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

Chief
The CLEANS of the morning sun, shining
upon the sabres Of the horse guard, announc.
ed the arrival Of the dread commander-that
being who inspired with degree of awe
every one who approached him. With g
stern, yet dignifed composure, Washington
addressed the military culprit:
j "Can it be possible, Col. Morgan, that
.5my aid-de-camp has informed me Alright 3
Can it be psssible, after the orders you re-
Z celved last evening, that the firing we have
heard proceeded from your detachment?--
Surely, sir, my orders were SO explicit as
mot to be easily misunderstood
1 Morgan was brave, but it has been often,
and justly, too, observed, that man was
ever born Of woman who could approach
the great Washington and not feel degree
OF awe and veneration from his presence. -
I Morgan quailed for moment before the
stern yet just displeasurc of his Chief, till
arousing all his energies for the effort, he
Runcovered and replied:
] our Excellency's orders were perfect
y understood; and agreeably to the same,
i proceeded with the select party to recon-
noltre the enemy's lines by night. We
succeeded even beyond our expectations,
and was returning to headquarters to make
my report when, having halted few min
utes to rest the men, we discovered party
Of horse coming out from the enemy's lines.
They came up Immediately to the spot
Were we lay concealed by the brushwood.
there they halted, and gathered together
like flock Of patridges, affording me so
tempting an opportunity of annoying my
enemy, and may it please your excellency,
flesh and blood could not refrain
At this rough yet frank, bold and man
ly explanation, smile was observed to pass
over the Generals suite. The Chief re-
manned unmoved !; waving his hand, he con-
unued: Colonel Morgan, you will retire
70 your quarters, there to await further Or
lers."
Arrived at his quarters, Morgan threw
himself upon his hard couch, and gave him
self up to reflections upon the events which
had SO lately and rapidly succeeded each
other. lie was aware he had sinnd against
=. Il r-17z-sl1. 1Il1 twenty
ite with his General to be wndp - { eG-r .
graced and broken soldier. Condemned to
retire from. the scenes of glory, the darling
passion of his heart-forever to abandon the
fair fields of fighting men > and in obscur-
itv to drag out the remnant Of a wretched
existence, neglected and forgotten. And
then his rank, so hardly and SO nobly won,
with all his '.blushing honors7 acquired in
the march across the frozen wilderness Of
the Kennebec, the storming Of the Lower
Town, and the gallant and glorious combat
at Saratoga.
The hours dragged gloomily away, and
night came, and with it no rest for the trou-
bled spirit of poor Morgan The drums
and flies merrily sounded the soldiers dawn
and the sun arose, giving ''promise of a
coodly day" And to many within the
circuit of this widely extended camp did
his genial beam give hope; and joy, and
cladness, while it cheered not with a single
ray the despairing Leader of the Woods
men.
About ten o'clock the orderly on duty re-
ported the arrival of an officer of the staff,
from headquarters, and Lieutenant Colonel
Hamilton, the favorite aid Of the Comman-
der-in- Chief, entered the marque.
s:Be seated" said Morgan; Il know
your errand, so be short my dear fellow
and put me out of my misery at once.
!, know that [ am arrested: tits a matter O.
course. Well, there is my sword but sure
ly his Excellency honors me, indeed in these
last moments of my military existence, whel
he sends for my sword by his favorite aid
and my most esteemed friend. All my dea
Hamilton, if you knew what have suffered
tsince the accursed horse came out to temp
f ne to my ruin"
Hamilton, about whose strikingly intelli
, gent countenance there always lurked
playful smile, now observed, 'sCol. Morga
, his Excellency has ordered me to-
Il know it," interrupted Morgan, ct
bid me prepare for a trial but, pshaw, VIII
trial? Guilty, sir, guilty past all doubt
. But then" recollecting himself, ''perhaI
my services might plead-nonsense- agains
r the disobedience Of positive order; no, nc
: it's all over with me Hamilton, there is a
] end to your old friend, Col Morgan"
The agonized spirit Of the hero the
Y mounted TO q pitch Of enthusiasm, as he ez
= claimed, ''But my country will remcmbe
my services, and the British and the Hes
SLAMS will remember me for, though ma
be far away, my brave comrades will d
q their duty; and Morgan's Rifemen will bt
: as they always have been, a terror to tn
enemy"
: The noble, the generous-souled Hamilto
: could no longer bear to witness the strue
giles of the brave unfortunate he called ou
J.. CLEAR me, my dear Colonel; only promis
|, Ito hear me for one moment, and | will te
+ you all"
r, "Go on, sir" interrupted Morgan de
pairing]y, *'go on.