Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-29
For the SPECTATOR.
Col. Charles POrterfieId.

Nr. Editor: Your readers were no doubt
interested, from remarks made, in the
"reminiscences of Gen. Robert Porterheld
| We have been permitted, through the
kindness of a friend, to have access to a
file of the FindicatOr, as 1t is now called,
but the augusta Democrat, under which it
first saw the light, for 1916. He had the
opportunity in early life to see a journal
which Col. Porterfield kept during much
of his service in the army of the Revolu-
ton, and he made very copious extracts,
with which he made that paper interesting
for months.
1t is cur purpose to give you very brief
references to the incidents that are related
often at considerable length He speaks
of the ldier's career being ''brief but
brilliant" He goes on to say there are
many interesting "reminiscences deeply af-
fecting, and meritorious acts of suffering
and sacrifice, which gave a secret, yet pow
erful, impulse to the war-worn energies of
our beloved country in her darkest hour of
trial.
The war of the American Revolution
found Charles Porterffe!d, a modest youth,
tending with filia affection the declining
years of his aged and widowed father, a
farmer in the county of Frederick. He
had received the rudiments of plain Eng
lish education.
The news of the battle of Lexington
came. With the speed of electricity it
solved his and the doubts of many others
Morgan, Humphries, and MCGUIRE, with
other kindred spirits, were his neighbors,
An appeal was made to the young men of
Frederick county to form company of
Rifemen 1t was not in vain. Porterfield,
knowing all could not be officers, was con-
tent to.enter the ranks as private. They
elected Daniel Morgan as their Captain,
and equipped themselves at their own ex-
pense, with hunting shirts, knapsacks, and
rifles.
In June, 1775, Charles, for the last time
on earth, pressed the trembling, palsied
hand Of his almost sightless, but not tear,
less, father and received from him the sol
emn, broken invoeation:, "Go, my son, and
may God bless and preserve YOU" He
exhorted his younger and only brother,
Robert, TO prepare himself for the future
conflicts of his country. He bestowed on
his motherless, weeping sister, the parting
kiss and followed the drum.
| After long and weary march, Capt.
Morgan, with his little band of noble men,
Joined the American army there encamped
before Boston. There they encamped and
viewed the battle-ground Of Breeds's Hill
where Warren and many others had little
while ago fallen. They remained until
September, when Gen. Washington dis
patched Col. Arnold with 1000 men, Nor
gan's part, to unite with Gen. Montgom-
cry, in the expedition against Quebec.
Their march was by Kennebec in Maine,
| through a trackless desert, amidst swamps
and mountains, SHOWS and storms of cold
1t was over an unbroken wilderness mans
foot had never trod. Their provisions failed,
when, in their sad extremity, they had to
sacrifice their faithful dogs for food. No
army known to the annals of ancient or
modern warfare was ever subjected to such
trials and sufferings More than one-third
of their number succumbed to famine, dis
ease, and exposure before reaching Point
Levy. The cup of our young soldiers suf-
ferings was not yet full. He survived. The
Spring of Hope in him was not yet extin-
guished. Although reared tenderly, and
never before exposed, his heroism and pa
tience of suffering won for him, from his
comrades, the appellation of "The young
soldier,'
In the memorable attack made On Que
bee on December 21st, 1775, he says: 'We
paraded at clock, A. NJ, and were dis
tributed as follows; Col. Arnold, Capt
OSWdll, Sltck, VI Sdpb. W dAo .
Company, with 25 men, were to go in front
with saws and hatchets to cut down the
thickets. Capt. Morgan's Company next,
being divided into four divisions under his
officers, Lieuts. Humphries, Heth, and
Bruin. Capts. Chapmau, Thayer, Hen
chel, Goodrich, Hubbard, Ward, and Dear
born, of the New England troops next
Capt. Hendricks and Lieut.. Steele, of Capt.
Smiths Company, with about 38 men, a d
Capt. Lamb, of the New York Artillery,
with one field piece and 3S men in the rear.
The signal given, with shouts we set out.
In passing by the Palace gate, they fired,
and the bells rung an alarm. We marched
with as much precipitancy as possible, sus-
tanning heavy fire for some distance, with
out the opportunity to return it, being close
under the wall. Coming to the barrier of
the entrance of the lower town, guarded
by Captain and 80 men, with two pieces
of cannon, one of which they discharged
and killed two men. We forced them from
the cannon, firing in at the portfolios, all
the time exposed to the fire of the mus
kerry from the bank above US in the upper
town. Here, Col. Arnold was wounded in
the leg and had to retire. The scaling lad
ders being brought up, if there was any
honor in being first over the barrier, had
it. l was Immediately joined by Capt.
Morgan. Upon our approach, the guards
fled, and we followed close to the guard
house, when, making a halt till some more
men should come up, we sailed through