The Trinity journal., 1856-05-10

of September, 1776, the American troops
under the command of the brave Putnam
were ordered to retreat from the upper part
of the city, and fortify themselves upon the
rocky heights at Kings Bridge. This meas
ure was adopted by Washington more in ac-
cordance with the views of his aids than from
his own wishes, although the advance of the
British army rendered the former position
of the rebels dangerous in the extreme
The heights were reached in safety, and am
pie provision made for the comfort Of the
large number of women and children depen-
dent upon the army for protection. On the
morning of the 10th, word was received at
headquarters that the enemy were approach
ing. Washington Immediately mounted his
horse and rode rapidly towards the point
from which the opposing forces were adyan-
cling The outpost, commanded by the
brave Lieut. Col Knowlton, who had so
highly distinguished himself at the bloody
field Of Bunker Hill, was at this moment
driven in, and the soldiers composing it flew
wildly past the Commander-in-Chief Knowl-
toms horse came slowly up to the General,
bearing his wounded master. Washington
seized the bride, and, satisfying himself that
his able officer was firmly fixed in his sad
die, returned sadly to the heights, while the
bugles Of the red coats rang out insultngly
in merry strains.
Arrived at the building which Washing
ton had taken possession of as his hcadquar-
ter>--and which stands there to this day
the wounded Knowlton was taken from his
steed, and borne, bleeding and faint, into
the chamber of his chief
My wife he murmured in failing tones,
She is at the fort-send for herp
His wish was complied with, and in few
moments the lady was kneeling above the
dying husband
No tears, dearestP he gasped. You will
ever remember this dayl Let our children
regard it as one upon which their father Sc
cured an Immortality. Adieu, Mary! Go
to your home: and when sadness assailS YOU
remember that he whom you mourn fell in
defence of nations libertyn
Both Washington and Putnam were pres
ent, and each clasped hand Of the dying
man. With the latter he had ever been an
especial fayorite
'Knowlton, my friendP stammered old
Put while the tears stood in those eyes all
unused to weeping-'you were ever lion
hearted soldier. wish the Internal william
who gave you this wound was in my hands .
for a short time He would never again be .
in position to wound, to kill, such man
as you. But you will never be forgotten
So long as the memory of Bunker Hill is
left those who come after us, so long will
your name be repeated with love and graft
tude'
The last word, most welcome to a dying
soldier said the great Washington, must
be the commentator of his fellow warriors. /
/ have watched you, Knowlton, and have
never known braver man. However great
the danger, you have ever been the foremost
in meeting it. There has been no duty as
signed to you from which you have shruuk,
and believe me there is no officer under my
orders in whom | would have placed more
implicit reliance. To that Deity before
whom we must sooner or later appear
commend you knowing that the reward of
the good and true awaits YOU
Thanks, General; love YOU The
speech faltered, the eyes grew dim, and ere
long the brave Knowton had ceased to
breathe. Then upon the silence Of that
quiet chamber arose a wild heart-broken
cry The wife, who had so dcvotedly fol-
lowed the object of her love through all the
vicissitudes of danger until the dread hour of
death now fell upon the cold form Of the .
loved one, as she cried wildly
Husband! husbandn
No sound again broke the stiffness of the .
scene until the compatriots of the dead sol
dier came to bear the lifeleSs ones to the ST. .
lent grave. Together husband and wife re-
pose, amid the unrevealed mysteries of the
coming time. Putnam's words were true
the hero is not forgotten.
Is THIS CITY, last summer, a conscientious
lad had, on the impulse, done something
which he knew his mother would not APP
prove. He was sincerely sorry, and carried
l.. -, bo oor Of e;c.ou o,,l ..;l 4l.4