and i'm :.
perIous foe. Following the standard OF
has country, he shared tie dangers and
SuiiefIngs Of the disastrous campaign Of
the following summer, when he wa.
made an ensign. We next find him at
Germantown, on the fourth Of October.
~, where he fought as lieutenant,
under major William Darke, OF Berkeley
county, Va, his intimate friend through
lac, who, on this occasion, displayed an
IntrcpIdiiy unsurpassed by "the bravest of
the brave" As the column Of the enc.
my advanced near our line, the lieuten
ant noticed an elegant and daring young
British officer, animaiing his troops, by
his own example, TO press forward into
the conflict. Darkc aimed at him a fatal
shot with his fuzee, AID seeing him fall.
iaconioally remarked, white, have gi.
ven that fellow his tobacco"
After this engagement. which resulted
unfavourably 10 our arms, the lieutenant
vas constantly employed in harrassing
detached parties OF the enemy, in the
spring OF IFS; and by a vigilance which
knew no bounds, and q courage yielding
10 no danger, he often protected the main
body Of our army from surprise and loss
During one OF these perilous parlizan en-
ierpriscs. in the month Of June, Of this
year, a, Shor, Hill, New Jersey. IN the
act Of crossing fence, his thigh bone wa,
broken by muskct ball, and nearly a,
the same moment he received another
severe wound IN the head from 8 British
grenad,er. lie fell senscless 10 the earth
bleeding pSo!usely. He found himself,
when somewhat recovered. . prisoner o.
war. IN the tent OF an amiable and accom-
plished officer. who had rescued him from
death, and who now treated him with
distinguished humanity and poliieneSs-
Ia The au:uma, after being exchanged, be
at last reached Winchester. by slow and
painful efforts, exceedingly lame. weak
and emaoiairG. by acute and proirac;ed
suffering. lIis body was q mere shadow,
but his noble spirit. yet unsubdued, still
panied 10 ayenge the wrongs Of his coun.
try. BY THIS time Frederick and Befkc
w counties had ~ the field some Of the
best officers 10 our army. Morgan. with
his riAemen. had already scaled The Walli
Of Quebec, amid the storms and shows d
winter Darke was then IN the pritonship
near New York, enduring ell the eompli
Gated sever,lies q rigorous confinement
but the laufels he had won were We
fresh. SweArengen was counting DANCE
IN every form and the patriotism o.
White elevating him above The sever,
, ;ofments he endured. urged bim agsir
. "once more 10 the breach" before bn
wounds were sufficiently healed. In III!
he was commissioned captsin Of cavalry
For some time he was employed recruit
ing and training his troop IN Philadelphia
but was compelled. from bodily Inability
10 retire from service. His military CO
! reer now closed IN the twentieth year o
. his age. bot never for = moment Did h
withdraw hn eagle eve from the thrillini
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