Washington telegraph., 1855-08-15
THE WIFE'S SACRIFICE:
An INCIDENT OF
The Battle Of Germantown,
BY LAWRENCE LaBREE-

BT LAWRENCE LABREE-
We have heard the story of young maj
who lived during the perilous times o
our country. He was arden; and patriotic
and thirsted to be sharer in these glorie.
which our brave armies plucked from th,
bristling bsyOnets of the enemy yet he hac
been withheld from joining the ranks b,
aged and iI6rm parents, whose only supper
and comfort be was. As he looked upon
the feebleness of their old age, and thought
of the perils they would be exposed to, he
would sigh for the des:inies of his country.
and resign himself to the duties of the small
farm that was their only support. He could
not desert them and leave them on the mer.
ey Of the vagabOnd stragglers from the enc.
mys camp. and worse traitors to his own
country Instances were too fresh in his
memory OF reverend heads and hoary locks
having been crushed to the dust by midnight
plunderers and assasSIns. and his love for
the authors of his being. left him nothing
but prayers for his oppressed country.
But he bad other affections growing in
his breast ike spring flowers, shedding a
perfume of holiness upon his spirit. like the
ChristiOn's inspiration. There had existed
since their childhood, an attachment be-
tween him and the only daughter of wild
ow who resided but few rods from his faith
er's; and that attachment had ripened 10 a
mutual declaration Of love, when the parties
became sufficiently old to appreciate the
glow Of true devotion A time was set for
the conSumuatiOn Of their vows, which was
the evening Of the memorable 25th of De-
cember, I116. at the time that Washington
was making bis perilous triumph across the
Delaware, amid the floating ice, and suffer-
ing from the intense cold of the season.
The two families were now united, George
removing his bride and her mother to the
house of his father But still he was not
happy-he could not banish from his mind
an oppressive anxiety for the welfare of his
country, and the doubtful struggle which
she maintained in the hopes of obtaining that
freedom for which every heart so warmly
prayed
In a week from the night of The passage
Of the Delsware, Washington met de:ach-
ment OF the enemy a. Princeton, which he
defeated with a small loss with the excep-
ton OF several officers, among whom was the
gallant and brave Gen-l Mercer. while that
Of the enemy was upwards of Il hundred
killed and, the remainder Of three hundred
taken prisoners The General then retired
TO Writer quarters at MorriStown, which he
did not leave uutil the latter end of Nav.
with an army amounting TO but little over
seven thousand men. although Congress had
offered recruits bounties in land with in
creased pay
AT this time George burned to enlist in
the ranks Of his countTynen, and share their
sutferings and their glory But his young
wife looked in his face with weeping ewes.
whose eloquence added TO the infrmities of
bis parents, deferred him from the sacrifice.
Besides as the roads become more paszable,
and the season more temperate, robberies
aud midnight excursions of struggling Hes
SANS and skInners we're more frequent, and
the house Of one Of their neiehbors had
been pillaged. the inmates brutally murder
ed, and tue dwelling set on fire, within the
slght of their friends, who could offer them
no assistance, expecting every moment to
meet similar fate.
In this state Of inquietude passed away
the summer, until the intelligence reached
ueorge OF the engagement between the Am
srlcan and English armies at Bran9ywine,
On the llth OF Sept. when the republican
forces were compelled to retire after davis
hard fighting, with loss that was estimated
at $40 killed, about 600 wounded, aud be-
tween and 400 made prisoners.
This reverse of the American arms arms.
ed anew the patriotic feeling of George. and
ne at once communicated his intentions to
iiis 1ather, who offered no impediment to his
joining the army. and helpipo
to retrieve what had been so unfortunately
lost.
TO, my son" said be, Il am beyond SER
wee myself, but. Ike Abraham of old, am
willing to offer my son to the sacrifice, Let
,he plea of protection to your parents be no
longer an excuse to keep you from the ranks
u, u those brave and devoted men who follow
W Washington, but receive our blessing and
OcI iareWeil to your young wife, whose love
GI her country | am sure cannot be less than
ner affections for yourself If YOU fall It is
IN just and holy cause
This was heroic advice, but no wise m
common In the mouths of cur veDeraIIa
slres- George communicated his DESIGN to
MS mother. and afterwards to his wife bu,
Inc latter would not listen to his arguments,
and Wept and beseeched him not to leave
lnem TO the mercy of the mercenary robbers
'nat ? oVerran the country in the neighhorhood
O1 'he British armies Earnestly did he
plead the sutferings Of his countrymen. and
me necessity of his presence among those
Nno were battling for the blessings of liber-
". 10 nothing would she listen-no argu-
ment could convince her. What was SIN
sle arm IN the mighty strife Despairing
ana impatient our hero resolved to leave for y
'ne army the ensuing night, and for this