The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-13
A. Revolutionary Hero.
Correspondents Of the Missouri Republi

HiHIkaLie HliH-a suNIN ing ieFO Ol Tue
Revolution, in his one hundred and Sec
ond year, who served with Washing ION
and Marion towards the close Of t o war.
His name is William Dotson, and his
residence on the James Fork Of White
River, near Galena. Tie following is the
history he gives Of himself. He was
born rear tie Dan River, Virginia, Feb
ruary 22d, 1850, Of Irish and German
parenaye entered the army Of General
Washington when a young man was at
the scige of Yorktown; was also with
Marion and his men on the Pedec, and
fought the Tories of South Carolina was
in Tie war Of 1912, and fought under
Gen Pickney; took part in the battle Of
James Island, on the coast Of Carolina,
10 which three British ships we're sunk
By cannon shots from forlGcaion made
of cotton bales, the Wasp and Hornet co.
operating with the land forces-in VIII ch
battle he was wounded in the light hand.
These are his own recolections, as given
by himself, and may not be in all res
poets correct, depending, as 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 Gov
eminent established by Washington. Two
o. them are in The army Of the Sou thwest,
under Colouels Phelps and Boyd the
Others were living in Indiana and Hin.
ois. and have joined the army in their re-
spective States. He has been married
10 four wives, the last q young woman
OF Missouri, by whom he has several
Young children. lie is the father Of
twenty-five children, ali living, the old
EST being seventy six years, OF age, resi-
ding in East Tennessee, and the young
e., three years old, by his young wife,
born 10 him in his ninety ninth year
After the Revolutionary war, he removed
10 South Carolina, and resided there till
1920, when lie enigrated to East Tenn
essee. Here he remained until 1854,
when be cmigratel to Southwest Nilsson
H. He is farmer BY occupation, and
he and lis sons have always performed
their own labor. They have never own
cd slaves, nor used slave labor. Once
bought q slave by an exchange Of prop
cr,v, an! lis wife was SO opposed to II
that he took him back and induced the
owner 10 trade back again. be has al
ways laboied with Ii; own hands, and
what be possesses is the fruit OF his own
honest toll. He is still in the enjoyment
ofvigorous hca Ii and sound memory
rides on horse back and walks erect, con-
verses intclligendy, and performs a con
siderable amount OF labor. Two years
aao, curing the sitting Of the Court al
Galeoa. lie run foot race with youn.
ger man, IL the presence Of the Court and
multitude Of spectators, amid the shouts
and laughter Of the crowd al his defeated
antagonist.
lie is about Eve feel four inches in stat!
ne. aad compactly built. and, like Moses
Of old, I" his eye is not dimmed, nor bis
natural force abated" There is no rea-
son why lie should not live another fif-
leen or twenty years. He is strong
Union man, and was tempted at The out
break Of the rebellion TO offer himself foi
enlistment in the Union army, but the
rebels came and took his horse and gun
and he gave up his purpose, feeling .ha
his fourteen sons would Go their own anc
his share Of service in putting down tht
rebellion.
The rebels visited him and warned hin
thai he was in danger. and had bette
fee. But he answered them, saying, q.
have bought and paid for my farm, ant
mean 10 so and die upon it. If 20,
choose 10 k:ll me you VIII only wrong
me out Of few Years, and The deed vii
do you no credit. According to th'
common course Of nature | ought to have
died ears ago" They did not Furthei
modest him. except to take an excelen
horse, MS gun and tobacco. The latte
lie said was great priyafioa. lie coul
not get along without it, am though
,hoy might have left him his tobacco.
The old man appeared delighted to see
and converse with our troops. Riding
abou, upon his horse he minslos will
The crowd, cracks his jokes and laughs
with great lilarily. Gen. Curtis has had
his statement taken down, and to which
the Old hero has subscribed and made
his Aft Iayit, ana it is TO be sent on &c
Washington with recommendation fol
aren ion the remainder Ct his days.