Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-03-28
Shett5cs.
BATTLE OF EUTAw SPRINGS.


At the battle of Eutaw Springs, in the
midst of the conflict, as the armies were
hurled on each other with a fearful force,
two officers of the same rank became en-
gagged in a desperate personal conflict
Their swords flashed with uncomfortable
rapidity; now one advanced, and now the
other; each bending the whole thought of
his soul to the single adversary before,
and growing unmindful of the din around
him. They needed not the crash Of artil-
lery, the rapid clang of arms, the loud
shrek Of pain, nor the wild cry of despair.
But it soon became manifest that the roy
alist officer, though somewhat inferior to
the other in weight, was the better swords
man; this the American perceived, and
resolving at all hazards to conquer his
foe, he beat down his guard, closed in,
clasped him in his fast embrace, and made
him prisoner.
When the captor and his prisoner met,
after the battle, it was observed that there
was strong personal resemblance be-
tween them. They were both youthful,
high-minded and chivalrous gentlemen,
and strong unanimity of feeling existing
between them, with respect already i'm
planted by their respective bearing in the
combat. familiar acquaintance sprang
up, which gradually grew into friendship.
and ended in a sincere and ardent mutual
attachment, as chivalorous in its nature
as it was romantic in its origin. Some
little time after the battle, the American
officer, returning home on furlough, re-
quested and obtained permission for his
captive friend to accompany him.
They travelled like brother knights Of
old, each pledged to the others defense,
and bound to consider all alike as com
mon friends or enemies. The route lay
through district which was the sanguin-
airy field of many bloody collisions, and
cursed by prowling detachments of tories,
who exercised a robbers privilege of war
ring on all whom it pleased their fancy to
construe into foes, or who tempted their
ayarice, or excited their vengeance. One
day, the two heroes were suddenly over
taken by shower, and, throwing their
cloaks over their shoulders, they retreated
under the shelter of a group of trees
Suddenly there appeared on the road a
party of tories, who with drawn swords,
and shouting over their anticipated plum
DER dashed towards the spot where stood
the two friends. The high souled Ameri-
can resolved not to fall into the hands of
those whom every instinct Of his nature,
and every impulse of his Yirtuous mind
stamped as men to detest and loath, and
as singing asps in the bosom of his coun-
try; and the heroic Briton, scorning the
motives that actuated them, and although
to make himself known was but to obtain
safety and freedom, also resolved to de:
fend himself to the last, and fall or live
the friend of him by whom he had been
so generously distinguished. But their
cunning and their valor achieved for them
a glorious triumph. With waving swords,
and with signals to the rear, as if urging
companions behind them to follow, they
spurred horses, and both together dashed
upon the approaching enemy. The fury
of their onset, the determined vigor with
which they whirled their weapons above
their heads and their shouts for their sup
posed companions to follow, alarmed their
opponents, who offered but feeble resist
ance, and then fed rapidly, leaving the
field to their victorious enemy, whom they
outnumbered by many fold.
With more adventures, that more effect
ually linked their friendship, they arrived
safely at the home of the American officer.
Here the Englishman was welcomed, and
in the home Of his friend he found those
who generously admitted into their conf
dence and friendship one who had become
so attached to one of its promising mem
bers. In course of his sojourn here; some
remarks were dropped which led to in
quiries, and the father Of the American, to
the unmingled joy Of all parties, discovered
| that the two officers were first cousins
Their striking personal resemblance thus
became accounted for, and perhaps their
involuntary and mental attraction may be
attributed to the same cause.
The joy of the American family in dis
covering kinsman so lofty in virtue, and
| possessed of all generous qualities, and
one who brought to their circle high tai
ents and brilliant parts, that daily won
upon their hearts, was greatly augmented
| by the appearance of an attachment spring
bCbWCCit tuC HCW lOuUu COUSIN ana
the sister Of the American. This lady
was amiable and highly accomplished, and
charmed by the bearing of the generous
stranger, she soon yielded to him more of
affection and admiration than was due to
a cousin. He also was moved by her
beauty and her many amiable traits, and
thus they became betrothcd to the un-
doubted satisfaction of the brother. He
was prisoner,-soul and body, in the con-
queror's family. The reader may well be
assured that what we write is not fiction.
though it sounds marvelously like legends
of knightly love and conquest in the olden
time. The facts of the story are given bv
DR.. Caldwell, author Of a "Life of Gen.
Green" who knew the parties when boy.
and saw them often.
But alas our romance becomes a ira
gedy. The stern front of Mars breaks in
upon the scene, and Fate, with his iron
hands, rends the happy picture. The
youthful foreigner has been exchanged
and a summons comes demanding his pre-
sence in his regiment. The duty is sad
one, but his honor compels him to weld
and the lady worthy of his chivalrous he
roism, bids him go as she would be the