Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-01-06

there, and behold the two divisions, separa.
ting over the rocks; this, with Montgomery
towards the ST. Lawrence; that, with Ar
mold and Morgan, towards the St. Charles.
II All IS still. The rocks grow white with
snow. All isstill and DARK sButEfim shad-
ows are moving on every side - -
Silence along the lines. Not word on
the peril Of your lives! Do you behold this
narrow pass, leading to the first barrier,
yonder? That barrier, grim with cannon,
commands every inch of the pass. On one
side, the St. Charles heaps up its rocks. of
ice; on the other are piled the rocks of
granite, "A
Silence along the lines! The night is
dark, the way is difficult, but Quebec is
yonder! Soldier, beware of those piles of
rock-a single misplaced foot-step may a.
rouse the sleeping soldier on yonder barri.
er. If he awake, we are lost! %,t.
On, brave band, on with stealtFy footstep
and rifle to each shoulder; on, men of the
wilderness, in your shirts of blue and fur!
At the head of the column with his drawn
sword cleaning through the night Benedict
Arnold silently advances.
Then single cannon, mounted on sled
and dragged forward by stout arms.
Last of all, Daniel Morgan with the rifle
men of the Wilderness. .-...
In this order along the narrow pass,with
ice on one side and rocks on the other,
the hero band andvance. The pass grows
narrower-the battery nearer. Arnold
can count the cannon-nay the soldiers
who are watching there. Terrible sus-
pense! Every breath is hushed-stout
hearts now swell within the manly chest.
Lips compressed, eyes glaring, rifles
clenched--the iron men move softly on.
Arnold silently turns to his men.
And yonder through the gloom, over the
suburb Of that city, over the rocks of that
city's first barrier-there frowned the bat
terry grim with cannon. /.
There wait the sentinel. and his brother
soldiers, They hear no sound; the falling
snow echoes no footstep, and yet there
are dim shadows moving along the rocks,
moving on without sound. -+'a
Look! Those shadows move UP the rocks
to the very muzzles of the cannon. Now
the sentinel starts up from his reclining
posture, he hears that stately tread. He
springs to his cannon--look! how that fash
glares out upon the night.
Isthis magic? There disclosed by the
cannon flash, long lines of bold riaemen
start into view, and there
Standing in front of the cannon, his tall
form rising in the red glare, with sword
in one hand, the banner of the Stars in the
other--there, with that wild look which he
ever wore in battle, cleaning from his eye
j there stands the patriot, Benedict Arnold
\ On either side there is a mingled corst
but he stands firm. Before him yawns
the cannon, but he springs upon these can
non--he turns to his men-he bids then
, on!
, Tonight we will feast in Quebec!'
/ And the hail of the rifle balls lays tn
, British dead on their own cannon. Nov
the crisis of the conflict comes.
Now behold this horrid scene Of bloc
. and death.
While the snow falls over the faces Q
4 the dead, while the blood Of the dying turn
that snow to scarlet, gather round your lea
f der, load and fire, dash these British hire
lings uponthe barriers rocks-ye heroes Q
J the Wilderness!
Now Arnold is in his gloryl
t Now he knows nothing, sees nothing bl
3 that grim barrier frowning yonder. Thos
fires flashing from the house-that rattlin
b hail of bullets pattering on the snow-h
o. sees, he feels them not
His eye is fixed upon the second barrie
b He glances around that mass Of rifles, no
J, glittering in the red light-he floats Il
t Banner Of the Stars on high. Hark to h
If shout!
o Never fear, my men ofthe WILDERNESS
d We have not come three hundred miles
l. fail now. Have not sworn to meet Nor
o gomeryathere, to meet him in the center
the town or die?
h And then on, on, across the rocks a
q cannon of the barrier. Hark-that cras
) that yell! The British soldiers are driv
ID back over the dead bodies of their comra
u 1.-The first barrier is won!
h Arnold stands victorious upon that bar
i stands there, with blood upon his fac
& his uniiorm---dripping from his sword
,sI stands there with the Banner ofthe Stars
( his handl
i Obi sainted mother of Arnold, who,
ir that calm summer night, near forty yet
ago, laid your child upon the sacramen
III altar, now look from Heaven and---if sair
9, pray frsthe children Of earth- then pr
III that your son may die here upon the bloc
y barrier of Quebec. For then his mai
or will be enshrined with the warriors a
II Washingtons Of all time. s3
n. Even as Arnold stood there, brandishi
that starry banner, soldier rushed up
,kl his side, and, with horror quiyering on