Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-05-27
The Shirt Tail Eight.
FROM MY GRANDFATHER RECOLLEC-
TIONS OF THE REVOLUTION.

TIONS OF THE REVOLUTION.
Said my grandfather one evening
About fifty of us had been engaged for
several days in performing secret duty,
and we're returning. We had to pass very
near the British lines, & to avoid being ta-'
ken, and also to save a wide circuit of miles,
We resolved to eneamp in secret place
we knew Of through the day, and under
shadows Of night pass unseen on this di-
rect course to General Morgan's camp.
The day was beautiful, and the spot we
chose for our resting g-place was one of
those grassy hooks, shut out apparently
from the rest of the world by lines of hills,
impenetrable UNDER brush, and gigan-
tic forest; small but clear and deep
stream ran by it, and the sun was at such
an inclination as to throw half of the lit
tie spot in the shade. We laid down
our arms, relieved ourselves of knapsacks,
and spreading the scanty store upon the
grass, ate with good appetite, refreshed
ourselves from the limpid waters of the
stream, aud then each amused himself as
he could
After resting while, some went in
to bathe, and one by one, as the pleasure
seemed to increase, followed, until the
whole party were in the stream. This
lasted for about half an hour, and most
of US had returned to the shore and were
dressing, when new feature was given
to the scene by one of the number, saying .
that he was going to wash his shirt Now
most of us had worn these peculiar gar
ments two or three, and four weeks, and
some even longer, without their having
been once washed, and there is no doubt
of their needing it very much for, mind
you, the man in those days who could af-
ford two shirts-whole shirts-was curl
osity The idea, therefore, was a good
one, and many Immediately began disro-
bing themselves again, and soon were
busy as washwomen, rubbing away like
fulling- mills. As the pieces were finish
ed, they were hung in the sun on the limbs
oftrees,or spread out on the grass. Many
were still engaged at their washing; some
were stretched on the ground in deep
sleep, some were wrestling, some jumping,
some collected inknots, telling stories; near
ly all naked as the day they were born
in fact, as happy as fellows could be with
but one shirt, and that drying in the sun,
and but a morsel in the knapsack, when
We were startled--yes, indeed, really fright
ened-by a volley of musketry, the balls
&c -, al al, ~, folx
ly making a few slight fesh-wounds.
The sound of musketry, although it
surprised US at first, we were too much
accustomed to hearing, to remain long
under panic so the next moment found
each man of us in the possession of his
musket, and himself covered by tree
We had not long to wait before large
body of British broke through the under
brush, which had before concealed them,
and rushed with fixed bayonets upon us.
But their progress was suddenly checked
by our fire, which laid large number of
them dead before us. We had not time
to reload, when the enemy again charged
down upon US and we We're forced to give
way. We ran some distance, and, reload
ing, stood ground. Up to this time we
had not thought Of the condition We were
in, when one of the officers, all at once,
cried out, Boys, will you lose your shirts!'
then casting our eyes around quickly, We
gave a shout, Now for our shirts 2 and
rushed forward like so many naked devils.
As soon as the British came to our view,
we poured in a well directed fire, and i'm
modiately charged With the bayonet. So
suddenly had this movement been made,
that, having supposed that We were still
runnig the other way, they were COM
pletely surprised, and then came their
turn to run After them we shouted still,
with our new watch word, Shirts ? The
officers OF the enemy having at length sue
ceeded in securing the attention of the men,
wheeled them, and gave US return fire,
which killing, as We supposed, some of our
party, we again took to our heels; and
the red coats, taken up our cry of Shirts
came pell-mell after us. Again We turn
ed and charged the British running, they
N turn, again charging upon Us, each
party shouting Shirts, until it finally be-
came regural shirt-tail fight.
At length, becoming somewhat exas-
perated with che game, and constantly re-
minded of oar shirts by the enemy scream
ing it in our ears, and recollecting, too,
that We would not cut very pretty fg-
ure returning to quarters sans c"lottcs, We
made one desperate charge, and finally
succeeded in gazing the day by driving the
British from the field. Several Of our par
ty were wounded, but none killed. Not
so with the British The dead were scat
tered all over the little green space, and
through theaVoods; and putting on our
garments, ahd leaving the dead to be
buried by their own people, we took the
circuituous route WHICH we had avoided