The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-11
SAINT PAUL. MINNESOTA THURSDAY NOVEMBER H. 1858
And you wish to serve In the army"
laid w arlington. kindly.

"And you wish TO serve In the army"
said Washington, kindly.
"Such Is my intention, your sxcelcncy, II
you think my services worthy Of regard"
ave are always glad 10 receive such
good recruits In the cause Of freedom a.
thou art. The service thoa hast rendered
il . great one TO the American cause. Cap
tain Doolittle. allow me TO congratulate you,
for such 10 the commission yos hold hence
forth in tho Continental army"
The heart Of the new made officer was
too ful TO express his thanks, but he resolv-
ed to prove by deeds, and not by words,
tina. he was worthy Of Washington's con-
sideration.
The commander in.chief saw that some
immediate STEPS mus, be taken, not only 10
rc-take Philadelphia, which IA he learned
by the dispatches brought by Doolittle, the
enemy were determined 70 possess, but u
arouse the spirit Of Che nation, that hal
sunk TO the lowest depths Of dependency.
He resolved u anticipate the British, and
cross the frozen Delaware on the 26th Of
December. where he learned that q large
body Of llewians were encamped. lie fol-
lowed up his plan with eminent success, for
his attack being wholly unexpected, more
than nine hundred Of the enemy were taken
prisoners Of war lie re.crosscd the river
again, and, though his shadow OF an army
wis weary and exhausted, hc determined To
attack Princeton. Here be had the good
tssps.,a 20 a,I. slssy ssa ssl,s- shsas hssaFsl-
prisoners more. This good fortune served
TO dispcl the gloom that had settled over
the American cause.
II Is an und0ubted TACT, that Malachi
Doolittlc held colonol's commission In tho
army before the close Of the war, which took
place when Great Britain acknowledged the
Independence Of the United States. Nov.
30, 1882.
On the banks Of the river Rartan, some
ten years after the incidents detailed IN our
story, there stood fine house, built In thu
style of the Elzabcthcan period. the resi-.
dencc Of Col. Doolittlc and family, who was
now one Of the wcalthicst farmers in the
whole country. lie was one Of the most
hospitabe Of men, and neither friend nor
stranger could pass bis door without being
asked 10 take mug Of the ColoDels good
cider, or II Il happened 10 be about tea
time, q cup Of tea aud slice Of short cake,
made by the fair hands Of bis wife Molly,
There was an old man, too who sat n the
cozicst place by the iireside, who for n long
time after the close Of the war, would advo-
cate the cause Of the King, and talk about
having somebody arrested for stealing u sor.
rel horse at which his daughter would wink
slyy TO her husband, but he finally came TO
the conclusion, as peace and plenty crowned
the land of freedom, that George Washing
ton was not Al much Of rebel after ALL
There was mn old lady. too, who appeared
to never tire Of praising her son law, aud
little boy. the very image Of bis mother,
who, nj the close Of many summers day,
would climb upon his fathers knee, and say
with tone of earnest enireaty;
"Now. pa, do tell me all about Ensign
Spencer and George Washington, and the
Ilessans, md how you hooked grandpa's
horse and listed for a soldier"
Willingly, my son, the Colonel would
reply, but have related the story 10 often
! should think you knew /, by heart. Yet
s0n and heir, often related the story over
anJ over again.
Such IL one of the many incidents con.
ncc,ed with the dark history ol the Rcyolu
tiop. Though pnrehaed with the blood Of
thousands, j, Is ft the legacy Of freedom TO
mankind, and iew in tbose times which
tried mems souls" acquired greater fame 10
the American cause than Malachi Doolittle,
the blacksm,th's apufentics,