Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-01
AN ANCIENT RELIC.
TaE TIMES THAT TklED MEMS sOUL

AIN ANUlENl kELlU.
1aE TIMES THAT 1xlED MEMS SOULS.
An Unpublished Letter OF Rsvolussousry
Dsy~ From - Lancaster Soldier
In the War.
We print below AN interesting letter,
written by John Steele, captain of the
Continental army, to VIM. Steele. Lancss-
ter county, Pa, from MOrrise0Wn, N. j.,
18th Of june. 1850. The original manu-.
script is in possession of Miss Marguerite
Cast'llon, OF New Jersey. who is . great
Granddaughter Of Captain (afterwaris
generaD Steele and the copy from which
we print was forwarded by her to Miss
6ue G. Frazer, who u also . grcat-grand
believe, has never before been published
DEAR WILL: have omitted several
opportunities of whiting, with a daily ex-
pectaticn of seeing you, and INV brother
Jake, Jacob Bailey, which now cease to
hope for, as We have taken the field for
several days in consel luence 0f ; sudaon,
and unexpected excursion Of the enemy,
from Staten Island into Jersey, who have
Gas usuaD committed tho most cruel and
wantOn depredations BY burning and do
stroyiDg the houses and property Of many
peaceable and defenceless inhabitants;
but the most striking instance Of their
barbarity was in taking the life Of . most
amiablo lady, wife to PArson Caldwell Of
Springfield, Who left nine small children,
the youngest eight months old which sat
on Its mama's lap witness to the cruel
murder, though insensible Of its loss nor
did their barbarity end there, for after
several sklrmishes (in which il 10 tlsopght
We killed at least $50 and preportio1sble
number, together with several officers, ono
Of which was General StirliDg) they re
tired to Elizabeth Town Point, where they
remained fOrtifying and possessing them
selves of parts of the town and tits said
that two nights ago they pade an indis-
criminate sacrifice Of all tho females in
the place q cruel slaughter indeed |! Yes
terday captain from tho British army
deserted to Us, but he is beyond doubt
damned rascal but it all conspires to make
glorious the once dreaded (thOugh now
ign0miniOus) arms of Britain. i-I ="
I am at present enjoying myself incOm-
parably we'll in the family of Mrs. WASH
ingtOn, whose guard l have had the HON
or to command since the absence of the
General and the rest of the family, which
is now six or seven days. lam happy in
$50 AsA.POAsS ". ny SAess6OS 80 wOA III
the presence OF the most am'a6ie woman
upon eartn, whose character should at
Tempt 20 describe ! could not DO justice to,
Dut VIII only say tnas think It unexcep-
tiOnable the first and second nights
came it was expected that a body
Of the enemy's horse would pay us .
visit, but was we'll prepared TO. receive
them, for had not only a good detach-
ment OF Vol o'sclphned troops under my
command, DAT 1our members OF congress
VINO came voiunteers with their musketss
Dayoness ana amuoltlon. i assure you
they have disposed OF greater share Of
spirits than you have ever seen in that
Dooy or perhaps ever Will see as long as
they exist. leave you to judge whether
there Is not considerable merit due their
commander: only wish had . company
10 command ior campaign. and II you
woaid not see an alteration In the cODsti-
tutlon Oh our army against the next, l
would suffer to lose my ears and never COM
mand congressman again. The rations
they nave consumed considerably Ovcrbal-
ances all their service dooe as volunteers,
ior they nave dlned with MS every day
almost, and drank as much wine as they
would earn IN SIX months.
Make may best love to my dear sistcr
Betty, parents, brothers, and sisters AZ we'll
as TO all my good nelghbors but in most
particular manner 10 somebody L cant
wflte 10 1Or lear OF miscarriage.
am your affectiOnate Brother,
JACK STEELE.
Head Quarters, MorristOwn, juno 18th,
EndOrsemsnt.