The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-24

ing story occurred Just upon lDe eve OF me oat
tie Of
The British Army was lying encamped with
in less than two miles Of the American. The
two armies had been watching each other:
movements for several days without, coming tC
general engagement. At.ensth pnthe eve o.
tho 22d Of the American and British
were making the necessary preparations for the
aigh's rest, expecting on the morrow to tEy
the precarioHs fortunes Of general fight The
captains Of the severa! American companies
were busily employed in choocing sentineis,
who were to stand guard during the night C.
Wstherby had already selected frcm his own
5eompany 1--WE think by lot } all his quota of
nen except one. IIeWas anIiously engaged in
making out the full number when (as good for
tune or bad would have it, we don't know
which, Gen. Putnam passedlhat way. As he
,iapproached, the Captain was in The act Of cell-
1 ing out ON the ranks Arthur Stewart. beard
less boy TO ACT the part ola sentinel that night.
The General, with mingled emotions of sur
prise and contempt, steps up TO the Captain,
and taking him little 10 one SIDE, says, Cap
tain Wclherby, what is the meaning Of this
Are you so thoughless and imprudence as to
take this STRIPPING for a sentinel boy who
has just left his leading strings to perform the
responsible duties of the soldier. You know
that the British army is almost within musket
shot Of the American lines Are we not in im>
inent danger efbeing surprised this night in our
camp, or at least CT having British spies sent
here to reconnoiter us in our sleepl beg of
you 10 look little to this matter. "--'Yeur fears
are entirely groundless,' said Capt. Wetherby,
| 4 know the boy; | would be willing to sleep
under the very guns Of British fort, with Ar
thcr Stuart for a sentinel There's not another
soldier in my company that | would choose
soon than would him, either for sentinel
or any thing else. warrant you he will do
good service to,nght' DO as you please then,
said the General; i have confidence in you,"
ard he turned upon his heel and LEFT the Cap
tain 1t SO happened that this conversation,
though meant to be carried on one side was
verheard by The company, particularly by Stu-
ant. We don't Know how tits, but there is an
unacountable sensibility in the organ Of hearing
T'hoT. we suspect that we ourselves are the sub
jecl of remark, especially Of anlmadversion.
l'lI come up with you for this, old General,
said Stuart, as he listened with hreatlless aux-
ety and anger to hear what was coming uext
'You' find I'aI not the cabage stump you take
me to be, muttereI Arthur = himself, his eye
all the while swapping sc0rn anu iury. I'm
boy, it's true; but old Put may know before he
dies, that boys don't always work OF boys
play!
Stuart had taken his post as sentinel during
| that Gen, Prlnam had occasion during this Pc
riod to pass outside The lines. On his way out
he did not encounter Arlhor Staurt, but anoh-
or sentinel, who asceraihing it was the Gener
al, Immediately allowed himt9 pass. After
having been absent short time, he made to-
wards the lines as though he intend to return.
In coming in he unfortunately {? encountered
Arthur Stnar.
Who goes there 2 said the sentinel.
General Putnam was the answer.
we know no General Putnam here says
the sentinel.
But am General Putnam by this time grow
ing sWmewhatin earnest.
Give me the counersign, says Stuart.
1t so happened that the officers Of the army
had only dav or two previous adopted new
countersign, and the General had somehow uH'
accountably forgotten what it was, or at leas
could nJt in dis moment Of his exeml!y call
to mind. u have forgotten it I was the reply !
This IS pretty story from the lips Genera
Putnam. You are a British officer sent oveI
as spy, returned Stuart, well knowing who
he was, for the neon was shining in her full
strength, and revealed to him tie well known
featnres Of General Putnam; hut he held the
staff in his own hand, and he meant for once
to nse it.
81 warrant You that I'm not said the Gene
al and he made motion as though he woulc
pass on.
Pass that lire sir and you are dead man I
said Stuart, at The same time cooking his gun
The General continued to pass on. Stop wherC
you are or III make you stop, said the sentl
mel. The General disregarded him as before.
Hastily draw ng up his gun and taking SOM
what delibcrate aim, he snapped; but the gu
from some unaccountable reason refused TO dis
charge its contents.
'FIoId, hod' said the General.
Il do held, said Stuart The gun holds it
> charge better than meant TO have it, imm
diately primirg his gun for another renco1ntrf
"You are not priuing that gun for me-, sal
the General.
That depends entirely upon circumstances
p warn you once more not to pass the lines
''Buti am your General said Putnam.
b q deny it, said the young man., unless yo
give me the countersign.
! Here the General was baked. He stroy
with all his might to recall the word, but coui
I not Boy said he, do you not know inc
: am General Putnam.
"A British officer, more like if you are Ge
! eral Putnam, as you, say why don't you Civ
. the countersgnf So sure as L ammy mother
son; if you attempt to pass the lines withor
A giving me the countersign, I'll make cold me-
of ye. I'm a sentinel, and know my duty
e though there be some people in the world ma
yelouslV inclined to questionit it!
At this the General finding further parlant
r useless, dessted and the boy very deliberate
d Shouldering his gun, began with great deal
;. assumed haughiness, to pace tho ground as b'
4 fore. Here was the redoubable Gen. Putnam
C the hero of hundred battles, kept at bay by
boy of seventeen This If we mistake no
would have formed good subject for pain
er't pencil.
Putnam finding the boy was in earnest (t
he had jus, had alarming proof of ny burst n
. III