Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-12

The Boy That Would d Soldier Go.

Caleb Stark born December 8, 1859,
was the eldest son of Captain John Stark,
of His Brittanic Majesty's Corps of
American Rangers. Captain Stark was
in active British service in the French
war; but upon the capitalization Of Canada,
in 1880, he resigned his commission in
the army and returned to his family and
estate in "Derryfeld," now Manchester,
and adopted the life of an Industrious
civilian. Here he remained till the news
of the battle of Lexington, in the spring
of IT'S, reached him, when he left his
farm and mill and becatne again soldier.
At this time land of time previously
Caleb Stark was the adopted son of his
grandfather whose Christian nainesake he
was, and who always entertained a strong
affection for this grahdchild
Young Caleb heard the news Of the
deepening conflict between the American,
colonies and the mother country, and it
stirred his blood to the extreme of patri-
otism. Though but sixteen years of age,
he besought his grandfather's permission
to enter the army The old gentleman
demonstrated. ''You are too young" he
said, "the camp is not fit for one of your
years." Here the matter rested till the
10th of June, when having secured his
clothing in valise, voting Caleb, unbe-
known to any of the family, mounted, at
daylight, horse given him by his grand
father, and starred for the American
camp at Medford, Mass. After riding a
few miles, he fell in with an older fellow
traveller and stranger, who was clad in
the undress uniform of British officer.
The stranger observed his STRIPPING com
panion with some curiosity, and at length
inquired:
"Where are you going?"
ITO the camp at Medford." was the
reply. a,.,a.-
"What are you going there for9''
"I want to see the battle"
SIS there any one there that you
know?"
eyes, sir; my father is there"
| "Your father-who is he?"
"My father is Colonel Stark"
The strangers face grew animated.
$50 you are them" he said, {" the son Of
my old comrade. Your father and I were
fellow soldiers for more than five years
am travelling in the same direction, and
we will keep company"
The stranger was no other than Major
Rogers, of French war notoriety, who
paid all the expenses on the way to Med
ford, where Colonel Stark addressed his
son with the question:
"Well, son, what are you here for?'
You should have remained at home"
II can handle musket," said the
boy" and have come to try my fortune
as volunteer"
The Colonel turned the youthful aspi-
rant for military glory over to Capt. Geo
Reid with the remark:
"Take him to your quarter; tomorrow
may be busy day; after that we will SEE
what can be done with him."
The 18th of June was indeed busy
day." and the readers can infer the bear
ing of young Caleb at his first baptism
of fire." after knowing he was the same
year made quartermaster of the list New
Hampshire regiment, afterward adjutant
of the same, and subsequently brigadiel
major and aide-de camp of his father
Caleb Stark was also at Trenton in 1776
at Princeton on the Sd of January. 1777
and at the engagements on the 18th. OF
September and the 18th of October pre-.
ceding the surrender of Burgoyne, the
same year.-B0st0n Journal.