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

was celebrated as a pugilist, gave Morgan
high consideration among his associates"
After the defeat of Braddock the Govern.
ment Of Virginia adopted efficient measures
for the defence of the frontier and Morgan
continued in the service of the colony, being
attached with his wagon and team to the
| Quartermaster's department. During the
next eight years there are only occasional
notices of his career. In the autumn o'
| l755, and the winter and spring of the ensu.
ing year, he was engaged in transporting sup.
plies to the Virginia troops on the frontier
This was dangerous employment. lie was
constantly exposed to the lurking foe, and
two or three times narrowly escaped being
killed
"ln the spring of l75G, he was sent with q
wagor-load of stores to Fort Chiswel, one OF
the posts which had been established along
the Virginia frontier, and situated on the
head waters Of New River. While at this
place terrible disaster befell him. A Bri-
| tish lieutenant taking offence at something
which Morgan had said or done, abused him
in violent terms, and at length struck him
with the fiat of his sword Morgan's ndom-
liable spirit could not brook this outrage.
Forthwith clenching his fist. he struck the
officer SO heavy blow as to extend him
senseess on the ground. This was regarded
4
as to call for summary and exemplary pun.
ishment. a drum. head court martial SEN
| fenced Morgan to receive five hundred lashps
| Being Immediately stripped and tied up he
| received all at once the allotted number Of
lashes, save one. When the terrible punish.
ment was over, it is said that the flesh on his
back hung down IN tags. None but one
possessing unusual powers of endurance, and
an iron constitution, could have survived an
act of cruelty so extraordinary, even in the
British army of that day. But he soon re-
covered from its effects. The officer, sensible
upon reflection that he had been in the
wrong. and regretting the consequences which
had followed, alteIward made Morgan pub
lIc apology. This was a slight atonement
for so deep an injury: yet it was deemed
sufficient by Mnrgaa, who from that moment,
magnanimously discharged his mind of all
resentment toward the author Of his suffer
ings and disgrace"
His zeal ana courage in the warfare with
the indians attracted the attention OF " ash.
iseton, with whom his acquaintance com.
menced at about this period. lie was now
about twenty three years Of age. His ap.
pearance was imposing and evidenced re-
marknble strength and activity. he WAS
upward OF six feet in height his form was
muscular, massive, and symmetrical and his
whole air that Of military commander.
Returning to civilized society in Frederick,
his morals were found to partake of the
freedom of the camp. lie had become ad
dicted to drinking aud gaming, though the
strength of his head prevented him from
falling into habits Of intoxicaton. lIs was
thrown into bad company. and led to engage
in numerous brols and difficulties. Still, he
cherished the desire to rise above a conlI.
tion Of dependence. lie continued to be
industrious aud saving. Even aDsd the wild
Org es which filled up large portion of his
time, he never lost sight OF this higher aim.
His faults were evidently those of an impul-
sive, and not Of vicious disposition. AS
his biographer observes, "they were the
results, not of an innate dspravity of heart,
bat Of defective education and bad associa-
tlons, operating on mind as yet Uniformed
and pregnant with the widest impulses"
As he advanced in years, he became sensible
OF the folly Of his conduct, and before be had
reached the age Of twenty seven, his habits
were entirely reformed.
After the peace between France and Eng
land Morgan devoted himself to the cultiva
ton of his farm and the tranquil ENJOYMENT
of domestic happiness BY his military
grants he had acquired considerable quaint,
ty of valuable land. His agricultural pursuits
were successful. lie began to be regarded
among his neighbors as man Of substance
His wife was woman of rare excellence of
character and exerted happy nhvenco up
on his own.
AT the commencement OF the Revolutiona.
ry war, Morgan was selected as the captain
OF one of the rifle companies, which were raj
sed in the State of Virginia. In about n
fortnight after the battle of BunkeI.Hill, he |
started for Winchester at the head of bis
company, and in twenty-one days reached |
Boston, having travelled q distance Of six
hundred miles without losing man by sick /
ness or deseTton on the route. For six weeks /
he remained inactive AT the encampmept in
Cambridge. The inglorous repose was into
lerable both to Morgan and his men, and at
length an opportunity was presented for more
exciting service. THIS was the expedition TO
Canada, on which he was placed at his own
earnest request. During this campaign, he
was enabled to display his military qualities
on broader field Of action, aud to assert new
claims to the applause Of his counirymen.-
The outfit of his company foe the march was
in keepin with the free-and-easy character Of
soldiers.
His men were armed, each with rifle, a
tomahawk and q long knife. They were ares.
sed with flannel shirts, cloth or buckskiu
breeches, buckskin leggins, and moccasins.-
Over these clothes they were bunting shirts,
made, Tor the most art, of brown linen, some
Of buckskin, and few Of linsey wolsey-
These shirts were confined to the waist by
belts, in which they carried their knives and
Morgans company wore caps,
ln which appeared appeared the words, Iii
1erty or DEATH For himself he appears to
nave adopted the Indian dress on this expe-
i.tion. When met by the exploring party on
heir return from the head waters of the Chau-
liere, no wore legSins, and a cloth imposed
% view on that occasion, appeared to have
been lacerated by the thorns and bushes"
Morgan bore prominent part in the as
aut GU Quebec and narrowly escaped with
lis life. In the midst Of the battle, an impor-
ant error was committed by the storming
,arty under Arnold, aud while be was at
empting to restore order he received q ball
n the leg, which brought him to the ground
THE Romentary confusion caused by these (
vents, brought Morgan to the front just as
Arnold was struck down. 1t was at this cri-
lis in the conflict, that Morgan at the instance
md in compliance with the express wishes OF {
III the field officers Of the division who were I
present, assumed the direction of the assault. {
hey would not take the command. he OBJ {
erVes, IN short sketch written by himself Of {
us early military career alleging that i had
esn service and they bad not. which reflect
81 credit on their iudomant Moroon NOM | a