Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-02-23
. THE OLD soLDTER,s STORY


Z, THE OLD SOLDIERS STORY.
A few days since stopped at a pubIi,
house in Colerain, and while nv hors,
was eating, lsat down in the bar.room
and heard sensible old man relate The
substance Of the enclosed account. d
I During the revolutionary war, there
was APPOINT Of land on the Jersey side Of
the Hudson, and not far distant from
New York, which was tho scene OF a
bloody conhict.--There was about three
hundred acres next to the river, from
which the wood and timber had been
cleared off: back ofthis was heavy fo.
rest. On this cleared point large mum.
Der OF fat cattle, destined to supply the
American army, were placed. Four or
five miles in New Jersey, there were
three thousand light infantry, under the
command ofLafayette. was one of
that detachment Our business was TO
see that our cattle we're not taken from
the point blythe enemy. One morning,
intelligence was brought into camp, that
several vessels had approached the point,
and that large body Of British soldiers
were landing. My regiment was order
ed to march Immediately to the point.
Rufus Putnam, a'nephew of the old Gen.
erai was our Colonel. He was we'll stock
ed dlwith the Putnam mettle. He was a
brave officer. cOuldnever discern that
hewas not just as self.pOssessed when
going into battle, as when sitting in his
teAt.E We made hurried march, and up.
on approaching the edge of the woods,
the Colonel ordered the Adjutant TO 90
forward and see where the troops were,
and what was their number. The Adiu.,t
tant soon returned, and reported that
they forming upon the shore in
three columns, and he should think the
columns contained about 900 each.-
"Thsn,H said the Colonel, stride back
t0the camp as soon as possible, and tell
Lafayette TO come on" When the Ad.
jatant had gone, Col. Putnam rode up TO
my captain, who was Daniel Shays, of in
Rurrection memory, and said he, sWell
Captain Shays, shall we be playing with
them until the General comes?' "'rhat
must be as you please,o replied Captain
Shays. Orders we're soon given to ad- |
vance 10 the open ground upon the point
We now stood face to face with our foes.
Firing very soon commenced; cannon
fromathO shipping in the river poured |
forth their volleys and small arms did IA
tal,sxecution.g Col. Putnam rode back
and forth in front Of the regiment, as
calm as man at home, though the balls
were whistlng past him in every direc.
tion. We worked very fast, and for one
regiment, made great noise. The cor
pOTal at my right, had received ball
through the body and fell dying. I was
young, and dying man at my feet, bleed
ing and gasping, might perhaps cause my
colorato fade d little. Captain Shays
stepped forward; tsGeorge," said he,
''never mind it, will take his place ;''--
and he was as good as his wOfd--he took
the CoFporaEs gun and used it. Shays
was the best Captain 1 ever served un-
der. He was bold and kind. Twas loa.
ding my gun the twenty-second time,
when General Lafayette, with the main
body Of light infantry, issued from the 4
wood. Never shall forget the feeling h
of that moment. Wellington was hard
ly more pleased 10 soc blucher in the bat
tlelofaWaterloo, than we were To see oura
brothers in arms. The main body form
ed at once upon our left. Lafayette rode
forward, (an, elegant officer, and never
did he fill.my eye SO entirely as at that
mOhent, though d stripping in appear
snce, inaactioii he was a man; and had L
CORVALLIS seen him as we then saw him |
he ROnldnot have calledllim "the boy"
As.he approached, "Cols Putnam" said
he, ''hOw dared you FIRE before arriv-
edw asOhp' said the Colonel, ~ thought
I'D beIPlayiHg with them little.n La. |
fayeits at thar moment seemed full Of
energy and life turning towards the line,
andlWith n loud distinct voice, marked I
BY bis FRENCH ACCENT said he, esWes FIRE
NO more he elwhdla line charge hayonets,
rush unwaEdaHd drive them whefen the
deyiliaFOve the hoas.s' The effect Ofhis
pFeseHcaand lie iwoFds was astonishing Il
--eEsIys yshagfs beat qhiclE and f0Il ifsa n
Wedidrqsh sbns andssueh galsesns Of
caFpagsl lugs syps never saw. AT lirstgI
the British force charged to meet US, but