Litchfield enquirer., 1850-06-20
MlSGGLL A N Y.
One Of the Cooked Hats.

The "Sexton Of the Old School" in
the Boston Transcript, gives the follow.
ing graphic description of the appearance
on parade of one Of those venerable
men of the revolution who aided in the
achievement of American Independence !:
| After the assassination of Henry w.,
and greatly to the amusement Of the
gay and giddy courtiers of his successor,
Louis XII-old Sully obstinately adher-
ed to the costume of the former reign
Col. Barnabas Clarke was very much of
Sully's way of thisking. "And who"
asks the reader, "was Col. Barnabas
Clarke p He was pensioner of the
United States, and died poor, though
highly resp cted old man, in the town Of
Randolph, and Commonwealth Of Mas.
sachusetts. For several years, he COM
manded the third Regiment Of the first
Brigade, and FIRST Division of infantry,
and he wore the largest cooked hat and
the longest queue in the known world
He was broad shouldered, stroEg heart
ed Reyoiutioner. Let me take the read
err aside, for brief space. and recite to
him a pleasant anecdote of old Col. B.
Clarke, which occurred under my own
observation, when John Brooks--whose
patent Of military glory nobility bears
date at Saratoga, but Yho was one of
,,:ture's noblemen at his eradle--was
governor. of Massachusetts,.
There was militia muster Of The Nor
folk troops, and they were reviewed by
Gov. Brooks. They were drawn up in
line. The Governor, bare headed. with
his suite, had moved slowly down in
front Of the array, each reg: ::e:: &c : :ee
passed, paying the customary salute.
The petty chapeau militaire had then
become almost universal, and, with or
without its feather and gold edgings,
were all over the field. Splendid epaul-
etts and eaglets glittered on the shout
ders Of all who were entitled to wear
them. Prancing horses were caracoling
and curveting in kaudy trappings. In
the midst OF this snowy array, in front
of his regiment, bolt upright. upon the
buck Of his tall Chestnut horse, that, up~
ON the strength of an extra allowance of
oats, paved the ground, and seemed to
forget that he was in the pillow, the day
before, sat an old man, Of rugged fea-
lures and large proportions. Upon his
head was that enormous cooked hat, of
other days-upon his shoulders, scarcely
d.stinguishable, was small pair of tar
nished epaule.ts- the gray hairs at the
extremity Of his prodigious Gaaeeaaee, lay
upon the crupper Of his saddle-hix an
Gent boots, shaped to the leg, his long
shanked spurs, his straight silver-hilted
sword, and lion headed pistols, were Of
1910. Such was the outer man Of old
Col. Barnabas Clarke.
AS the Governor advanced upon the
line of the third Regiment Of the first
Brigade. the flies of that Regiment, com
.ees: ccaa : :.:S:: shril whistle, and the
drums began to roll and at the aPpro-
pirate moment, the veteran saluted his
excellcncy, in that rather angular style,
which was common in the days OF our
fathers. -5-s
At that moment Gov. Brooks checked
his horse, and, replacing his hat upon his
head, dismounted, and walked towards
the Colonel. who, comprehending the
intention, returned his sword to its scab'
bard, and came to the ground, with thu
alertness Of much younger man. They
met midway, between the line and thu
reviewing cortege--in an instant eacl
grasped the others hand, with the ardo
Of men who are mutually endeared, By
the recollection of partnership, in day
of danger and daring had beer
fellow dodgers, within the intrenchment'
of Burgoyne, en- the memorable night o
Oc:. Z, li77. After a few words OF mu
tual respect and affection they parted
the fifers and drummers outdld them
selves---the beholdcrs sent forth an IRE
pressible shout and when old Col. Bar
nabas got up once again upon his chest
nut horse, thought he Looked considera
. bly more like old Frederick, hat. queue
and all, than he did before he got down
He looked as proud as Tamerlane, aite
he had Gagged the Sultan Bajazet-- yet
saw him dash a tear from his eye, will
the sleeve of his coat--.I found one II
my own. How frail we are! there
one there now ..s
SINGULAR AMALaAMATIoE.-A trient
left at our office, few days since, wha
NAV be considered, SO far as our knowl
l