The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-11-26

VountyG nun OObSIeSs, tue eHlTlS Z
which there were such need, at that
the sorest period of our country's pri
vation, all. all were abandoned, as, witt
an abstracting air, and voice strug
Cling for utterance, Morgan suddenl,
turning to his captain, exclaimed, 'Lons
to the. camp, to the camp The favorit,
captain obeyed, therifemen with trailec
arms fell into file, aud Long and his par
ty soon disappeard, but not before the
hardy fellows had exchanged opinions
on the strange termination of the late
affair. And they agreed, mem con-, that
their Colonel was tricksd, (coDjured) for
assuredly, after such. fire as they had
given the enemy, such an emptying OF
saddles and scattering of the troopers,
he would not have ordered his poor rifle
boys from the field, without so much as
few shirts or pair of stockings being
divided among them YES said tall,
lean and swarthy looking fellow, as he
carefully placed his moccasined feet in
the footprints of the file leader, Yes,
my lads, it stands to reason our Colonel
is tricked.' -qe-. ..
Morgan followed slowly on the trail
of his men. The full force of his militia
ry guilt had rushed upon his mind, even
before the report of his rifles had ceased
to echo in the neighboring forests. He
became more convinced of the enormity
of his offence, as, with dull and measur
ed strides, he pursued his solitary way,
soliioquising. We'll, Daniel Morgan, you
have done for your self. Broke sir, to
a certainty. You may go home, sir, to
the pillow; your sword will be of no fur
ther use to you. Broken, sir, nothing
can save you; and there is the end of
Col. Morgan. Fool, fool, by single
act of madness, thus to destroy the earn
ings of so many tolls, aud of many
hard fought battle. You are broken,
sir, and there is an end of Col. Morgan
To disturb his reverie, there suddenly
appeared at full speed, the aid de-camp,
the Mercuryof the field, who, reiui"g
up, accosted the Colonel With, L am
ordered, Colonel Morgan, to ascertain
whether the firing jnst now heard, pro
ceeded from your detachn.ent.'
It did, sir, dogggdty replied Nor
gan. '-'', -
Then, Col. Morgan continued the
aid, L am further ordered to require of
you your immediate .attend1nce upon his
Excellency, who is fast approaching
Morgan bowed, and the aid, wheeling
his charger, galloped back to rejoiu the
chief.
The CLEANS of the morning sun, shin
ing upon the sabres of the horse guard,
announced the dread commauder-that
being who inspired with degree of awe
every one who approached bin. With
stern, yet dignifed composure, Wash
ington addressed the military culprit;
Can it be possible, Col. Morgan, that
my aid-de-camp has informed me Alright?
CanNit be possible, after the orders you
received last evening, that the firing we
have heard proceeded from your detach-
ment? Surely, sir, my orders were SO
explicit as not to be easily misunder-
stood
Morgan was brave, but it has been
often, and justly too, observed, that
man was never born of woman who could
approach the great Washington, and not
feel degree of awe and veneration
from his presence. Morgan quailed for
a moment before the stern, yet just dis
pleasure of his chief, till, arousing all
his energies for the effort, he uncovered
and replied:
Your Excellency's orders were per-
fectly understood, and agreeably to the
same, I proceeded with the select party
to reconnoitre the enemy's lines by night.
We succeeded even beyond our expecta-
tions, and I was returning to the head
quarters to make my report, when, haV-
ing halted few minutes to rest the
men, we discovered party of horse
coming out from the enemy's line. They
came up Immediately to the spot where
we lay concealed by the brushwood.
There they halted, and gathering to-
gether like flock of partridges, afford
ing me so tempting an opportunity of
annoying the enemy, and, may it please
your Excellency, 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 unmoved; when, wav
ing his hand, he continued: Colonel
Morgan, you will retire to your quar-
tors, there to await further ORDERS
Arriving at his quarters, Morgan
threw himself 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 for
giveness. Within twenty hours he had
fallen from the command of regiment,
and being the especial fayorite of the
General, to be what?-a disgraced and
broken soldier. Condemned to retire
from the scenes of glory, the darling