Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-11-13


at the Head OF His Troops-An Interest
ing Old Book-sUoE OF Marion.
It viii seem strange to many readers,
writes correspondent Of the New York
Times, that, in the varied "Reminiscences
Of the revolution called forth by the re-
cent descriptions Of the statute Of Baron
De KRlb, no authentic account Of the
battle OF Camden, in which he fell, or OF
the circumstances Of his death should
have yet appeared. The current con
densed histories OF the revolution, IN
treating Of the at first brilliant but final
ly disastrous campaign Of CORVALLIS In
the south, furnish no detailed delinea-
ton Of the action at Camden, in which,
to quote the words Of a contemporary
writer, ''the northern laurels OF Gates
won by happy conjunction Of events
1t Saratoga ''degenerated into south
ern WilloWs'
The author Of the ePigrammatic sen
tsnce Just cited was Col Peter Horny,
the friend and cOmpaniOnin Erms OF that
idol Of South Carolina, Gen. Francis
Marion, who busted his leisure hours
after the war in the preparation OF a very
sparkling and readable biography OF the
great guerrilla lsader-the swamp
Fox" as his tory and British adversariss
were accustomed to designate him.
whom no vigilance ever caught mapping.
The book ia now, 1 believe, out OF
print, and in the course Of twenty years
rummaging among the volumes have
never met with more than two copies,
both Of them IN private hands, and one
of them mutilated and incomplete. Racy
HhnHTaa tod
by Horny of the deeds Of Sergt. Nc
Donald on his famous Selim, the heetest
animal Of the Carolinas, out of which the
rsdoubtable sergeant did a DigOted old
tory by representing to him that Col
Tarlsbon had heard OF the famous racer
aud wanted it for his own special mount
Selim was a coal black stallion Of Arab
blood, whose dIstended nOstrils seemed
to scent battle from afar, and possessed,
according to the gallant Horny, an al
most human intelligence. Horny records,
with the gusto Of the capital story tell
or that he always proved himself, how on
one occasion, in a drunken frOlic, Sergt.
Mcdonald on his coal-black Selim and
half dozen OF his crOnies of MariOn's
cavalry dashed into Georgetown IN open
daylight, cutting down the readcOats by
the dozen in the streets. Mcdonald left
his bayOnet sticking in the back Of a
British major Then the boys dismOunt-
ed at an inn IN plain view of the British
barracks, took a drink to their success,
and were In the saddle and of in hot
haste before the garrison had recovered
from the mOmentary panic. The memory
Of the gallant Jasper, who fell at Savan-
nah, also receives ample Justice from
HOrry's pen, while his description of
Kings Mountain (where none OF the
tory ancestors Of the De Peysters fell ],
the COwpens, and the unsuccessful and
to cur arms disastrous assault on Savan-
nah are among the clearest and most
luminous pieces of military writing that
1 have ever had the pleasure Of reading.
The battle Of Camden commenced in
the morning twilight and was hopelessly
contested for hours. Gates had hurried
forward his nondescript and inadquately
equipped forces, consisting largely OF
raw Carolina recruits, with a small con-
tingeDt OF continentals commanded BY
De Kalb, VINO had repeatedly and earn
estly warned him of the imprOpriety-
the folly indeed-of bringing on a regu
lar action in the present half disciplined
condition OF the militia under his com
mand- But the impetuous victor OF Sar
atOga not only declined to take his sub
OTdinate's advice but intimated that
WIS prompted by cowardice. The oil
soldiers face darkened as the foolhard,
Gates gave utterance to this sneerinl
imputatiOn, and he replied with dignity
But there was no more to be said. II
foresaw his fate and the issue Of the bat
Il. -
the field rather than Outhve the oblOqu
of the disaster, arranged his affairs tha
night.
The militia, as De Kalb had forebodet
broke and fed at the first volley an
rush OF the advancing foe, and Gate
put spurs to his horse to bring the raG
Gals back, as he declared, bu- did nC
stop, according to Horny, until he ha
put eight good miles between himse
and the melee OF the battle. Exit Cats
alike from Camden and from history
Meanwhile the little handful Of contineI
tails bore the brunt OF the onset Of tn
whole British aruy, led by one Of il
most brilliant officers, the dreaded Con
wallis De Kalb, dismOunted and bare
headed, led on his men in person an
Joined IL the hurly- burly OF the fgh
Wounded IN several places, sword
hand he engaged in one personal OF
counter after another, encouraging h5
men by voice as well as example, unit
he was marked for death by many
stalWart foe. A gigantic British grenl
der, the idol OF his fellows for cOurag
and address, rushed in upon the barO
with bayonet fixed. The thrust Wa
parried, and De Kalb buried his blad
In the Briton's breast. So deep was ii
thrust that the blade stuck fast an
could not be recovered, and Selling Ii
weapon the dying grenadier as it drOI
ped from his hands, the old sOldiC
fought on, dealing thrusts thick and fhs
COntinentals and redcOats went down
scores on every hand, but he SCENE
proof alike against bullet and bayOne
until at last, pressed back by sheC
weight of numbers, the old hero shppe
and fell. He was already MORALLY hui
indeed, riddlei with wounds. An
now began a struggle over the falle
1nan-an understandable desperate nnele
which would have ended IN his bein
pierced through and through had NJ
the last surviving of his aids rushe
forward and covered his body, with th
cry, according to Horny: 'Save, oh saw
the Baron De Kalb."
The fall of their leader, who survive
his many wounds only few hours, vi
tuRliy ended the conflict disastS
caused solely by the fOOlhardiness {
Gates, and one that left the British ma
ters OF the south for many months, ha-