The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-10-27
DANIEL MORGAN AND ms AMERICAN
A Revolutionsev Sketch

4 Revolutionary Sketch.
The outpoets fthe two armies wers
very near to each other, when thu
American commander, DESTROYS Of
obtaining particular information re
specting the position of his adversary
summoned the famed leader of the
rifiemen, Colonel Daniel Morgan, to
headquarters.
1t was night, and the chief wa
alone. After his usual polite, vet re.
served and dignified salutation, Wash.
ingtOn remarked: 81 have sent fol
you, Colonel Morgan, toentrust to your
courage and sagacity q small, but inn
portant enterprise. wish you to
reconnOitre the enemy's line, with q
view to your ascertaining correctly
the position of their newly reconstruct
ed redoubts, also the encampments of
the British troops that have lately ar
rived, and those Of their Hessian Aux
iliaries. Select. sir, an officer, non
commissioned officer, and about twen-
~ picked men. and under cover of the
night proceed, but with all caution ::
get as near as you can, and by day.
dawn return and make your report to
headquarters. But mark me, Colonel
Morgan, mark me well: upon no ac-
count whatever are you to bring on
any skirmish with the enemy If dis
covered make speedy retreat: let
nothing induce you to fire q shot. l
repeat sir that no force Of circumstance
will excuse the discharge of a single
rifle on your part, and for the extreme
lpreciseness of these orders permit me
to say that l have my reasons Fill
ing two glasses Of wine, the General
continued:
And now, Colonel Morgan, we will
drink u goodnight and success To
your enterprise" Morgan quafled the
wine, snlacked his lips, and assured
his excellency that his orders should
lie punctually Obeyed, and left the
tent of the COmmanier-in-Chief
Charmed at being chosen As the ex-
ecutive officer of daring ENTERPRISE,
the leader of the woOdslmen repaired
Ia his quarters, and calling for Gabriel
Long, his favOrite Captain, ordered
him to detail II trusty sergeant and
twenty prime fellows, who, being
mustered, and ordered TO lay on their
arms, ready at a moments warning,
Morgan and Long stretched their
manly forms before the watch fire, to
wait the going down of the moon, the
signal oil departure.
n little after midnight, ana while
the rays of the setting moon still faint
~ glimered i'm the western horizon,
"upSergeant," cried Long, "stir up
yourmen," and twenty athletic figures
were on their feet i'm a moment. "In-
dian file, march," and away they all
sprung with the quick and yet light |
stealthy step of the w0odsmen. They |
reached the enenIy's line, crawled up /
So close To the pickets of the Hessians
as To inhale the Odor of their pines
discovered by the newly turned earth,
the position of the redoubts, and by
the numerous tents that dotted the
field FOR many rod around" and
showed dimly, amid the night haze.
the encampments of the British and
German reinfOrcements, and, i'm short,
performed their perilous duty without
the slightest discovery, and, pleased
with themselves and the success of
their enterprise, prepared to retire,
just rs chanticleer from neghbOr-
ing farm house was bidding saluta-
ton to the morn"
The adventurous party reached Il
small eminence at some distance from
the British camp and coinnlandin.
1
cent country. Here Morgan halted
to give his men a little rest before
taking up his line of march To the
American out-posts. Scarcely had
they thrown themselves ulOn the
grass, when they perceived issuing
from the enemy's advanced pickets a !
Ger, and proceeding along a road that
1a.l Il traetlv hv tho s,nt ,,l,ars tI,n 1
riflcmen had halted. No spot could
be- better chosen for an ambuscaIe, for
there were rocks, and ravines, and
also scrubby oaks that grew thickly
Oh the eminence, by which the road
which we have just mentioned, passed
at not exceeding hundred yards.
down, boys, down" cried Morgan,
as the horse approached nor did the
clansmen of the Black ROderick dis
appear more promptly amid their ma
tive heather, than did MOrgan's woods
men i'm the present instance, each to
his tree or rock. "Lie close there, nv
lads till we see what those fellows are
about"
Meantime the hOrsemen had gained
the height, and the officer, dropping
the rein OH the chargers neck, with |
spy-glass recOnnOitered the American |
lines. The troops closed up their files.
and were either cherishing the noble .
animals they rode, adjusting their
equipments, or gazing upon the sur /,
scenery, now fast brighten
ing in the beams of a rising sun.
Morgan looked at Long, and Long
At his superior, while the riflemen,
with painting chests and sparkling |
eyes were only awaiting some signal
from their officers, "to let the ruin fly.r
At length the martial ar,lor of Nor
gan Overcaine his prudence and sense T.
,f military subOrdination. Forgetful !
Of conseguences, reckless ofeverything
Dut his enemy, now within his grasp, :.
ic waved his hand, and loud and !,
sharp rang the report of their rifles :.
mid the surrounding echoes.
At point blank distance, the certain .
mi deadly aim of the Hunting Shirts
# the Revolutionary army is too well | il
iIown tO history to need remark n, ! II
lis time of day. In In" instance we | II
ave recorded, the Effect of the fire of a..
hc riiicnen was tremendous. OF the m
Ior.euien, some had fallen tu rise no
mere while heir liberated chargers | a.
over the adjoining plain:
theirs, wounded, but entangicd with g.
heir stirrul-, were dragged by the in oi
Iriated animals, cypirir-sly along 4,
lille the very few who We're un-,-ath-
4 ,spurred hard Ia REGAIN the shelter NJ
the British lines. IN
While the smoke vet canopi.d the
.el.r Of slauy htcr, aud the picturesque pl
rms Of the WOO l,mcn appeared fo
mong the foliage, ~ they were reload vi
,V .tir bi,--pl fIt,. ,.pip.-aI .iptIr,. ,F Ia