The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-09-24
MISCELLANY.
Burr's Musket.


Burr's Musket.
"A musket which Aaron Burr captnr
ed while serving under Benedict Arnold
at the attempted storming of Quebec, on
the night of December 81, IT'S, ia on
exhibition in O=wego. The gun Is of
the Queen Anne pattern, and weighs q
pounds.
The blight which has covered the
memory of Burr does not even spare the
services he rendered his country in the
hour of her extreme peril. Because he
shot Hamilton in a duel, and attempted
to build up an American Empire in
Mexico, he is set down as a murderer
and n traitor, of whom it is impossible
to say good word.
The fact is that his military record is
very brilliant, and, as far as he had an
opportunity for showing the stuff that
was in him, he displayed the highest
qualities of soldier. While still an
under graduate at Princeton, he Joined
Arnold's expedition to Canada, as a
volunteer, and, though yet a mere boy,
behaved like a veteran, and speedily
won the admiration and esteem OF the
whole army. 1t was necessary to find
some one who would risk his life in a
reconnaissance beyond the Canadian
frontier, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the French portion of this pop
ulation were disposed to cooperate with
the advancing Americans. Nobody
else caring To embark in such desper-
ate enterprise. Burr offered himself. and
was gladly accepted. On foot and alone
he made his way across the enemy's line
obtained a large amount of informa-
tion, aside from the special object of his
mission, and returned in safety. 1t was
this exploit which attracted the atten-
tion of General Montgomery, and gave
him a position on the staff of that gal
liant and unfortunate commander. Burr
was by Montgomery's side during the
fatal assault upon the Notifications of
Quebec, and endeavored TO carry the
mOrtally wounded hero from the field.
In the hottest of the fire he threw the
almost lifeless body upon his shoulders,
and staggered through the binding
snOw-storm toward the rear guard. Not
until the sharp pursuit of the British
threatened to cut off his retreat, did he
relinqnish his precious burden. Next
to Montgomery, Burr reaped the most
laurels in this defeat, which came SO
near being a victory.
More than fifty years after the siege
of Quebec, the father of the Rev. Doctor
Gardiner Spring was visiting his son in
New York He inquired after Burr,
and insisted upon being taken to see
him. He was told that it would not do;
spectacle people did not notice him.
"What Is the matter?" said the old man,
who had evidently been living outside
the range of newspaper information.
"He is a traitor" was the reply. cts
lie," shouted the wrafhful relic of 80
Didn't see the little fellow scrambling
through the snow, with Montgomery on
his back at the Quebec fight? | wM go
see Burr P' And go and see him he
did.
1t is a curious and significant fact,
which gives us a glimpse of the charac-
ter of the man, that he never would |
make any reply to the assault upon him
even when, as in many instances, he
could have overwhelmed his foes by
documentary evidence. So far as we are
aware, he never published or caused to
be published, line in his own behalf |
In the closing years of his life friend !
demonstrated with him upon this obsti-
nate silence, telling him that uncontra-
dicted falsehOods soon came to be re-
garded by the general public as truths, |
and that he had suffered infinite injury |
by thus keeping back his side of the |
case. II believe you are right" said |
Burr. "It was a ruinous mistake on
my part, but it is too late to remedy it
now" That any defence could have
wholly redeemed his reputation was, of
course, impossible, but that reputation
need not have been as black as it is had |
he not chosen to go to his grave with |
sealed lips.
And now this old Queen Anne s mus
ket, with Quebec scars on its venerable
wood and iron, salutes the eye of the
Centennial to remind the present gener-
alton that they eve at least triAing |
debt of gratitude TO Aaron Burr. The |
struggling Colonies would have thought |
it great misfortune had bullet struck |
the life out of the young student just as
he grasped the trophy which to-day
filings ftfui, fading lustre around his
darkened name. But what blessing it
would have been for Esther Edwards |
son had he died, with the old musket in
his hands, where Montgomery fell
st. Louis Republican.