Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-02-16


the road which led directly hv the spot
where the reAemen were halted. No spot
coull be better chosen for an ambuscade,
for there were rocks and ravineS that grew
thickly on the eminence 10y which the road
we have just mentioned passed, at not ex-
ceeling a hundred yards.
Down, boys, down, cricd Morgan, as
the horse approach ell nor did the clans
men of the Black Roderick disappear
more promptly ami their native heather,
than did Morgan's woodmen, in the pres
ent instance, each TO his tree or rock. lie
close there my lads, till we see what these
fellows are about
Meantime the horSemcu had gained the
height, and the officer, dropping his rein
on his chargers neck, with spy-g lass re-
connoitcrel the American lines. The
troops closed up their files, and were eth
cr caressing the noble animals they rode,
or adjusting their equipments, or gazing
upon the surrounding scenery, now fast
brightning in the beams of the rising sun.
Morgan looked at Long and Long at
his superior, while the rihemen, with pant
ing chests and sparkling eyes, were only
awaiting some signal from their officers
to let the ruin fly
At length the martial ardor of Morgan
overeame his prudence and sense of mill
tary subordinance. Forgetful Of conSc-
quences, reckless of everything, but his
enemy, now within his grasp, he raised
his hand, and loud and sharp rang the re.
port of their rifles amid the surrounding
echoes.
A point blank distance, the certain and
deadly aim of the Hunting Shirts of
the Revolution is too well known to his
tory to need remarks at this time of day.
/ In the distance we have recorded, the ef-
! feet of the riAemen was tremendous. OF
the horscmcn, scmc had fallen to rise no
more, while their liberated chargers rush
ed wild Y over the adjoining plain, others
wounded but entangled in their stiTups,
were dragged by their iniuriated animals
expiringly along, while the very few who
were unscathed, spurlcd hard to gain the
shelter Of the British line.
While the smokcyet canopicl the scene
of slaughter, and the picturesque forms Of
the woodmen appeared among the foliage,
as they were lc-loading their pieces, the
colossal figure of Morgan stood apart.
He seemed the very genius Of war. and
gloomiIy he contemplated the havoc his
order had made. Hespoke not, he moved
not, but looked as one absorbed il the III
tcn2ity Of though. The martial shout
with which he was wont to cheer his COM
ralcs in the hour of combat, was hrshed;
the shell from which he hal blown fall
many note Of battle and Of trinmph on
the golden Saratoga, hung by his side
no order was given to spoil the slain the
arms and equipments, for which there was
a bounty from Congress. the shuts OF
which there was such neol at that the
soreSt period Of our country's pGivatlon,
all were abandoned, rs with an abstractcd
air, and a voice struggling for utterance,
Morgan, suddenly turning to his captain,
exclaimed, Long, to the camp, to the
camp!' The captain ohcyel, the riilcnlel
with traile,l arms fell into file, and Long
and his party soon disappeared, but not
before the hardy fellows had exchanged
opinions on the strange termination of the
late affair. And they agreed, mem con-
that their colonel was tricked, (conured,
for assuredly after such a fire as they hac
given the enemy, such an emptying O
saddles and scattering of troopers, he
would not have ordered his poor rifle boys
; from the field without as much as few
shirts or a pair of stockings being divided
; among them. "Ies," said q tall, lear
and swarthyloolling fellow, an indian
hunter from the frontier, as he carefully
placed his moccasined feet in the foot
prints Of the tile-leader Yes, my lads, il
stands to reason our Colonel is tricked.'
/, Morgan followed slowly on the trail o
his men. The full force of his militar,
, guilt rushed upon his mind, even before
the report of his rifles had ceased to echo
in the neighboring forests. He becam,
more convinced Of the enormity of his Of
fence, as, with dull and measured strides
he pursued his solitary way, and thus SO
ll!oquized:
"Well, Daniel Morgan, you have dom
for yourself Broke, sir, to certainty
You may go home, sir, to the plough
; Your sword will be of no further use t,
you. Broke, sir, and nothing can saw
e you, and there is the end of Col Morgan
Fool, fool, bya single act of madness t.
dest! oy the good of many hard-fought bat
ties. You are broken, sir, and that j
: ALL"
=, TO disturb his reverie, there suddenl,
appeared at full speed the aid-de-camp
! Mercury, of the field, who reigning up
! accosted the Colonsl with, ri am ordered
i Col. Morgan, to ascertain whether that fir
" ing just now heard proceeded from you
P detachment ?"
cit did, sir" doggedly replied Nor
;. gan.
"Thcn Col. Morgan" continued tn
; aid, 81 am further ordered to require o
you immediate attendance upon hi
9 Excellency who is fast approaching"
4 Colonel Morgan bowed, and the aid, wheel
, ing his charger, gaHoped back to rejoil
e the Chief.
The CLEAN of the morning sun shinin,
upon the sabres of the horses guard an
a nounced the arrival of the dread comman
: der-that being who inspired with a de
@ gree of awe every one who approache
!, him. With a stern, yet digni6ed compo
y sure, Washington addressed the militar
p culprit:
y The difference between an old woma