The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-08

Or We take the following from a highly inter-
estng original story published in the Philadelphia
Citizen Soldier descriptive ofinedents connec-
ted with the Battle Of "Brandywine."
The BinclssI,ith.
And now have given you some instan-
ccs Of courage and heroic daring among
those high in station and renowned IN
fame. One instance more--an example
of reckless courage. The hero was
stout blacksmith-aye, an humble black
smith, bu! his stout fame, hardened by
toll, throbbed with as generous an impulse
Of freedom as ever beat in the bosom of a
La Fayete, or throb1ed around the heart
Of mad Anthony Wayne,
1t was in the full tide Of the retreat,
that follower Of the American camp,
who had at least shouldered a arl.whp
in his coun,ry's service, was driving !.
baggage-wagon from the battle field, while
some short distance behind body of Con-
tinentas were rushing forward, with a
troop Of BFiIshers in close pursuit.
The WAGNER had arrived at narrow
point of the bye-road leading 10 the south,
where two high banks of rock and crag
arising on either side, afforded just space
sufficient for The passage of his wagon,
and not an inch more.
His eye was arrested by the sight of
stout, muscular man, some forty years of
age, extended at the foot of tree at the
very opening Of this pass. lie was clad
in the coarse attire of a mechanic-his
coat had been flung aside, and with the
shirt sleeves rolled up from his muscular
arms, he lay extended on the turf, with
his rife in his grasp, while the blood
streamed in torrent from his right leg,
broken at the knee by cannon ball.
The wagoner's sympathies were ARES
ted by the sight-he would have paused
il the very instant Of his flight, and placed
the wounded blacksmith in his wagon, but
the stout.hearted mechanic refused.
"l'lI not get into your wagon" he ex-
claimed, in his rough way; "but I'll tell
you what viii do. Do you see yondep
cherry tree on top o that rock that hangs
over the road! Do you think you could
lii a man Of my build up thar. For you
see, neighbour" he continued, while the
blood flowed from his wound, 81 never
medd!ed with these Butishers until they
came tramping over this valley, and burn
ed my house down. And now I'm all
riddIed to pieces, and haint got more than
fifteen minutes life in me But have
got three good rifle balls in my cartridge
box, and so jist prop me up against that
cherry Ece, and I'll give EN- the whole
three shots, and then," lie exclaimed, with
an oath, "and then III die ~
The WAGNER started his horses ahead,
and then with sudden effort of strength,
dragged the blacksmith along the sod to
the foot of the cherry tree surrounding
the rock by the road side.
In a moment his back was propped
against the tree, his face was to the adj
vancing troopers, and while his shattered
leg hung over the bank, the wagner
rushed on his way, while the blacksmith
very coolIy proceeded to load his rifle.
1t was not long before body of Amer
lean soldiers rushed by, with the British
in pursuit. The blacksmith greeted them
with a shout and then raising his rife 10
his shoulder he picked the foremost from
his steed, with The exclamation, That's
for General Washington In a moment
the rifle again was loaded, again was it
fired, and the pursuing British rode over
the body Of another fallen officer: "IAGfs
r.. ..,sp ~, -, Il H. l,l,eh s,,, ,tb A,1