American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-11
AN INCIDENT.

ther-Deateh sailor. Un stopping, we were mtro-
duced to the old man, and entered into conyer-
sation with him. Youngsters" said he, with
the pardonable tone of familiarity Of one who
has had experience youngsters, am an old
soldier of 1872; my gun helped to defend Gen.
Harrison, and my bullet helped to drive the
Ingins from the country Boys, don't know
whether you are hunters or not, but / am, and
III tell you what was my first experience in
warfare"
Upon expressing our desire to hear it, he
proceeded: 'fWhen was boy, like you, only
younger, for / was but seventeen, | took my
gun across my shoulder, and with seven Others
marched to join Gen. Harrison But that isn't
the first time ever had a gun on my shoulder
When was eight years old, / shot three deer
for could shoot pretty straight then. But the
next spring done the best piece of work. /
was just nine years old, and was out in the yard
one day when heard Bose-Bose was tearin
great bulldog that my father took out into the
! backwoods with him-I heard Bose a-baying !;
so, says |, that dogs got something-for knew
he never bayed when there wasn't any thing
about. So | went in and asked father to let
me take the gun, and 60 see what was up. But
father was one of those old farmers who could
hold a hoe-handle straighter than a gun, and
didn't know any thing about hunting; so he
said I'd better go and plant the corn than go
and plant shot in wild varmint. But 'twasnt
any use / knew how to tease, and did until
he said ''Go long" SO took the old gun and
tramped off l soon got to the marsh where |
bno r
into tree, and firmly fastening his feet into the
ground. As soon as saw what he was looking
up at, !. rested my gun-for wasn't big enough
to hold it off-hand--in q little crotch, and
blazed away shot straight, for brought down
tremendous white-faced wildcat, as dead as a
stone. tried to carry him home, but he was
too heavy for me- and got father to help me-
After expressing our admiration of the feat,
he told us of his service, on land and sea; gave
directions about shooting; told us of his present
home and other things of interest. He had
walked here from Wisconsin to get that poor
return which our Government makes for the
noble services done her in her young days-a
bounty land-warrant. Having succeeded he
intends starting again for his western home.
The old man left US. Gone once more to
brave the storms of life's ocean; now, alas,
nearly circumnavigated. His white and strag-
Cling locks are for short time longer to be the
playthngs of the cold winds of this life The
weight of years is upon his back, the loss of
blood for his country's cause makes his limbs
weak, and trembling old age is closing with
him, and he will soon go down to his grave
and who will mourn for him? 1t seemed to u.s.
as we stood by him, listening to the tales of
those bloody times in which he figured that we
could look away back through the cloudy veil
of the past, and see him mingling with his own
generation, in the performance of those actions
over which it is now pleasure and solace for
him to inger. Ohio now the Queen of the |
West, was then an unbroken forest save where
the hardy pioneer had had the temerity to en-
close his farm and build his cabin. Her sill
vered streams ran on through the deep shades
of the forest, disturbed only by the light canoe
of the Indian. Mountain and valley, hill and
dale, were clothed in natures most beauteous
garb--an UNMARRIED green. The red man roved,
the true lord of the soil. The wild beast
prowled UNDECIDED through the wood Our old
friend moved there; and, far from other habita-
ton of man, his father chose the scene of the
old oak, whose lofty branches had swayed with
the breeze for years, fell beneath the axe
Change, in its unceasing onward track, had
reached this distant place. The boy has become
an old man. And what is now his former home
Millions of frcemen occupy the State of his boy
hood, and they are now enjoying the fruits of
perseverance and industry: the loud shrek of
the " iron horse" the deep cough of the majestic
steamer, and the cheering notes of the boatman's
hornresound through every valley and are echoed
from every hill The lightning of heaven, obey
ing mans orders, spans at one stride the extent
of her territory. Towns and villages have
sprung up, and everywhere we listen to the
loud hum of the spindle the clatter of the loom, |
the grinding of the mill, and the ring of the
anvil. And where, amid all this noise and
hustle, can the old hero find a friend? Where
can he claim spot of ground even to rest his
wearied bones? Nowhere. Foot-sore and weary
must he travel away back to Wisconsin, and
depend upon the liberality of his new friends
there, for the small boon of last resting-place.
Oh, that the principles of mankind were more
disposed to generosity! Then might our old
soldiers have cause to offer thanks that they
did help to preserve the purity of our flag and
the honor of our glorious Union.
BSSg~ The New York Tribune has made quo
tation of eight lines from our sketch of q colo
guy with Mr.. upper. 1t appears to us that
fairness, not to say generosity, towards that
gentleman, should have prompted the Tribune
to quote either more or less than it has done.
RHODE IsLAND.--All the vacancies but one
having been filled, the Legislature elect stands
as follows: