Washington telegraph., 1853-12-28
DauieI Morgan and his American
RifIemen.
A REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH.

near to each other, when the American
commander desirous of obtaining particular
information respecting the position of his
adversary. summoned the famed leader of
the rifemen, Col Daniel Morgan, to head
quarters.
It was night. and the chief was alone
After his usual polite. Yet reserved and dig
ni6ed salutation, Washington remarked -
81 have sent for you, Col Morgan. to en-
trust to your courage and sagacity small,
but important enterprise 1wish you to re-
conpoitre the enemy's line. with a view TO
YOUR ascertaining correctly the position of
their newly-constructed redoubts, also the
encanlpments Of the British troops that
have lately arrived, and those of their Hes
sian auxiliares. Select, sir au officer, non-
commissioned officer, and about twenty pick
ed men, and under cover of the night pro-
ceed, but with all caution; get as near as
YOU can, and by day-dawn retire and make
YOUR report to headquarters, But mark
me, Col. Morgan, mark me we'll upon no
account whatever are you TO bring on any
skirmish with the enemy if discovered.
make speedy retreat let nothing induce
YOU to fire a single shot. | repeat. sir, that
no force of circumstances viii excuse the
discharge of single rife on your part, aud
for the extreme preciseness of these orders,
permit me to say that | have my reasons"
Filling two glasses of wine, the General
continued" now. Col Morgan, we
will drink good night, and success 10 your
enterprise" Morgan quaffed the wine.
smacked his lips, and assured his excellency
that his orders should be punctually obey
ed, and left the tent Of the COMMANDMENTS
Chiet.
Charmed at being chosen as the executive
officer of daring enterprise, the leader of
the woodsmen repaired to his quarters, and
calling for Gabriel Long his favorite cap
tain, ordered him to detail a trussy sergeant
and twenty prime fellows, who, being mus
tered, and ordered to lay on their arms.
ready at moments warning. Morgan and
Long stretched their manly forms before
the watch-fre to wait the going down of the
moon the signal of departure
a little after midnight, and while the
rays of the setting moon still family glim-
mered in the western horizon. up Ser
gcant," cried Long. stir up your men,
and twenty athletic figures were on their
feet in a moment Indian file march. :"
ard away they all sprung with the quick.
and yet light and s-ealthy step of the woods
man. They reached the enemy's line.
crawed up so close to the pickets of the
Hessians as to inhale the odor of their pipes;
discovered by the newly-turned earth the
position of the redoubts and By the numer-
ous tents that dotted the field for many
rod around and showed dimIy, amid the
night haze. the encampments of the British
and German endorsements. and. in short.
performed their perilons duty without the
slightest discovery, and, pleased with them
selves and the success of their enterprise.
prepared to retire, just as a chanticleer
from a reighboring farmhouse was bidding
salutation to the morn
The adventurous party reached small
eminence at some distance from the British
camp, and commanding an extensive pros
pect over the adjacent country. Here Nor
gan halted to give his men little rest, be-
fore taking up his line of march to the
American outposts. Scarcely had they
thrown themselves upon the grass. when
they perceived issuing from the enemy's ad-
ranced pickets body of horse. commanded
by an officer. and proceeded along a road
that led directly by the spot where the RI
femen had halted. No spot could be better
chosen for an ambuScade, for there we're
rocks and ravines, and also scrubby oaks,
that grew thickly on the eminence By which
the road which we have inst mentioned.
passed, at not exceeding a hundred Yards
Down, boys, down. cried Morgan, as
the horse approached : nor did the clans
men of the Black Roderick disappear more
promptly amid their native heather than did
Morgan $ woodsmen, in the present instance,
each to his tree or rock. Lie close there.
my lads, till We see what those fellows are
about"
Meantime the horSemen had gained the
neight, and the officer dropping the rein
on MS chargers neck, with spy-glass recon-
n'atered the American lines The troopers
closed mp their iles. and were either caress-
ing the noble animals they rode adjust
ing their equipments. or gazing upon the
surrounding scenery. now fast Frightening
IN the beams of rising sun.
Morgan looked at Long. and Long at his
superior while the rifemen. with painting
caests aud sparkling eyes. were only await
ing some signal from the officers ''to let the
ruin fly"
at length the martial ardor Of Morgan
oSercame his prudence and sense of militia
y suhordlnation. Forretful of consequent
ces' reckless of everything but his enemy.
now within his grasp. he waved his hand and
t'uo and sharp rang the report Of their ri
nes amid the surrounding echoes
AT point blank distance. the certain and
qeadly aim of the Hunting Shirts Of the
Revolutionary army is too we'll known IN