The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-10-21
WooDsFIELD: MONROE COUNTY OHIO OCTOBER 1851,
A LUDIcRous INCIDENT

- A LUDICROUS INCIDENTsa e
1t was customary some years ago in many
Of the inland towns of, New England to
celebrate the anniversary Of American In
dependence, By a might iEtended 70 re-
present some of the Revolutionary battles,
and of course victories s.-one portion OF
the town people representing the, Red
Goats, and another the Federal forces.
Below we find in an exchange, an account
of one of. the celebrations. 4 little town
had resolved to perform the surrender, of
CORVALLIS. Deacon, Moses Jones "a
proud, wealthy farmer, was chosen to, en-
act Washington, and Squire Bigler Wood
an aristocratic lawyer, Cornwallas; but
let the writer tell his own story. IN
The two companies were TO meet in
front of the tavern, on the common, eXch-
auge shots, .skirmish little7-in- which
CORVALLIS was to be, essentially whipped
and then most irigloriously surrender.
AT nine o'clock the companies marched
into the village, and arrayed themselves IN
fighting positions, reminding the spectator
CT the time. when - {.
Brave Wolf drew up his men /
In style most pretty,
~. On the plains of Abraham, ~
Before the city.
The two commanders were greatly ex-
cited aud Washington, I regretto say was
in anything but q 6t condition to act the
part he was to perform. -. - : :.
He had been drinking freely al the
morning, and now, when the Interesting
ceremonies were about to commence, was
SO tight or rather bose that twas Will
great difficulty that he could sit on hi:
saddle; he, however did not know butwha
lie was right, nor did his men. - ,2a
I CORVALLIS was not toxicated,s bu
was little agitated OF rather elatsd. =
Everything being ready, the eohpanie
exchanged shots Bang! swhangl bang
went tie tie guns, and the two companie
yelled ike ctstuck pigs. @ ss9, s''s',
That's il; (hic) c)iny brave boys; Civ
it to them owdatieas Red Coatst!'Abel
flowed Wasllipgton., .sea -. y 2 5'.o''t
."On Romansr' yelled the excited Corn
wallis, who had seen y theatrical exhibi
/ lion once, and remembered the heroic ap
Epeals of the Thespian belligerents--
-breati,es. there man so dead, that won
Ifghtslike thnnder!" ~
aG II conttnentalsl down with taxatio
! on on teai'' beloved Washington in a yer
patriotic voice, lnd narrowly escaped RI,
| ling his horses ear Of with the .tlourish~t
! his sword. .,as.s..s
j Tie fighting nov now ceased, the companit
! were drawn up in a. straight line, an
II CORVALLIS dism6nnted and presented Ii
sword to Washington.
4 aWell, old boyI' said the immortal, ,
The cuffed his Lorse's ears with his cooke
hat, .swhae in the thunder do you want
: me1,
y General Washington, replied Cornwa
Ills, I surrender to you, myself, swor or
e and men, ,f..Es..5. s5a s. s.
eI You do, do yous snecringly rspli'
IS the General, -, .....s'.. ~. /;
c ..Yes General, the British Lion pre-
n trates himself at the foot of the, Americ
Eagle" a;es .a.sr,a..,.tl
o "Eagle! eaglei yelled the General r.
Hing off his horse, and hitting the Britt
nj a tremendous blow on the head with 7
is fiat Of his sword; ''do you call me an
lyle, you sneaking cuss." " ~
nj CORVALLIS was down only for nome
IS for he jumped up and shook himself VI
is, an entirely unlocked for recuperation,
lie, the part Of the fallen, and in direct defs
lie ce of historical truth, pitched into Wa
Mt ington like thousand of brick, and
i'd spite of the men Of both nations. succet
in giving the "immortap' tremendt
rs Ticking. So the day that commenced
m gloriousIy ended in. gloriously. is
a For many years after the surrend
as there was GOODNESS between the deac
Is and the Squire. but as time rolled
d. and their locks became frosted over "
or white, they learned to call it &C
en- joke. .ss.ad bsfd vssz st rs easl
q. Both are now living, aud whene
be they meet they smoke and talk about i
OF a" !" like . couple of good jolly, old m
as they are. y8s 8sa5 mn ST aea