Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-04-07
sound Of the drums playing a British march

Tn, .'o orumS playing q British march,
i The road on either side was lined Will
spectators anxious to witness the surrende,
q the army, SO proud and overbearing in
It's demeanor. to the allied forces of Amer.
lea and France. To observe with wha,
Esprit the bowling Of theistrong, and the de-
/ liant to the weak, destitute, bufeted, ant
i humble defenderss Of their liberties anc
homes, would be made. -l
4 On one side Of the road, the commander
in-chief surrounded by his suite, and the
American staffs, took his station, and oppo.
site him stood the Count de Rochambeau.
IN like manner attended. Gen, Lincoln
was chosen to receive the sword of the com.
mander-in-chief Of the captured army.
With precision and grace, the columns
OF the captives moved slowly along the
road. No taunt greeted their ears as thew
marched on, but the most respectful silence.
as though on every side the sense of the vi.
clssitudes Of life were truly and awiully
tell, and it seemed, even in the event Of
the proudest victory ever achieved by the
vlctors, felt spirit of commiseration for
the downfallen foe. Il proved in the face
|of, all the barbarities meted out to them at
Fort Griswold, and many other places
where the British had gained transient
victory, that the Americans were q hu.
name and kind-hearted people, and honor
able and magnanimous antagonists.
The head of the columns approached the
commander-in-chief O'Hara, mistaking
the circle, turned to Rochambeau for the
purpose Of paying his respects to the com.
mander-in-chief and request further orders. |
But he instantly discovered his error, and
with embarrassment on his countenance,
flew across the road, and advancing to
Washington apologized for the absence of
his commander, Lord CORVALLIS, and beg
ged to know his further pleasure. Wash
ington observing this embarrassment, re-
lieved it by referring him with much polite
ness to Gen. Lincoln. Again the column
moved, under the guidance of Lincoln, to
the spot selected for the conclusion Of the
ceremonies. III,
Cornwallis, though lauded BY every
tongue in victory, discovered to the world
that he was not brave enough to face the
scene of defeat What disap-
pointment must have pervaded every breast
at beholding the conduct of the crafty Brit
ish commander. He had shrunk back at
this moment Of his misfortune, when he
should have stood manfully at the head of
his gallant army, thus casting an imputa-
ton Of reproach upon them and himself.
He would have completed his brilliant ca.
reer with no blemish upon his high fame--
no tarnish that would reflect back upon
The bright surface ofhis glorious path, and
bedimmed its ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. There
would have been no stain upon his moral
character, although he could not triumph
over a people whose armor was emblazon-
ed with the motto f"GoD AND LIBERTY"
A. few years after this event, when peace
was restored, and Britain no longer wish
ed to set her sword against ours, an old SOL
lier applied for. a pension. The Judge in
luired where he had served. "Why, first"
'aid the old veteran, Sin the French ,var."
'Ah," said the judge, "unluckily you can
not obtain pension for that service. Did
you serve in the Revolutionary war?' ooh,
yes" he replied, served all the war. /
vas at the battle Of Bunker Hill--at Long
,sland Sound, and at the capture of the
Hessians at Trenton. was at the attack
If Germantown, and the battle of Mon
nouth-and, finally, at the capture and
'iege of Yorktown,i in Virginia--and, add
ID the old man, his eyes kindling with the
ire Of times gone past, II ,Oas the first A.
,.erican sentinel placed at The quarters oc
Lord Isn'ss,. Corn,gallis, eftsrhs ,0as an ameri-
'an prisonern' ~ : s'''> ~ 5.,...,a,iI G.