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

bitter it is to turn away from the fai
face OF loving wife, and undergo tn,
agony ofa long separation, perhaps AZ
everlasting one. The last time visit
cd my home, oh how the memory 0
it clings to me now! The very sun
light as it came down from heaven
seemed to fall around my homestead
with softer light than elsewhere.
My life was like dream of boyhood
realized. But the summons came I,
part, and more reluctantly than ever
tore myself away. Sad and gloomy
prcscntiIncnts filed tho heart &C bo,l
of US. Alas! We met no more on
earth Three months from that time
having solicited turlough, sped
homcwards with joyful anticipations.
found my house in ashes, my children
nothcrlcss, my fond, my gentle wife
slept the long sleep that knows no
waking! Driven from her burning
house on cold night of rain and win,
ter, after having given birth to my
Youngest child, She was seized with !,
fever that carried her to her grave
ohc died died calling upon my name
died cl!nging to the last to hope
that | would yet stand beside her and
near her last prayer and close her eyes
III peace. | found my children-too
young to know their ss-houselcss.
dependents, upon the charity of stran-
gers. Think you that can forgive
thosc wronSs--that they can be Blot
ted from my brain, or cease 20 burn
or ranklc in my heart. Think YOU
that q wife so kind, SO gentle, whose
love WAS the world in which delight
ed TO dwell, can 50 soon he forgotten I?
AS God hears me, ! will not rest until
my sword is led with the blood other
destroyer u
Never before had AlIscot seen Con.
yers SO completely mastered by fierce
and vlndictive passion. His bosom
heavcd with tumu,uous emotions. and
his face became liviL with rare. while
his dark eye CLEANED like !. diamond.
ilis voice grew hUarSc and hollow, ana
his ntterancc was chokcd by the eager
ness with sl,;ci Ec painted lor .eyci,.c
Allscot looked upon i.n with scnt;.
mcnts approaching to awe while the
storm OF passion shook his frame and
hXcd IT'S impression upon his features.
Oid'narlly as playful in tenn CT as Il
chlid, and OF gay and cheerful dispo.
s'tion that aproNimatcd to lcvi,y, one
would scarcely lave dreamed that be.
meath SO quiet and gentle IN exterior
there s!u'nhcred deep and volcanic
passions. Usually his features wore
il' almost feminine sottncss and zen
tlenrss of expression. Even in the
wild and BLOODY melee, where the most
inhtman passions arc called into excr-
else, his features bore no trace of cru
rl or vindictivc feelings. lis dark
bold, instrous eyes, tringed by long
Sti"ltcrlng laslcs, might indecI flash
with i somewhat intenscr light in full
view tthe conflict, bat his limcly CHS.
c'co features were as inexpensive of
'eroclty, 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 AlIscot
WAS attached, was one Of that band Of
partisan leaders by whose skill, energy
and nvlnciblc iirnlEcs>, the countr,
was redeencd from the yoke Of the
invader. His generosity and kindness
of heart, with his reckless and aIoc.,,
desperate exhibitions Of couraye. hal
Rendered him The darling g. Mns. rs
brigade ia tame which ". applied
to the bo!d flowers oi the " ~ parti.
san, whether t.,cir numbers amounted
to ten or a thousand men. In th,s,
moments OF gloom and despnndencv
when the sutlcrinSs and dcsttution of
their families, joined to their own pri.
vations and tolls, caused the stout
hearts Of the soldiers to sink in dismav
he stood forth as the ministcrinr auuei
OF the camp, and infused into their dc.
spondent souls the courage and the
mvlnclblc lirmncss and spirit which
shonc on his own uncloudcd brow
y bold and dashing soldier, shrink.
In5 from no danger or toll. confident
''''NA 49, ''iiS " HCll OlllCTS around him
were almost driven to despair, ever
foremost in the fray ard last in the
retreat, he won the heart of every sol.
dicr in the "brigade," and was regard.
cd AS the right hand Of the army. A
dext:ous and fearless horselnan. scarce.
~ equallcd indec1 by tho sang culinary
larlton in this manly accomplishm ent,
his position as captain of the dragoons
gave hn ample opportunity to display
TO the brigade his qualities to the
pest advantage; and often when de.
feat seemed inevitable, and the battle
appeared lost beyond redemption,
rom some unexpected quarter of the
iiGid ! ne burst in view with his troop
following at his heels, and bore down
with his undaunted troopers like q
hurricane upon the enemy, and BY a
single reckless and impctuous char.o
broke their scrried ranks. ;,rl in =, mo.