The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-01-13
Pow &c oR EsgAasgArsog.

Ny grandfather, revolutionary SOL
dier, was accustomed TO relate the follow
ing among the incidents of his experience
during the war:
Il was during the famous Jersey cam
paign of 1777-8 Attached TO the com
pany to which he belonged was private
soldier, an inveteTatc fault~fnder, sour.
Grabbed, and perpetuaIiy "disgruntIed'
about something, but who, nevertheless,
was never suspected Of leaning toward the
enemy, and had always done his duty as
a good solljer OF the continental army.
On one occasion, lieutenant and a
part Of his company, including fhe suijact
of our story, were sent ont on a scouting
excursion, instructed TO watch t!e move
nents Of n body of The enemy who were
prowling in the vicinity. 1t was yecv
warm day, aud the party, after p three
hours tramp, came in sight Of the Toe.
who being In greater ngmbcrs than was
anticipated. compelled The lieutenant and
his men 10 n=e ''ihe better part Of valor,
and prepare for a retreat.
On this ''Old Crou'v.' as te was call
ed, lowered his musket, broke forth into
TRADE against military duty in general
ond scouting parties in particular. md
finished by declaring thai he had done
enough for one day, and was determined
10 remain there. TO the representations
Of his comrades that he would be captured
by the enemy, he rop'isd that such an
event would he preferable TO any farther
excFtiCn. snl stay he would and abide the
result.
After e:,hausiing argument and en-
treaty, The lieutenant Informed him that
rather than suffer him to be taken hv tie
British and give them the information
they would seek concerned our forces, if
nc persisted IN his Determination 10 re-
main, he must shoot him IN order TO Sc
cure the GENERAL vafotv The rpp15 was,
''Shoot and be hRngeI. | shall stay
where an.
On this hurried consultation wae beld
by the officer with his men, and It was
resolved to experiment with him. and
avoid, if possible, tho sacrifice Of his life.
lie was told 70 take his seat upon n log in
the woods where they then were, and TO
avoid alarming the enrmr b7 general
vollcv, single soldier from behind was to
send a bullet through bis heart.
The announcement was received with a
dncced resignation and au unal,cred pur-
rose. All being ready, the sollisr de
tailed rs exccu'ioner, AZ the word Of cons
mand, fred a blank~cartridgc. while by
pre- arrangement n second simultaneously
threw small pebble smartly at the spot
intended to be hit. The man fell and
groancl, aud the lieutenant approached,
expressed his opinion that lie was mortal.
and sorrow that lis duty compelled him 70
the measlrc, badc him adiep, and then
led his party 10 the rear, where they con
cealed themselves 10 yatvh the result
The martyr TO stubbornnoss lay for
some fine uttfring an occasional groan,
varied with waedjc'ions upon he service.
his fate, and rch-coats. and his comrade..
| His wrath toward the latter seemed To be
kindled by the bungling manner in which
they bad performed their du,y, leaviag
him 10 Il lingering death instead of dis
patching him at once.
| At length. with dolorous cxcrlion, he
raised himself on his elbow and looked
over and beneath his shoulder. as though
wishing to determine the ncarness of his
exit by the quantity of blood shat had is
sued from his wouad. Apparently aston
ished at finding none, he next, with slow,
but seemingly less painful movements,
commenced feeling behind his back for
traces of the bullet~hola. Not satisfied
with this he raised himself TO sitting
/ posture, and with much exertion took OF
his coat; and finding no perforaiion, the
truth of the trick flashed on him at once,
! when, seeing some sracelers Of the enemy
in the distance, lie started mp. seized his
musket and ran, as mono had ever seen
him do before, toward he American lines.
He arrived long in advance Of the lienf,n-
ant and his party, whe never had occasion
thereafter 10 censure his ba4il,,. subordi
nate.