Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-02-21

0thaN ~ a Wv 0thA ~
neral determined, by gallant dash
between the advancing columns, to
reach the ford on the Schuylkili, and
thus secure the retreat to the main ar.
my. Here let our narration pause,
while we pay well merited tribute 10
the memory and services OF Allan Mo
Lane, to whose untiring vigilance in
watching the stealthy approach of the
/ enemy's columns towards Barren Hill
and promptness il attacking them on
4 their route, the Marquis was mainly
I indebted for success ia shs celebrated
retreat that shed such lustrcon his first
command.
| 10 Allan McLane, we have the rec
objection Of a partisan who, with gent.
us to conceive, possessed courage even
to chivalry TO execute, the most daring
enterprises; who ever ranked with the
foremost in the esteem Of the chief, and
was considered by the whole army as
one ofthe most intrepid and distinguish.
ed officers of the war ofthc Revolution.
When The retiring Americans reach
ed the ford Ct the Sch ylkill. they he
STATED in attempting tho passage. La
Fayette sprang from his horse, rushed
into the water waist deep, calling on
his comrades TO follow. Animated by
the example of their youthful General,
the soldiers entered the river, the tall
or men sustaining the shorter, and af.
ter severe struggle gained the south
ern or friendly shore, having suffered
but inconsiderabe loss.
Meanwhile, the enemy were IN close
pursuit, and the commander chief,
fearing for the detachment which con-
sisted Of his choicest troops, including
the I" Life Guard" dragged his artil.
lery to the rocky heights that comman.
ded the ford, aud opened upon the enc
my's advance, checking Them so far as
to enable the Marquis better TO secure
| his retreat; and there was one feature
in the martial spectacle of the passage
Of the Schuylkill, of rare and imposing
interest it was the admired form OF
Washington, AZ times obscured, and
then bcheld amid the smoke Of the can.
nonade, as, attended by his generals
and staff, he would wave his hat to en-.
courage the soldiers in their perilous pas
sage Of the stream.
On the morning ofthe battle Of Mon.
mouth, June, '79, detachment from
the "Iiie Guard" aud ono from Nor
gan's Rilemen, led By Mosgan's favo.
rite, Capt. Gabriel Long, made brill
liant dash at party OF the enemy
which they surprised, while washing al
brook that ran through an extensive
meadow. Seventeen grenndiers were
made prisoners and borne of in the We
ny face OF the British light ininntry
who fred upon their daring ASSISTANTS
and Immediately commenced hot pur'
suit; yet Long displayed such consum.
mate ability ns well as courage, that
be brought OFF his party, prisoners and
all, with only tho loss Of one sorgcan;
wounded.
| Morgan was in waiting at the out.
post, to receive the detachment on their
return, having listened with much anx.
iety, 10 the heavy fire Of the pursuing
enemy. Charmed with the success Of
The enterprise, in the return of The
| troops almost unharmed, and in the
prisoners taken. Morgan wrung tho
lavoriie captain by the hand, paid his
compliments to the officers and men Of
his own corps, and the Life Guard, !"
and then the famed leader Of the
Woodsmen INDUCED himself in stem.
torian laugh that made all ring again,
at the bespattereG condition of the
( gentlemen, as he was pleased to term
the +" Life Guard" and who in their
precipitate retreat, having to pass thro'
certain swamps that abound in that
portion of New Jersey, then the seat
Of war, presented most soiled appear.
ance for troops, who might be termed
the martinets Of sixty years ago.
Ii is believed that the late Col. John
Nicholas of Virginia, was the Inst of
| the Life Guard"
|
DIssTREssING ACCIDENT Sat-
Sunday morning, the Goth ult, Captain