Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-09-13


position, but from the respect I entertain for
Inc memory ola gallant brother officer, long
since Caueu 10 receive, in another world. his
reward ,or having preferred "the praise of
| Goo To The praise of men," In the summer
oi the year 1898, Lieut.. Drake, OF the in
tantry OF The 2l sub legion, received mark .
| Gu insu': from another brother officer Man.
hes'ing no disposition TO call him 10 account.
some 81 those "ho wished him well, among 81
whom was one, spoke To him on the subject
| expressing our fears that his repuia,ion as
an officer would greatly suffer, ilhe permil.
led such al insult 10 pass uunoticei The
answer ne gave me was, that he cared moi
"ha' opinion The officers might form Of him;
ne was determined to pursue his own course
| nat course was So novel IN the army, that
II lost Tor him, as had supposed it would.
the respect of nearly all The officers. The
ensuing summer gave Mr.. Drake an oppor,
tuhl,y OF vindIcaing most triumphantly, his
conduct and principles. He had been sta.
TONED IN small fortress which had been @.
fecled 10y Gen. Wayne, during the winter.
upon the spot which had been rendered re.
markable, by the defeat OF ST. Clair's army.
three years before. The garrison consisted
Oh single rifle company, and thirty infant
ry, and OF the latter Drake was the immeai.
ave commander. In the beginning of july.
l.94, detachment OF the army, CONSISTING
OF several hundred men, under the command
OF MAJ. NJ ahon, being encamped near The
lort, In which they had the previous day de-
posted quantity Of provisions which thew
had escorted from The canlonment of the ar
my at Greenville, were attacked, early in
me morning, by upwards Of three thousand
indians. The troops made a gallant rosis-
lance; hut being turned on both TANKS. and
IN danger OF being surrounded, they retreat.
ed lo the open ground around the fort.
from this too, they were soon dislodged
10y The overpowering force OF the enemy /; in
'ne retreat many wounded men were in dan
ger OF being left, which being observed from
the Fort, Capt. Gibson, directed his own
Lieutenant 10 take tho infantry (Drake's
particular command) and a portion of the
ritemen, ana sally out 10 their relief. To
this Drake objected, and claimed the right
10 command his own men, and as senior 10
lhe Other Lieutenant. his right also TO the
whole command. 80, very well, SIR" said
| the captain, 'if such is your wish take II {,
~, is my wish sir, 10 do my duty, and.I
VIII endeavor te do il nov and at ali times
was the modest reply OF Drake He accord
ihgiy, sailed; skiifully inierposed his de-
tachment between The relreating troops and
'he enemy, opened hot fire, arrested their
ea'ahCe; ana gave an opportunity 10 the
wounded 10 effect their escape; and the bro
Ken ana retreating companies of our troops,
throughout The whole affair, Brakes actiy.
ity, skiii, and extraordinary self possession.
were most conspicuous. The enemy of
course observed il as well as his friends
he numerous shots directed of him. howe
yer, like the arrows OF Teucer, aimed at the
heart OF Hector, we're turned aside by pro.
'icent !ai interference, until he had accom-.
pushed oil that he had been sent 10 perform.
lie then received ball through his body
n Ian fall
ISSUANCE, and with his aid he reached the lort.
and those Two who were the last of the re-
.reaiing patty that entered il, Drake max
ing II point OF honor that it should be so.
Mt. Drake was rendered unfit for DUTY. for
a long time by his wound. He had moi, in.
deed, recovered from it, in the summer of
lI96 when he was my guest, when in cons
mand at Fort Washington (Cincinnati,) on
his way On furlough 10 visit his native State.
connecticut. His friends, however, enjoy
ed his presence but short time, having. as
| understood, taken the yellow fever in nsss-
ing through Philadelphia, he died in few
days after he reached his home.
An oihcer OF the army had so often and 80
unnecessarily wounded the feeling of an o.
toer OF The same corps, the duties OF which
made their associations indispensable, that
he considered himself bound to demand sat-
lsiactIon IN the usual way. They met, the
injured man iell, receiving mortal wound,
as II was anticipated he would from The SUI
pefior skIll OF his antagonist in the use Of The
weapon which they used. Being possessed
oil a high grade Of talents and an amiable
character, he had the sympathy Of all the of.
ficers. With others visited him after he
bad been removed 10 his quarters. He ex-
pressed desire 10 see the officer with whom
he had fought, and was present at the in
iervIew. wish / could describe, as il mer>
ITS, this interesting scene. The crcum,
stances attending il we're SO deeply impress
ed upon my mind that they can never be ell
laced, as long as memory holds its seat,
In The tent were some hall dozen officers,
the friends OF The dying man, (for, as have
SAID, he had from bis amIabe qualities, ma
ny and warm ones, exhibiting unequivocal
evidences OF their sorrow. Conspicuous above
the rest, and near the head of The rude couch,
was the manly form of The Commantlant of
The Corps, TO which both OF the duellis,s be-
ionged, the beau ideal OF chivalrous valor.
and The Chevalier de Bayard Of the army, )
endeav oring 10 siifle, as best he could, he
feelings which agiiated his bosom. Ala
lille distance, in foil view OF The victim of
his passions, sat the insensible-; but 1
must restrain the Indignation which istil feel.
lie was my brother oficer-we shared to-
geiher the perils of difficult war-and in
battle, know that tie did his duty-snd
whatever might have been his conduct 10
Others l never had personally any reason to
complain Of him. But there lie sal, appar-
emily at least, unaffected by The mischief he
had done, by. burying in an uniimely grave
man who had never injured him. :, hose
arm might be needed in the der ending de