Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-13
AN ELoQuENr EXrRAcT.

~ Y ~tfSNANS f'f~N4'
Il Is dark December day. A deep
snow clothes the ground. A sharp and
cutting sleet drives with The wind
Against the binding storm, and through
the deepening driIss, youthful soldier,
with knapsack on his back, pursues his
: sieadiast way. A STRIPPING Of nineteen, !
of slender frame, and feeble health, he iss
: an Ensign IN the Army Of America, with
, Washingion's commission and he march. !,
es with his small detachment, on his irsi'
service. Il was patriotic and Christian
duty There are those before me who
remember well, what. in my young days,
was yet narsery word, at when The
mother pressed her infant 10 her bosom,
aud children gathered closer TO the IRE
) ST. Glars Defeat. Ii was to that battle
held, to inter The bones of SIX hunareo
slain, that our young Ensign FASTENED
with his troop. And though il tras pa
irotic and a Christian duty, how much
more sternly than the fiercest onset OF the
heady fight, must that still forest field, the
lowering sky, the howling wind, those
gallant men buichered by savage hands,
and all the recolections aud iorebodings
Of that most disastrous day, have tired the
spirit Of youthful soldier, on his first
campaign.
1t was chill November night, when a
small army of Americans encamped them
selves upon point Of land, between the
Wabash and a tributary stream. lhey
were the gentlemen and yeomen o. the
country, who bad enrolled themselves un.
der the territorial Governor, 10 defend
their homes against the nroads OIL Inc
hostile Indian tribes, and to chas.lse 'helf
insolence. A long and tedious March,
through a most dreary wilderness, brings
them at last where their way foes await
them; and, on their proposition Tor con-
ference and treaty, hostilitIes are inter-
mitted for day. Slowly and cherries
y the night wears OF, within that guard
ed camp, with clouds and rain. But
weary men sciH sleep, whatever may De.
tide them; and now, for hours, 10 SOUND
has stirred the stiffness Of the scene, save
the lone seniry's guarded step. But what
is that, which, through the misty moon
beams struggling light" is seen, not
heard, as it glides through the PraiHe
grass Is il snake that winds his steal
thy way No, but subtler indian, and
in one instant he is dead. Another, and
the savage yell starts every sleeper from
} his cold damp couch, and death begins his
work. And was this sleeping camp de-
ceived, surprised, betrayedf Was their
Commander faithless to his trustl No;
every man had slept where he must fight,
his clothes on, and his gun loaded. And
he, while vet the night was young, sal by
his tent fire, till the hour should come TO
rouse his weary comrades. In a moment
he was mounted Where the fight was
hottest, there was he. A ball with no
commission for his life, flies through his
hair. In vain his officers demonstrate
with him for his fearless hazard Of him
: self. He thinks of brave ST. Clair, and
the gallant victims OF that fatal field. he
thinks ofwasted towns, and blazing homes,
: and mothers slaughtered with their IN
lants. And the morning dawns not I'LL
the victoryis won
: Along ,he banks Of the Ohio, spreads
smiling farm. A PLAIN and modest
! mansion rises from slopng lawn. Its
owner, having filed with credit TO him
self and honor to bis country, almost
] every station but the frst--fought its bat
I lies. governed is territories, served it in
both Houses of Congress, and represented
1t abroad-wears out, 10 frugal industry,
his green old age, plain Ohio farmer
his house, the very home OF hospitality
his name. the refuge and solace Of the
: poor, the stranger, the orphan; bis style,
The noblest that is known to natures her
aldry, patriot and patriarch.
1t austy day in March. Before the
morning dawns, the Federal City is alive
with men. Ii seems now full TO overflow
ing (; and vet every hour brings hundreds,
thousands more. cavalcade is formed.
Bells ring, and cannons roar. Fair wo-
men, and brave men, throng every win.
dow of that noble Avenue. Not a State
OF the whole twenty-slx that is not repre-
scented in that long drawn line. 1t is the
nations Jubilee. All classes, oil condi.
lions, both sexes, every age, partake the
general JOY. A grave, plain man, array.
ed in modest black, that rides, uncovered.
on the steed, more conscious than him.
self Of the occasion, is the magnet that
attracts all eyes, and touches every heart.
He reaches the Capitol. He ascends the
steps. He stands, majestic in his meek
ness and simplicity, before the immeasu-
rable' multitude who have brought with
them the homage Of the ration. The
highest officer of Justice administers to
him the most magnificent oath that ever
rises up to Heaven. And the youthful
ensign, the gallant general, the aborious
farmer, is President OF the United States.
4" One little month" has passed. Il is
a fitful April day. Again, the Federal
City is astir. Cannons are heard: but
these are minute guns. The bells peal
out, but It's the funeral knell. The streets
, are thronged; but every face is sad, and
every voice is still. Once more, long
procession passes down that noble Ave.
nue. but yew and cypress take the place
Of nodding plumes, ard muffled drums
beat time to aching hearts. Again, that
grave, plain man is there: no more erect
and tall "the pillar Of the State" but in
his grave clothes, stretched upon the fu-
l,o~,l o.. H., n,.a-. -.