Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-20
CHAPTER XI.

| Any Wilmingtonian, forty years of age, can
remember distinctly the old stone Academy
that stood near the corner of Ninth street. on
the easterly side of Market. 1t was mag
niicent building, in its day, and was the only
one of public character that adorned our
city. II was large and commodious, contain
ing four rooms on the first floor, at least thirty
feet square,-or so they appeared to us when
pupil at that institution. The upstairs was
equally as large, and the structure was built
of our native stone.
It was in one of these rooms that we now
tnrn our attention, and find the young aid-de-
camp stretched upon a rude bed of straw. On
the night of the battle of Brandywine, we left
him stretched upon the ground-overcome
with exhaustion he had fallen asleep, and
when found by the British he was weak and
delirious, a fever having set in during the
night. He was bundled into wagon, among
number ofwounded soldiers, and after nearly
days journey in the hot sun, was placed in
the Academy, to live or die as the circum-
stance might determine. Here he remained,
in very weak condition, for several days be-
fore he came to his senses sufficiently to re-
'ize his condition. When he first came to
bis s,>uses and looked around him, and saw
the strong stone walls of the building, he
Thought that he was in some vast prison, and
more than once did he think it might be pos
sible that the Spy of Trenton and Elkton
might. as soon as his wounds were sufficiently
healed, be called before military tribunal to
rendey an account of himself. He did not even
know the town he was in, nor dare he make
the inquiry. But it was not many days before
he was able to crawl to the window.
He looked across the green fields that spread
out before his gaze, and the large creeks that
ioined their waters, in wedlock, but short
distance from the meadows, and in them saw
resemblance of something that had re-
mem mbrance in his bosom; and when he saw
The beautiful Delaware, with its bright =
ters elistening in the distance, his heHi
throbbed heavily within his bosom. lie DID
not know whether it was freak of the imagi-
nation or not ; or whether he actually pos
sessed his real senses, or was laboring under
some wild delirium. He endeayored to raise
himself up sufficiently to get fair view, that
was to satisfy his mind that his brain did not
wander, when sudden pang in his leg ad,
monished him that he was in crippled con-
dition. There were several men in the same
room with him, suffering from various causes,
but Joshua did not exchange single word
with them, so fearful was he of being discoy-
cred. Weak and dispirited the young man
was about to return to his rude bed, when
uniformed soldier entered the room and indi-
Gated by very impressive words, that 1t wouia
he about as well for him to remain in bed ana
not eyince too strong disposition to visit that
window.
Joshua inquired of the soldier where he was,
but he could give him no information upon
that subject, having never been in this section
of country before. Day after day he crawied
to the window to get glimpse of the beantl-
full scenery that so much resembled that which
surrounded his own native town. AT length
he became fully convinced of his locality, and
the very room in which he was confined was
directly over the one in which he had spent so
many happy hours when school-boy. He
now knew that, if well, and he had his liberty,
he was within five minutes walk of his home
and his family. This awoke new feeling IN
his bosom. He ewas anxious to gain his lib
erty and Join his friends. In the same build
ing were quartered number of soldiers who
kept yigilant eye on the every movement Of