The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-05-02
A Revolutionary "Reminiscences.

In the speech of Mr.. Boteler, of Virginia
the representative of the Harper's Ferry DIS
trict, in the House of Representatives q few
weeks since, he narrated and applied, in the
following appropriate manner, very interes-
ting Renaissance of the Revolutionary War !:
'The district which I represent. and the
county from which come-that county made
famous by the raid of Brown-was the first,
the very first in all the South, to send succor
to Massachusetts,. In one of the most beau
tfuI spots in that beautiful county, within
rife shot Of my residence, at the base of the
hill where glorious spring leaps out into
sunlight from beneath the gnarled roots Of o
thunder-riven oak, there assembled on the
10th of July, 1775, the very first band of
Southern men who marched to the aid of
Massachusetts,. They met there, and their
rallying cry, was a Decline for Boston,
"That beautiful and peaceful valley had
never been polluted by the footsteps Of foe !;
for even the Indians themselves kept it free
from the incursion of the enemy. 1t was the
hunting range and neutral ground of the abb
origines This band assembled there, and a
Decline for Boston was made from thence
Before they marched they made pledge that
ell who survived would assemble there fifty
years after that day. 1t was my pride and
pleasure 10 be present when the fifty years
rolled around. Three aged feeble, lettering
men-the survivors of that glorious band Of
one hundred and twenty-were all who were
left to keep their. trust, and be faithful to the
pledge made fifty years before to their COM
pamions, the bones Of many of whom were
bleaching on the Northern hills.
"Sir, have often heard from the last survi-
vivor of that band of patriots the incidents of
their first meeting and their march how they
made some 600 miles in 20 days-30 miles a
day-and how, as they neared their point OF de-
stination. Washington, who happened to be
making . reconnaissance in the neighborhood,
saw them approaching, and recognizing the
linsey -woolsey hunting shirts Of old Virginia,
rode up to meet and greet them to the camp;
how, when he saw the captain-his old COM
pAnion in arms, Stephenson, who stood by his
side at the Great Meadows, on Braddock's
fatal field, and in many an Indian campaign,
and who reported himself to his commander as
from the rigta bank Of the Potomdc-he
sprang from his horse and clasped his old
friend and companion in arms with both hands.
He spoke no word of welcome, but the elo-
quence Of silence told what his tongue could
not articulate. He moved along the ranks
oAADAAAAS
and all the while-as my informer told me-
the big tears were seen coursing down his
manly cheeks.
"Aye, sir, Washington wept And why
did the glorious soul of Washington swell with
emotion Why did he weep? Because he
saw that the cause Of Massachusetts, was prac-
tlcally the cause of Virginia because he saw
that her citizens recognized the great princi-
pies involved in the contest These Virginia
volunteers had come spontaneously. They
nad come IN response to the words of her
Henry, that were leaping like live thunder
through the land telling the people of Virginia
that they must fight, and fight for Massachu-
Setss. They had come to rally bv Wishing
TONS slde. TO defend your fathers firesides, to
protect their home from harm. Well, the
vsSst has been returned! John Brown selec-
ted that very county as the spot for his inva-
sion; and as was mentioned in the Senate the
rock where Seeman fell was the yery rock
over which Morgan and his men marched
few hours alter Hugh Stephenson's command
had crossed the river some two miles further
up.
MAY this historical "Reminiscences rekindle
the embers Of patriotism of our hearts. WHY
should this nation Of ours be rent in pieces by
this irrepressible conflict Is itirrepressible?
The battle will not be fought out here. When
the dark day comes, as comes it NAV. when
they question that now divides and agitates
he hearts Of the people can only be decided
y the bloody arbitrament Of the sword, it
viii be tho saddest day for US and all mankind
hat the sun Of Heaven has ever shone upon."