The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-05-12
IHE VETERAN AT BUsKRR HILL.
BY ARcoLA.


Blood had been spilled on Lexington.
sanguinsry field. and as it sank beueatf
4 the sod it so dafkly dyed, there arose a
sririt of stern revenge that was never tc
be resisted until contest. was underta
~, and struggle fnishedl From
/ State to State ran the tidipgs of tbi.
first sffray. Men of all classes and de
grees met together, forming compacts,
aud pledging themselves to each other
and to their country, provided their
services should be needed. In no part
of our country was the feeling more in
tense or the gatriotism aroused more
fervid, than In the small TOW of Fair
field, CounecrTcut. Oser the whole
land the news of the first battle flew
ike a col.Aagra,ion. The summons to
arms sped 'qudte as rapidly, and nobly
did the patriot sires respond.
IN the town we have mentioned There
were met hastily convened assembiage
OF those whose indignation bad been ex-
cited by the detail that had reached
them. One Joshua Keeler, an old and
respected farmer, was chosen to preside
/ over the deliberations of this meeting
He did but express the general senti.
ment, when be arose, and with forcible
manner, exclsimed
..Neighbors and friendsl We have
| met not ouly to deliberate, but to act
| The 6rst blow has been struck, and 9th
ers will speedily follow it. The time
for some decisive aud promps measure
has arrived. am here to listen to yoar
suggestions, aud I may give you some
of my own. am now verging upon
i threescore aud teu- years, but in such .
case will not be backward. No age
can form an excuse for exemption. The
enemies of our country are to be met.
aud for one am prepared to go forth
90 abide the result"
"We have enough young men among
ns to join the army to he raised, spoke
another. "Mr. Keeler may be ex-
cused ~
ls~f bold no man my friend, who would
counsel me- oseaaetion, because [ have
seen more years Of life than they. an.
swered the patriot, 81 will not listen
| to such advice when you go, I go toq
Look at mel sball | shame you with
| my indrmity? My arm is still strong,
my eyes undimcd-do not, beg Of you,
| ask nse to stay behind"
"The speaker IS right ]" shoated a
! neighber HE shall be cdr csrtian.--
We will fellow him wherever he may
lead |"
"You will p asked the veteran.
"We will we will |" was the answer
from one aud all
Then I accept the position. and will,
God aiding me, be worthy of i'll Now,
men, hssten to your homes, equip your
selves as best you may. aud let us meet
here again il the morning Bid fare
we'll to the fond ones at home, for before
tJmorrow's sun shall sink to it's rest, We
shall be ON our way TO Boston"
With loud shouts of approval, the as.
semb:y dispersed to follow the directions
| of their chosen leader Mr.. Keeler inn
parted to his family the determination
| to which he had come.
"You know, wife, our son is an inval
id, aud our other children are gir;s-
They cannot render apy service to our
country, and l must be their represen
tarive!'
81 will not object, Joshua" answered
the wife, "If you rhiuk you are equal
to the fatigue. and have no doubt that
it will be severe. shall not raise my
voice in opposition to your determine
tion. could wish that our girls were
able to aid you l'
"They cannot, but their husbahds
will. They shall all go, or forfeit my
esteem. No man shall call me father
in law who will not shoulder his musket,
and follow where duty points the way -
There shall be no lageards in nay faa,ily.'
"Muy He who rules the drstIuies of
nations aud keeps Us all uuder HIS
mighty protection, guard you ever /"
responded the wife, devoutly.
II may not returul but you will
have the knowledge TO console you, that
instead of wasting 'he few years allotted
to me idly here. did not shrink from
meeting death there's"
The evening deyotions Of that house
hold were particularly solemn aud i'm
pressive-all felt that the aeseuturer
mlght never rettrn to the holns he was
about to loave, yet no murmur mingled
with their prisons. There was an abb
ding faith in every bosolh that taught
them at least to hope for the best.
Tie morniog CAME, and with 1.-THE
volunteers to the rendezvous. But lit
tie time was lost in preparation. Be-
fore the sun was two hours high, the lit
tie Band of patriots, their leader at their
head, n ere on their way to victory or
death.n
The Provincial Congress of Massa-
ohusetts, which was in session at the
timo nf The attla ne i.y;noton immadi.