Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-06
The Old Soldiers Story,

NV &C was SdtitlS, L sat uOWn IN the
bar room, and heard a sensible old
man relate the enclosed account:
"During The Revolutionary war,
there was point of land on the Jersey
side Of the Hudson, and not far distant
from New York. which was the scene
OF bloody conflict There was about
three hundred acres next TO the river,
from which the wood and timber had
been cleared off; back of this was q
heavy forest. On this cleared point,
large number Of fat cattle, designed
to supply the American army, were
placed. -Four or five miles distant in
New Jersey, there were three thousand
light infantry, under command of La>
tayette. | was one Of that detachment.
Our business was TO see that the cattle
were not taken from the point tby the
enemy.
One morning intelligence was
brought into the camp that several YES.
sells had approached the point, and that
a large body of British soldiers were
landing. My regiment was ordered
to march Immediately to the point.
Rufus Putnam a nephew of the old
General was our colonel He was
well stocked with the Putnam mettle.
He was a brave officer. | could new
er discern that he was not Just as self.
possessed when going into battle as
when sitting in his tent. We made a
hurried march. and approaching the
edge of the wood, the colonel ordered
the adlutant TO go forward and see
where the troops were, and what was
their number. The adjutant soon re-
turned, and reported they were form
ing upon the shore in three columns,
and he should think the colums contain
ed about one thousand each. Then
said the colonel ride back to the camp
as soon as possible, and tell LAFAYETTE
to come on When the adiutant had
gone, Colonel Putnam rode up to nv
captain, who was Daniel Shays, of in
surrection memory, and said well Cap
tain Shays, shall, we be playing with
them pll the General comes 2 That
must be as you please sir replied cap
tain Shays. Orders were soon given
TO advance TO the open land upon the
point We now stood face to face to
our foes. Firing soon commenced.
Cannon from the shipping in the river
poured forth their volies; and small
arms did fatal execution. Colonel
Putnam rode back and forth in front of
his regiment, as calm as man at home,
though the balls were whistlng past
him in every direction. We worked
very fast, and for one regiment, made
great noise. The corporal at NV
left had received ball through the bo.
dy, and fell dying. Twas young, and
dying man at my feet, bleeding and
gasPing. might cause my color to fade
little. Captain Shays stepped for
ward, George said he never mind it;
| will take his place. and he was as
good as his word he took the corpo.
rails gun and used it. Shays was the
best captain | ever served under. He
was bold and kind. | was loading my
gun the twenty time, when the
infantry issued from the wood. Never
shall forget the feelings of that mos
ment. Wellington was hardly. more
pleased TO see Blucher in the battle of
Waterloo than we were 10 see our bro,
theirs in arms.
The main body formed at once upon
our left. Lafayette rode forward, IAN
excellent officer, and never did he fill
my eyes so entlrel Y as al that moment,)
though stripping in appearance in
action he was a man; and had Corn
wallis seen him as we then saw him, he
would not have called him the boz
As he approached. he said, Colonel
Putnam. how dared you fire before |
arrived ? on said ,.le colonel i
thought | would be playing with them
a lll'Ie, Lafayette at that moment
seemed iuil g, energy and life turning
towards ne line, and with a loud, dis
unc'. voice marked by his French ac-
cent, said he, we fire no more the
whole line charge, bayonet, rush on
ward, and drive them where the devil
drove the hogsp The effect of his
presence and his word was astonishing.
every heart beat quick and full. We
did rush on, and such scene and cars
mage my eyes never saw. At first the
British force charged to meet us, and
fled to the shore we followed them
into the water; Of three thousand, a.
bout fifteen hundred got aboard the ves-
sels The rest were slain, and most Of