Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-09
CARROLLTON, OHIO--FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 134z


er, and fearful lest duty should prevent bis obtain
ing the furloUgh which he intended TO ask, in or.
der that he might save Kate or al least die in the
attempt, he walked moodily to the ten, Of Mari.
on. Here he found the leading captains Of the
brigade already assembled, late as was the houT
and beside Them, Colonel Lee, who had just join.
ed Marion with his legion, subsequently 90 cole.
brated in that partisan war.
81 believe Captain Preston is the last one ex.
pected-l am glad TO see him safely returned" !"
said Marion, when our hero, having bowed 10 his
brother officers, had assumed seat, "and, as the
affair on which we have met is urgent, we will
proceed at once to business. Captain Horny. will
you state the purpose Of this assembly after that
we will listen TO you all, beginning with Captain
Preston, who is the youngest"
Every eye, as he spoke, had been turned on
Marion; and as hitherto we have given no des.
crplion Of this celebrated parsonage, We will en-
ploy the interval ndrawing hsPicture. Marion,
at that time, was about iorty-eight years old;
small OF stature, swarthy in visage, and having q
face crossed by many lines of thought With.
out being positively stern in aspect, there was a
hard expression in hscountenance, which al first
might seem 10 augur bosom equally hard; buI
Marion was, in reality, man of singularly
mild temperament; and the usually passionless
expression Of his face arose rather from the firm.
ness Of his character, and the responsibilities ol
his station, than from any lack Of human sympa.
| thy. His eyes were dark, small, and piercing;
but at times they kindled with enthusiasm. This,
indeed, was the only evidence that physiogno.
mist could have found of genius in Marion; but
when those eyes flashed indignantly at wrong,
blind, indeed, must he have been, who did not see
the maser-sprit within. In attire, thisgreat par.
tsan leader was simple and modest. His words
generally we're few; and, after the exertion he
made in welcoming Preston, he sank back into a
silence which he maintained until the conference
was breaking up, only as each officer delivered
his opinion, Marion would cast on him momen-
tarv glance, as if to read his soul, and then sink
his head on his breast, thoughtful, and absuactod.
In few words Captain Horny explained the
purpose for which the council had been convened.
A spy had just come in with the intelligence that
the garrison at Georgetown had been consdera.
bly, reduced; on which Colonel Lee had propo.
sed that an attack should be made upon the place
: since the country expected some bold and deci
sive stroke, now that his forces and Marion's were
united. The plan he suggested was, that por.
ton of the brigade should drop down the Pedee
by night, and lie in ambush below the town; that,
on the succeeding night, this party should enter
the town on that deienceless side, and taking il
by surprise, open an entrance for their comrades
who, led by Lee and Marion in person, would be
ready, at the signal, 10 assal the entrenchmenls
on the landward side.
The heart of Preston leapcd into his throat a:
he heard this proposal. "Pcrhaps Kate may ye
be saved" he said to himself
Accordingly, when Horny ceased, and Marion
By a nod, signifedh his desire for ourheroto speak,
Preston's eyes kindIed, and he answered,
"My voice is for the attack, whatever be the
odds. The opportunity for bold, resolute as,
saut, is all ask for, We will die TO man, OF
succeed. | will undertake, if necessary, tc
charge with my company up to the very muzzles
of the battery which defends the town."
Lee turned to Horny and nodded approvingly
at these words. a lad of spirit" he whispered
apart. 81 have heard of his daringa BIakeley's
Had there been more such at Camden, we never
would have lost that day." Marion, however
took no further notice of Preston's fiery speech
than to turn to the next officer at the table; but
very close observer might have detected a sudder
CLEAN Of the generals eye, like flash, gone ii
a moment.
The opinions Of the other officers were, in the
main, less favorable to the enterprise than Pres
toms; and so many obstacles were mentioned a
necessary to overcome, that he was in torture les
the undertaking should be abandoned. Ever
Lee seemed TO hesitate, startled at the difficulties
brought forward. Had military discipline permit
ted it, Preston would have broken in on the con
ference; but he was forced to sit silent, hearing
obstacle after obstacle canvassed as unconquera
BILE; yet his flashing eye, and the agitation Of hi
countenance, told how difficult it was to restrain
himself.
AT length all had delivered their opinions ex
! cept Marion. He glanced around the board be
fore he spoke, and his words fell on a breathes
auditory. With Preston the excitement was in
tense to hear the generals decision.
81 find," said Marion, "that am in the minor
ity here; and that except Colonel Lee and Cap
> ; tans Horny and Preston, am almost alone.
do not go quite so far as these two latter, howev
er, in considering the enterprise as certain Of sue
cess, but think it affords n fair chance-an
r bravery can do the rest. Besides, gentlemen,
!, said he solemnly, "you know it was nan attemp
! on Georgetown that my nephew lost his life
and you all know, too, that have sworn TO a
venge him. have not forgotten my vow. Be
fore Sod, he shall be avenged before tomorrow
night is past. This very night n part Of III
| troops shall set forth" With these words h
it rose and dismissed the council.
e Every heart was now alive for the enterprise
The memory of the outrage alluded to strung a
r to pitch Of indignation little short of frenzy
d The watchword, "The Oath of Marion!" wa
y adopted by general consent, and passed from Ii
to lip.
P Preston, it may we'll be supposed, was eve
!, more excited than his commander. His only fea
d now was that his succor would arrive too late.-
it Agitated by this thought, he tossed to and fro
: his couch, vainIy seeking slumber. Many
II loG Il. -,