The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-26
4 lesvel.sse.ary Hero.

Cosrespondsncs Of the Missouri kspubIIcas
Yesterday, while ct Gen. Curtis headquar-
tiers, I was introduced to . most remarkable
man--a surviving hero Of the Revolution, In his.
one hundred aud second year, who served with
Washington and Marion towards the close OF
the war. His name is William Dotson, and bic
resideuce on the James Fork OF White River,
near Oalena. The following ID the history he
gives OF himself. He was born near the Dan
river, Virginia, February 22d, 1760, Of Irish and
German Parentage entered the army Of Gen.
Washington when . young man was at the
siege Of yorktown; was also with Marion and
his men on the Pedee, and fought the Tories OF
South Carolina; was in the war Of 1912, and
fought under Gen. PiRckney took part in the
battle of James Island, on the coast Of Carroll
ma, in which three British ships we're sunk BY
cannon shots from fortifcation made of cot
ton bales, the Wasp and Hornet cooperating
with the land forces-in which battle he was
wounded in the right hand. These are his own
recollections, as given by himself, and may not
be in all respects correct, depending, IS they
do, on the memory of an uneducated man Of
great age.
Mr. Dotson says he has fourteen sons in the
Federal army, fighting for the Government es
tablished by Washington. Two Of them are in
the army Of the Southwest, under Colonies
Phelps and Boyd; the others were living in In
diana and Illinois, and have Joined the army in
their respective States he has been married
to four wives, the last young woman Of Mis-
souri,, by whom he has several young children
He is the father Of twenty-five children, all liv-
ing, the oldest being seventy-six years of age,
residing in East Tennessee, and the youngest
three years old, by his young wife, born to him
in his ninety ninth year. After the Revolution
airy war; be removed to South Carolina, and re-
sided there till 1920, when he emigrated to East
Tennessee. Here he remained until 1854, when
he emigrated to Southwest Missouri. He is a
farmer by occupation, aud he and his sons have
always performed their own labor They have
never owned slaves, nor used slave labor. Once
bought slave by an exchange of property, and
his wife was so opposed to it that he took him
him back and induced the owner to trade back
again. He has always labored with his own
hands, and what he possesses is the fruit Of his
own honest toll. He is still in the enjoyment
of vigorous health and sound memory, rides
on horseback and walks perfectly erect, con
verses intelligently, and performs q cOnsidera.
BILE amount of labor. Two years ago, during
the sitting Of the Court at Gaiena, he run foot
race, with younger man, in the presence Of
the Court and multitude Of spectators, amid
the shouts and laughter of the crowd at his de-
feated antagonist.
He is about five feet four inches in statue and
compactly built, and, like Moses OF old, his
eye is not dimmed, nor his natural force aba
ted" There is no reason why he should not
live another fifteen or twenty years. He is q
strong Union man, and was tempted at the out
break of the rebellion to offer himself for en-.
listment in the Union army, but the rebels came
and took bis horse and gun, and he gave up his
purpose, feeling that his fourteen sons would do
their own and bis share of service in putting
down the rebellion.
The rebels visited him and warned him that
he was in danger, and had better fee. But he
answered them, saying, 81 have bought and
paid for my farm and mean to live and die upon
it. If you choose to kill me you will only wrong
me out Of q lew years, and the deed will do you
no credit. According to the common course of
nature ought to have died years sgo." They
did not further modest him, except to take an
excellent horse, his gun and tobacco The lat
ter he said was great privation. He could not
get along without it, and thought they might
have left him his tobacco.
The old man appeared delighted to see and
converse with our troops. Riding about upon
his horse he mingles with the crowd, cracks his
jokes and laughs with great hilarity Gen. Cur
tbs has had his statement taken down, and to
which the old hero has subscribed and made his
affidavit, and it is to be sent on to Washington
with recommendation for a pension the re-
mainder of his days.