Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-12-26
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT.


Tho hero Of the following thrilling
story was embodied in tho person o.
stout blacksmith, aye, an humble black
smith, but in his stout frame, hardened
with toll, throbbed as generous an inn
pulse Of freedom, rs ever beat in the
bosom Of La Faycttc, Or around the hcart
Of Mad Anthony Wayne.
twas in full tide Of the retreat that a
follower Of the American camp, who had
at least, shouldcred cart-whip in his
coun.ry's service, was dragging bag
gage wagon from the field Of battle,
while some short distance behind, a body
of continentals were pushing forward
with a body of British in pursuit.
Tho wagon had arrived at narrow
point. of the by-road leading to the south
where two high bankso rocks and crags.
arishg on either side, afforded just suf-
6cient space for the passage of the bag
gage wagons, and not an inch more.
HIS eyes were arrested by the sight
Of a stout muscular man apparently some
forty years of age, extended at the foot
of u tree at the very opening Of the pass.
He was clad in the coarse attire Of
mechanic His coat had been flung
aside, and with his shirt-slccves rolled
up from his muscular arm, ho lay ex-
tended on the turf with his rifle in his
grasp, while sho blood poured in tor.
rent from his leg, which was broken at
the knee by cannon ball
The waeoners syrunathics were ar
rested by tho sight. He would have
paused in the very instance Of his flight,
and placed the wopn1ed blacksmith in
his wagon, but the stout hearted man
refused.
"Til not ret into your wagon" said
he in his rough way. but I'll tell you
what | will do, Do you see yonder
chcrFy-lree, on the top Of that rock that
hangs over the road ? Do vou think
Won can lift man Of my build up there?
For you see. neighbor.' he continued,
while the blood flowed down from his
wound. . | never meddled with the Brit
ishers. until they came trampling over
this valley. and burned my house down.
AMI now lm al rildled to pieces, and
haint got mare than fifteen minutes life
in me; but Eve got three balls in my
cartridge box, and so Just prop me up
arainst that tree. and III give them the
whole three shots, and them" exclaimed
the blacksmith, I'm de-
The Wagner started his horses ahcmi /.
md then with sudden effort dragged tho
wounded man along the sod 10 the foo. Of
the tree His face was to the advancing
troopers. and while his shattered leg
hung over the bank, the WAGNER rushed
on his way, whom the doomed blacksmith
proceeded coolly to loal his rife.
Il was not long heforoa body Of Amer
lean soldiers rushed by with the British
IN pugsnit Tho b blacksmith greeted
them within shont. aul raising his rinc
70 his shoulder. he picked the foremost
from his spirited s;ecd, with tho cxcla-
n nation:
That's for Gcnoral Woshingtonm
ina moment tho rifle WIS reloaded.
md oaain It was fired, and The purfuing
British rode over another OF their fallen
officers =
"Thpfs f,r myselfw cried the bl,ek-
smith md then. witt, 4 hanl strong will,
The f'clinr Of approaching deaths again
loaded raised his riae--iircd his last
shot. AMI another soldier kissed the sod.
\ tonr quivcred in the eye Of the dying
blacksmith.
+" AMI that." he said, with husky
voice which strengthened almost into a
shont. SIS for Mad Anthony Waynew
Long after fhc battle Of tho Brandy
vino was past the body was discovered
against the tree. with the features fro
zen IN death smiling rriinly. while his
rigbt hand still graspcd The never failing
rife.
And Thus died one Of the thousand
brave observation-disclosures ofthe Revolution;
brave in the hour Of battle, undauntcd in
the hour Of retreat and undismayed m
the moment Of death