Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-29
Interesting Gale.
THE LAST SACRIFICE.
An Incident of the Battle Of Germantown
BY LAWRENCE LABREE.

We have heard the story of young
man during the perilous times of our
country-those times that tried mems
souls" He was ardent and patriotic,
and thrsted to be a sharer in those glo-
ries which our brave armies plucked
from the bristling bayonets of the enc
my; yet he bad been withheld from join
ing the ranks by aged anG infrm parents,
whose only support and comfort he was.
As he looked upon the feebleness of
their old age, and thought of the perils
they would be exposed to with no de-
tenders of their helplessness, he gave a
sigh for the destinies of his country, and
resigned himself to the duties of the
small farm that was their only support.
lie could not desert them, and leave them
70 the mercy of the vagabond stragglers
from the enemy's camp, and the worse
traitors in his own country. Instances
were too fresh in his memory of reverend
heads and hoary locks having been crushed
to the dust by midnight plunderers and
assassins, and his love for the authors of
his being left him nothing but his pray
ers for his oppressed country
But he had other affections that we're
growing in his breast like spring flowers,
shedding perfume of holiness upon his
spirit, like the Christians inspiration.
There had existed. since their childhood,
an attachment between him and the only
daughter of a widow who resided but
few rods from his fathers residence, and
that attachment had ripcned to mutual
declaration of love when the parties be-
came sufficiently old to appreciate the
glow of true devotion. A time was set
for the consummation Of their VOWS, which
was the evening of the ever memorable
18th Of December, 1776. at the time
that Washington was making his perilous
but triumphant passage across the Della
ware, amid floating ice, and suffering
from the intense cold of the season.
The two families we're now united,
George removing his bride and her mo-
Their to the house of his father. But
still he was not happy-he could not
Danish from his mind an oppressive anx-
iety for the welfare Of his country, and
the doubtful struggle which she was main
tanning in the hopes Of acquiring that
freedom for which every noble heart 80
warmly prayed.
In a week from the night Of the pas
sage Of the Delaware, Washington met a
detachment Of the enemy at Princeton,
which he defeated with small loss, with
the exception Of several officers, among
whom was the gallant General Mercer
while that of the enemy was upward of
ore hundred killed, and the remainder,
about three hundred, taken prisoners.
The General then returned to winter
quarters at Morristown, which be did not
leave until the latter end Of May, with
an army amounting 20 but little over
seven thousand men, although Congress
bad offered recruits bounties in land with
increased pay.
AT this time, George burned to enlist
in the ranks Of his couutrymen, and
share their sufcrings and their glory
But his young wife looked in his face
with weeping eyes, whose eloquence,
added to the infrmities of his parents,
deferred him from the sacrifice. Besides,
as the roads became more passable, and
the season more temperate, robberies
and midnight excursions Of struggling
llessians and SINNERS were more fire.
quent, and the house of one Of their
neighbors had been pillaged, the inmates
brutally murdered. and the dwelling set
On fire, within sight Of their friends, who
could offer them no assistance, expect
ing, as they did, every moment to meet
a similar fate
In this state Of inquietudo passed away
The summer, until the intelligence reached
GEORGE of the engagement between the
\ merican and English armies al Brandy (