The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-10-06
UNCLE MANUEL.
His Story OF the Capture Of CORVALLIS by
Washington,

60 to the negroes. Revolutionary flavor
having been impaired tosthese regions
by the surrender of CORVALLIS, and
General Washington being much talked
about in the first half of this GEN.
fury, most of the ancient raconteurs
prefer to assign their "reminiscences to
''de Resolution" One of the most
celebrated of these minnesingers was a
certain Uncle Manuel, who belonged
TO one of the old families on the penin-
sula, as the strip of land between the
York and the James Rivers is called.
Uncle Manue's account of the sur
render of CORVALLIS does not coincide
with that in the history books, but is in
nnitely more dramatic, interesting and
unique. Uncle Manuel, who only died
the other day, was preacher OBJ de
gospel and belonged indifferently to
the Baptist or Methodist Church, as
'poss1ms and watermelons were plenti-
fUf with either sect. He was a perfect
terror to the young negroes, but
adored by the children of the planters
In the neighbOrhood, who found Uncle
Manuel "reminiscences of distinguished
American citizens entirely fascinating.
He had played the fiddle with
Thomas Jefferson" afore L got re-
hgion, honey" he always explained to
account for that sinful diversion; and
about the same time was in the habit
of putting the Marquis de Lafayette to
bed when he had too much mint iulep
aboard-that being a native French
drink. But when Uncle Manuel was
surrounded by an attentive circle of
childish admirers clamoring: "Do,
please, tell us about General Washing
ton, Uncle Manuel" then he would be-
gin TO protest, very much like other
artists: Now, children, You know you
doan' keer nothin' bout ole Manuel an
MarSe George. You done hear him
fore dis"
:. shrek of remonstrance would 90
mp: NOW Uncle Manuel, please, please
go on. until Uncle Manuel was finally
started. He always began by impress
ing upon his audience the extremely
relations between himself and
heneral Washington, and also that this
1ast war was q mere scrimmage 81
kqowed Gineral Washington jist like
knSwed ole marse. You see, L didn't |
belong ter Gineral Washington, but
one Say he was a-settin in marster's /
porch. an he seen me come along. an he |
says: pa- ar am likely fellow. See |
lere, Colon, i. couldn't you let me hire |
Tim for. YEA or two?' An ole marse.
Who had so many on US he didn't |
now half Or EN- by name, he says: |
Take him. Giner, You are welcome |
hlm, an he am Oh e OF de very oes
ody servants In thea tate OF Virginny.
. DAT how come al> ing via Ulnerai
.>>>ongton; but ka sem me oack 10
> ma.Se arter de- Resi- iutloh: Dat
" a way Oar warn't no hS nun
rdly in Marse i.inkmn's W. IL mgia'
t day>at Yorktown we had< nc "uSs
, an GineEal Washington wen "p ~
veil got so tired er kiln dt-A
lers l didn't know what TO d y -
ar 1 fired dat ole gun 'twell I I ~
mos bag OBJ powder-me q
neral Washington atween us.
YER see a man load an fire a quJek
he-he was ies' abang bangTn
Licker'n you'd count. At las we got d
m Britishers to runnin' down de c
ad towards Williamsburg, and thou .
pds on 'em dying by de roadside" :
s.But. Uncle Manuel, how could they
IN away down to Williamsburg when
q French and Americans wouldn't
+ them get out from Yorktown"
"Dey warn't no French dar, chillen. ]
was dar, and amt seen no French" S
"But-but-the history book says f
well. now, wuz de history man i
,ro 'Kase Iwuz dar, I'M L tell you I
py warn't no French dar-you hear |
70. But Gineral Washington. he was
ar. AM he.rid big white boss. an s
hen be lift up he foot twas ez big eZ !
dinner plate. Lord! | never see SIGH '
boss since. Well, arter we had got !
ne Br;tishers scootin' down de road.
,iperal Washington / see him huntin I
oun' de field lookin' mad, an he hol- {
rs ont 10 me: Boy says he, has
on seen that tarnal ole red coat. Gin
raj Cornwallis. any where bout"
m I saws to him: Good Lord, Marse
,eorre. I done see him dis very MN
tie a hidin' in de fence corner by dat
r 'simmon tree DAT 'simmon tree
, a-growin' VT, an kin show you de
ery place whar Gincral CORVALLIS
uk ter de fence). so Gineral Wash
ngton. he galloped up. an sho' 'nuiI,
lar was de ole man maxim hiSself
mall an irwin ter creep under de
,ottom rail oh de fence. But when he
cen Gineral Washington, he set up on
lie croun' an his teef ratified like he
lad de ager. he was so Skeered: An
siueral Washington, he followed:
Halt. YOU rascalr Den ole CORVALLIS:
he saw: 'G-g-gineral, gin it up An
Gineral Washington, he drawed he
Here Uncle Manuel would make a
deep and dreadful pause. Honey, he
irawed he sword-an'-he-cut-he-
aade-right off r'-EaSterR Tfrg'ntd |
Cor. a. y. Mail and Express.