Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-05-07
THE BLACKSMITH AT THE BAT,
~ TIE OF BRANDYMINE.

'eN And nov have given you some insIan-
'e ees 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
q stout blacksmitb-Sye an humble black
smith, but his stout frame hardened BY
toll, th:OSbed with ss generous an i'm
q pulse Of freedom as ever beat in the bO-
lN sOh'of Lafayette, or lhrObbed around
Aa the heart ola mad Anthony Wayne.
Il was in The full tide ofreIreat, that a
iOllnwer Of the American camp, who had
At least shouldered cart whip in his
counlry's service, was driving bagsge
wagon from lhe battle field, while some
short distance behind, a body Of COnti-
nenlals we're rushing forward,wilh troop
Ol Britishers in close pursuit.
The wagon 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, afOrded d just space
SafieientlOr The passage Of his wagon,
EAnd not an inch more.
His eyes was arrested BY the sight OF a
A'' Stout, muscular man, some forty yeaIs Of
sge extended al the foot Of ttss, at the
very opening of this pass. He was clad
in the eOaIse tire Of a mechanic. His
% cost had been flung aside, and with the
shirt sleeves rolled up from his muscular
arm, he lay extended on the turf-with
his Tids in his grasp, while the blood
n slresmJd in torrent from his right leg
broken at the knee by cannon ball.
Ths wagoner's sympslhies were arres.
ted by The aght-he would have paused
ct the very instant of HE flight and placed
the wounded blacksmith in his wagon,
but the stout hearted mechanic refused.
- Ill not get into your wagon he ex.
claimed in his rough way; but l'Il tell
you what will do. Do you see yonder
cherry tree on top Of that rock that hangs
over The road! Do you think you could
! lift a man Of my build up lhara For you
see nslghbor,' he continued while the
blood flowed from his wound, Il never
meddled with the BrIishers until they
came lrampling over this valley and burn.
cd my house down. And now I'm oil
Tiddled To pieces,and hainl got more than
fifteen minutes life in me! But | have
90, three good rife balls in my catrgC
boz sud st prep me up against that cher!
tree, e,aHdl'l giVe'eln the whole three shot
and lhen,' be exclaimed, and then III
dien
Phe wagoner started his horses ahead
and then with sudden effort Of strength
dragged The blacksmith along the sod Il
ihs foot Of the cherry Tree surrounding
the rock by The road side.
In a momenl his back was prOped
against the Tree, his face was TO the ad'
VancinQ troopers, and while his shattered
leg hung over the bAnk, The WAGNER
rushed on bis way, while the blacksmith
very cooIIy proceeded TO load his rife.
Il waS not long before body Of Amer.
lean soldiers rushed by, with the British
: ia pursuit: The blacksmith greeted them
with 4 sbou,, and then raising bis rife TO
his shOuldeT, with an exclamation, that's
. ior Gen. Washington In moment the
, riffs was loaded, again il was fired, and
= - the pursuing BrHish rode ever the body
!, Of unSthsr fallen officer. THAT'S for my'
sslr!' cried the blacksmith. And then
wnha hand strong with the feeling OI
coming death, the study freeman again
loaded, again raised his rife. His last
shot, as suolher soldier kissed the sod
the tear qnivsrsd in the Of the dying black
smith, 'aud that he cited, with husky
voice which strengthened into a shout
'and that's for mad Anthony WaynsE
Long aher The battle was past, the
body wss discovered, pFopPed against the
tree, with lheGeatnres frozen in death
smiling grimly,whillS the tight hand gras'
ped the never failing rife.
And THUS died one Of The Ten thousand
! brave mechaLic heroes Of the revolution,
: brave In hs'hOur Of battle; unaaunled in
the houF Of retreat; undismayed in The
80 rsl...L Ht,;.an Ialdtap