The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-03-06
Uncle Billy, the Old Texan
ONO Volunteer. 4l.T OF


In the capital regiment Of Texan
mounted men commanded by Col. Jack
Hayes, is an old volunteer known TO-
his comrades only as y"Uncle Bily,"a
man eighty three years Of age? We
shall not enter into an argument with
our readers to prove the age Of this
most remarkable man. but only to make
the assertion, founded upon his words,
and not doubted by any in the regl-,
ment.
'.Uncle Billy" is a man Of some ec-
centricity and much good humer. He
was born in South Carolina in l763,1
and from the Revolution knows the
particulars of all the battles Of the
country up to the glorious 9th and 9th,
of May last, in some of which he took
an active part, while he was in his
country's service as volunteer during
all of them. Who he is not pa
triot? % When the brave Jackson with
his small force of volunteers, was de-
tending he city of New Orleans, sun
Gle Billy" was prisoner of war at
Mobile point. He said of thls-"lf the
British hadn't caught me there, I'D a
been with the boys at Orleans, sure.
Ny heart burnt 10 think l couldn't
fght!" The old volunteer is quite fond
Of relating his stories, and often amuses
his friends with little anecdotes Of the
past. aa acr .Haeg ,aGH eg,8n
Fourteen years ago he went to Tex
as with the famous Crockett. He had
livedin Mississippi, from which state,
to use his own words, upon the death
of wife, and his only daughter ''marry-
ing off," he sought home in Texas.
"Uncle Billy" is noted hunter, but
his rifle has often been turned against
the enemies of his new home, as we'll
before as since annexation, and many
"red skim has fallen before his dead
ly aim. When at home--or rather
when in Texas, where he has home
every where in general, and none in
particular lives entirely to himself
and by his gun. Heroains about and
hunts without companion, and sleeps
IN the woods or on the prairie, as the
case may be, when he is weary and
wants nap. What his aversion to
sleeping in houses grows from, is not
known, but he appears to avoid such a
luxury scrupulously, and declares that
for the fourteen years he has lived in
Texas, he has slept but t,cice in a house.
He says he rests better and breathes
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 mani f.' e'a ''E
The reader must not imagine that our
hero is hermit No such thing. He
is fond of company, and consequently
calls upon the ''neighbors," and chats
upon the craps, and other matters and
things. The old man is always well
coined cordially wherever hs goes--is
generally favorite-and every body
knows him. sUncle Billy" likes music
and is always ready for dance, moth
ing seems to please him more. He
gave evidence OF this on more than one
occasion while the regiment was on its
march from Matamoras through the in
terror. At San Fernando, at China,
and other places, he was always first TO
find out and visit the Fdndangoes; tho
irst to break down, and the last to
leave it. 1t seemed that the old volun-
teer could dance almost by the hour,
and while the younger hands--or rath-
er iegs-would literally break do wn, he
would stand up to his work and shuttle
away with the vIgor of boy. At the
sound of the bugle to ''saddle up our
hero is among the first to be moving,
and before half the regiment are ready
he is in the saddle. He does scamp
duty" with all the prompttude of the
best drilled and most robust of his COM
rades. His form IS unbent by the
weight Of years, his eye is bright and
sparkling, not requiring the use Of spec
tacles; and his head, III ough frosted by
the winters of Time, is covered with
full growth of hair. He is temperate
in his habits, brave and generous IN his
actions, modest and unassuming IN hi.
bearing, and frank and cheerful, lively
and jocose in his conversation. 'h
So much for "Unclc Billy" This
imperfect sketch is greatly unwarthy
so remarkable man. But as imper-
feet as it is, may not Americans bear
from the, history Of our 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, to the old man Of four
scores, ready to take up arms against
our enemies, our homes and affairs, and
institution are safe, and foreign agrees