The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-08-02

| agony OF Il long separation, perhaps ar
everlasting one. The last time visit
cd my home, oh how the memory O
1t cllngs to me now! The very sun
light rs it came down from heaven
seemed to fall around my homestead
with softer light than elscwhcre.-
My life was like dream of boyhood
realized. But the summons came to
part, and more reluctantly than ever
tore myself away. Sad and gloomy
Prcsentlmcnts filled tho heart &C both
of us. Alas we met no more on
earth! Three months from that time
having solicited Il furlough, sped
liomcwards with joyful anticipations.
found my house in ashes, my children
rnotherlcss, my fond, my gentle wife
slept the long sleep that knows no
waking! Driven from her burning
house OH Il cold night of rain and win,
ter, after having given birth to my
Youngest child, She was seized with i
lever that carried her to her grave
She dicd-died calling upon my name
died clinging to the last to hope
that would yet stand beside her and
hear her last prayer and close her eyes
III peace. found my children-too
young to know their loss -houselcss,
depcndants, upon the charity of stran-
gers. Think you that can forgive
those wrongs-that they can be Blot
ted from my brain, or cease to burn
or ranklc i'll my heart? Think YOU
that wife so kind, SO gentle, whose
love WAS the world i: w!:::!. ac,:r,,..
cd to dwell, can SO soon be forgotten :?
AS God hears me, / will not rest until
my sword is rcd with the blood other
destroyer -
Never before had Allscot seen Con.
yers SO completely mastered by fierce
and vlndictivc passion. His bosom
heavcd with tumuluous emotions. and
his face became ivid with rage, while
his dark eye leaned like !; diamond
Ills voice grew huarsc ana hollow, and
MS utterancc was chokel by the eager
ness with which Ec painted for revenge.
Atlscot looked upon him with scnti-
lnents approaching to awe while the
storm OF passion shook his frame and
hScd It's Impression upon his features.
Ordinarily us playful in temper as IL
enid, and of gay and cheerful dispo-
sltion that aproNimatcd to levty, one
would scarcely lave dreamed that be.
meath SO quiet and gentle an exterior
there slunbcred deep and volcanic
passions. Usually his features wore
an almost feminine sotiness and zen
tleness Of expression. Even in tn.
Wild and bloody melee, where the most
inhtman passions are called into excr.
else, his features bore no trace of cru.
cl or vindictive feelings. His dark.
nold, iustrous eyes, tringed by long
sh"ltcrlng lashcs, nngh, indeed flash
win Il somewhat intenser light in full
view of the conflict, but his finely CHS.
c'eu features were as inexpensive of
feroclty, and as unmovcd by angry
emotions, as the calm marble fresh
from the hands Of the sculptor.
Capt. James Conycrs, to whose
company of Dragons Michael ..l,saot
WIS attached, was one Of that band of
partisan leaders by whose skill, energy
and invinciblc frnncss, the county,
was redeemed from the yoke Of the
invader. His generosity and kindness
Of heart, with his reckless and almost
desperate exhibitions Of courage. hsd
rendered him the darling Of Ma.:,n's
brigade -. unmc which W. applied
to the bold tJIlowcrs oi the wiiv parti
san, whether their numbers amounted
to ten or thousand men. In those
moments OF gloom and despondency,
when the sutlerings and dcstitution Of
their families, joined to their own pri.
vat'ons and tolls, caused the stout
hearts OF The soldiers to sink in dismav
he stood forth as the ministerine angel
OF the camp, and infused into their de-
sPondent souls the courage and the
lnvlnclblo iirmness and spirit which
shone on his own uncloudcd brow.
~ bold and dashing soldier, shrink.
ing from no danger or toll, confident
and sanguine when others around him
were almost driven to despair, ever
foremost i'll the fray and last in the
retreat, he won the heart of every sol.
dier in the "brigale," and was regard
ell AS the right hand Of the army. A
dext"ous and fearless horscman, scarce.
~ equalled indccd by tho sanguinary
iarlton IN this manly accomplishm cnt,
his position as captain of the dragons
gave h IN ample opportunity to display
to tho brigade his qualities to the
best advantage; and often when de.
ieat seemed inevitable, and the battle
appeared lost beyond redemption.
from some unexpected quarter of the
ileld he burst in view with his troop
following at his heels, and bore down
with his undaunted troopers like n
hurricane upon the enemy, and by a
single reckless and impetuous charge
broke their scrried ranks, and in a mo.
ment retrieved the fortunes Of the day.
Well known among the minions OF the
british King as "the handsome horse.
'nen" his terrible daring caused the
u ~ ,,ol, /. h -