The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-06-01
AN ELOQUENT EXTRACT.

| From copy of the Funeral Address delivered
before the citizens OF Burlington, ". J., the
quest ofihe Common Council, on tho 18th ult. by
the Right Rev. George w. Doane, on occasion of
the death of the late President Of the U. States
make the following extract, constituting the opens
ing tho address, for which we feel sure our read
ers will thank us: .. sss.st s.e sasgks = - s1s'
/" II 10 dark December day. A deep snow
clothes the ground. A sharp cutting sleet drives
with the wind. Against the binding storm, and
through The deepening drifts, youthful soldier,
with his knapsack on his bnck, pursucsl his. stead
fast way. A STRIPPING of nineteen, of slender frame
and feeble health, he is ensign 10 the army Of
America, with Washington s commission, and he
marches with his small detnc hment ON his first ser
vice., 1t was patriot and aChristan duty There
are those before me who remember we'll, what, in
my young days, was yet a nursery word, at which
the mother pressed her infant to her bosom, and
children gathered closer to the freSt Clair de-
feat. II was to that battle field, to inter the bones
OF its six hundred slain, that our young ensign hast
ened with his troop. And thoughit was patriot
and Christian duty, how much moro sterny than
fercesi onset of the bloody fight that still for
est field, the lowering sky The bowling wind, those
gallant men bu,chered by savage hands, and all the
recoieciions and forebodings of that disastrous day
have tried the spirit oftho youthful soldier on his
first campaign! Wf en-
( 1t was a.chi November night, when small ar
my OF Americans encamped themselves upon, a
point of land between the Wabash and tributary
stream. They were the gentlemen and yeomanry
of the country, who had enrolled themselves un-'
der the territorial Governor, to defend their homes
against the nronds OF the hostile tribes and chas
tise their insoence. A long and tedious march,
through most droary wilderness, brings them at
last 20 where their willy foes await them; and ON
their propositions for conference and aueaty, hos
tt,es are ,ntormitted for day Slow aud cheer
jessIy the night off, within that guarded
camp, with clouds and rain. But weary men will
sleep, whatever may betide them; and now, for
hours, no sound has stirred the Stiffness Of the
scene, save the lone sentry's guarded step. But
what is that which ,fhrough'the misty moon beams
struggling light is seen, not heard, as II glides
through the prairie grass? isit snake that winds
iis,steaIthy way? No; but subtler Indian; and in
one instant ne is dead. Another, and the savage
vel; starts every sleeper from his cold lamp couch
and death begins his work. And was this sleep.
ing camp, deceived, surprised, betrayed! Was
their commander faithless to his trust! No; every
man had slept where lie fight, his clothes on,
and his gun loaded. Aud he, while yet the night
was young sat by his tent fire, till the hopr should
come to rouse his weary comrades In momen,
no v. AS mounted. Where tho fight was hottest
tleI was he. A ball, with commission Tor his
life, fies through HI hair. lpyain his ofhcars re-
monstrated with him far bis fearlcss hazard Of him
self Hc thinks Of brave ST. Clair, and OF the gal
liant victims Of that fatal field Io thinks OF vast