Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-07-31

mnnd OF MAJOR Lewis IN person.
The Captains were required 10 be In
the field early, with their respective
commands, EARNED and equipped as
the law Directs The great and
memorable day at last arrived Tho
parade grounds were early filled with
waving pIumes, and crowds of anx.
ious citizens. The Aid-de-camp of
the Major came galloping into the
field In full uniform, directly from the
head quarters Of the Major, and halt.
cd at tho marquee Of the Adiutant.-
In few minutes the order from the
Major was given, In q loud military
voice, by tho Adjutant, mounted on u
splendid groy charger:
'Onicers, 10 your places; marshal
your men into companies, separating
the barc-footcd from those who have
shoes or moccasins, placing the guns,
sticks and cornstalks into seperatc
platoons, and then form the line, ready
TO receive tho Major"
Tho order was promptly obeyed,
In true military style, when ut dis
tance, Major Lewis was seen coming
into the Held, with his aids by his
side, his horse rearing and plunging,
much like old "Whitoy' ut the battle
Of Buena Vista. Tho brilliant uni
form Of the Major, and his high wav-
ing plume, pointed him out ~ plain
~ M the military bearing Of james
Blake, when marshal Of the day In
after years, marked him 10 the oyos
OF thousands, who were looking for
General William o. Butler. The
line was formed; tho Major took a
position on rising ground, about one
hundred yards In front Of tho battal-
lion; rising In his stirrups and turning
his face full upon the line-"Atton-
ton, the whole"
Unfortunately tho Major had not
tried his voice before In the open mir,
and with the word Attention" his
voice broke, and "the whole" sounded
like whistle Of shrill fife. The mo-
ment the sound reached the line, some
one at the lower end, with voice as
shrill as the Majors, cried out, "Chil-
dren, como out OF the swamp, you'll
got snake Bit" The Major pushed
down tho line at full speed. "Who
dares insult me-" No answer. The
cry then commenced all along tho
line, "You'll get snake bit, you'll got
snake Bit" The Major turned and
dashed up the line, but soon had
sense enough 10 see that IL was the
militia system that was at an end,
and II was not Major Lewis that wa
the main object Of ridicule. lie dash
ed his champean from him, drew his
sword and threw it upon the ground,
tore his commission to pieces, and re-
signed his Office on the spot. The
battalion dispersed, and military mus
ters were at an end from that time
forward in the White Water country.
SHARP PRACTICE.
To the credit Of the young lawyers
In those days, they almost committed
TO memory the few books we had, not
forgetting the constitution fthe State.
Among the most industrious and
learned was my friend Cyrus Finch,
Of Centerville, who died young. We
had little pass before the associate
Judges Of Wayne county, that the
profession will appreciate at this day.
The case was an assumpsit. i was
for the defendant; and Mr.. Finch for
plaintiffs. He proved that my client
had promised by parol TO pay a debt
another person owed his client. The
evidence closed; i thought l chad"
him, and took up the statute and read
TO the associate Jueges from the
chapter on fraud and perjuries-s'No
action shall begrought TO charge any
person upon any promise to answer
for the debt, default or miscarriage of
another, unless the promis is in wri-
ting, signed by theparty to be charg-
ed" ThisI supposed settled the case,
but not so. Mr.. Finch-"Hand me
that book. If the Court pleases, that
law is void under the constitution of
the United States, il reads, No State
shall pass any law impairing the OBJ
legation Of contracts" / saw was
gone. The Court-sThe constitution
of the United States must prevail;
Judgement for tho plaintiff.