Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-11-27

loud and sharp rang the report OF their rifles
amid thesurToundfng echoes
At point blank distance, the certain and
deadly. aim of the Hunting Shirts CT the Rev
Olntfonary army is too we'll knownin history
to need remarks at this time Of day. In the /
instance we have recorded, the effect CT the
riflemen was tremendous. OF the harselnen n.
senss hs.a faisea 10 risu ns, naoas. while shda
liberated chargers rushed wildly over the ed
joining lains, others, woueded, bat sntan--
gled with their stirrups. were dragged by the
infil-iated animals expiringly aloag while
the very few who were unscathed, spurSed
hard to regain the British lines.
While the smoke yet canopied the scene Of
slaughter, and the picturesque forms Of the
woodsmoD appeared among tho foliage, as
they were re-loadiag their pieces, the colos-
Sal stature of Morgan stood apart. He seem-
ed like the very genius of war, and gloonily
he contemplated the havoc his order had
made. He moved not, but looked aStonish-
ed in tho intensity Of thought The martial
shout with which he was won't to cheer his
comrades in the hour of combat, Was husheds
| the shell from which he had blown full many
note of battle and Of triumph on the feld
of Saratoga, hung by his side; nc order was
| given to spoil the slain the arms and coup
ments, for which there was always bounty
| from Congress, the shirts Of which there were
such need, at that, the sorest period Of our
country's privaton all, all, were abandoned,
| as with an abstractea air and voice strug-
| Cling tor utteraHoe, Morgan suddenly turned
to his Captain, exclaimed, Long, to the camp,
| to the camp The favorite captain obeyed !,
the riftemen, with trailed arms, fell into file,
and Long and his party soon disappeared, -
but not before the hearty fellows had exchan-
ged opinions on the strange termination of
their late affair. AS they agreed, nen. con,
! that their Colonel was trick ed lcosiured,l or
assuredly, after such fire they had given
the enemy, such an emptying of saddles and
scattering Of troopers, he would not have or
dered his poor rifle boys from the field with
out -1sss1ah faa~ sshints--ar Faaia=~af
stockings beng divided among them
Yes said tall lean and swarthy looking
fellow, an Indian hunter from the frontier, as
he carefully placed his moccasined feet in the
stands to reason our Colonel is ,ricked.'
Morgan followed slowed on the trail of his
men. The full force of his military guilt had
rushed upon his mind, even before the report
of his rifles had ceased to echo in the neigh
boring forest He became more convinced
of the enorraity of his offence, as with dull
and measured strides, he pursued his solitary
way, and thus soiloqui<ed.
well, Daniel Morgan you have done for
yourself. Broke, sir, to certainty. You
may 90 home, sir. to the plough; your swo ord
w)ll he of no further Broken, sir, -
nothing can save you and there is an END
ofCol Morgan. Fool, fool; by single act
o madness, thus to destroy the earnings O
so many hard fought battle. You are bro
ken and that is an end of Colonel Morgan
To disturb his reverie, there suddenly ap-
peared at full speed the aid-de-camp, the Mer
curry of the field, who reined up, and accaste,
the Colonel with
am ordered, Colonel Morgan. to ascer-
tain whether the firing just now heard pro-
ceeded from your detachmentY
1t did, sir dnggedly replied Morgan.
Then, Col. Morgan, continued the aid, $
am further ordered to require of you, you
immediate attendance upon his Excellency
who is fast approaching
Morgan bowed, and the aid wheeled hi
charger, and galloped back to reioin the Chiet
The CLEANS of the morning sun, shinin
upon the sabres of the horse guard, an
nounced the arrival of the dread commando
that being who inspired with degree c
awe every one who appr cached him. Wit
a stern, yetdignifed composure, Washington
addressed the s,ilitary culprt:
Can it be possible, Col, Morgan, that IN
aid de ca"p has informed me arights Can
be possible after the orders you received las
evening, that the firing we heard proceede
from your detachment Surely, sir, my or
ders were so explicit as not to be easily mis-
understood !?
Morgan was brave, hut it has been otter
and justly too, observed, that man was nave
born OF woman, who could approach ii
great Washington. and not feel degree
awe and veneraton from his presence No
gan quailed for moment before the ster
yet just displeasuro of his chief, till arousir
all his energies for the effort, he uncover.
and replied:
Your Excellency's orders were perfect
: understood, and agreeably to the sanie. kr
ceeded with the select party to reconnoit
: the eneny's lines by night. We succeedt
: even beyond our expectations, and was r
turning to head quarters TO make a repol
, when having halted few minutes to rest t
; men, we discovered body Of horse comil
: out from the enemy'S lines. They came
, Immediately to the spot where We Law CO