Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-02-16
Tasls BlIlK.
Tnr On Texas VoIuNrr.R.

Il IL
cd men, commanded by Col. Jack Hayes,
is an old volunteer known 10 his com.
Iandes only as uncle Billy a man
eighty three years of agel We shall not
enter INTO an argument with our readers
to prove The age Of this most remarkable
man, but cnly to make the assertion.
founded upon his words and not doubted
by any in the regiment.
uncle Billy is a man of some eccsn.
tIlcIty and much good humor. He was
born in South Carolina in 1868 and from
the Revolution knows the particulars of
ell the battles ofthe country up 10 the
glorious 9Th and Och of May last, in some
Of which he took an active part, while he
was In his country's service as a Yolun.
teer during all of them. Who saws he
- not patriot? When the brave jack.
Oos with bis small force of volunteers
was defending the city of New Ofleans
Uncle Billy was prisoner ofwar at
moDhe point. He said of this-.If the
Driush hadn't caught me there, I'D been
with the boys at New Orleans, sure. NV
heart burns to think couldn't fight!' The
old volunteer is quite fond of relating his
stories, and often amuses his friends with
htlls anecdotes of the past.
Fourteen years ago he went to Texas
WITH the famous Crockett. He had lived
10 Mississippi, from which State, to use
bis own words upon the death of his wife,
sSd ais only daughter marrying off he
sought home in Texas, Uncle Billy, is
noted hunter, but bis rifle has often
been turned against the enemies of his
new home as well before as since annex.
AtIon, and many red skim has fallen
before his deadly aim. When at home
or rather when in Texas, for he has a
home every where in general and none
in particular he lives entirely to him
self and by his gun. He roams about
and hunts without a companion, and
sleeps in the woods or on the prairie, as
the case may be, when he is weary and
wants a nap. What his aversion to
sleeping in houses grows from Is not
known, but he appears to avoid such
luxury scruPul6usly, and declares that
for the fourteen years heshas lived in Tex
a., ne has slept but twice in a house. He
says ne rests better and breaths more
freely IN the open air, where he can look
At the stars as they twinkle over him.
and hear the night birds singing in the
boughs OF the forest. This looks little
like poetry in such a man?
The reader must not imagine that our
hero is a hermit. No such thing. He
IL fond of company, and frequently calls
upon the 'neIghbors.? and chats upon the
CRAPS, and other matters and things.
The old man is always welcomed cordial.
~, wherever he goes he is generally a
SaVorite--knows every body, and every
body knows him, uncle Billy likes music
and is always ready for dance, nothing
seems TO please him more. He gave
evidence ofthis on more than one occa,
sion while the regiment was on Its march
from Matamoras through the interior. At
San Fernando, at China and other places.
no was always first to find out and visit
the FANDANGoEs: the first to brake down,
and the last to leave it. 1t seems that
the old volunteer could dance almost by
the hour, and while the younger hands
or rather legs-would literally break
down, he would stand up to his work and
snuffie away with the vigor of boy. At
the sound ofthe bugle to Saddle up,' our
hero is amongst the first to be moving.
and often before half the regiment are
ready he is in the saddle. He does Camp
DUTY, with all the promptitude of the best
drilled and the most robust of his COM
radeS. His form is nnbent by the weight
Of years, his eye is bright and spark. |
hing, not requiring the use Of speotacles:
end his head though frosted by the win.
ters OF lime, is covered with full! growth
Of hAir--heis temperate in his habits,
brave and generous in actions, modest and
unassnming in his beariog, and frank aud
cheerful, lively and jocose in his CONVEX.
sation.
So much for Uncle Billy This imper.
feet sketch is greatly unworthy SO re,
narkable man. But as imperfect as it
-, may not Americans learn from the
history ofour hero, the proud reflection
that in war against the rights or liberties
OF our country, where we have thousands
OF volunteers from the youth of sixteen,
tefhe old man OF four score, re ally 10 take
up arms against our enemies, our homes.
and alters, and institutions, are safe. and
foreign aggression can never destroy
our fair republic. May we always be
blessed with plenty OF Uncle Billys.'
HABIrs or MENAGERIE BEAsrs.-A
writer in Cincinna ii paper describes
midnight visit to the animals ofRaynond