The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-01-09
rHE OLD SOLDIERS STORY.

A few days since stopped at a public
house in Colerain, and while my horse was
eating, l sat down in the bar-room, and
heard sensible old man relate the substance
of the enclnsed account.
"During the revolutionary war, there
was point of land on tho Jersey side Of
,as Hudson, aud not far distant from Now
York, which was tho scene OF blsody
conflict. There were about three hundred
acres next 10 the river, from which the
wood and timber had been cleared Off back
Of this was heavy forest. On this clear
ed point, 6 large number Of fat cattle, des-
tined to supply the American army, were
placed. -Four or FIVE hundred yards dis
tant in New Jersey, there were three thous-
and light infantry, under the command of
Lafayette. vas one of that detachment.
Our business was 10 see tina, the cattle
were not taken from The point by the enc
my.
One morn,ng, intelligence was brought
into camp, that several vessels had ap-
preached the point, and that large body
Of British soldiers were landing. My rs-
Simens was ordered TO march Immediately
for the point. Rufus Putnam, nephew
OF the old General, was our Colonel. He
wss we'll stocked with the Putnam mettle.
He was brave officer. could never dis
corn that he was not just as self-possessse
when goiug into battle as when sitting in
his tent We made hurried march and
upon approaching the edge Of the woods,
the Colonel ordered the Adjutant to 60
forward and see where the troops were,
and what was the number. Tho Adju.
taB, soon returned, and reported they were
forming in three columns containing about
one thousand each. Then, said tho Co
lionel, ride back to the camp as soon as
possible and tell Lafayette to come on
When the Adjutant had gone. Col. Putnam
reds up to mY Captain, who vas Daniel
Shays, Of insurrection memory, and said
he, well, Captain Shays, shall we be play
ing with then until the General Gomez
'Tha. mus. be az you please, replied Capt.
Shays. Orders were seon given TO ad.
vance 10 the open land upon the point
We now stood face to face to our foes.--
Firing very soon commenced. Cannon
from the shipping in the river poured forth
their volies; and small arms did fatal exc
.cutisn. Colenel Putnam rode back and
iVih ia UohsVi HE ACS SiusOh's S+oaNh 90 .
man Al home. though the balls were whist
ling past him in every direction. We had
worked very fast, and for ono regiment,
made great noise. The corporal at my
- \ i---;--.A !. hall -Akra,inA tha hody
and fell dying. was young, and dying
man at my feet, bleeding and gasping,
might cause my coler to fade little. Cap
tain Shays stepped forward, George says
he. never mind il; l will take his place;
and he was as good as his word, ho took
the eorperal's gun and used it. Shays was
the best Captain ever served under, He
was bold and kind. was loading my gun
the twenty .sscond time, when General La
fayetts with the main body of the ligh, in
faatry, issued from the weed. Never shall
/ foisst the feelings Of that msmsnt. We'll
liagisn was hardly more pleased to see
Blucher in the battle of Waterloo, than we
were to see our brsthers in arms.
The main body formed at once, upon onr
left. Lafayette rode forward ian excellent
officer; and never did he Gil my eye so en-
tirely as at that momeni,) though n strip
pliRg in appearance, in action he was
man; and had CORVALLIS seen him as We
then saw him he would no, have called him
lbs boy. AZ no eP2TOacheu, 'C0i. fut-
nam,' said he 'how dared you fire Before
arriysai' oh /! said tho Csloael, Il thought
weuld be playing with thom 4 li.tls.'--
Lafayette al that moment seemed full of
energy and lifci turning toward the line. and
with loud, distinct veice, marked by HE
French accent, said he. We FIRE no more
the whols line, charge bayon rush on
ward and drive them where the devil drove
the hogs The efisrts Of his presence and
his wsrds war astonishing, every heart beat
quick and full. We did rush on. and such
ascsne Of carnage my eyes never saw
At frat the British force charged 10 NEE. us
but they could not stand sgaips. us, and
fed 10 the shore, we followed them and
drove them into the water; Of the three
thousand about fifteen hundred got aboard
the vessels. This res. were slain and mos,
ofthen at the point Of the cayone,.
have described to ysu tho most pain
fully interesting and horrid scene had ev
er Witnessed. / never enjoyed killing
msa. ! fought because theughl i, to b,
my duty.'--Greenfed Mercury.