The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-11-12

( upon inqUlring ms name ana rank, was answer
ed, Captain Leslie. Doctor Benjamin Rush
who formed part Of the Generals suite, earns
estly asked, "a son Of the Earl of Leven 2" to
which the soldiers replied in the affirmative
The Doctor then addressed the General in
Chief i: Il beg your eXcellency to permit this
wounded officer to be placed under my especial
care, that may return, "a however small Il de.
gree, part of the obligations owe 10 his wor.
thy father for the many kindnesses received at
his hands while was II student i'm Edinburgh.'
The request was Immediately granted; bu,, alas!
| poor Leslie was soonipas all surgery He died
the same evening, after receiving every possible
kindness and attention, and was buried the next
day at Pluckamin with the honors of war his
soldiers, as they lowered his remains to the SOL
dlers last rest shedding tears over the grave of
much loved commander.
The battle of Princeton for the time it lasted
and the numbers engaged, was the most fatal to
our officers of any action during the whole of
the Revolutionary waffle Americans losing
one general, two co lones, one major, and three
captains kicd-whilet the martial prowess of our
enc my shone not with more brilliant lustre in
any one Of their combats during their long ca
rear of arms than did the courage and discipline
OF the 18th British regiment on the 3D. of jan
nary, l777. Indeed, Washington himself dur
ing the height of the conflict pointed out this
gallant corps TO his officers, eXclGiming, See
how those noble fellows fight All gentle
men, when shall we be able to keep an army
=
quail to our enemies.
The regular troops that constituted the grand
army ut the close Of the campaign of 76, were
the fragments of many regiments worn down
by constant and toilsore marches and suffering
OF every sort, in the depth of winter. The fine
regiment of Smawood, composed of the flow
CT OF the Mary land youth, and which, in the
June preceding, marched into Philadelphia
eleven hundred strong, was, on the BIZ of Junu.
ary, reduced to scarcely sixty men, and com.
manded by captain.
In fact. the bulk OF what was then ca He'd the
grand army consisted OF the Pennsylvania mill
Tia and volunteers, citizen soldiers who had left
their comfortable homes at the call ofiheir co,ln.
try, and were enduring the rigors of winter
campaign. On the morning OF the battle of
Princeton, they had been eighteen hours under
arms,& harrassed by n long nights march. Was
1t then to be wondered at that they should have
given way before the veteran bayonet of their
fresh and wellHppointed foe {?
The heroic devotion of Washington was not
wanting in tho eXlgences of this memorable
day. He was aware that his hour was come to
redeem the pledge he had laid on the altar of
his country when first he took up arms in her
cause,to win her liberty or perish iii the attempt
Defeat at Princeton would have amounted to the
annihilatiOn of Americas last hope; for, indie,
pendent of the enemy forces in front, Coru
wallis, with the flower of the. British army eight
thousand strong, was already painting close on
struggle. I'm the hurried and imposing events
of little more than one short week. liberty en-
dared her greatest agony. What, then, is due
to the fame and memoirs of that sacred band
who, with the master of liberty at their head,
breasted the storm at this fearful crisis of their
countrys destiny?
The heroic devotion OF Washington on the
field of Princeton is matter of history. We
have often enjoyed touching "reminiscences Of
that ever memorable event from the late Colon.
ell Fitzgerald, who was aid to the chief, and
who never related the story of his Generals
danger, and almost miraculous preservation,
without adding to his tale the homage Of
tear.
The aid de camp had been ordered to bring
up the troops from the of the column,
when the band under General Mercer became
engaged. Upon returning to the spot where he
had left the Commander in { hict, he was
longer there, and, upon looking around, the aid
discovered him endeavorng to rally the line
which had been thrown into disorder by "A rap.
id onset of the foe Washington, after several
in efectual efforts to restore the fortunes of the
fight, is seen 10 rein up his horse, with his head
immovable.
1t was n last appeal to his soldiers, and
seemed to say, Will you give up your General
to the foe Such an appeal was not made in
vain. The discounted Americans rally on the
Instant, and form into line the enemy halt,
anu uTcSS tIlclt Hue INC AlneTICGll Sl'cl 10 Ne
tween the adverse posts, as though he had been
placed there, Il target for both. The arms of
both lines are levelled. Can escape from death
be possible ? Fitzgerald, horror struck at the
danger of his beloved commanders, dropped the
reins upon his horses neck, and drew his hat ov-
er his face, that he might not him die. A
roar of mu>ketry succeeds, and then shout
1t was the shout of victory. The aid de camp
ventures to raise his eyes, and oh, glorious sight
the enemy are broken and flying, while dimly
amid the glimpses of the smoke is seen the Chief
"alive, unframed, and without wound wav.
ing his hat and cheering his comrades to the
pursuit.
Colonel Fitzgerald, celebrated one OF the
finest horsemen in the American army, now
dashed his roweIs in his chargers TANKS, heed.
less of the dead and dying in his way, flew to
the side Of his Chief, eXclaming, "Thank God !!
your Exceency is saie,' while the iavorite aid,
II gallant and warm hearted son of Erin, man
of thews and sinews, and "albeit unused to the
melting mood gave loose to his feelings, and
went like n child for low.