The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-11
Selett Story.
A NIGHT ON THE JUNIATA.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.
From An Officers Diary,
BY J. y. CROWLEY.

In the year of 177G | joined the Amer.
lean army as staff officer to George
Washington, and short time after was
promoted, for meritorious conduct, to the
rank Of captain
The diary, of which this is leaf, was
commenced in disastrous year to the
American army-the year l777. Howe
had wrested Philadelphia from our grasp,
aud We had gone into winter quarters at
Valley Forge,
IL was something about the first of De-
ccmber that a long lank fellow came to
camp reporting himself as a scout from
the Juniata Valley. He desired to see
the General and was directed to Head
quarters, and for an hour was closely clos
eted with Washington His mission be-
came the talk of the hour among the Of
ficers aud our curiosity was added to, when
received an order to repair at once to
headquarters.
When | entered, Washington turned
from the huge chart he was studying and
said:
"Mr. Hardly, Captain Ralfe.
bowed to the long specimen Of the
backwood's man before me, and he hung
the raccoon skin cap he held in his right
hand on the muzzle Of his long flint lock"
and grasped my hand heartily but silently.
The General drawing stool to the table
said:
"Seat yourself Captain. have sent for
you to go with this scout to Carlisle, and
take all the men the Commandant has 10
spare aud proceed at once to the Standing
Stone, on the Juniata; where, according to
Hardly, the Indians have a coalition. Iwish
you to Use all the persuasive means in
your power to get them to desist from the
undertaking. If you cannot persuade
them you will have to use force. Guard
the settlers by all means. Here is let.
ter you will hand to the Commandant at
Carlisle. | send you upon this mission,
because | know you will use discretion.
He arose handing me the letter "Pro-
ceed at once" he continued, "and take
care Of yourself"
turned and left the Generals quarters,
followed by Hardly.
An hour later found me in the saddle
following the angular form of the scout in
due westerly direction. Although our
cause was in the darkest hours my mind
was filed with the most gratifying thoughts.
Here | was, not yet twenty years old, en-
trusted with a mission to the Indians
which depended entirely on discretion.
Tho ridn ~ Haelta1a ...,,lht.s. I,.t
pleasant; on our second day out from Val
ley Forge ii commenced to snow, and at
noon the air was darkened by flying fakes.
Notwithstanding the discomfort, we push
ed rapidly forward and on the evening of
the 9th found us safely housed in the bar
racks.
Fourteen men were all that the Com.
mandant could spare. With those set
out on the morning of the 9Th of Decem-
Der westward-for Fort Shirley, then a
small trading post in the Valley Of the
Juniata. On we went over the hills and
wales, through scenes the grandest | have
ever witnessed. The hills were clad in n
snowy robe of dazzling whitcness and when
the wintry sunshine fell over them the ef-
feet can be imagined better than described.
had TO leave my horse at Carlisle,
and it was now hard for me to keep up
with the hardy scouts who formed my
company. As | was the youngest and
weakest of the party, | was placed in the
rear where the road was best broken, and
each Of the scouts took his turn in front
TO break the way. Tins We made tho iour