New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-08-20

I'M REV IE w !, WE
IA
aware from the number Of heads
seen above the emb ankment; but be-
ing without The range Of musket
shot, he did not seem 70 notice the
significant fact. Z Wight had deep
Eened into the cooler, darker shades
Of evening, however, and he had. at
lenght turned his horses head to-
ward the American camp, with the
intention Of retracing his steps,
when his ears were startled by The
ramp of hoofs, and before he could
dash his spurs into his horses side,
two Hessian hussars dashed around
projecting point between the little
creek and the river. So rapid had
been the movement, that before he
was well aware Of their approach,
they were within afew feet Of him,
and he was saluted with an outpour-
ing Of explosives ii low Dutch, ut.
terly incomprehensible to him, ex.
cept as they were accompanied by
the drawing Of their pistols from
the holster. He saw at a glance that
escape would be impossible, and
turning toward them with a smile
which said as plain as smile could
say l'm fairly caught, , he waved
his hand in token of submission,
and answered their gibberish with
Gentlemen, I'm your prisoner
Whether it was that they did not
understand him, or that they thought
his movements betokened resistance;
or whether from the natural thirst for
blood and want Of humanity, which
was a characteristic Of some of the
Hessian troops, and which led them
to kill an enemy rather than take a
prisoner, cannot be divised; butt their
answer to Scammell's declaration
came from the muzzle. Of their pis-
tolls, and he fell from his horse,
pierced through and through by
their balls. His death was not I'M
mediate, and his murderers, satisfied
with their inglorious deed, left him
where he lay to die. The whole
transaction-which occupied far
less time than I have taken to des-
cribe twas observed from the re-
doubt. and some of the more humane
among the enemy approached the.
wounded officer, and finding him
still alive, bore him on their mus
kets to the interior of the works,
from whence he was taken within
the lines. Assoon as the occurrence
was made known to the Commander
in.Chief of the American forces, he
sent a flag to the British General,
requesting that the person of the
wounded officer might be given up
to him. CORVALLIS acceded to the
request, and the Colonel was re-
moved to Williamsburgh, where he
was attended by DIR. Hatcher and
Munson; but all their art could not
ward off the calamity which fol-
lowed. Hesank gradually until the
9Th. Of October, when death released
him from his agony, and his spirit
winged it's way to another world.
Thus died the brave and accomp.l
lished Alexander Scammell-a truly
brave, meritorious and efficient off
Ger, ofwhom it might well be said
;'none named him but to praise. .
His friend Col. Humphreys, who
took the command Of his regiment.
wrote the following epitaph for his
tomb; but it has, as yet, never been
engraved @# sea1|>.1
''Alexander Scammell, Adjutant-
General of the American armies, and
Colonel of the First Regiment of New
Hampshire, while he commanded
chosen corps of Light Infantry at the
successful siege Of ssY orktoWn, in Vir-
ginia, was in the gallant performance
of his duty as field officer of. the day.
unfortunately captured, and after
wards insidiously Wounded-of which
wound he expired at Williamsburgh,
October, 1851. Ammo. 4Htatis. >
The following elegiac lines were
appended:
"W hat, though no friend could ward
thy early fall,
Nor guardian angels turn the treacher-
Gus ball; #Ef%}
BLESSED shade, be soothed! thy virtues
!. all are known ri
Thy fame shall last beyond this mould
ering stone,
Which conquering armies, from their
tolls return,
Read to thy glory, while thy fate they
mourn. "sl, .s.t s.s.J4.