Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-05-01


fore taking up his line of march to the A
merican outposts. Scarcely had they throw
themselves upon the grass, when they per
ceived issuing from the enemy's advances
Ipickets a body of horse, commanded by al
officer, and proceeding along the road tina
led directly by the spot where the rifemel
had halted. No spot could be better chosel
for an ambuscade, for there were rocks ant
ravines, and also scrubby oaks, that grey
thickly on the eminencc by which the roat
we have just mentioned passed, and not e1s
ceeding hundred yards
'Down, boys, down." cried Morgan, G
the horse approached; nor did the clans
men Of the Black Roderick disappear more
promptly amid their native heather than-7s;4
Alorgan's woodsmen, in the present instance
each to his tree Or rock. Gle close there
my lads, till we see what these fellows ar,
about"
Meantime the horsemen had gained tht
height, and the officer dropping the rein OF
the chargers neck, with spy glass reconnoi
tired the American lines. The troops closed
up their files, and were either caressing tls
noble animals they rode, adjusting then
equipments, or gazing upon the surround
ing scenery, now fast Frightening in thu
beams Of a rising sun.
Morgan looked at Long, and Long at his
superior, while the rifemen, with pantine
chests and sparkling eyes, were only wait
ing some signal from their officer ''to let tie
ruin hy."
At length the martial ardor of Morgan
overcame his prudence and sense of militia
ry subordination. Forgetful Of consequen-
ces, reckless Of everything but his enemy,
now within his grasp, he waved his hand,
and loud and sharp rang the report of their
rifles amid the surrounding echoes.
vt point blank distance, the certain and
deadly aim Of the Hunting Shirts of the Re
army is too well known to his
tory to need remark at this time Of day. In
the instance sc have recorded, the effect oi
the fire Of the rcicmcn was tremendous. =
OF the horscmcn, some had fallen to rise no
more, while their liberated chargers rushed
widely over. the adjoining plain, others,
wounded, but entangled with their stirrups,
were dragged lyehe infuriated animals ex-
piring along ,sEliie the very few who were
nnscathed spurred hard ia .l--l-a.s -
IF the BIRTHS smoke vet cailoiiS' 'l,o so'nt re
oi sls,eg nc, and the picturesque forms OF
The woodsmen appeared among the foliage,
as they were reloading their pieces, the &C.
Iossal figure Of Morgan stood apart. He
seemed the very genius of war, and glooml-
" he contemplated the havoc his order had
made. He spoke not, he moved not, but
looked as one absorbed in the intensity of
thought. The martial shout with which he
WAS won't to cheer his comrades in the hour
of combat, was hushcd: the she'll from which
he had blown full many note Of battle an of
triumph On the field Of Saratoga, hung by his
side; no order was given to spoil the slain,
the arms and equipments, for which there
were such need at that the sorest period
of our country's priyation, all, all were a
bandoned, as, with an distracted air and a
voice struggling for utterance, Morgan sud
denly turning to his captain, exclaimed,
Long, to the camp, to the camp" The
favorite captain obeyed, the rifemon with
trailed arms fell into file, and Long and his
party soon disappeared, but not before the
hardy fellows had exchanged opinions OIL
the strange termination of the late affair."
And they agreed, n~ns. con-, that their col
onel was trickcd, (conjured,) J for assuredly
after such fire as they had given the enc
my, such an cmptying Of saddles and scat
tering Of ht@ioopcrs, he would not have
ordered his poor rife boys from the field
without so much as few shirts or a pair @
stockings being divided among them
"Yes," said a tall lean and swarthy-lookin!
fellow, an Indian hunter from the frontier
as he carefully placed his moccasinod feet il
the foot prints of the fle-leader, Yes, m
lads, it stands to reason, our colonel is trick
Cd"
Morgan followed slowly on the trail c
his men. The full force of his militar,
guilt had rushed upon his mind, even befor
the report Of his rifles had ceased to echo /
the neighboring forests. He came NOR
convinced of the cnormity of his offence, as
with dull and measured strides, he pursue
his solitary way, and thus soliloquizcd:
"Wen, Daniel Morgan, you have don
for yourself. Broke, sir for a certainty
You may go home, sir, to the plough; you
sword will be of no further use to you
Broken, sir.-nothing can save you: an
there is the end Of Col. Morgan. Foo
fool, by single act ofmadness thus to destro
the earnings of so many tolls and of man
hard-fought battle. You are broken, sl'
and there is an end of Col. Morgan"
TO disturb his reverie, there suddenly al
reared at full speed the aid-de-camp, tf
Mercury of the field, who, reigning up, al
costed the Colonel with, II am ordered
Col. Morgan, to ascertain whether the I'll
ing Just now heard proceeded from your d.
tachment?'
'It did, SIR doggedly replied Morgan
''Then, Col. Morgan" ," continued the AT