Connecticut western news., 1875-07-30
StOckbridge and sharon
IN THE REVOLUTION.

IN THE REVOLUTION.
 J. T. Headley gives the following remi- niscences of the Revolution in the New York O6serUer. Its mention of names and events of local character. will render 1t of especial Interest to our readers. Some of the most touching scenes were of private character, between pastor and people. AL most every secluded valley furnished sub
 jects for great historic pictures to one who had the soul to conceive the moral gran deur of the scene and the heart to feel the deep pathos they exhibited.
 ''Such occurred in two little villages in New England-one Tn Massachusetts and the other in Connecticut. Stockbridge, nestled in secluded valley along the Housstonic river, was at the west end of the state; yet it had felt the fierce pulsa- tions at Boston, and minute men had been enrolled to start at the first call to arms. Deacon Cleveland and another leading member of the church had been selected, from their position in the centre of the val ley to call these together with precon- certed signal the moment the courier ar- rived with the news of the first shedding of American blood. It was on Sabbath morning that the messenger darted into the little village on a headlong gallop. The son of the deacon related to me how the news was received. The Sabbath was kept with Jewish stlictness there, and not 8 sound bioke the profound stiffness that rested ovel the quiet valley. He was sitting in the room when he was startled by the report os musket in the back yard. Rush. ing out he saw his father-the good deacon standing with 6 gun in bis hand, the smoke still curling around his head in the damp atmosphere. He stood transixed in dumb astonishment. Before he had time to recover. he heard another musket go off and saw m the next yard one of the pillars of the church with gun in his hand.- Knowing nothing of the arrangements that had been made, he was totally bewildered and said he thought the Judgment day had come. In few moments he saw the streets filled with men running at full speed, ma king straight for his fathers house, and soon the porch was crowded with men, They knew what those two musket shots meant ringing out on the Sabbath ar, and Dr. West, the pastor, also knew, and he was soon seen coming down the hill toward the same place of rendezvous. It was . cold, drizzly morning, and as, with an um- brella over his head and the Bible under his arm, he came up the steps, his benevo- lent face revealed the emotion that filled his heart. Opening the Bible, he read a portion of Scripture he then prayed with them and made a short address, telling them it was Gods cause they were about to engage in, and exhorted them to be valiant and to suffer, and if need be die for 1t. He gave them hls solemn benediction, and in two hours twenty men, with knapsacks on their backs and muskets on their shoulders, had started on foot for Boston, hundred and fifty miles distant. Thus. in every parish
 the minister was the centre of influence. To him came the first messages for help, and to him every young man of his congre- gation looked fer advice and direction.
 As companion picture to this striking scene, take the following one that occurred in tue village of Sharon, Conn. Rev. Cot. ton Mather Smith was pastor of the church, and from the outset enlisted with all his soul in the great question of colonial rights. At the breaking out of hostilities he was appointed chaplain to the Connect. cut troops at Ticonderoga, but after awhile he was taken sick with the camp fever and came very near dying. On his recovering he returned to his parish, and by his ap- peals and efforts sent scores of young men to the war. Like every patriot he was deeply excited over the march of Burgoyne from Canada, knowing that if it were suc- cessful New England would be cut off from the other colonies by cordon of posts from New York to the St. Lawrence, and the struggle to all human appearance be ended. This excitement deepened after the drawn battle at Saratoga in September, and he appealed so earnestly to his congre- gation that every young man capable of bearing arms hurried off to join the army, and he had none but old men and women to preach to. It was sud to look over his congregation and see 1t SO shorn of its strength and glory. Although thousands of hearts were filled with gloomy forebo- dings every ear was turned eagerly to the North for the next tidings that might be the knell of all hope, Mr. Smith never doubted of the result. His faith seemed prophetic. The autumn deepened and October came with its dreamy days and faded foliage, and still the dreaded yet longed for news de laycd. At length one Sabbath morning Mir. Smith took for his text-'Watchman what of this night? The watchman said, The morning cometh.' The question was in every one's heart; on every one's lips but who could say The morning cometh ? After dwelling on Gods faithfulness a. great length he suddenly broke out-"rhe morning cometh! Ibclieve we are on the point of hearing extraordinary news of victory to our arms" Kindling with pro phetic fire he shouted In the ears of his as tonished congregation: The morning now cometh! I see its beams already gild. ing the mountain-tops, and you shall soon see it's brightness bursting over all the land !'-and closing the Bible he said Amen ;s so lel it be- A silence like tha, of death fell on the astonished audience, which was broken by the faint and far.off chatter of horses hoof as he came dash ing into the village. All knew what it meant-tidings from the North. Nothing