Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-07-02

almost to madness. In every shout a man form.
ed like ourselves bites the dust, in every proan
the earth is crimsoned with the life current Of
the wounded, in every peal ofmusquetry a score
OF souls wing their way from all the flush Of life
and ylgor ofactiye manhood, up TO that unseen
and spiritual world that is encircled with all the
shadowy creations of the brightest hopes and
darkest terrors Of the human mind.
At this crises Of the contest, Captain Tracy, at
the head Of his Rangers, came rushing on to Join
the tide Of conflict. Each man with his head
erect, his sword drawn, and his night hawk plu me
fuuering in the wind swelled the shout of ven.
geance, as they pour upon the British host, and
as each rihed winged its bullet, or as each sword
sought its living shoaIhe, the war-cry of the RAN
gers rose high above all other sounds-"This for
Dennis McDermorl "This for the the trump
eter boyl"
''lt is ia vainl" cried colonel Musgraye to the
gentleman in citizens dress who stood at his side
I-"Major Tracy we must beat retreat The
rebels hight like incarnatc devils! Awoy-away
to the main body-away toward Chew's house!"
As the order was passed along the British line,
the Americans followed up the attack with in.
creased zeal, and the scene became one Of dead.
ly chase and precipitatc pursuit on the Continen.
Iial side, and of hurried route and confused re-
treat on the part Of his majesty's 4Oth regiment.
In utter confusion, and needless of all system or
regularity of march, the British soldiers fed along
the Germantown road, down toward the main
line, at the distance Of three-quarters Of mile.
Snow, Wayne, nowl" shouted Washington,
as he rode in the van Of the chase-"Folow up
the blow and we have them!"
"See how they hy!" exclaimed Herbert with
an outburst Of the wild excitement of the scene,
"On, Rangers, onl This for Dennis McDermolt!
This for the trumpeter boyl"
"This for Dennis McDermott!" shouted Har-
ry Helt at each stroke.
"Ihls for the lrumpeter boy! This for Den
mis- McDermou!" re-echoed the Rangers, us they
rode over the retreating enemy, and scattered
panic and confusion among the British by their
singular appearance, their uniform of sable, their
short sword which they used with celebrity and
expedition that defed all the tactics ofthe Euro
pean soldiers and their rifle that uttered its vol
ume of flame every instant, while their jet black
horses swept on with the speed of wind.
Meanwhile far on the American left, to the
westward of Chew's house, Greene engages with
the enemy's right and the militia Of Maryland
and New Jersey attack his rear, at the same
time that the Pennsylvania troops pour down
the ridge road and throw their force upon the left
of the British wing. a-a-.
The sounds Of battle disturbed the quiet shades
of the Wissahikon, and resounded over the fields
along the village, to the hills on the east, and ev
cry movement Of the opposing combatants, ten
ded 10 make Germantown the centre of the con-
test.
The fog which had been raised for a moment
at sunrise, again passed over the landscape, and
involved the scene of strife in mist and darkness
that gave additional horror to the fight. As the
divisions of Wayne and Sullivan, swept along
the Germantown road in the pursuit of the enc
my's 40th regiment, the conflict TO the British
left, began 10 deepen, and the smoke Of battle,
rolled over the farmhouse of the Friend Joab
Smiley, who stood gazing from window upon
the scene ofstrle and boodshed.
Dame Smiley sat in one corner of the apart
ment with her face buried in her hands, to veil
her eyes from the vivid flashes of the cannon,
which like lightning ever and anon sreamed
through the windows. Her daughter, the fair
Maiorie, with her dark hair all dishevelled. and
her hands clasped in silent prayer, buried her
face in her mothers bosom, in a half kneeling,
half reclining position, while her bosom heaved
upward from its scanly covering, and sobs and
sighs Of indefnabe terror convuIsed her slender
form. Near the mother and daughter, with his
large eyes fixed upon his massive, pawlike hands.
which were laid upon his knees, sat the negro,
"Chawls de Fust," whose wanderings across the
country on his way TO major Tracy's mansion,
had been suddenly terminated by the conflict of
the opposing armies, and he was forced 10 seek
shelter in the farmhouse Of the Quaker.
Apart from all the others, looking from the
northern window of the apartment stood the Qua
ker farmer, his muscular form raised to its full
height, his head erect and his stout arms folded
upon his prominent chest, as he gazed sternly
upon the scene Of conflict:
The surrounding hills and woods were envel-
oped in the thick fog that enshroudcd the entire
face fthe country, yet still the Quaker could
perceive the forms ofmen mingling in deadly
conflict and the red glare Of the cannon would
for an instant lift the curtain of mist, and the
scene Of death was laid bare to his view.
"There-there-is the flag of the Continen-
tals," he xcaimed-"Now it is down-there
sails the cross,-the blood red cross of the Brit
ish men. Verify it is terrible TO sec so much
strife and bloodshed. Now the Americans march
up the hill--there go their war horses-now
they are driven back-Eal VerIy!" The Qua
kerdrew long breath, and stifed the excama-
ton that was about to issue from his lips. 81 am
strong man." muttered the farmer, land
stand and look on while my neghbors are mur-
de red. Verify Hannah | will even go forth to
the field will go forth to the field, Hannah
Ha! Verily!"
"Surey Joab"-exclaimed his wife startling
on her feet-"thee will not so far forget thy
God, and thy brethren as TO mngle in the strife of
battlel Joab-Joab-I cannot think thus hard
| ly oftheel'
"Faher, father" shrieked Marjorie, "thee
will not peril thy life among the men of war