Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-11-08
woodsman, surmounted with the silver
spread eagle, from which he had derived

man, allddeG 60 tAe SUBJECT tnaG nat
brought us together, as also to fear ]
had sometimes entertained that my letter
had unfortunately miscarried
"Oh no. he replied. at came tc
hand in good time. | knew it ought tt
have been answered at once. But Tn
not used to writing now. And SO le
day or two pass, and then another anc
another, until was ready to come my
self"
"You adopted the better course"
replied. "The Commissioner Of Pen
siens is SO very exacting, that it is mex
to impossible to prepare papers properly
by correspondence"
81 feared it was so," said Spread
eagle, "and thought it had better b.
made right at first, and save time ant
trouble afterwards
"The advantage is much greater thar
you suppose" | answered. at is ex
tremely seldom that applications Of this
character are allowed 20 receive amend
ment" ... ..
Really, then, how fortunate!' he ex.
claimed. You see it is not that l care
for the warrant, for 1 don't; and it i;
not likely will ever make use of it, il
| get it" -.
"You can sell it," I suggested.
The very last thing l would do with
it, he replied, quickly, and little in,
dignantly. "No, sir, will keep it as
long as l live; and l would not miss get
ting it for dozen times its value"
1T is al incontrovertible evidence
that man has served his country in a
moment of need, and in post Of dan
ger" | returned perceiving clearly the
motive that had prompted his applica,
ton.
"You see it in the true light" he re
piled, with sparkling eyes. "There are
and he named half a score of his
neighbors-not one of whom believes ]
ever saw an Indian"
"And you wish to verify your service
in the cause of your country" l sug
gested
''That's it exactly!' he answered.
II We lived under suspicion of false
hood for more than thirty years, and
wish to clear it away before set out on
my long journey"
have seen many such. With
enough of the good things of this world
they had no need of the warrant what
ever-but they were justly proud of the
service they had done their country, ano
wished the evidence in their possession
AS to Spread eagle, he preserved hi:
in u gilt frame, and hung it up against
the wall Of his parlor, where it might be
seen and felt by all the descendants o.
Didymus.
In this there may have been little
vanity. Yet there were few who had
better right to be proud of their ex,
ploits. One in particular-that tc
which l have already alluded-besides
the characteristics which it had in com
mon with others, was in some respects
entirely unique.
1t occurred on the night before the
battle of Maumee
The Indians having rejected his over.
lures of peace, General Wayne left
Fort Defiance, fortifcation which he
had erected at the junction of the Au.
glaize and Maumee rivers, and advanced
to Roche sDebout Here he remained
four days, erected and fortified depot,
and disencumbered himself of his stores
and baggage. .-t ~ ..s .a
About four miles beyond, the enemy
had taken a position, found upon. close
and careful reconnoitering to be in all
respects well adapted for defense
Their right flank was covered by thick
cts, nearly imperyious; their entire front
by strong abatis, the effect of tor.
nado, while their left side rested on the
Maumee. Behind these natural anG
accidental barriers, the enemy, to the
number of two thousand combatants
lay in three lines Of open order, with
fanks widely extended.
1t was the intention of the general tc
engage the enemy in their position on
the following day. But to guard
against surprise, should a night attack
be meditated, sentinels were stationed
about the camp, and the soldiers slept
on their arms. And for greater secu
rity, pickets were thrown out on the
side next the enemy, one beyond an,
other, but not widely apart-the ex.
treme reaching to half the intervenine @
distance. ..-sr ,.---s..
In the evening, when the men de-
tailed for the night guard were mus.
tered for duty, the general suddenly ap-
peared before them; and in their hear
ing addressed the officer in charge with
great earnes:ness:
captain Smelling; let every picket
be volunteer"
"For the occasion?" inquired the off
GER. not certain of his meaning.
'Assuredly," said the general. ~
would make no invidious distinction. ,
The captain perceived, from the man
ner of his superior, and the time chosen
for the PRONUNCIATION of his orders, tina
his purpose was to impress the guarc
with due sense Of the important re
sponsibility devolving upon them, tina
their vigilance might be increased, anc
the safety OF tho camp promoted.
'Then you apprehend danger?" he in
quired, endeavoring to advance the OBJ
Iject of the commandant.
"Certainly," answered Wayne -
"There is always danger in the face O
an enemy"
"But at this moment, something mor'
than ordinary?' continued the captain
1.-The enemy cannot be ignorant o
our purpose Tomorrow" replied tn
general; "and if they design to antici
pate us, their attack will be made to
night"
The object of the general accom-
plished, captain Smelling proceeded t.
select his pickets who were thrown ou
in the form of an acute triangle, tn
number decreasing as they receded from
1.-THE line Of sentinels.
For the posts Immediately beyond thi