The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-15
selctt mistellang.
A MIGHT AcK
BY ENER SON BENNETT.

General Lee, in his Memoir of tn
Southern Campaigns, makes frequeu
and homo able mention of one Captain
Joseph Kirkwood, of the Delaware line
whose regImeut, at the battle of Cam
den, was reduced to a single company
of which the latter remained the com
mandipg officer. Owing to the fact tha
Delaware could not raise another regi
ment, Captain Kirkwood, thsugh truly
deserving, G. uld not by military rule re
ceive promotion, aud therefore remained
in command OF a sing lie company through
out the revolutionary struggle, taking a
gallaut and distinguished part, tot only
Ia the bloody encounter at Camden, but
also Ia tie battles # Hotknk's, Eutaw
aud Ninety Six
After the decl. lion of peace there
beirg no utf er service for this gallant
officer. he rem owed with his famIl with
in the limits III the preseUt Stare oil
OHIO, for the purpos ut permanent set
II. meDi. H.. chose local. y nearly op
positc the present city Of Wheeling, on
the tight bank of the Onio, erected
his cabin Oh u commanding knoll, where.
though greatly exposed, be remained un
mol,strd for couple of years. 1t was
h : intention to bui a block. house, Tor
tnrtber security, aud he had actually
cou liiej ced one, but from cause or
anoiher, 1T Was still unfinished III 1891, u,
wheu the events occurred which We arc
about 80 re'ate.
One evening, 40 the spriUg of the year
Just ncutioiicd, small army OF soldiers
auder he command of Que Captain BIggs,
oU their way to the country, stopped
az the hamb!e residence of KIrkw, cd
a asked pern.issIou to remain through
the oight, which was cheerlnily granted
The evening was spent III social
Ia talking over 'he various
ereuts of the times. Captain Kirkwood
depicting some of the most striking OF
the military scenes which had occurred
lu his experience, and also speaking with
a soldier seusItivepess of his chagrIn
at seeing cGcers younger, and OF inferior
rank, promoted over him, simply because
his little State could not furnish a sufh
cieHt numb Der of men to give him the
rank to which he was b norably entitled.
When the hour came for retiring,
most of the men were assigned the loft
beneath the roof, where, with the aid of
straw ond blankets, they disposed them
selves very comfortably upon the rade
fooring. Captain Kirkwood, with bis
family, aud the officer mentioned re-
main below.
All gradually fell asleep, and the
house continued quiet for several hours,
rot a soul dreaming that merciless en-
smy was even then stealing through the
woods bent upon the de-
,truction of the building, and the death
,f all it contained.
Sometime late in the night Captain
Biggs, being restless, concluded to get
I'D and take a walk in the open air
Passing leisurely around the dwelling, he
to the block house, and alter
it a few minutes and wonder
ng Why the captain did not complete it,
le turned his steps to the bank of the
iver. Here he stood few minutes |
onger i'll quiet meditation, looking down
lpon the dark gliding stream, the rip |
ling of whose waters, the slight rust
ing of the leaves, and the plaintive hoot
f the owl, and now aud then the far off |
ry of some wild beast, being the only
ound that broke the otherwise solemn
Hence
Once he fancied he heard a movement,
8 of some heavy body in the bushes
ear him aud knowing that be was in /
region of country not safe from Indian