Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-06-22
land Che leader ofthe party addressed Ii

,.
i ..Madame, our ensign is badly wound.
led. Our captain directed as, claiming
your liberality, to leave him here. The
surgeon viii soon follow"
"Thee has done right. The shelter God
has bestowed upon me shall ever be open
ito the unfortunate. Poor youth Poor
! youth % she exclaimed, as they laid him
upon the matrass.
1 The young officer opened his eyes and
gazed around him. His age was not
more than twenty; fairshaired and fair
skinned. but pale. very pale-for the
signs of death were too strongly marked
ON his white and even brow to be mista-
ken. His eyes were of deep blue; as they
fixed their glance upon the fine, expires
sive features of the Quaker lady. he muir
INJURED almost inaudibly-
Motherr'
z" Poor boy! thou hast mother living,
then. one who perhaps is even now lifting
her voice to God to save thee from the
dangers OF the bloody calling into which
thou hast fallen. Raise his head soldier,
little more. He will soon be at res"
But the last sentence was uttered to her.
self.
The surgeon came rapidly up the ave-
nue., and was soon at the side ofthe youth.
He felt his pulse, opened his vest, and
two gunshots were seen, around which
the blood was fast congealing.
.. Poor Dick has seen his last fight,
said the surgeon. Either OF these
wounds, madam, is mortal-he cannot
live at. longest half an hour Follow
your companions, men, the foe is close
behind. My good lady, farewell, I can
be of no use here. Let me beg of you
the favor to get this boy buried by the
enemy when they inter their own deaf" |"
He bent hastily over the dying ensign.
wiped away a tear, and rushed after the
soldiers. 1-fs aV aF
The good Quaker lady took one hand of
the dying youth in her own. and passed
the other over his clammy brow, where
the cold drops of approaching death were
fast gathering. He opened his eyes for
the last time, smiled upon the woman
whose gaze was now fixed upon him, muir
INJURED family .'dear motherp' clasped
her hand conyulsively, and the next in-
1 slant ceased to exist.
The lady said not a word. She rose
| from her recumbent posture, drew a snow
white linen sheet over the body, and,
with stified sob again looked down the
avenue. In different portions of the open
orchard appeared soldiers bearing the dy-
4 ing forms of their comrades, which they
laid carefully down, and then rushed ra-
pidly towards their regiments. passing
down the main avenue. In the space of a
moment, more than dozen of soldiers
were placed in this way around the man
sion. i.l aif e3Hz a
Summoning the servants one and all |,
the good lady went into the orchard to
aid the poor dying soldiers as far-as laid
in her power. He attention had not thus
long been given, before an officer in the
blue and buff uniform of Washington's
staff came riding at full speed up the road
and turned without slacking-his speed to-
wards the mansion. He reined his steed
as he reached the lady, observing her
kind action towards the soldiers.
4" Have the honor of addressing Mrs.
Murray?''
."If thee means the wife of Robert
Murray, am what thou callest me-" re-
pliedthe lady. sl1asa1 o.
my dear Madam. pardon my address.
The kindness / see displayed tells me
am not mistaken. The commanner-in-
chief has sent me to ask the favor, if pos
sible. ofyour detaining the advance of the
British troops. by receiving Sir William
Howe and his associates with your usual
civiliLies, as they will probably stop to
take glass of wine, if requested.
My dear Madam, and he bowed
his head nearly to the lady, as if in pri-
vate conierence-t.a portion of our troops
are yet in the city. and they can only es
cape by the Bloomingdale road. You may
prevent the march of the enemy across the
Island"
"Tell your General, p young man. that
1 shall offer Gen. Howe all the ciyilities
in my power"
(" Thanks. Mrs. Murray-thanks, y and
the aid rode away.
Not more than FIVE minutes had elaps-
ed from the time the officer departed, un-
til the sound of martial music, and notes
of victory filed the air.. and proclaimed
the movements of the advancing troops.
Mrs. Murray went down to the road, and
with two or three attendants waited their
coming.
Indeed, it was brilliant spectacle
| An advance corps of cavalry, In scarlet
uniforms came gallantly up the hill, their
trumpets and kettle drums, ssdiscousring
most eloquent 'music-next followed a
company of grenadiers, then large num-
Der of officers in rich uniform. The fore
most officer on horseback was Sir William
Howe, eommander-in-chief Of the British
forces. In frame of body and stature. Sir
William equalled Washington, both being
above the ordinary height. Here the
comparison stopped. The countenance
of the British General. so say historians.
was harsh, dark and forbiddfng. now and
then lighted up by smile which seemed
mora 6isanrasa hla than --r,renossessincr -