The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-06-22

little to the hatred with which the
troops of King George were ever re-
garded in this locality.
A few days later, ON June 23d, the
British madea second attempt to capture
the American post at Short Hills, no
less a person that Sir Henry Clinton
commanding the expedition. Advancing
in two columns, the British force reached
Springfield, where the Americans made
stand, and sharp contest ensued.
1t is related that Mr.. Caldwell showed
the utmost ardor in the fight, as if he
would avenge himself for the murder of
his beloved wife, and when the men of
his regiment had exhausted their supply
of wadding for their muskets, he ran to
the Presbyterian church near by, and re-
turned with an armful of psalm-books,
which he distributed among the men,
shouting, Now put Watts into them,
boys Give 'em Watts r.
Although the Provincials-being much
inferior in numbers to the British-were
at first compelled to give ground, they
rallied in ever-increasing numbers, and
the Royal troops were again forced to re-
treat. In passing through Springfield
they plundered and burned it, but were
pursued by the militia to their intrench-
ments at Elizabethtown Point. The
total loss of the Royal troops in this
expedition to the Jerseys" as it was
called, was not less than five hundred
killed, wounded, and missing.
After the death of his wife, Mr..
Caldwell continued in the discharge of
his various duties-now as pastor, now
as soldier-untl the oath of November,
1871, when be was assassinated by a
Continental soldier at the landing at
EIizabethtown Point.
Mr.. Caldwell had gone to the Point,
on the arrival of the dag-of-truce boat
from New York, to meet young lady
expected to arrive on a visit to her
sister. one of his congregation. What
then occurred is thus stated in the New
Jersey Gazstte of December IL, 1871:
"When he arrived there, the officer
then commanding the post at Elizabeth
town. being on board the fag-sloop,
asked him whether he would go ON
board. He then stepped on board of the
sloop, and was informed that the young
lady had already gone to the town. Be
ing about to return, person in the
sloop asked him whether he would take
small parcel tied up in a handkerchief.
Mr.. Caldwell consented to take it, went
on shore, and was driving of, when a
soldier stepped up to him and said: Il
must see if you have seizable goods in
that bundlep Mr.. Caldwell then asked
the soldier if he would suffer him to re-
turn the bundle to the sloop. To this
request the soldier readily agreeing, Mr..
Caldwell took the bundle, and was step
ping on board the sloop to return it,
when the murderer, who was off the
quarterback and within about two yards
of him, said, Damn you, stopP Mr..
Caldwell instantly stopped, and i'm
mediately on his stopping the soldier
presented his musket and shot him. He
fell down and instantly expired, without
a groan."
The murderer was an Irishman named
Morgan, one Of, the "twelve months
men" of the American army, and seems
to have been man of bad reputation.
He was at once secured and delivered to
the civil authorities.
Mr.. Caldwelps funeral took place on
November II, 1881. All business was
suspended, and the entire population of
the town gathered griefstricken and
fearful multitude-around the body of
their beloved pastor.
After all had been given an opportu-
nifty to view the corpse, and before the
coffin was closed, Doctor Boudinot came
forward, leading the nine children of Mr..
and Mrs. Caldwell, now doubly orphaned,
and, placing them around the bier of
their parent, made an address of sur
passing pathos to the multitude in their
behalf.
The people were deeply moved by his
words, and when he concluded several of
the most prominent citizens stepped for
ward and formally adopted the bereayed
little ones. -
It was an hour of deep and powerful
emotion, and. as the sad procession
moved slowly to the grave, tears were in
many eyes unused to weep.
Morgan, the dastardly assassin, was
tried at Westfeld, New Jersey. on
January "a, 1882; found guilty Of
wilful murder, and hung on January
20, at the same place. The scene of his
execution still bears the name of Gallows
Hill.
1t was generally affirmed at the time
that the murderer was bribed by the
British to commit the crime, and this
belief is whispered among the people OF
Union County to this day. Ne evidence,
however, of the truth of this charge has
ever been adduced. and it is scarcely
credible that such should have been the
case.
Mr.. Caldwell was laid by the side OF
his murdered wife, and plain marble
slab, with an appropriate inscription,
was raised above them. In 1845 this
was replaced by costly and elegant
monument, which still serves to perpetu-
ate the memory of these martyrs to their
country's freedom.
A CLERGYMAN was turned down
at fashionable spelling-bee for spelling
drunkenness with one "n." Shortly
afterwards he returned to his parish, and
found himself very coldly received by