The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-05-02

soldiers, consumed by thirst arising from
their exertions on the hottest day supposed
ever to have occurred in America, were
rushing, with frantic cries, to the well i'm
plorlng for water. The captain, with the
point of his sword resting on his boot, his
arm leaning on the pumme, continued to
wave his turn, when cannon shot, bound
| ing down the lane that led to the farmhouse.
struck the unfortunate officer near tho hip,
and hurled him 10 the ground lifeless
corpse. The lamented Fauntleroy was de-
scended from enc OF the old and highly re-
spected families of Virginia Leaving the
comforts Of home and the delights of large
circle of friends, this gallant young soldier
repaired to the standard of his country ear
ly in the campaign of '76. He was highly
respected in his grade, and his untimely
fate was deeply mourned in the American
army.
Heedless of the remonstrances and en-.
treaties Of his officers, Ike commander in
chief exposed his person to every danger
throughout the action Of the 2Sth June.
The night before the battle Of Monmouth,
party OF the general officers assembled,
and resolved upon memorial to the chief,
praying that he would not expose his per-
son in the approaching conflict. His high
and chlvalrlc daring and contempt for dam
ger at the battle of Princeton, aud again at
Germantown, where his officers seized the
bride OF his horse. made his friends the
more anxious for the preservation of life
SO dear to all, and SO truly important to the
success of the common cause. Il was de-
termlned that the memorial sheuld be pre-
sented by Craik, the companion liz arms OF
Colonel Washington in the War of '55;but
Cralk, at once, assured the memorialists
that, while their petition would be received
az proof of their affeciionate regard for
their generals safety, it would not weigh
feather in preventing the exposure of his
person, should the day 60 agslnst them and
the presence Of the chief bscome necessa-
ry at the post of danger. DR.. Craik then
related the romantic and imposing incidents
of the old Indians prophecy, as it occur
red on the banks Of the Ohio, in ITO, OBJ,
serving that bred as he himself was, in the
rigid dcipline of the Kirk of Scotland.-
He possessed as little superstition as any
one, but that really there was something
in the air and manner of an old savage chief
deriving his oracle amid the depths of the
forest, that time nor circumstances could
never Grace from his memory, and that he
believed with the tawny phet Of the will
derness that their beloved Washington was
tho sPirit-protecIed being described by the
savage, that the enemy could not kill him,
and that while he lived the glorious cause
of the American Independence would never
die:
On the following dav, while the comman-
der in chief attended by his officers, was
reconnoiterlng the enemy frOm an elevated
part Of the field, round shot from the Brit
ish artillery struck but little way from his
horses feet. throwing up the earth over his
person, and then bounded harmedly away.
The barren Steuben, struggling up his sheu-
ders, exclaimed, " that vast very near"
while Dr. Craik, pleased with this instance
confrmatory of the Indians prophecy, ned
ded TO the officers who had composed the |
party Of the proceeding evening, and then
pointed 10 heaven, as much as TO say ir the
words of the savage prophet" The Great
Spirit protects hin-he cannot die in bat
tle."
A ludicrOus occurrence varied the incl
dents of the 28th of June. The servants
OF the general officers were usually well |
armed and mounted. Will Lee, or Billy
tho former huntsman, and fav0rite boy SER
want OF the chief, square muscular figure,
and capital herseman. paraded corpse Of
Wallets, and riding pOmpously at their head,
proceeded to an eminence crowned by sy-
camore tree, from whence tree could be
seen an extensive part of the field of battle.
Here Billy halted, and having unslung the
arge telescope that he always carried in
eathern case, with a martial air he applied
i to his eye and reconnOitered the enemy.
Washington, having observed these ma
louvres Of the corps of Wallets, pointed
hem out to his officers, observing, "See
hose fellows collected on yonder height;
he enemy will fire on them to a certain /
~"
Meantime, the British were not unmind- {
oil of the assemblage ON the height, and
'ercelving hurley figure well mounted, |
nd with a telescope in hand, they deter. !
mined to pay their respects to the group Z
shot from the six peunder passed through
he tree, cutting away the limbs, and pro r
ucing a scamPering among the corps OF |
allets, that caused even the grave cSunten-
nee Of the commander in chief to dissolve n
nto smie.