Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-03-25

lence OF the times from the sntiter oil lneli
own roofs.
A militia officer in those days was q
lpersoE OF character and consideration, who
became leader in consequence OF some
real or supposed qualification for the Of
fee. His men were armed with something
more dangerous 10 their country thar
walking canes and umbrellas, and they
desired to be commanded by those who
understood the use Of their weapons. He
was social man, who loved TO mingls
with the people on public occasions: be.
| ing a sort of chief among them, he wa:
expected 10 show himself whenever con,
Icourse was assembled, and his natural in
stincts led him to seek out such ,opportuni
ties for gaining popular favor. A militia
lofficer was moreover modest man, who
said little, because in those days he was
texpecteG 10 do much but then he could
convey good deal of meaning in few
words, and had pleasant way Of saying
agreeable things to the women, who al
ways have great influence in elections,
and can make and unmake great men
when they please. He was ON excellent
Judge Of horse, a quality which, in the
purest days of the good Old Dominion
seldom failed to secure for its possessor the
regard and esteem of his neighbors; he
was an admirable shot with the rifle, and
was usually among the winners at shoot
ling matches aud above all, he was a man
Of speed and muscle. Ii was not often
that he engaged in wrestling and foot.
races, as these sports were usually left TO
the young men; but the Captain had a
pride in that way; it WAS known that he
had proved his manhood in such feats, and
was well understood that he would not
back out if challenged.
| Tha, Captain Crawford was possessed
of most OF the good qualities which dis.
tinguished the men of his grade and pro-
fession, need not be doubted; he had many
social and estimable traits of character.
His company was made up of border men,
hastily collected for the occasion; farmers
and their sons, mounted on their own hor.
ses, carrying their own well tried rifles at
their backs and going 10 war at their own
proper charges. They were a merry set
OF men, when they rode forth on their sleek
and we'll curried nags, full of jokes aad
pleasant savings, and brmful of courage,
noise, life and action but they were eau.
tious and quiet woodsmen, as wise as SER
penis, and AS cunning as foxes, when they
came upon the trail of the enemy.
The company had charge Of some pro-
visions and ammunition, intended for the
use of troops assembled on the frontier for
an expedition in which Crawford's men
were to bear part. They had nearly
passed through the settlements, and were
upon the verge of the wilderness, when
one of the wagons employed in carrying
those stores broke down, and was so com
pletely disabled that it was found to be i'm.
possible to repair it. This was sore dis
aster; the stores were too valuable to be
abandoned, and it was not probable tina!
any suitable conveyance for them could
be procured in that wild region.
The prospect Of delay was very un.
welcome to these gallant fellows, who
having volunteered for a short period,
were eager TO employ their whole term OF
service in active duty to perform some
brilliant feat !; and then return quickly to
their homes. The idea OF lying idle, or
of getting forward at snail's pace, while
other detachments were pressing on, was
very CALLING. in this extremity the great
er part of the border men lost their tenn
pess, and showed themselves TO be per-
sons who could be overcome by small dli-
fcuties, though they might bravely con.
tend with great ones. They swore terri.
bly, and in the excitement of the moment,
invented new and strange oaths, where
with 10 express their dispeasure against
the stores, the wagon, the driver, the
roads, and even themselves. They bias
phemed against K ng George, who was
nnocen, of the whole matter, pouring out
anathemas upon him which would have
shocked the ears Of some of his more re-.
! fined subjects, but which were as void OF
malice as those which they wasted upon
their own persons. The Captain was
puzzled; but he very prudently kept that
to himself and as there was cool stream
at hand, with pleasant grass plat on its
margin, he commanded halt, and made
his camp for the evening.
Just at this moment a wagon, drawn
by four stout horses, which happened to
be passing from one settlement to another,
appeared in sight, and as it slowly ap-
proached the camping-ground, the CON-
mander determined on pressing il into the
service. The driver, wholly unconscious
of an intention 50 hostile to his civil rights,
moved quietly on until he reached the
spot, when finding il convenient, he halted
to bait his horses, and to ascertain at the
same time the meaning and destination OF
this military gathering. When the lnten'
ton Of the Captain was announced to MN,
his surprise and indignation were very
great and he promptly resolved to offer
all the resistance in his power. But he
was alone, in the midst ola military band,
who were ready and able, at word, to
enforce their leaders, command and he
stood for while silent, sulenly gazing
at the bordermen, as if measuring their
strength against his own comparative
! weakness. The soldiers considering the
affair settled, resumed their good humor,
and were soon busiIy engaged in rubbing
down their horses, cooking their suppers,
L - txylll nra