The Arkansas banner., 1843-11-11
AN OLD SOLDIERS STORY.
BY AN EYE WITNESS.

A few days since stopped Ut tire public ] house i'll Colraine, and while my horse was feeding, l sat down in the bar-room, ane heard a sensible old man relate the substance of the enclosed account:
 "Dming the revolutionary war there was a point of land on the Jersey side of the liud- son, and not far distant from New York, which was the scene of bloody conllict.- There were about three hundred acres next to the river, from which the wood and tim Der had been cleared off; and at the back of this was forest. On the cleared point a large number of fat cattle, destined to supply the American army, were placed. Four or five miles distant, in New Jersey, there were three thousand light infantry, under command of Lafayette. was one of that detachment. Cur business was to see that the cattle were not taken by the enemy. One morning in- telligenee was brought into the camp, that several vessels approached, and that a large body of British soldiers were landing My regiment was ordered immediately for the point Rufus Putnam, nephew of old Gen eral, was Colonel, and he was well stocked with the Putnam mettle. He was brave officer indeed. l could never discern that he was not just as cool and sellpossessed when going into battle, as when sitting in his tent W n'ade n hurried march, and upon ap- proaching the edge of the woods, the Go lonel ordered the adlutant to go forward and see where the troops were, and what their number. The Adjutant soon returned, and reported they were forming on shore in three columns, containing about three thousand, each. ssThen (said the Colone) ride back to thc camp quickly as possible and tell La fayette to come on." When the Adiuant had gone, Colonel Putnam rode up to my Captain, who was Daniel Shay, of nsulrec- ton memory, and said, Well, Captain Shay, shall we be playing with them until the Gcn- eral comes i'' :. Yes,o replied Captain Shay.
 "Ordcrs were soon given to advance to the open land upon the point. We now stood face to face with our foes. Firing very soon com menced. The cannon from the shipping in the river, poured forth their volleys, and the small arms did fatal execution. Col. Putnam rode back and forth in front of the regiment as calm as man at home, though the balls were whistling about him ill every direction. We worked very fast, and, for ono regiment, made considerable noise. The corporal at my right hand received two balls through the body and fell dying. was young, and dying man at my feet, bleeding and gasp ing, might perhaps cause my color to fade Il little. Capt. Shay stepped forward. 'sGeorge,n said he ssnever mindit; will take his placc,n and he was good as Iris word he took the corporaPs gun and used it. Shay was the best Captain l ever served under. He was bold and kind l will give him his due, tho' he has been unworthy since; for we stood shoulder to shoulder on that day of peril. l was loading my gun the 22d time, when Ge- neral Lafayette, with the main body of the light infantry, issued from the wood. Never shall forget the feeling of that moment Wellington was hardly more pleased to see Butcher in the Battle of Waterloo than we to see cur brother ill arms. The main body formed at once upon oual left Lafayette rode forward. He was an elegant oficcr--and never did he fill my eye so entirely as at that momcnt--though stripliag in appear- ance, in action he was man-and had Corn wallis seen him as we then saw him, he would not have called him sflc boy,' As he approached, Col. Putnam, he said 'show dare you fire beiore Iarriyedn D
 "Oh," said the Colonel, s'l thought l would be playing with them d litile.'
 Lafayette, at that moment seemed full ol energy and Gre-turning towards the line and with loud and distinct voice, marked by his Frenchacceat-he said '.Wc fire ino! hic ,ciolc linz clarge bayoneis, rush OIL and drire Hem where{Ac decH drore Me logs p
 The eilec! of his presence and his words were astonishing. Every hcart beat quick and full. We did rush on, and such scene ot carnage my eyes never saw. At first the British force charged to meet us, but they could not stand against Us, and fled from the shore; we followed them and drove them into the water; of the three thousand, about fifteen hundred got aboard the vessels the rest were slain, and most of them at the point of the bayonet.
 have described to you the most painfully interesting and horrid scene which bave ever witnessed. Insyer enjoyed killing men. fought because thought itmy duty"
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