Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-06-14

oi men Iramplng over the ground above
fastening from the building, to her astonish
ment, whole fields four miles in extent, appear
ed covered with soldiers, all running north
ward at the highest speed. Regardless of th
lady's presence, many rushed into the spring
house, returning either with pies and loaves 0
bread, or else draining, while inside, the con
tents of the good danes milk pans still thu
rout continued and constant forays were made
upon the fast declining resources. At length
all were passed by and the meadows returned
to their pristine quiet an examination into the
spring g-house disclosed the presence of few
scattered morselS, sole remnant Of the granC
iarder it had that morning contained with
out word of complaint, merely calculating
| "poOr fellows, no wonder they were hungry,
the excellent creature began instant prepara
tionS for further baking" and soon replen
ished her empty shelves Such, kind reader
was the praiseworthy and patriot conduct oI
this most estimable Quaker, an undoubted
member of the meeting militant"
Thus ended the battle of Germantown, which
numbers among its incidents, some of the most
stirring and self-sacrifcing, which Revolution
ary annals have handed down to the present
age deeds Of yalor were performed by mer
entirely ignorant as well of the minutiae as of
the merest superiicials connected with those
tactics pertaining to rhe art of war Among
the slain, might have been observed the uni
formed and decorated British officer side by
side with the plOwman, on whose clothing one
still could have traced the dust of bis meadows
Death respects no more the aiguiletted gerer-
al than the poor and wearied private; reclin-
ing together upon a common bier, their eyes
closed to the outward world, the relative posi-
tons of wealth and station are alike disregard
cd unheediug the past, their attention no
longer dwellS upon the present. Golden scab-
bards and rusty frelOcks are folded in one en-
brace tinsc!led epaulettes and tattcred vest
meuts are incongrousy intermingled.
The sun,,though imperceptibly, had gained
its meridian ere the final shot resounded over
the field of Germantown aud now began that
last melancholy ceremonial, the burial of those
Of our own army who had so bravely fallen
Gathered promise u0usly together the bodies
we're consigned to hastily formed graves, into
which al. were iRdScrimiuately heaped though
no eScutcheoued stone marks their last resting
place or mural tablets along some dim and
coSlStered aSles sets forth in classic dcti0u
their virtues and their services though no
" stoFied urn or animated bust" " carved from
pure but chilling marble, designates their final
abode, yet.
" Taair names, their ysa's, spss 5g n unestereG muse
The place gf fame and clssy suPpiF,
their merits are eushrined deep in the heart of
a nation that loves to honor their pOsterity and
add fresher garIands to the many that already
drop over the solitude of their tombS The
bodies OF the dead enemy, it will be remember
ed, were deposited in that portion OF Philadel-
phja, known as Washington Square.
The traveller who roams over these plains,
made memorable by so great achievements, is
impressed with feeling OF solemn pleasure as
he mentally cons the changes which few
years have occasi0ued Standing on the ad-
iacent Chestnut-Hll he looks abroad over a
landscape smiling with beauty evidences of
wealth and cultivation are everywhere diScer-
uabla no longer does the roar of artillery
usher iu the morning, or the roll Of drums her
aid the approach Of night landscape teem-
ing with fertility, waving fields Of grain, and
meadows whose luxuriaut verdure overtops their
flowers the peal Of musketry has given place
to the Scythe's" long swinging stroke. the rat
Ting of the artillery wagons, TO the vain laden
with its ordorous abundance for the call to
arms and the horse cry Of charge is ROW
heard the low of distant kline or the mellow
tiukIe OF sheepfoIds bell and in place OF
the strains of martial music, we have now
g the cocks shrill clarion and the echoing
horn The old mansion is still there, its wall
perforated with bullets, their traces even vet
observable upon the window frames surround
ed by shade, in summer completely embower-
ed from view BY the densely clustering foliage
itself the cause of our defeat-appears wishing
10 retreat behind so friendly a concealment.-
But these reflections must be drawn to q close.
In conclusion the writer desires to add that
the result of this senguinary field (in which
over a thousand fell killed aud wounded on
either side) was suareely to be considered as
a defeat rather, in fact, victory in which
the enemy simply remained upon the field. It's
Salutary effects where everywhere dIscernable
in tie renewed hope by which our troops were
actuated, seeing, as many undoubtedly did, the
ultimate triumph Of the Revolution, shadowed
forth in those valoFouS deeds which will ever
render so Justly celebrated the Battle Of Ger
mant0Wl. HISToRIA.