Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-09-15

We take the following hcrc 3 ,l hlghy interesting
original story, published in the Phiiauei Ia fisi-
zen Soldier, descriptive Of incidents connected with
the "Battle of Brandywine."
THE BLACKSMITH.
And now | have given you some instan-
ces of courage and heroic daring among
those in high station and renowned in fame.
One instance more-an example Of reck-
less courage The hero was blacksmith
AYE, an humble blacksmith, but his
stout frame hardened by toll, lhrobbed
with as generous an impulse of freedom
as ever beat iii the bosom of La Faye,te,
or throbbed around the heart of mad An
thony Wayne.
1t was in the full tide Of the retreat, that
follower of the American camp, who
had at least shouldered cart-whip in his
country's service, was driving baggage>
Wagon from the battle field, while some
short distance behind body of Continent
tails were rushing forward with troops of
Brilishers i'll close pursuit.
The waggoner arrived at a narrow point
fthe bye-road leading to the south, where
two high banks of rock and crag arising
on either side, afforded just space sufli-
cient for the passage of his Wagon, 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 the tree at the
very opening of this pass. He was clad
in the coarse attire of 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 rifle in his grasp, and the blood strea-
ming in torrent from his right leg, bro
kenat the knee by a cannon ball.
The waggoner's sympathies were ar
rested by the sight-he would have paus-
ed in the very instant of his flight, and
placed the wounded blacksmith in his
Wagon, but the stout-earted mechanic re-
fused.
"lll not &c: into your wagon he ex-
claimed, in his rough way; but I'll tell
you what l will do. Do you see yonder
cherry tree on top O that rock which
hangs over the road? Do you think you
could lift man of my build up there 3
For you see, neighbour he continued,
while the blood flowed from his wound.
/ never meddled with these Britishers
until they came tampering over this valley
and burned my house down. And now
I'm all riddled to pieces, and haint got
more than fifteen minutes life'in me Blu.
| have got three good rifle balls in my
cartridge box, and so just prop me up a.
gainst that cherry tree, and I'll give 'em
the whole three shots, and then he ex-
claimed, with an oath, and then I'll
die =
The waggoner started his horses ahead,
and then with sudden effort of strength
dragged the blacksmith along the sod to
the cherry tree surmounting the road side.
In moment his back was propped a.
gainst the tree, his face was to the advan-
cling 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 British in
pursuit. The Blacksmith greeted them
with a shout, and then raising his rifle to
his shoulder he picked the foremost from
his steed, with the exclamation, That's
for General Washington In moment
the rifle again was loaded, again was !: fl
red, and the pursuing British rode over
the body of another fallen officer: That's
for myself! cried the blacksmith. And
then with hand strong with the feeling of
coming death, the sturdy freeman again
loaded, again raised his rifle. He fired
his last shot, and as another officer kissed
the sod, the tear quivered in the eye of the
dying blacksmith, And that he cried,
with husky voice strengthened into
shout And that's for Mad Anthony
Wayne p ;.
Long after the battle was passed. his
body was discovered, propped against the
tree, with the features frozen in death
smiling grimly, while the right hand gras
ped the never failing rifle.
And thus died one of the ten thousand
brave mechanic heroes of the Revolution
brave in the hour of battle undaunted
in the hour of undismayed in the
hour Of death.
n