The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-07-21
Power of Imagination.
A Revolutionary Anecdote.

My grandfather. u Revolutionary soldier
was accustomed TO relate the followinu
among the incidents Of his experience du
ring the war
u was during the famous Jersey campaign
Of HIS. Attached 10 the company 70
which be belonged was a private soldier
nn inveieruie fault finder. sour, Grabbed
perreiually disgruuiled " obout some
Thing hat who. nevertheless. was never
suspected Of u leaning towards the enemy
aud had always done his duty a. good
soldier Of The Continental army. On one
occasion a lieuienant and part OF his com,
pany. including the subject Of this story
were sent out on q scouting excursion. in.
structed 90 watch the movements ola body
~ the enemy who We're prowling IN the
vicinity II was u very warm day and the
party. after three hours march, came In
ssht u: the foe. who being 10 greater nun.
1eI- than was anticipated. compelled the
lieu'rnant and his men 10 Use &c the better
part ui vul"r and prepare for a retreat -
On tins. Old Groutv as he was called
lowered his Wuske' broke forth into H.
radc against military duty in general and
-cou':ns parties 10 particular. and finished
hy declaring that b" had done enough ini
one day. aud Wa determined q remain
where Le was Tor the remainder Of Z. Tc
the representations OF his comrades that
he would he captured by the enemy. he re-
piled tnat such an event would bee prpfera
Ole 10 any lIr'hef ex"rtioLe. and siay b.
would. and abide the result After ex
h1ust!ng argument aud cuifeaty. the lieu.
tenant informed him that rather than sufet
him to be- taken by the British ana giy,
them the Information they would seek con
crrn.ng our iptces 6 he persisted in his de
termination o. remain. he must shoot him
~ cru'r 10 secure The general safety The
rcply Wa. " shoot aud be hanged I shall
siav where am
en- Ibis n hurried consultation was held
by the oitcer with h- men and il was ~
solved 10 experiment with him. and avoid.
II possible, the sacrifice Of his life. lie
was told 20 take seat upon log 10 the
woods where they then were. and TO avoid
alarming the enemy by general voll.y, a
single soldier from behind was 10 send a
bullet through bis heart The announce.
ment was received with dogged resigna
ton and an unaiiefed purpose. All being
ready. the Older detailed a. eXecui ioner
az the word ul command. fred "A blank car.
fridge. while. by Encouragement. "a second
simultaneously threw a small pebble smart.
ly "a, the spot intended TO be hit The man
Tell aud gruaBed aud the lieutenant an.
preached. expressed his opinion that the
wound was mortal. aud his sorrow that his
duty compelled him 10 the measure. bade
him ad'eu, and then led his party TO the
rear where they concealed themselves 10
watch the result;
The martyr to stuO0ornness lay Tor some
time uttering an occasional groan. varied
with maleacilons on the service. his fate.
the rcd.coats. his comrades. His wrath
toward the latter seemed 10 be kndled by
the bungling manner IN which they had per.
formed 'her duty. leaving him TO a linger.
ing death instead of despaicbing him al
once. At length. with dolorous exertion.
he raised himself on his elbow aud looked
over and beneath his shoulder. As though
to determine The neaTnrss Of HE exit bv
the quantity Of blood that had issued from
bis wound. Apparently astonished at find.
ing none. he next with slow but seemingly
!ess painful movements commenced feeling
behind has back for traces of the bullet
bOle. CnsgiIshed with this be raised him.
sell 10 sitting posture. and with much ex.
eriipu. took of his coat. aud finding no
perfUratiou, the truth aud trick flashed up.
on him at once when seeing come straC
gcrs Vt the enemy in the distance be start.
eel np, seized his musket and ran as none
had ever seen him do before. toward. the
American lines. lie arrived long 10 ad
vance OF the lieutenant and his party. who
had never occasion thereafter TO ccnsure
his baiilrd subordinate.