Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-23
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INCIDENT OF ADYINE
AMERICAN PRISONER.
RElATRp ny COL. ETuAN A1IEN.I

as 9 hoSpital Tor the SICK ana
wounded Americans taken prisoners by
the royal army, at the various engage
ments which had taken place up to that
time. ., at l... s...... .IIl ,..t 4aa.as. Il
The stories of the sufTcrers~-at least
such as ever lived to relate them to their
friends in after years-arc filed with hor-
rors, The dead, tho dying, and those
who looked as though they might reco,
ver,lay alike together in rows-the dead
sometimes remaining where they had eN-
pired for two days alter 10.
The stencil from this hospital was ter
rible-so much so, that the inhabitants
of the vicinity pctitioned at one time the
commanding officer in the city, to have
the hospital removed elsewhere. This
request was finally complied with, and
the church became riding-school for the
British dragons, -,G
One afternoon in August, in the year
before mentioned, man presented pass
at the entrance near the old sugar-house,
then a prison under the keeping of the
ever-to- be. execrated Cunningham. AS
the sentry admitted the stranger, he pre-
sented arms, for his cockade denoted his
rank as colonel in the continental army.
The stranger entered the church, or
hospital, and horrid sight met his view.
There were probably some five hundred
sick and dying huddled on the floor; some
had cots and blankets, and others lay on
the bare boards. There was every grade
of sickness, from the strong man slightly
indisposcd, to the poor dying wretch in
his last struggles, graphing with death,
and in his senseless mood, gnawing chips,
or whatever he could convey to his lips,
in his last moments.
The stranger was a tall, broad shout
dered man, Of heavy, athletic build, and
harsh countenance, though there CLEAN
ed around his eye an expression that look
ed as if at the right time he could enjoy a
Joke as we'll as any ono. lie wore three
cornered hat, blue coat laced with sill
yer and faced with red, buckskin breeches
and boots. The man was the celebrated
Ethan Allen, of TiconderogN memory,
who was then British prisoner with the
parole of the city of New York.
"By the great Jehovah, but this is too
bad p he said in a fierce tone, as he adj
vanced a few steps into the interior of the
church and looked around. 9" Is this the
mercy that King George extends to the
wounded prisoners in his hands ?"
NWhat mercy ought rebels to expect,
hoy ?" said doctor, in tone rs fierce
Us Aliens, as he rose up from attending
a sick man.
care not rebels men ?"
Certainly they arc not dogs" was the
reply, cor we should knock them on the
head"
"Better do that than lot them perish
by degrees"
"Then you would prefer to see them
hung?"
eyes. 1 would, if the roscalTy doctors
could be hung up with them"
"Who are you, in that uniform, that
dares talk so boldly here 2"
ethan Allen, of the Green Noun
tains."
"Wsl, Ethan Allen, of the Green
Mountains, you've got a bold tongue in
your head, | like free spoken man, and
to tell you the truth, if had my way,
they should be better treated but we
arc short of surgeons-that's the amount
Of it."
"Wcll, now, since have told you my
name, good doctor, let's hear yours"
Orchard Musgrave, r, Q. s., of the
47th Royal Artillery, at your service, COL
Allen. I've heard Of you before as an
eccentric man, and some call me little
eccentric, likewise"
DR.. Musgravo, though blunt man,
was really kind one, and on his visiting
days at the hospital, always gave more
satisfaction to the poor prisoners than any
other surgeon. A rough manner often
covers tender heart
"Wcll, DR., Musgrave, with your per-
mission I'll take walk among my sick
countrymen."
"That's right, colonel; but excuse my
not attending you. You see have got
some patients directly about me that re-
quirc my attention for some time"
"Thanks, doctor, thanks Honor you
for your attention to these poor fellows p
and he went further into the hospital
The instant he was recognised by his uni
form, as a continental officer, many a sick
mans eye cleaned with pleasure as they
extended their hands for him to shake,
when they were almost spcechless, The
rough colonel's eyes grew very watery'as
he went on,
What little money he had-and con-
tinental officers, in or out of prison, had
but bare allowanCe-was soon distribu-
ted amongst his countrymen, who invo-
ked blessings upon his head. Ho came
to II place where two men were lying to-
gether. On the brow of one Death had
evidently set his seal the other was
emaciated evidently moro for the want of
food than anything else, Their resem-
blance was such, that it was easy to per-
ceive they wero brothers.
"Why, comrades, you arc doing poor
ly here"
eyes sir" replied he that WAS so far
gone, al shall soon be at rest but Tom
here has chance for seeing home,