The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-05-19
The Maiden Warrior.
4 TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

| achievements which light up the expanse Of
that deadly conflict. like stars in the frma.
ment, put to shame the melodramotic heroes
Of Greece; indeed. II is not too much to say,
that every mountain-pass has been Their
mopylS, and every battle plain a Marathon.
Occasionally these deeds of war have been
lightened by the sweetest Of sll passions,
love and it is tale Of love and patriotism
we have now to tell.
Sergeant jasper belonged to that most ia.
nous of all heroic bands, Msrion's Brigade,
where his valor and talents soon won him
distinction. Among other daring deeds, his
rescuing our flag at the battle of Fort Moul.
trie deserves to be mentioned. In the hot.
test FIRE of the conflict, the fog 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 Rut
lege presented him with sword.
Like many other families of that time. his
was divided on the great question. His old
er brother took the side Of the English, and
served in their army. Out of affection TO
his brother, and wish to examine into the
the strength and condition Of the enemy, he
resolved with another patriot soldier, Ser.
geant 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. a small
party of Americans were brought in prison.
ers, and, as they had deserted from the Bri.
tish, and enlisted in the American ranks,
their doom would have been death. This
the brother Of Jasper assured him was to be
their fate. With them were the wife and
child Of one Of the prisoners. Her distress
at her husbands approaching fate, touched
the humane heart Of Jasper. Confding his
purpose to his friend, Sergeant Newton, they
bade adieu to Jasper's brother, and took their
leave. They had no sooner got out of sight
Of the camp, than they made detour, and
stretched across the country, so as to elude
all suspicion, should they meet with any
British soldiers.
II was the custom with the English then,
to send all the prisoners taken in that quar-
ter to Savannah for trial. At little spring,
about two miles from Savannah, Jasper and
Newton secreted themselves, awaiting the
arrival OF the British escort with their pris-
oners. 1t hnd occurred to Jasper, that, as
they must pass this spot, it was very proba.
Bile they might rest here tor a short tine to
refresh themselves-and the woody nature
OF the spot would iovor II rescue.
After sun hours anxious suspense, they
saw the escort with their prisoners approach.
The guord was ten in number, and armed
The corporal with four men conducted their
captives to the water, and told them to rest
themselves for an hour at the same time
giving them some provisions. The sergeant
then told the men to ground nrms, and seat
themselves. The prisoners threw them
selves upon the earth in hopeless despair.-
Near to the wretched man sat his wife md
child Two Of the men alone kept their
arms as sentries. As the rest OF the men
were filling their canteens with water, jas
per and Newton came steathiy from their
I hno al f,pn # 4 ho b
stacked, shot the two sentries, and rushing
upon the others stunned them with the butt
of their weapons. Deprived OF their arms,
the others obardoned the couflict and fed.
Releasing the prisoners, they escaped
across 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 Maiden Warrior. This was beautiful
creole girl, who return ed his passion with q
purity and intensity seldom known on earth.
When he was called upon to join the defend.
ers of his country, her grief was unbounded.
Their hour Of parting came, and after the
tenderest of adieus the gallant soldier sprang
upon his horse, and joined his regiment
Scarcely had the sound OF his horses feet
died upon the air, than her romantic brain
suggested the plan Of rejoining her lover by
enlisting in the same brigade. She resolv-
ed to put her project in immediate operation.
Securing suit of male attire about her
own size, she severed her long and jetty
ringlets, dressed her hair like mans, and
purchasing horse, she set off three days
after, alone, to offer her services to the no.
Bile Marion. Her offer was accepted, and
1.-THE, active stripling was added to the corps
to which her lover belonged. The contrast
between the STRIPPING and these men, in
their uncouth garbs, their massive faces,
embrowned and discolored by sun and rain,
was indeed striking. But none were 80 ca.
ger for the battle, or so Indifferent to fatigue,
az the fair.faced boy. Itwas found that his
energy of character, resolution and courage,
amply supplied bis lack Of physique. None
ever suspected him to be woman. Not
even Jasper himsslf, although she wss often
by his eide, penetrated her. disguise. /
The romance Of her situation increased |
the fersor Of her passion. 1t was her de- |
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