Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-15
EVENING STAR.
DANIEL MORGAN, AND HIS AMERICAN
RIFLEMEN
A REVOLUTIONARY skErcH.

REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH.
The outposts of the two armies wera varv
near to each other, when the American com.
mander, deslrous of obtaining particular in
formatlon respecting the position of the aa :
versary, summoned the famed leader of the
Rihemen' Colonel Daniel Morgan, to head
quarters.
1t was night, and the chief was alone. After
his usual polite, yet reserved and dignified
Saiutauon, washington remarked: "I have
sent for you, Col. Morgan, to entrust to vour
courage and sagacity a small, but important
enterprise. L wish you to reconnoiter the en-
envy line. with view to your ascertaining
correctly the position of their newly construc,
ted redoubts, also the encampments of the
British troops that have lately arrived and
those OF their Hessian auxiliaries. Select,
sir, an officer, non-commissioned officer, and
about twenty picked men, and, under cover
of tho night, proceed, but, with all caution.
get as near as you can, and by day-dawn re-
tire and mako your report to headquarters
But mark me, Col. Morgan, mark me well :;
upon no account whatever are you to bring on
any skirmish with the enemy if discovered.
make speedy retreat let nothing induce
you to fire single shot l repeat, sir, that
no force of circumstances will excuse the dis
charge OF a single rifle on your part; and for
the extreme preciseness of these orders, per-
NIT me to say, have my reasons" Filling
two glasses of wine, the General continued !:
And now, Col. Morgan, we will drink to
good night, and success to your ENTERPRISE
Col. Morgan quaffed the wine, smacked his
lips, and assured his Excellency that his or
ders should be punctually obeyed, and left
the tent of the Commander in-Chief
Charmed at being chosen as the executive
officer OF daring enterprise the leader of the
woodsmen repaired to his quarters, and call
ing for Gabriel Long, his favorite captain, or
dered him to detail trusty sergeant and
twenty prime fellows, who, being mustered and
ordered to lay on their arms, ready at a mo-
ment's warning, Morgan and Long stretched
their manly forms before the watch-ire to
wait the going down of the moon, the signal
Of departure.
A little after midnight, and while the ravs
of the setting moon still family glimmered in
the western horizon, cup, Sergeant" cried
Long, "stir up your men," and twenty ath-
letic fguros were on their feet in a moment.
"lndian file, march," and away thew all
sprung with the quick, and yet light and
stealthy step Of the woOdsman. They reached
the enemy's line, crawled up so close to the
pckets Of the Hessians as to inhalc the odor
OF their pipes; discovered by the newly-turncd
earth the position Of the redoubts, and by the
numerous tents that dotted the field for
" many rod around" and showed dimIy,
amid the light haze, the encampment Of the
British and German reinforcements, and, in
short, performed their perilOus duty without
the slightest discovery. and, pleased with
themselves and the success of their enterprise,
prepared to retire, just as a chantcleer from
neighboring farm house was bidding sal
utatlon to the morn"
The adventurous party reached a small en-
inence at some distance from the British cnmn
and commanding an extensive prospect over
the adjacent country. Here Morgan halted
to give his men little rest, before taking nm
his line of march to the American outp0sts
Scarcely had they thrown themselves upon
the grass, when they perceived issuing from
the eaemy's advanced pickets body of
horse, commanded by an officer, and proceed
ing along the road that led directly by the
spot where the rihemen had halted No spot
could be better chosen for an ambuscape, for
there were rocks and ravincs, and also scrub
by oaks, that grew thickly on the eminence
by which the road which We have Just men
toned passed, at not exceeding a hundred
yards.
Down, boys, down." cried Morgan, as tho
horse approached; ; nor did the clansmen OF
tho Black Roderick disappear more promptly
amid their native heather than did Morgan's
woOdsmen, in the present instance, each to
his tree or rock. 90 Lie close there nv lads.
till we see what these fellows are about"
Meantime the hOrsemen had gained the
height, and the Cficer dropping the rein on
the chargers neck, with spy-glass reconnoi-
tired the American lines. The troops closed
up their files, and were either caressins the
noble animals they rode, adjusting their
equipments, or gazing upon the surrounding
scenery, now fast Frightening in the beams of
a rising sun
Morgan looked at Long, and Long at his
superior, while the rifemen, with painting
chests and sparkling eyes, were only waiting
some signal from their officer 4" to let the ruin
fly"
At length the martial ardor of Morgan over
came his prudence and sense of military sub
ordination. Forgetful OF consequences, reck-
less 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
At point blank distance, the certain and
deadly aim of the Hunting Shirts of the Rev.
olutionary army is too we'll known to history
to need remark at this time of day. In the
instance we have recorded, the effect Of the
fire Of the rifemen was tremendous OF tho
horSemen, some had fallen to rise no more,
while their liberated chargers rushed wildly
over the adjoining plain, others, wounded,
but entangled with their stirrups, were
dragged by the infuriated animals expiringly
along, while the very few who were unscathed
spurTed hard to regain the shelter Of the Brit
ish lines. .
While the smoke yet canopied the scene of
slaughter, and the picturesque forms of the
woodsmen appeared among the foliage, as
they were reloading their pieces, the colossal
figure of Morgan stood apart Ho seemed
the very genius of war, and gloomily he con-
templated 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 wont to
cheer his comrades in the hour of combat,
was hushed; the shell from which he had
blown full many note of battle and of tri-
umph on the field of Saratoga, hung by his
side; no order was given to spoil the slain,
the arms and equipments, for which there
was always a bounty from Congress, the
shirts of which there were such need at
that the sorest period Of our country's priva-
ton, all, all were abandoned, as, with an alb
stracted air and voice struggling for utter
ance, Morgan, suddenly turning to his cap
tain, exclaimed, "Long, to the camp, to the
camp" The favorite captain obsyed, the
raemen with trailed arms fell into file, and