American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-24
fPor the Baltimore Clpper.l
THE DEATH OF MAJOR RINGGOLD
ny YOUNG LADY.

III n tOONh Lhbb'
Written on the rec ption Of III: ntws QthB death.
Reader, have you ever stood beside stream,
whose murmuring wave gave no note of lis eX-
lstezce, sayo III It's own porting music; and as
you gszed upon It's mirror surface, and beheld
the droppings of natural gems, which studded
\ the velveLed flowers on its margin, and the
6slicltely formed leaves, which wero reflected
q from its bosom, in their pale, green beauty
have you felt the sweet Influence of the scene
steal almost imperceplibly over your senses;
and then have you beheld the fair sheet of wa
ter suddenly preciPitated over some miniature
cataract, which imPeded its way, and for a mo-
ment, awakened from its strange UNCONSCIOUS.
ness, until is impetus is again lost, and it is
left 10 pursue Its slow, meandering coutst? If
SO, you can better appreciate the meaning of
the poet, when he says,
"TheVe IL change in the affairs of men,"
There are sometimes periods in our history,
when the dull monotony OF lfn is broken, when
the spell OF the enchanter is drawn aside, and
We mcmentarily sec things as they are. When
we are suddenly awakesed from the dreamy
apathy, IN which We had so long INDUCED, by
some event of startling nature. Truly, ours
is a chsqnered path--evl seems to brood over
us in evory forIn-the messenger of death rides
in every coud-drecs his darts from every
lightning flash, and delivers his commands in
every thunder peal-lives, moves, and has his
being in the very atmosphere we breathe. ain
The midst Of life we are in death" once said
He,upon whom the spirit OF inspiration breath
ed. With the ever heaVing, hurrying tide of
active life around, how often are our thong hts
directed TO the silent, The elOquently silent, ha-
citations Of the dead!
Who would havo thought, when twelve
months ago, we Gazod upon the dancing plume
and noble form Of lno gallant Rlnggod as he
rode conspicuous among the multitude of
brave and stately ones, who crowded to do no
nor to the fallen hero and statesman Of our
country; who would have thought, that before
the anniversary of that day should have again
COMMUNICATED the glory of the departed, he
would have found a soldiers grave in a strange
land; that the tribute OF brave hearts would
have been offered to his ashes, and (he mould
haoe Iain him DOOM meath the Respondent
stars and stripes OF his country, he would have
laid HIM down ripe with honor near the field
which his Valor helped to win. And yet, It's
30: the same messenger which brought tidings
Of the glorious triumph of The American arms,
poisoned the cup of joy, which had go nearly
saluted our lips, by the sad tidings Of the death
of the gifted and honored son of Maryland,
twins the laurel round beloved standard,
without staining it with the lIfe-blo of some
Gifts noblest supporters How often have tho
brave left the shore of which they loved to ca III
"home," and meier again beheld the green field
efthcir nativity Well do remember the day
when the gallant, but Inflated Ringgold, babe
adeu to Baltimore-'twas as fair morn as
Ger tho sun shone upon. The deep, blue wa
tiers of the Patapsc danced merrily on in tho
bright sunbeam, now and then catching q
slant ray as 1t fell upon the surface, and reflect
ing it tn the doWny clouds above, in colors so
brilliant, it seemed to partake more Of the hea-
venly regions, whittier il was sent, than the
earth-born elements, whence it came; the en-
eiald crowned hills of Humstead, seemed in
the distance, TO meet the sky above--whlle, far
of, the dim outline of the fort rose before me,
surmounted by the standard of our country;
and never had the stars AID stripes been more
proudly unfured-never had they waved more
gaily in the breeze, than or that day little heed
ing that some should no longer repose meath
their folds-that they no longer should wave
over many noble form; and moro than a over
him who claimed proud pre-emiuence among
them. Sadly and ominously vas the vessel
watched, as it dropped slswly down with the
tide. The spell OF the enchanter is upon me,
Gnu hi in'hS'haIioh, ghLe upon Tie IaTtiai
form Of Rnggold, as it turns to take a last,
long, lingering look, upon scenes, loved per-
haPs, all too dearly. =,
"Ah" look we. and fondly has lass chief upon
the vofdure capped hills, and noble monum ?nts
oil thy city, the place where fate hath linked
with thee, many bright associations, where tics
OF friendship have bound thee in cords too holy
( 10 Dc broken, too sacred to &c severed, and
epon that military home where thy DAYS have
been spent; for the lightning O. thine eve will
DO qucnnheti IN dsath; and iby voice will have
lost It's drill NJ tones, ere nsaia thy r,ailca
companions tread our slrea,s
THny are gus. And nnyer mora Shall eyo
ofm2n Sost proudly upon the brave lender Of
That gallant band; for ho has found grave in