Litchfield enquirer., 1848-06-29

accept my resignation. When the news
came tn It the British were coming over, !
do think ! crowed louder than any one else
and got our battalion under arms, and
made speech to them; and talked about
the duty we owe 10 the country, to ourselves
and TO our wives and children and ended
with the Fourth of-)uly flourish, Dulce ei
decorum, &c. and really thought would
do as said would--wade knee deep in
blood. and drive the bloody British into
the lake. When the OrderSswere given e
advance, Idismounted, and took the head
of the battalion, and every thing went on
finely. The British boats were approach
ing the beach, and we were drawn up in a
line to oppose their landing, The drums
beat and we gave them a volley at long
shot, and some of them dropped ; but as
the boats grounded, the troops sprang a,
shore. formed their line, and advanced up.
on u.s.
The red coats were so cool about it, they
did not seem scared IN the least and on
they came, with their guns at shoulder,
matching as steady as fiat a training. We
kept popping away, but they did not mind
it; and as fast as one fell they closed up
the gap from the second line. All at once
l began 10 feel almighty queer-il seemed
as il bone as big as my two fists, had got
into my throat and felt for all the world
like fellow in the nightmare. lStill kept
my eye on the enemy and when they got
within about sixty yards, the word was
given. They halted, dropped their guns to
down the ends of their pieces with their
swords, as deliberately as any thing you
can think of. Fire = was the word, and
they blazed away stream Of fire along the
whole line 4; and, tell you. there was a
whistling, as if forty thousand catcalIS were
at work. Down went some Of our men !:
and came to the right about in no time. l
tell you what, governor, am pretty good
runner and if ever did run fast, it was
that day.
Il can't say who followed, nor do I know
great deal about anything until l found
myself couple of miles from the battles
ground and wrenching my foot little, /
was obliged 10 stop and creep into the edge
of the wood, where hid behind log, and
began rubbing my ankle TO get it in proper
order for fresh start. In about half an
hour heard voices and peeping over the
i
in about double quick time up the road, and
not very orderly, ] tell you. ! let them pass;
and after they got on about hundred rods,
finding my loot much better, crept out OF
the wood, just as they came 10 tuin in the
road, and followed after them. Halloo
halt halt = sung out, and hobbled on. >
When got in sight oflhem, they were go.
ing it for kill. Halo halt! halt!
again beloved out and Lieut.. c.,
happening to look behind him, knew me.
and stopped them. hurried up, and wav>
ing my word, which, somehow. had con-
trived to hold on to, ordered them to ia Il,
10, and formed them in proper order. For
shame, en- p saids "Why did you not
stand TO it btavely1 Face about, and let
US charge back upon the enemy! They
all said that it was no use, and VIC might as
well follow the rest.
Just then saw something like drum,
little into the wood, and sent one of the
men after it, who found the drummer with
it and brought him out. As we had res
solved to retreat. we struck up, and pushed
on, to the tune of Yankee Doodle We
had not marched far when we came on a
considerable squad these | ordered to fall
in, and by the time we reached W.,
VIVA, with these and other s,ragglers, we
had couple ofdecent companies. As soon
as we go, tito town, and joined the rest o.
| The battalion, Captain -, halloed out
Why POUNDS major, how came you herei
! thought you were two miles ahead Of any
of us /; ! am pretty sure ] saw you go by
me full chiseI = 'Me. sir (! said /, looking
awfully severe at him this is no time
for Joking !' 'Well,' said he, must have
been mistaken, and very likely, for was
a little scared mysslf.'
i did not fail TO harangue him: and the
les, of the fugi,ives, in proper manner, on
their several delineuencies they listened
very patiently to my discourse, and prom
ised 10 behave better in future. So, governs
or, got we'll out of that scrape; and if you
will oblige me, l WON'T get into another Of
any kind very soon, promise YOU Come
come = said he, 'tIy il again: you have
gained some elact in this affiir in the
next you may feel very differently. Hold
on to your commission. and increase the re-
puta,ion you have gained THAT said
The major. is entirely out Of the question
the only way to keep What have got, is
by not seeking for more. To tell the truth.
feel little ugly about ii; bnt it cant b.
helped. am between two fires ; il | shall
hold on, shall be disgraced and shall &c,
such a joba.ion from my wife for resigning;
but that a man can make out to tear; SC
do, dear governor let me Off, am quite
satisfied with my share Of glory, for The
rest Of the war;
The governor was no longer obdurate
and the illustrious Hannibal HacksWord
ceased TO be major in the brigade OF Gen
Brown. Yet to this day. does he make the
most of his military reputation, and on eve
y occasion prefaces his Illustrations o.
that campaign. with the words, when
was in the army or when was in the
service with old Jacob And thea Keno
phon ard his ten thousand, and Morcau u
The black forest, show small. BY the descrip
lion of that retreat OF the gallant major o.
detached militia.-Home Journal.