Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-13
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT ToWANDA BRADFORD COUNTY M

from the enemy's line. They came up immq-
diately to the spot where we lay concealed by
the brushwood. There they halted, and gath
cred together like a flock of partridges, afford
ing me so tempting an opportunity of annoy
ing my enemy, and may it please your Excel
lency, flesh and blood could not refrain"
AT this rough, yet frank, bold and manly
explanation, smile was observed to pass over
the Generals suite The Chief remained un-
moved when, waving his hand, hecontnued :
" Col. Morgan, You will retire to your quarters,
there to await further orders"
Arrived at his quarters, Morgan threw him
self upon his hard couch, and gave himself up
to reflections upon the events which had so
lately and rapidly succeeded each other He
was aware he had sinned beyond all hopes of
forgiveness. Within twenty hours he had fall
len from the command of a regiment aud be-
ing the especial favorite of the General, to be
what "a disgraced and broken soldier Con
demned to retire from the scenes Of glory, the
darling passion of his heart-forever to aban-
don the " fair fields of fighting men," and in
ODscurity to drag out the remnant of wretch
Ell existence, neglected and forg often. And
then his rank, so hardly and so nobly won, and
all his bushing honorS," acquired in the
march across the frozen wilderness of the
hennebec, the stormiug of the lower Town,
aud the gallant and glorious combat 1T Sara
toga.
The hours dragged gloomly away, and night
came, and with it no rest for poor Morgan.--
The drums and hfes merrily sounded the sol
dier'S dawn and the sun arose, giving "pro,
mise Of a g0odly day" And to many within
the circuit of this widely extended camp did
his genial beam give hope, and JOY and glad
ness, while it cheered not with single ray the
despairng leader of the Woodsmen
About ten o'clock, the orderly on duty re-
ported the arrival of an officer of the staff
from headquarters, and Lieut. Col Hamilton,
the favorite Of the Commandcr-in-chcf enter
cd the marqnc
" Be seated" said Morgan ." know your
errand, SO be short, my dear fellow, and put
Inc out of my misery at once. | know that
am arrested It's matter of course. We'll,
there is my sword but surely his eXcellency
honorS me indeed, in these last moments of my
military existence, when he sends for my sword
by his faVOrite aid, aud most esteemed friend.
All, Hamilton, if you knew what | have suffer
ed since that accurScd horse came out to tempt
me 10 my ruin"
Hamilton about whose striking intelligent
countenanCe there always lurkcd a playful
smile, now observed, ." Col. Morgan, his excel
ency has ordered me to" --
I" knew it," Interrupted Morgan, "to bid
me prepare for trial but pshaw, why a trial
Guilty, sir, guilty past all doubt. But then,
recoecting himself, "peFhaps my services may
ead-nonSense-aga the diSobedience of
IA positive order no, no. it's all over with me-
Hamilton there is an end to your old friend,
Col. Morgan"
The agoniZed spirit of the hero then mount
ed a pitch of enthusiasm us he exclaimed -
" But my country viii remember nv services :;
and The British and HeSsians will remember
me for, though | may be far away, my brave
comrades will do their duty and Morgan's Ri
Acmen will be, as they always have been, a ter
ror to the enemy"
The noble, the gcncroussouled Hamilton
could no longer bear to witness the Strug-
gle of the brave unfortunate he called out
- Hear mr, my dear Colonel only promise
to hear ne for one moment, and | will tell
you all"
Go on, sir" interrupted Morgan, despair
ingly, 90 on"
Then" continued the aid-de camp, you
must know that the commanders of regiments
dine with his EXcelency to-day"
"What Of that :" again interrupted Col
Morgan {; " what has that to do with we a
prisoner
No, no." exclaimed Hamilton no prison
er--a once offending, bat now forgiven soldier;
my orders are to invite you to dine with his
cxcellency to-day, at three O'clock precisely :;
yes, my brave and good friend Col. Morgan,
you still are, and likely long to be, the valued
and famed commander of the Regiment"
Morgan spraug from his campbed upon
which he was sitting, and seizing the hand OF
the great little man in his giant grasp, wrung
and wrung it, till the aid-de-camp literally
struggled to get free, then exclaimed Am
| in my senses but l know you. Hamilton
YOU are too noble to sport with the feelings Of
an old brother soldier"
Hamilton assured his friend that III was
true, and gaily kissing his hand as he mounted
his horse, bidding the now delighted Colonel
to remember o'clock, and be careful not to
disobey second time, galloped to hcadquar-
terS.
Morgan entered the pavilion of the Com
mander-in chief, as it was filling with officers
all of whom, after paying their respects to the
General, fled off to give cordial squeeze Of
the hand to the commander of the Rife Rcgi-
ment, and to whisper in his ear words of con-
graduation The cloth removed, Washington
bid his guests fill their glasses, and gave his
only. his unwavering toast of the days Of trial,
the toast of the evening of his " time honored"
life amid the shades of Mount Vernon, " dH
our Friends" Then, with his nSual old-fash-
ioned politeness, he drank to each guest by
name When he came to Col Morgan, your
health sir" thrill ran through the manly
frame of the gratifed and again fayorite sol
dicr, while every eye in the pavilion was turn-
ed on him. At an early hour the company
broke up, and Morgan had a perfect escort of
officers accompanying him to his quarters, all
anxious to congratulate him upon his happy
restoration to rank and favor, all pleased to