The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-07-04
vOuRTH OF July.

X WAS customary some years ago, IN many
Of the inland towns of New EnSland. to
celebrate the anniversary of American In
dependence, By sham fight, intended to
represent some of the Revolutionary Bat
ties, and of eourse-rietoriss; one portion
of the town people representing the he'd
Coats, and another the Federal forces. Be-
low, We give the rich end of an aecouns.
which We find IN an exchange, Of one of
these celebrations. A little town had re-
solved to perform the Surrender of Corn
wallis. Deacon Moses jones, weaisay
proud farmer, was chosen to enact Wash-
inston, Squire B,ger Wood, an arissocrattc
village lawyer. to perform Cornwallis; but
let the writer tell his own story:
..The two Companies Were TO meet IN
front of the tavern, on the Commons. ex-
change Shots, skirmish little-in which
Cornwallis was to be most essentially whip
ped, and then ingloriousiy surrender. ...
At 3 O'Clock, the two companies marched
into the village, and arrayed themselves into
h-utih- poS4tiouS> Atno >A> StNNe'sNA
of the time when ....
Brave Wolfe drew up his men.
In style most pretty;
On the plains of Abraham,
Before the City" 5-...
The two commanders were greatly excited,
and Washington, l regret to say. was in any
thing bat fit condition to act out the great
par, he WAS to perform. He had been drink
ing freely all the morning, and now, when
the interesting ceremony was about 10 COM
mence, was so tight or rather loose, that 1t
was with difficulty that he could st in his
saddle; he. however. did not know but
what he was all right, nor did his men,
Cornwallis was not intoxicated, but little
agitated, or rather elated.
Everything being ready, the companies
exchanged shots. Bang whang!! bang !! T.!
went the guns, while the two commanders
yelled like so many stuck-pigs.
''That's it, (hic) my brave boys; give it
to them. the owdacious Red Coats,' below
ed Washington.
"On, Romans!; yelled the excited Corn
wallis. who had seen theatrical exhibition
once, and remembered the heroic appeals of
Ihespian belligcrants breathes there Il
man so dead, that wont fight like thunder -
SEQ it, Continentals Down with taxa
ton on tea!' beloved Washington III a
very patriotic voice. and narrowly escaping
cutting his horses ear off with the flourish
of his sword.
The lighting now ceased. the companies
We're drawn up in a straight line, and Corn
wallis dismounted and presented his sword
to Washington.
oil nII hpvS.tS f1a tal
ne cuifed his horses ears with his cooked
hat-''what in thunder do you want with mes
':General Washington" replied Cornwall
lis, IL surrender to you myself, sword and
men.'
"You do, do ye:' snceringly replied the
General.
"Yes, General, the British Lion prostrates
himself at the foot of the American Eagle"
"Eagie. eayie.' yelled the ttenertl. roll
inc of his horse. and hitting the Britain 4
tremendous blow on the head. with the Hat
of his sword. "do you call me an eagle :?
Take that and that !! ! and that - Yelled
the infurlated Washington; .'perhars you'll
call Inc an eGgle again, you sncaklng cus>"'
COrnwaiIs wus down. but only a moment.
for he jumped up and shook himself with
an entirely unlocked for recuperation, on
the part of afallen foe. and indirect defiance
of historical history. he pitched into Wash
lngton Ike thousand of brick. and in spite
of the men of both nations, succeeded in
giving the ..immortal'' tremendous licking.
SO the day that commenced so glorious. en-
ded in-glorious.
For many years after the surrender, there
was Il coldness between the Deacon and the
Squire, but AS time rolled on, and their locks
became frosted DER with white, they learned
to call it Il :. joke" Both are now living,
and whenever they meet, they smoke and
talk about ''that ar" like a couple of good
jolly old men. as they are