The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-07-14
Il GENTENN1RLAN
TIE RBH IL p WAUGH INTER-
VIEWS THE OLDESTMAN LN1HKh

VIEWS THE OLDEST1H4NL N7YKE
COUNTRY.
To the Editor of the MorristOwn Gazette:
In passing around my circuit few
DAYS since, | heard of a very old
man, Michael Merser, and passing
by where he lived on my way to one
Of my appointments, concluded to
call and see him. went in, and
learned from him that be was about
one hundred and thirteen or four
teen gears Of age. He told me
that he was born and raised within
four or five miles OF the Morayian
Town In North Carolina, (by which
he meant Salem, OF course, that he
was fourteen years old when the
Revolutionary war commenced, and
that at the age OF eighteen he wen:
into the army and served the last
three years of the war. That he was
in the battle against the Indians at
Long Island just above Kingsport, in
Sullivan county, in this State, and
in that battle seven or eight Indians
were killed and the rest fed into
Bays Mountain, and that few Of
our men were killed and wounded /;
his command then returned to North
Carolina, and had not been there
more than three days until they were
ordered TO King Mountain, S. c..
That he was present and participated
In that hard tonight battle. He was
also present st the surrender OF Corn
wallace, at Yorktown, Va.
He is so old that he has forgotten
the names of all his commanding Off.
GERS except Wade Hampton. have
but little doubt from the manner in
which he gave it of the truthfulness
of his statement. He says that he
has never drawn pension from the
fact that he could not prove his
identity, 20 what command he be.
longed, where he was enlisted, dis
charged &c.
After seeing him and hearing his
honest, and | believe truthful state.
ment, my sympathies were very
much drawn out for the poor old man
aud especially in view Of the fac.,
that he Is in very destitute circum.
stances, and from further facts that
I learn from his neighbors, that
i'm the late war he was Southern
man in his sentiments. and that some
low down INSTANTANEOUS and house
providers went to his house and
whipped him numerically, pretend.
ing that they thought he had little
specie and wanted him to give it up.
He is a cooper by trade, and until
the last two or three years has been
able TO support himself, but now, in
consequence of his extreme age is no
longer able to do so. And now, /
wish TO say, Mr.. Editor, that in all
my travels in this world, have never
met with any one so poor and desti.
tute. / understand that his wife is
living though not as old as himself.
And now in order that you and your
readers may have some idea of the
appearance of the old man and the
place, just imagine yourself stepping
into log cabin by 10 feet and you
see an old man sitting there with
long white beard. so old that it is
turning dingy and yellow at the ends.
A tall man with one keen black eye
(the other having bursted out with
severe pain some four years ago.
He is sitting there on an old rickety
chair, another old piece OF chair
and two three-legged stools close by
and two old hunks or beds and you
have all the furniture. At the fire.
place a small pot. cracked and with
band around it. On board shelf is
one or two tin cups and two or three
old cups and saucers, and you have
seen all. Not dust of meal or flour
nor a pound Of meat or amy thing Of
tho kind to be seen. He has on an
old white hat and some patched
clothes, the original color of which
you cannot tell, and some rags and
pieces of old shoes on his feet.
He, OF course is very hard of hear
ing. sat down on one of the three
legged stools close 10 him and he
gave me his history as above related.
With proper nourishment and atten-
ton he might live several years yet.
While sitting there and looking at
him in pity. could not help think
ing, is it possible that American citi-
zens, who enjoy the liberties that
were so dearly bought. will let one
OF her Revolutionary soldiers como
to this cad state of destitution. Al
though be has no doubt been sober
steady man, he told mo that he had
never madO a profession OF religion
or joinedIany church. Are there not
benevolent societies or wealthy indi.
viduals in the land that will see that
he is properly cared for? / found
him in Hawkins county, seven or
eight miles south OF Rogersville.
What grand relic he would be to
have present at the Centennial at
Philadelphia, next year, and with
proper care he might live and be able
10 60, as he can yet walk about a
little out of doors with his staff. And
in order that his case be brought be
fore the public, would it not be well
for other papers to copy this article
or part Of it? ANY one wishing
any further information on this sub
ject can address me at Morristown,
Tenn. Yours, respct'ly,
July 8, 1875. I'll. p. WAUGH.