Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-06-01
NfORCAN

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Aner Cornwallis's arrival IN yirein;a no sough,
nb aa Opportunity To escape into Narh Caroiir,.
ioft the address u'd vigilance oil Lafayette dscn,,-
ccried all hts schemes. After the British comman-
der arrived at Yorktown and commenced his fort,-
hcairons, says Mr.. Sparks. Lafayette asked Colonel
Barber At he knew Of u trusly capable soldier " HON
he c"ald send rs n spy into COgnwallis's camp. lie
answered that there ia the New Jersey
llne, by the name OF Morgan. Xho was in all re.
Specis suited Ia such an enterprise The general
sent Tor HIM. aud told him that he had very difi.
cut task TO propose to him, which WIS., that he
should pretend 10 desert. 40 the British camp
and enlist as suidier. Morgan answered that he
was ready TO DO any thing an the service of his
county a"d to obge ms general, bat that his feel
iHgs IeNolied at such proposal. lie must assume
the character OF spy. and. u detected. no would
hIt only lose his lie. but bring a lasting disgrace
upon has name lie desired the reputuiion OF good
sodier anu jealous true lover Of his country, but
hc could not endure the thoughts Of beng a spy.
Ainr some couversa;I'u, however. he told the gen.
eriI ne would 60. GA one condition. which was. that
o.. case any disaster q, pud happen 10 hi,n the Gen.
e'a' should maze the true state of tho case known
ana have ''o particulars published IN the New Der.
sey Gazette, that no rcpr1ach might come upon hrs
"tniv and ifIcHds for his supposed misconduct. To
this the general asscnted
Nnrg IA joined ,ae British camp anil onlisisd-
Lafayette left every thing to his discretion, bat told
nm that he wished Intelligence VI important move
menis and moreover desired the impression par.Ic-
ulaIly TO be given, that he had bo1ls enough To
transport all his army across James river Morgan
bad been a little time in the camp. when Lord
CORVALLIS sent for him aud asked ann many quls.
lions. Tur'ion was with him at the time. and an.
CURED at Morgan among other things how many
boats General Lafayette had on the river lie said
nc .Cid not know the number. but he had been
Told there was enough to carry over all the army at
nd 90
wallis To iarltUn, II Iold you this would not do;"
from which It appeared that they had this project
in view.
The French fleet IN the mean time arriyed-L1-
lnyeite had been ont To TecanuOi,re, end when ne
returned he found six men IA the British unifJrrp
and one green coated Hessian at his quarters. and
among them was Morgan. We'll Morgan" asked
the General with surprise. whom have you Got
hercE Five British soldiers, who have deserved
with me. and lCsSiau \, hpm NC captured at the
outpost was The reply. lie went on 10 say, that.
as the French neet had arrived. and he presum "a
ms services could no longer DC OF any use to his
General in tUc Bri,ish camp. hc had returned and
these deseriers and ih.s prisoner the iruiI of
has expedition.
The General sent for Morgan the next day, and
told him that his conduct had been ia the highest
degree m rlor!ous, and that he proposed To make
hum a sergeant. Morgan listened To the proposal
and said he was highly grafcd To have pleased
us commander but declined the promotion. IL
added that he believed himself a good soldier. bat
that hc was 10y no means certain lac should make a
good sergeant; that hc joined the nrmy from prn
cipie OF duty and patriotism, because he believed
his country needed his services. and the same TAO.
iives induced him to prefer station where he was
satisfied lac should he the most useful. The Cen
eral then offered him money. but this he refused
also. saying las circumstances were such al home
Ihlt he did not need money. "Whai. then. can |
sNfa NfaEH III
vor e. ask" replied Mprgan. during my absence !
some person has taken my guu: ! SET a great value
upon II. and, # i can toe restored It will give me
particular pleasure" TIE qua was described and /.
The General issued nm nr!er requiring IL be re-
turned THIS was all the reward that Morgan could
ever hc prevailed on To accept
The above anecduc related 10 me b. Geaer. |
al Lafayette himself nearly fifty years after the
event, with much warmth of feeling and admlEa-
Ton OF the soldiers mag ianimity