Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-08-21

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ed two twelve. Founders. AS the rineme
advanced against this battery, the gun,
charged with grape and canister opened o
them. The first gun was elevated too hg
aud did no injnry the other flashed withou
discharging, when the rfemen reached th
walls and planted their ludders.
Morgan ordered man near him TO ascen
one OF the ladders PerceiviEg that the sol
dier reluctantly obeyed, Morgan pulled hin
down, and stepping on the ladder himself
shouted to his men, Now boys, follow me
The ladders were instantly manned. A
soon as Morgan's head appeared above tn,
wall, platoon OF musketry was fired at hin
from within So close was the discharge
that the fire scorched his hair and grains o
powder were imbedded in his face. But this
was the only injury he sustained, although
one ball passed through the top OF bis cap.
and another graz"d the left side of his face
cutting off lock Of his hair. The concussor
was so great, however, as to knock him from
the top OF the ladder down into the snow
belov. For a moment the ascent was
checked in the belief that he was killed
But he was instantly on his feet again, and
| had recommended ascending the ladder.
Another cheer rose from his men as they
followed his example. Keeping his head
down until he reached n step near the top OF
the ladder, he made spring and bounded
over the wall among the enemy. llo was
instantly followed by bis men, among tho
foremost of whom was Cadet PorterGeld and
| Lieutenant lleth. Morgan, in his descent,
alighted on one of the cannon, under the
muz2le of which he fell, severely hurt by n
confusion on the knee. \ dozen bayoncts
were instantly leveed at him but the stua.
ton in which he fell created delay, suili.
| cientiy long to enable his men, who now
came pouring over the wall, to rescue him
aud attack his assailants.
The enemy, daunted by the imro uosity
OF the assault, made hut IA feeble resistance.
and at length fled into building nanking
the battery, from the windows of which how
ever, they renewed the conflict. They were
speedily dislodged by the rhemen. who. bv
Morgan's orders fred yolry into the house
which was followed by charge with their
spontoons- The enemy were driven through
the building, and out at the rear into neigh
boring street. Morgan ran through sally
port at one end Of the battery and thence
round the corner of building. Here, as he
anticipated. he met the retreating British.
Whon he ordered, in menacing tone, to sur
render, II they expected quarter. Captain
McClond and about 80 Of b 5 men were thus
made prisoners"
TO surrender, measure which was wholly re-
pugnant to Morgan'S wishes ans tastes.
"on being summoned by some of the enc
my S s0idIery to deliver up his sword, he per-
emrloriIy refused compliance, but placing
his back against Il wall with the weapon in
MS hand, lie dared any one of their number
TO come ans take it. lie persisted in this
determinaton twithstanding the threat of
the soldiers to shoot him, and the exhortu-
lions ci his men not to sacrifice bis life in
useless opposition. at length perceiyng
man noar at hand whom he took by his dress
TO be clergyman ho asked him if he was not
priest Being answered in the affirmative,
observing, Then give my sword to you
out not scoundrel Of those towards shall
take 1t ont OF my hands,"
In Aplil, lIII, Morgan, having been re.
leased from his parole by an exchange Of pri-
soners, rcjcined the army at Morristown.
with regiment Of about one hundred aud
eig ghty men. lie had previously received
Colonels commission from Congress. The
COmmander-in Chief welcomed him with u
marked kindness. He was placed at the
mead ol select corps of sharp. shooters, the
Iormation Of which had long been a favoritr
plan with Washington. 1t consisted Of five
hundred picked men, OF hardy an active hrbts
accustomed to the woods, and skillul in the
use of the rifle Their duty was to keep a
yigllant eye upon the enemy, and attack his
Hawking parties wherever an opportunity was
presented. After performing efficient ser
vice against the liessians and British in New !
Jersey, he was ordered to the North to en- |
gage IN the operation for checking the ad. |
vance OF Burgoyne. At the head OF his corps |
he proceeded without delay to Albany, where |
he met with cordial greeting from Gen. |
ntn in hat
a universal panic among the Canadians and |
Indians. They deserted in great numbers, |
while the British regulars could not move .
beyond the precHcts Of their own camp with
out being saluted with volley of rifle balls |
At the battle Of Benis' lights Morgans .
corps bore the burnt Of the days perils anu |
reaped large share OF its glorles. after the
decisive victory over Burgoyne at the second
battle of Saltwater, Morgan, upon his return
to headquarters the same night, was met by
Gates who Immediately embraced him say
ng:
Morgan, you have done wonders this day.
\ ou are immOrtalised yourself and hOnored
your country; If you are not promoted imme-
iately, | will not serve another dayw
Feeling at the moment a preference for
pudding over praise, Morgan merely replied
For Gods sake, General, forbear this stuff
am ready to die with hunger, fatigue and
exhaustion"
lie doubtless had an instinct Of Gen. Gates
Implicitly, for in spite the briliancy of his
services in this campaign, they were not
leemed worthy Of more than cursory notice
n the Generals dispatches. His name is
lot even mentioned in the official account of
he surrender, aud after the close Of the cam
laign he was treated by Gates with decided
eserved, both in their official and personal
Intercourse.
"The clue to this otherwise ineXplicahle
circumstance is probably furnished 10 the fol-
owing an.cdote, related by Morgan himself
Immediately after the surrender, Morgan
'isited Gates on business. when he was taken
Iside by the General and contidentially told
hat the main army was extremely dssatis-
led with the conduct of the war by the Com
nnnder-in- Chief, aud that several of the best
Ulcers threatened to resign, unless change
ook place. Morgan perfectly understood
be views of Gates, in this Conference, altho'
Ie was there stranger to the correspond !
uce which he had held in Conway and others Z,
nd sternly replied, i have one favor to ask
4 you, sir, which is never to mention that
etestable subject TO me again for under no
ther man than Washington as Commander |
n.Chief would l ever serve II
From this time, until the Spring Of 1881,