The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-04-16


name tossing on the breeze. And
as the noble horse moves on, the SOL
der speaks to him, and calls him by
name, and lays his right hand on his
glossy neck.
"lIo, WARREy-forward !"
Then that Black Horse-named
after the friend Of the soldier, a friend
who now is sleeping near Bunker
lIill, where he fell-darts forward,
with one sudden bound, and is gone
like a flash toward the distant battle.
This brief scene, this vision of the
Horse and his Rider, struck Gates
with unfeigned chagrin, his officers
with unmingIed surprise.
"Armstrong !" shouted Gates,
turning to brave man by his side,
"Pursue that man! Tell him it is my
command that he returns from the
field. Away do not lose a minute,
for he ,cW do something rash, JhN
10 himseyn'
Armstrong springs TO his stccd,
and while the heaven above, and the
broad sweep of woods and fields
yonder, are darkened by the smoke
of conflict, he pursucs the Black
Horse and his Rider.
But that Rider looks over his shout.
der with a smile of scorn on his lip,
scowl of defiance on his brow
Look He draws his sword-the
sharp blade quivers in the air. He
points TO the battle, and 10 he is gone
gone through yonder clouds
while his shout echoes over the
fields.
Wherever the fight is thickest,
through the intervals ofbattle smoke
and cannon glare, you may see, ii
ding madly forward, that strange
soldier, mounted on his steed, blacl,
as death.
| Now look at him, as with his face
red with British blood, he waves his
sword, and shouts to the legions.-
Now you see him fighting in that
lannon's glare, the next moment he
is away off yonder, leading the for
lorn hope up the steep cliff.
Is it not magnificent sight TO see
that namelcss soldier, and that noble
black steed, dashing like meteor
through the long columns of battle;
And all the while, Major Arm
strong, squirting his steed to the ut
most, pursueS him, but in vain. He
shouts to him, but the warrior can
not hear. He can see the Black
Horse, through the lifted folds oil
battle smoke, and now and then he
hears the Riders shout,
"Warrcn! IIo. Warren! Upon
them-charge ~
Let us look in for a moment thro'
these clouds of battle. Here, over
this thick hedge, bursts a band OF
American militia-men-their rude
farmers coats stained with their
blood-while, scattering their arms
by the way, they flee from yondcr
company of red-coat hirclings, who
come rushing forward, their solid
front fbayonets cleaning in the bat
tle-light.
In the moment of their fight, the
unknown warrior reins lis stecd
back on his launches, right in the
path of this broad shouldered militia
man.
SHOW, coward, another step, and
| will shoot you TO the heart" shouts
the rider, extending pistol in either
hand. "What! are you American:
-men-and fly before these British
soldiers? Back, and face them ono,
more-seize your face the foe
or | myself will ride you down.
That appeal, uttered with deep,
indignant tones, and a face convul.
sed with passion, is not without its
effect. The militia-man turns, seize,
MS gun; hiS comrades rs II by one
impulse, follow his example. They
form in solid order along the field
and silently load their pieces; they
wait the onset Of those British bay.
onetS.
"Rescrvc your fire until you car
touch the point Of their bayonets ?
was the whispered command of th,
Unknown. Those militia men, 81
lately panic-stricken, now regar,
the approach of the red coats in S
lencc, yet calmly and without tire,
NOR. The British come on-ncarei
and nearer yet-you can see theil
eyes CLEAN, you can count the but
tons on their scarlet coats. The,
seek to terrify the militia-men will
shouts; but those plain farmers dc
not move an inch.
In one line-but twenty men il
all-they confront thirty sharp bay
onets.
The British advance-they are
within two yards.
"Now upon the rebels-chargt
bayonet" shouted the red-coat off
Ger.