The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-08-03
The Maiden Warrior.

, to shame the melo-dramatc heroes of Greece;
indeed, it is not too much to say that every
J mountain pass has been Thermopla, and
every battle plain Marathon.
Occasionally these deeds of war have been
lightened by that sweetest of all passions, love;
and it is tale of love and patriotism we have
now to tell.
Sergeant Jasper belonged to that most fa
nous Of all heroic bands Marion's brigade,
where his valor and talents soon won him dis
/, tnction. Among other daring deeds, his res
cuing our flag at the battle of Fort Moultrie
deserves to be mentioned. In the hottest fire
of the conflict, the flag of the fort was shot
away, and fell without the fort. Leaping over
the rampant he seized the flag, and returned
amid the cheers of even the British. For this
daring deed, General Rutledge presented him
with a sword.
Like many other families at that time, his
was divided on the great question. His older
brother took the side of the English. and serv
ed in their army Out of affection for his
brother and wish to examine into the strength
and condition Of the enemy, he resolved with
another patriot soldier, Sergeant Newton, to
pay the British camp visit. His brothers
position in it enabled him to receive his two
friends without any suspicion of their being
} spies, and they were entertained for two or
three days with great hospitality.
While they were thus engaged, small par
ty of Americans were brought in prisoners ;
and as they had deserted from the British, and
} enIisten in the American ranks, their doom
, would have been death. This the brother of
Jasper assured him to be their fate. With
} them were the wife and child of one of the prl
soners. Her distress at her husbands ap
/, preaching fate, touched the humane heart OF
! Jasper. Confding his purpose to his friend
Sergeant Newton, they bade adieu to Jasper's S
brother, and took their leave. They had no
y sooner got out of sight of the camp than they
:. made detour, and stretched across the coun-
!, try, so as to elude all suspicion should they
, meet with any British soldiers
y 1t was the custom of the English then to
: send all the prisoners taken i'll that quarter to
Savannah for trial. At little spring about
two miles from Savannah, Jasper and Newton
Iseated themselves, awaiting the arrival OF the
= British escort with their prisoners. 1t had oc-
Cured to Jasper that they must pass this
spot, it was very probable they might rest here
for short time to refresh themselves and the
woody nature of the spot would favor rescue.
J After some hours anxious suspense they
saw tl6 escort Will tHGlI plISOliSio iO'tSh'
d The guard was ten in number and armed. The
e corporal with four men conducted their prison
ers to the water and told them to rest themselves
J for an hour at the same time giving them some
Il provisions. The sergeant then told the men
n to ground arms and seat themselves. The
h prisoners threw themselves on the ground IN
g hopeless despair. Near to the wretched man
sat his wife and child Two of the men alone
Ar tEa .GcF Fpf fl,-
\: men were filing their canteens with water
Jasper and Newton came stealthily from thei
ambush, seized two of the muskets that were
= . stacked, shot the sentres, and rushed upon tht
4 others, and stunned them with the butts o
ID their weapons. Deprived of their arms The
others abandoned the conflict and fed.
sf Releasing the prisoners, they escaped across
q the river to the Americans.
. But the most romantic incident in this brave
:, mans life, was his love for Miss Sally st Clair
or as she is termed in our annals, the Nader
Warrior. This was beautiful creole girl
4 who returned his passion with a purity and in
h tensity seldom known on earth. When he was
nI called upon to Join the defenders of his coun
81 try, her grief was unbounded. Their hour o
:" parting came and after the tenderest of adieu
$, the gallant soldier sprang upon his horse anC
X of horses feet died upon the ear than her ro
y y mantle brain suggested the plan of rejoinins
I'd her lover by enlisling in the brigade. She re
$; solved to put her project IN immediate opera
8 ton
'p Securing a suit of male attire about her owl
- size she severed her long and jetty nnglets
dressed her hair like a mans, and purchasing
horse. she set off three days after, alone, Il
tl,, Ia Hp
offer was accepted, and lttle, active stripping
he was added to the corps to which her lover be
a. lopged. The contrast between the striphn!
and these men in their uncouth garbs, thei
nc massive faces, embrowned and discolored b.
u 1e sun and rain, was indeed striking. But non
~. were SO eager for battle or Indifferent to ia
he -tigue as the fair faced boy. Itwas found tha
his energy of character, resolution and eour
~ age, amply supplied his lack OF ohys'qae. Nom
ne ever suspected him to be woman, Not eveI
IS Jasper himself, though she was often by hi
: side, penetrated her disguise
The romance of her situation increased th
=. fervor of her passion. 1t was her delight t
reflect that, unknown to him, she was by hl
RS side, watching over him in the hour OF dan
w ger. She fed her passion by gazing upon hin
y in the hour of slumber, lowering near hin
when slealng through INC swamp anu 0hlCh0
nd and being always ready to avert danger tror
his head.
u But gradually there stole a melancholy pre-
rs sentiment over the poor girls mind, She ha
been tortured with hopes deferred; the wa
ng was prolonged and the prospect of being re
stored to him grew more and more uncertain
e. But now she felt that her dream of happines
Il could never be realized. She became convinc
ed that death was about to snatch her ava
: from his side; but she prayed that she Nigh
die and he never know to what length the VIC
+. lence Of her passion had led her
1t was an eve before battle. The cam
d, had sunk into repose. The watch fires wer
=. burning low, and only the slow tread Of senti
u nels fell upon the profound silence Of the nigh
be air, as they moved through the dark shadow
of the forest. Stretched upon the ground wit
lie no other couch than blanket reposed the wal
@ ad like form of Jasper. Climbing vines traile
=" themselves into a canopy above his head
= through which the stars shone down softly
The faint flicker from the expiring embers of
60 fire fell athwart his countenance and tinge
NJ N. the cheek of one who bent above his COUCH
- 1t uac tho smooth faced strinIIpp She her