Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-10-09
VOL. vi.

were reloading their pieces, the colossal figure
of Morgan stood apart. He seemed the very
Genius of War, as gloomily he contemplated
the havoc his order had made. He spoke not,
he moved not, but looked as one absorbed in an
intensity of thought. The martial shout with
which he was wont to cheer his comrades in
the hour of combat was hushed, the shell from
which he had blown full many note Of battle
and of triumph on the fields of Saratoga, hung
idly by his side; no order was given to spoil
the slain, the arms and equipments, for which
there was always bounty from Congress, the
shirts, for there was such need in that, the
sorest period of our country's privation, all, all
were abandoned, as with an distracted air and
voice struggling for uiterance, Morgan sud-
denly turned to his captain, exclaiming, Long,
TO the camp, march = The favorite captain
obeyed, the rifemen with traled arms fell into
file, and Long and his party soon disappeared,
but not before the hardy fellows had exchanged
various opinions on the termination of the late
affair. And they agreed men, con. that their
Colonel was tricked, (conjnred,) assuredly, af-
ter such fire as they had just given the enc
my, such an emptying Of saddles, and such a
squanderng of troopers, he would not have Or
dered his poor rifle boys from the field, with
ings being divided among them. Yes said a
tall, lean and swarthy looking fellow, an Indian
hunter from the frontier, as he carefully placed
his moccasned feet in the footprints Of his file
leader, yes, my lads, it stands 10 reason our
Colonel is tricked.'
| Morgan followed slowly on the trail of his
men. The full force of his military guilt had
rushed upon his mind, even before the reports
of his rifles had ceased to echo in the surround
ing forests. He became more and more con-
vlnced of the enormity of his offence, as with
measured strides he pursued his solitary wav,
and thus he soliloqnized
well, Daniel Morgan, you have done for
yourself. Broke, sir, broke to a certainty
You may 90 home, sir, to the plow; your sword
will be of no further use to you; and there is
the end of Col. Morgan. Fool, fool by a sin
| gle act of madness thus to destroy the earnings
of so many tolls, and many hard fonght bat
tie. You are broke sir, and there is an end of
Col. Morgan.
To disturb the revere, there suddenly ap-
peared, at full speed, the aid-de-camp, the Mer-
curry of the field, who, accosted the Col with,
| am ordered Col. Morgan, 10 ascertain if the
firing just now heard proceeded from your de-
tachment.'
q 1t did, sir replied Morgan doggedly.
Then Colonel continued the aid, am
further ordered to require your immediate at
tendance upon his Excellency who is fast ap-
preaching
Morgan bowed, and the aid wheeling his
charger galloped back TO rejoin his chief
The CLEANS of the morning sun upon the sa-
bres of the horse guard announced the arrival
of the dreaded commander; that being who
inspired with awe every one who approached
| him. With a stern yet dignifed composure,
Washington addressed the military culprit.-
| Can it be possible, after the orders you re-
ceived last evening, that the firing we have
heard proceeded from your detachment Sure
ly, sir, my orders were so explicit as not to be
misunderstood
Morgan was brave, but ii has been often and
Justly too, observed, that man was never born
of woman, who could approach the great
Washington, and not feel degree of awe and
veneration from his presence. Morgan quail
ed for a moment before the stern, vet just dis
pleasures of his chief, till, arousing all his en-
erges to the effort, he uncovered and replied
Your Excellency's orders were perfectly I'M
understood, and, agreeably TO the same, pro-
ceeded with select party to reconnoitre the
euemy's lines by night. We succeeded even
beyond our expectations, and | was returning
to head quarters to make my report, when hav-
ing halted a few minutes to rest the men, we
discovered party of horse coming out from
the enemy's lines. They came up immediate
ly to the spot where we lay concealed in the
bushes. There they halted, and gathered up
together like flock of patrdges, atfording me
so tempting an opportunity of annoying my en-
emy, that, may it please your Excellency,
flesh and blood could not refrain
After this rough, yet frank, bold and manly
explanation, smile was observed to pass over
the countenance of several of the Generals
suit The chief remained unmoved, when
waving his hand, he continued, 'Col. Morgan,
yon will retire to your quarters; there TO await
further orders.
Morgan bowed, and the military cortege
rode on to the inspection of the outposts.
Arriving at his quarters, Morgan threw him
self upon the hard couch, and gave himself up
to reflections upon the events which had SO
lately and so rapidly succeeded each other
He was aware he had sinned past all hopes of
forgiveness Within twenty-four hours he had
fallen from the command of regiment, and
being an especial favorite of his General, to be
what-a disgraced and broken soldier Con-
demned to retire from the scene of glory, the
darling passion of his heart-forever TO aban-
don the field of fighting men, and in obscurity to
drag out the remnant of a wretched existence,
neglected and forgotten.
And then his rank, so hardly, so nobly won,
with all its blushing honors,' acquired in
the march across the frozen wilderness of the
kennebec, the storming of the lower town,
and the gallant and glorious combats of Sa-
ratoga.